How to Analyze the Bible
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)
The Bible is known as being the most sold book of all-time, with over 5 billion copies sold. While that continues to be fact, a startling bible verse reminds humanity of a staggering dichotomy: ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge’ (Hosea 4:6). If the Bible is as successful as the world considers it to be, than God’s people shouldn’t be or be getting destroyed. The logical conclusions to these premises are that people are buying, but not reading and studying properly or enough. Therefore, how should we read the Bible?
To understand how to read the Bible begins with understanding that the Bible is a complex book. As the word of Yahweh, it is powerful; Paul says is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Written by multiple authors during multiple centuries, its completion was only done in the IVth century AD. But to simplify it, the writings have to be seen in three different ways that complete each other: historical, spiritual and judicial.
The Bible is to be understood as a historical account, first of all. Its books such as Chronicles and Kings serve as a testament to that statement. Understanding that this is the history of a distinct people group called the Israelites, living in a much more arid and torrid environment than most of humanity today, gives a better perspective on many of the practices and elements. The best example of this can be seen in the book of Exodus: its a historical account of the leaving of Egypt (Exodus 1 - 17) and the elected race of Yahweh being given the commandments and the law (Exodus 18 - 40).
The spiritual aspect is an important aspect of the Bible that should never be removed. It is imperative to understand that whatever is bound on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever is loose on earth will be loose in heaven (Matthew 18:18. The previous example of the book of Exodus is a good example: the Isrealites rightfully left Egypt when Yahweh made the way for them. They are meant to celebrate the leaving of Egypt (Exodus 12:13 - 14) at the appointed time in perpetuity; future generations who have never seen the land of the Pharaohs will celebrate it (Exodus 12:14b). This is meant to deliver them spiritually from slavery as well, and pass them over from death to life in the living light of Yahweh. It’s in this same vein that the prophecies are accomplished, that is from the book of prophets and even Yeshua’s teaching on the end of days (Matthew 24:37).
The final way that the Bible is meant to be read is judicially. It makes sense, knowing that God is a righteous judge (Psalms 7:11). A judge bases himself on laws and precedents in any just society. To add to the point of a judicious reading and analysis is necessary is due to the second part of the previously mentioned Hosea 4:6 : “I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children”. The Bible is meant to show us how humanity is meant to live their lives: by respecting the laws that Yahweh sent down, being able to live like the only one to never break a law in Yeshua, through the Holy Spirit.
In finality, the Bible is meant to be read in three distinct ways: historically, spiritually and judiciously. It is through multiple readings of the Bible with these differing perspectives that a full picture is able to be made. With that full image, you do not lose knowledge and don’t die by lack of knowledge: if anything, you will be set free thanks to the fact that you know the truth and the way: Yeshua.