Do You Understand What You Are Reading? (Bursting Some Myths on Bible Study)

Acts 8:30-31 (NIV) – 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

The first myth in Bible study is that it’s self explanatory and you don’t need anyone to help you understand. God sent Philip to help an Ethiopian Eunuch who was reading the book of Isaiah but couldn’t understand. Philip had to explain because it wasn’t self explanatory!

A lot of sections in the Bible are self explanatory for someone who has grown up as a Christian. This is because they are assisted by background information that they learnt while growing up. Someone who has never been a Christian will find texts we consider obvious to be difficult. Bible study needs explanation from someone who knows better.

There are rules of interpretation. Hermeneutics is a science of interpretation. It’s actually a science with theories and methodology of interpreting spoken and written words. This ensures that personal biases are not introduced to corrupt the meaning. For example the rule that you must understand the context before interpreting a passage. It helps to know who said, to whom it was said and under what circumstances it was said, before interpreting what was said. Without the context the interpretation is most likely a lie and a personal unreliable opinion. Without context you can read without understanding. Do you understand what you’re reading?

Acts 8:34 (NIV) – The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

The second myth is that you can’t get confused. You need help because you can get confused. The Ethiopian read the book of Isaiah and he was stuck wondering who the prophet was talking about. That needed an explanation for him to understand or else he would be confused and perplexed all the way. Explanation would bring understanding. Do you understand what you are reading?

Another principle of the many principles of Bible study is that scripture should not contradict itself. God does not contradict Himself. Therefore any explanation that contradicts other aspects of scripture is wrong. Only a person who understands other parts of scripture, can safely give you an interpretation that doesn’t contradict other scripture. You need such a person in order to understand. Do  by you understand what you are reading?

Acts 8:26 (NIV) – Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

Another myth is that anyone can help you understand scripture. God chose Philip and sent him to the Ethiopian. God didn’t send anyone. Not anyone and everyone can help you to have a true understanding of scripture. Only servants chosen by God and are trained and or familiar with scripture. Philip had trained under Jesus and was familiar with scriptures. A Pearson must have a genuinely good relationship with God in order to be able to interpret scripture and help you understand. Do you understand what you are reading?

Acts 8:29 (NIV) – The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

Without spiritual guidance by God, you can miss the point. Reading a lot doesn’t make you the best interpreter. Having academic qualifications is not the only requirement to interpret scripture. Most critical is guidance by the Spirit as Philip was guided. Therefore it matters who is helping you to understand scripture. Do you understand what you are reading?

Luke 10:26 (NIV) – “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

Luke 10:26 (Contemporary English Version) – Jesus answered, “What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?” 

Luke 10:26 (Good News Translation) – Jesus answered him, “What do the Scriptures say? How do you interpret them?” 

An expert in the law asked Jesus about eternal life. Jesus asked him how he interprets the law. We can read the same passage but have different interpretations. It’s a myth to think that all interpretations are correct. Jesus asked for the expert’s interpretation. How he understands it.

It’s a myth that all interpretations are correct. It’s a myth that all interpretations are different paths to the same thing. There is only one true explanation and all others are false. That is why Jesus asked about his understanding. Do you understand what you are reading? How do you understand it?

Therefore Jesus recognizes the existence of many interpretations of the same word. Jesus also recognizes that not all are correct. Jesus therefore asks us to interrogate our understanding if it is consistent with proper interpretation. Do you understand? How do you understand it?

It is therefore a myth that any church that call on Jesus and uses the Bible is a safe church. What matters is how they interpret and the final understanding. Do you understand what you are reading? How do you understand it?

Not every blog on spiritual issues is correct. Not every book on religious topics is correct. Not every popular and otherwise preachers are correct. How they interpret can make some liars and others truthful. Don’t be gullible and accept anything and everything because it was nicely said and powerfully presented. How do they interpret the word of God? Do you understand what you are reading? How do you understand it?

Many are victims of religious extremism because they refuse to question how scripture is interpreted by their adored religious leader. They follow the interpretation blindly like sheep to the slaughter. Some have lost their income, jobs, educational opportunities, marriages, health and life, because they were given a sweetly convincing false interpretation of scripture and they accepted it. That is why these questions are critical. Do you understand what you are reading? How do you understand it?

Our deep seated desperation. Our past traumas. Our hidden desires. All these can make us predisposed to a false interpretation that is consistent with our fears or desires. The false interpretation becomes truly comforting because it meets a hidden defect. That is why we must prayerfully seek guidance by asking for the correct interpretation. Do you understand what you are reading? How do you understand it?

May God grant us a wise heart that will properly discern false interpretations. May we remain alert and cautious. May God save us from gullibility. May God save us from hidden factors that predispose us to being deceived. May God who sent Philip to help the Ethiopian understand, also send help our way. May we be properly guided to understand scripture. In Jesus’s name, Amen!

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