05/20/2026
A snippet from the article by Ed Bedore in the latest BBI Bulletin:
How can we understand the Bible? The answer is really pretty simple and straight forward: Read It! That sounds easy enough, but most still find it difficult to do. This is because many have predetermined ideas about what it says and read it with that mindset. In other words, they read it to confirm their beliefs rather than to find out what they should believe. Then there is the manner by which one reads. Too often, people pick out a single verse, part of a verse, or even two or three verses to read without regard to context. But, we would not read any other book in such a random piecemeal way and then claim to have read it, would we? Yes, I know that the Bible is a large book and historical background information, commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and other reference works are helpful. Lord willing, we will address some of these things along with the proper principles of Bible interpretation in the future. But here we want to emphasize the first and foremost step toward a proper understanding of the Holy Bible. Read it!Even if you do not believe it is God’s uniquely revealed Word, I encourage you, I challenge you to read it to see what it actually says rather than what you think it says or what somebody told you it says. Read it, read it, and read it again. Set up a reading schedule and read one, two, three, or even more chapters a day. It will change your life! The Thessalonians had “…turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God…” (1 Thess. 1:9), and the Apostle Paul thanked God because they had“…received the Word of God…not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). Read your Bible. It will bring hope and comfort to the mind and soul. - Dr. W. Edward Bedore