Knowing or Understanding?

The Bible is the most important book we can own. Yet owning or even reading it doesn’t mean we understand it. What are some keys to understanding the Bible?

The American inventor Charles Kettering is quoted as saying, “Knowing is not understanding. There is a great difference between knowing and understanding: you can know a lot about something and not really understand it.”

Looking in our own lives and in the world around us, we can see how true this is. Have you ever read a textbook or taken a class and really had no understanding of the material after you finished?

How about the Bible? Can we know things about the Bible, but not really understand its message?

What is the Bible?

To begin with, what is the Bible?

In 2 Timothy 3:16 the apostle Paul described the Bible as being “given by inspiration of God.” In the Greek, “given by inspiration of God” literally means “God-breathed.” What Paul is saying is that the Bible comes straight from the mind of God. Each scripture was put there by God for a purpose, and each scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Jesus Christ described God’s Word in the Gospel of John. He stated, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Christ Himself stated that God’s Word is true.

This is why it is so important to not just know, but understand the Bible!

How do we understand it?

How do we come to understand the Bible? The Bible actually points out several ways to increase our understanding.

• Study the Bible. This was done by the people in the city of Berea. During Paul’s travels, he and Silas had to flee Thessalonica because of the hostility in the city. Upon arriving at Berea, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Luke described these Jews as “more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). The Jews in Berea would study what they heard in the synagogue and compare it to what was already written in the Scriptures.

It’s important for us to be like the Bereans—actively and regularly studying God’s Word.

• Hear the word. Teachers understand that the one way to help students learn is to give instruction through as many senses as possible. It’s helpful to combine hearing with seeing (reading).

The apostle Paul explains this in Romans 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” We can gain faith and understanding by hearing. We can hear the Word of God through our local pastor at church services or a sermon posted on the Church website.

• Pray. The apostle James wrote: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). It is wise to always pray to God before studying the Bible and specifically ask for understanding. Likewise, if we are reading a section and having difficulty understanding it, we can pray about the specific verse or section and ask for help to understand.
• Seek guidance. If we come to a section or scripture that we can’t fully understand, we should seek guidance from someone with more experience. Our parents, a seasoned Church member or our pastor are excellent resources that we should use if we are having difficulty understanding something.  
• Obey God. The book of Psalms provides one more important key: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments” (Psalm 111:10). The more we obey God’s Word, even without understanding everything fully, the more we will grow in understanding over time.

Using the Word

It is important for teens in God’s Church to work hard to understand the Bible. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul describes the spiritual armor we need so that we will be able to “stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). One of the items that is listed is the sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God” (verse 17).

Today’s society makes it very difficult to live God’s way of life. We are attacked by bad influences and temptations at every turn. And that is why we need to be making full use of the sword of God’s Word.

To learn more keys to understanding the Bible, study our articles on Bible study.

Andrew Travers is a senior at the Vinton County High School and attends the Athens, Ohio, congregation.