A Passage in Its Place

The Bible is a library, not a fortune cookie. It has law and letter, psalm and proverb, gospel and apocalypse. Reading well is love for the Author, not a technique to master Him.

A simple way to begin

1. Pray. Ask for light. Psalm 119:130
2. Read a passage, not a fragment. A verse is a doorway; a chapter is a room.
3. Notice. Who is speaking? To whom? What is said about God? What is required of us?
4. Compare. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. 1 Corinthians 2:13 The gospel pages on this site try to do that in public: The Gospel, Knowing God.
5. Answer. Reading that never becomes obedience is unfinished. James 1:22

Context is kindness

A verse can be true and still be misused. Romans 8:28 is a comfort to those who love God. It does not promise that every event is pleasant. Keep the words in their sentence, the sentence in its book, the book in the whole counsel of God.

The center

Jesus said the Scriptures testify of Him. John 5:39 If a reading never arrives at the Son, keep reading. See The Cross and why we trust this book if you need the ground under your feet.

John 17:17