I’ve recently become very passionate about the idea of studying the Word and improving our Bible Literacy. The Bible has never been as accessible as it is right now, and we’ve never had as many resources to study as we do in our present age. Yet, many of us do not have a clear understanding of the Bible.

Although it speaks many truths to society today, we often fail at contextualizing its meaning and do an injustice to the words that God breathed through its authors. Don’t let Sunday morning be the only time you spend with God. We need to learn more about Him. The truth is, God can use us as we are. I’m not saying you have to study and go to seminary to preach to someone but don’t let that be an excuse. Don’t be complacent. God can use us now, and He can use us even more when we know more about Him. He can use us when we’re able to answer difficult questions that a non-believer may have.

“As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.” –Titus 1:7-9

That’s a comprehensive list. It includes many things to avoid and many things to pursue. But doesn’t it seem like “holding firmly to sound doctrine and the faithful word” feels a little out of place compared to the others? Studying the Bible is quite different from having too much to drink one night. And yet, it’s included because knowing about God and understanding His word is essential.

We are in an annual Bible plan right now, and I do it every year. Each time, I discover something new. I’ll read a passage and think, “Wow, I never noticed that before.” But I also wonder—how often am I truly engaging with Scripture, and how often am I just skimming through it to check it off my list? How many times do I rush through Leviticus just to get to Psalms?

We need a deep understanding of Scripture. Effectiveness increases when we grow in knowledge. As our knowledge of God increases, our knowledge of ourselves increases too. If I am fearfully and wonderfully made, if I am created in God’s image and brought to life by His breath, then the more I learn about Him, the more I will understand who I am, why I’m here, and what I am meant to do.

If I place my identity in things outside of God, that’s when things start to unravel. That’s when identity crises happen, and I begin believing lies about myself. But when I deepen my knowledge of God, my understanding of myself grows, as well.

Spiritual Growth Requires Intentional Study

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” –Proverbs 9:10

At first, I hesitated to include this verse because the phrase “fear of the Lord” can be confusing. If you’re not familiar with biblical study, you might assume it means being terrified of God. But the Hebrew word here is Yirah. This type of fear is about reverence and obedience, not terror.

The Bible frequently says, “Do not be afraid.” So how can we also be told to fear the Lord? The answer lies in the type of fear. There is a difference between servile fear (being afraid of punishment) and filial fear (being afraid of disappointing someone you deeply love).

It’s one thing to be afraid of what someone might do to you. It’s another thing to love someone so deeply that you fear hurting them. That’s the kind of fear we are called to have for God—a reverence that shapes our actions and devotion to Him.

The Importance of Translation

Every year, I read the Bible in a different translation, and I always notice different things. You might wonder why we have so many translations. It’s because scholars carefully consider how to translate words—sometimes word for word, sometimes thought for thought, and sometimes a blend of both.

Your translation matters. Let’s look at an example:

“For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Wherefore, though I might be much more bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient.” –Philemon 1:7-8 KJV

Did you understand that? Probably not. The phrase “bowels of the saints” is confusing. The Greek word here is splagchnon, which literally refers to the insides, often meaning deep emotions or affections. In King James-era English, people believed emotions were seated in the bowels—like a “gut feeling.” But today, we would say “heart” instead.

Language evolves, and it’s important to read a translation that makes sense to you while remaining faithful to the original meaning.

Understanding Bible Literacy

Bible literacy is not just about factual knowledge. It’s not about church attendance, how many Bible plans you’ve completed, or how many times you’ve read Scripture. It’s about understanding the word of God.

You can know every biblical fact and still miss the point of the Gospel. You can also struggle with trivia but deeply grasp how Scripture points to Jesus.

To study the Bible effectively, you need to:

• Understand the context—historical, cultural, and theological.
• Ask the right questions—What is the passage really saying? How does it fit into the larger story?
• Recognize that non-believers have legitimate questions—and we should be prepared to answer them.

Many people assume non-believers reject Christianity simply because they haven’t heard the Gospel or don’t want to listen. But often, they have real concerns. They may ask, “If God is good, why does the Bible contain stories of war, suffering, and judgment?”

If we aren’t prepared to have thoughtful discussions, we may miss opportunities to share the truth.

A simple rule to follow, inspired by Jen Wilkin:

• Is God good? We believe God is good.
• So, when reading Scripture, ask: How does this passage reveal God’s goodness?
• Some people, however, start with the opposite question: How is what I’m reading good? And if they don’t see the answer, they question whether God is good at all.

We need to flip that perspective—first, understand that God is good, and then seek how Scripture reveals that truth.

Study Guides and Tips

Below, you will find a few resources and study guides to help you in your quest for Bible Literacy. However, before we get to that, I recommend a brief lesson on a prerequisite to your studies: The Requirement of Humility. It doesn't matter how much of the Bible we study and understand; it will all mean nothing with the wrong intentions. Our intelligence will not get us nearly as far as our humility. Don't study to appear better than everyone else. Study to show yourself approved and to improve your likeness to Christ. 

For one, I can’t say enough about the quality and lessons at The Bible Project. They go beyond the videos you see in the Bible app. They have an excellent podcast that expands on those videos, and they have in-depth classes that will blow your mind. Their articles are great for quick lessons, too!

BibleHub.com is a powerhouse that holds more than your typical parallel list of verses. You can also review commentaries and studies for every verse or an entire book. I love their Hebrew and Greek feature that shows you the original word-for-word concepts that can be opened up in Strong’s Concordance.

Similar to BibleHub, Blue Letter Bible is also a great resource for looking up specific words, verses, and topics. If you have a question, Got Questions might have the answer, but I do think they are a little more partial to certain doctrines, instead of sharing different viewpoints.

Also, do not forget about classes in your local church community. We have a problem of churches being against each other in the United States. We should all have the same mission and quest and be willing to help one another. There is no issue with taking a class or learning from a church that is not your home church. A quick example of this would be a larger church that can make its resources go further than itself. Passion City’s CORE classes are exceptionally well-made and offer in-depth studies online and in-person.

It’s great to study with other believers. That’s the same method that was used for many many years before the printing press. You should also study on your own. Here are some guides to help you:

The Three Steps of Inductive Bible Study

1. Observation – What do I see?

• What is the author saying?
• Learn to see what is actually there in the text.

2. Interpretation – What does it mean?

• What does the author mean by what they are saying?
• Is there a timeless truth emerging from this text?

3. Application – How do I apply this timeless truth?

How should this truth shape my life and actions?

What does this mean for me personally?

The 4 C’s of Interpretation

1. Content – What does the text say?

• Observe the words, phrases, and details in the passage.

2. Context – What is the surrounding context?

• Consider the literary, historical, and biblical context of the passage.
• Read before and after the passage to understand its full meaning.

3. Comparison – How does Scripture interpret Scripture?

• Cross-reference with other parts of the Bible.
• Use supporting verses to clarify meaning.

4. Culture – How did the original audience understand this?

Study customs, traditions, and the worldview of the time.

Consider the historical, cultural, and geographical background.

The SPECK Method

S Is there a sin to be avoided?

P Is there a promise to be claimed?

E Does someone have an example to follow?

C Is there a command meant for me to obey?

K Does it contain knowledge about God?

Steps for Studying Language in our Translated Scripture

Step 1: Pray.

• Ask God to reveal truth through His Word.

Step 2: Read the passage.

• Circle the key, most important words.

Step 3: Identify the main structure of the sentence.

• Find the main clause, subject, main verb, prepositions, and pronouns.

Step 4: Determine what the verb refers to.

• Identify who or what the verb is referencing.

Step 5: Identify pronoun references.

• Determine which words the pronouns refer to within the passage.

Step 6: Recognize literary devices.

• Look for metaphors, similes, hyperbole, symbolism, parallelism, etc.

Step 7: Determine the tone of the text.

• Assess the emotion and intent behind the passage.

Step 8: Understand the context as much as possible.

• Read cross-references, footnotes, and the immediate context of the passage.

Step 9: Read commentary for deeper insight.

• Study the literary, historical, cultural, geographical, and theological context.

Step 10: Answer these questions:

Is there a challenge to face?

Is there an example for me to follow?

Is there a sin to avoid?

Is there a promise to claim?

Is there a prayer to repeat?

Is there a command to obey?

Is there a condition to meet?

Is there a verse to memorize?

Is there an error to correct in my theology or doctrine?