{"id":37375,"date":"2025-10-17T13:42:28","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T11:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/6-tips-for-healthy-bible-contemplation\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T14:00:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T12:00:50","slug":"6-tips-for-healthy-bible-contemplation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/6-tips-for-healthy-bible-contemplation\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Tips for healthy Bible contemplation"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”777771″]Is Bible study only for theologians? Does looking at the Bible automatically lead to strange views? Many people today hardly dare to pick up the Bible, let alone draw valuable insights from it. But it does not have to be that way. The Bible is easily accessible, provided you read it and share insights with others. [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”433383″]The following pointers have proven useful in reading the Bible. There are 6 tips for healthy Bible viewing. They help to let the Bible speak for itself and to better understand the words in their own context.<\/p>\n

The first three references<\/strong> are quotations from the Bible that can be understood as “keys” for reading the Bible. These are statements by Paul for his coworker Timothy, to whom he gives such a valuable guideline for dealing with the Bible.<\/p>\n

The other three points<\/strong> are hints that serve the understanding of the text in general. They could all be illustrated with examples from the Bible. However, brevity shall be the spice here.<\/p>\n

As a preliminary remark, it should be mentioned here that writers and listeners recognized the Bible as God’s word and therefore classified the Bible as reliable. Texts that say this are for example: 2Cor 4:2, 1Thess 2:13, 2Tim 3:16-17.<\/p>\n

At the same time, it should be noted that the people in the Bible did not deify the Bible itself. They didn’t even know a Bible like we have today. Paul wrote his letters, for example, as – you guessed it – letters! He did not write any part of the Bible. It was only much later that his regular letters were assigned to the Bible. That is why we now have these letters as part of the Bible. While many a Christian today speaks of the Bible as “God’s word”, no one did so in the Bible. God’s word was the proclamation, not the scripture. This is an important difference.<\/p>\n

Andererseits haben wir heute die Bibel und nicht viel anderes. We would do well to pay attention to the words, because we have nothing else. This is not an act of despair, but a view encouraged by Scripture itself. Just as it says in the book of Proverbs:<\/p>\n

“He who heeds the word will obtain good, and he who trusts in Yahweh will be blessed.”<\/em>
\nProverbs 16:20<\/p>\n

And Paul writes about the writings that were written before him:<\/p>\n

\u201cFor all things that are written aforetime are written for our learning, that we through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures might have hope.\u201d<\/em>
\nRomans 15:4<\/p>\n

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  1. Keeping a pattern of sound words<\/strong> (2Tim 1:13)
    \nBiblical words are healthy words. They are the words that Bible writers used to express what needed to be said. Biblical truth, i.e. what the Bible itself says, is therefore expressed in the words of the Bible. Theological expressions, dogmatic formulations and the like are an expression of the fact that the original words were not understood and therefore could not be used according to the biblical usage.<\/li>\n
  2. Rightly dividing the word of truth<\/strong> (2Tim 2:15)
    \nObserve the biblical time indications. A biblical truth at the wrong time becomes an untruth, as with Hymenaeus and Philetus, who claimed of the resurrection (a truth) that it had already happened<\/em> (and thus assigned the time wrongly) and thus confused the faith of some.<\/li>\n
  3. True doctrine corresponds to godliness<\/strong> (1Tim 6:3)
    \nEvery teaching has a goal. Healthy teaching leads to Christ and to a pleasing life. See also Eph 4:15-16.<\/li>\n
  4. Wanting to understand the Bible in context<\/strong>
    \nWho says what, when, to whom, how (in what words), why (reason), why (occasion), and what for (purpose)? Search on this page also for the article on inductive Bible study.<\/li>\n
  5. Observe figurative language and figures of speech<\/strong>
    \nNot everything is to be understood literally, but some can be figurative language to explain the main theme (note topic). Figurative language is omnipresent in the Bible. No, not everything is “literally” true, as little as in our language today.<\/li>\n
  6. Recognize cultural references<\/strong>
    \nThe Bible knows references to other sources or incidents. Cultural references want to be understood as such and are not to be confused with the biblical message. They are sometimes used as an example to explain something else (e.g. Acts 17:23).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Dealing with the Bible should be learned<\/h3>\n

    The above tips are a starting point, not comprehensive help. Timothy must have learned particularly intensively from Paul. That is why he later sends Timothy to the churches, so that they can also learn the same way of dealing.<\/p>\n

    “I (Paul) now ask you (Corinthians) to be my imitators! For this reason I have sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord; he will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”<\/strong><\/em>
    \n1Cor 4:17<\/p>\n

    All the indications serve to pave our “ways in Christ” as well. This is the goal of healthy teaching, not only personally, but especially “everywhere in every community.” Timothy was not to make the church “eager Bible students”, but he was to remind the church of Paul’s ways in Christ. This includes what he does and doesn’t do, his hopes and fears, and in this his confidence based on God’s promises. What is meant is a life-related approach to Scripture, not just theoretical knowledge.<\/p>\n

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    Suggestions for conversation<\/h4>\n