How to Understand the Bible?
Most people have a hard time to understand God's Word. They think it is a book that really can't be well understood. It has however many layers of wisdom that can only be understood with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.
On this page we aim to make you aware of the multiple interpretations that are known to us: it's helpful to consider that each passage in the Bible can be interpreted in three main ways, as highlighted by Dr. M.R. DeHaan in the introduction to ‘Daniel the Prophet’. Below we try to give a few examples of each domain and hope that you will get the picture
1) Primary Interpretation: This is the foundational meaning of the Scripture.
Mark 1:15 – “Repent and believe in the gospel,” Jesus’ succinct call as the kingdom draws near.
Luke 13:3 – “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish,” linking repentance directly to the avoidance of judgment.
Acts 17:30 – God “commands all people everywhere to repent,” showing its universal, foundational role in our relationship with Him.
2) Practical Applications: These are the diverse ways the Scripture can be applied in our daily lives.
1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” a daily, personal call to repent and restore fellowship.
Proverbs 28:13 – “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy,” highlighting honesty and turning from sin.
2 Corinthians 7:10 – “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret,” showing the heart-change that true repentance brings.
3) Prophetic Revelation: Many passages also offer insights into promises, future events and prophecies.
Joel 2:12–13 – “Return to me with all your heart…for I am gracious and merciful,” a prophetic invitation to national and personal renewal.
Zechariah 1:3 – “Turn from your evil ways…then I will dwell in your midst,” promising God’s presence as the fruit of genuine repentance.
Revelation 2:5 – “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first,” showing the necessity of repentance even for churches in the end times.
The Right Focus At the Right Moment
Approaching the Bible solely through its Primary Interpretation can lead to a rigid orthodoxy, lacking in vitality and warmth. Focusing only on Practical Applications might result in losing sight of the Scripture's true intent, though it can be beneficial in day-to-day life. Similarly, exclusively concentrating on Prophetic Revelation can narrow our understanding and might lead to a dogmatic view that may be doctrinally sound yet lacking in practical effectiveness and warmth in personal experience, making it less helpful to others.
In our study, we aim to balance these three interpretive layers, deepening our understanding and application of God's Word.
On our journey we will try to discover new and old paths by jumping from one application to the other. We hope that these applications help you when you study the Bible for yourself!