Beyond Secondhand Faith: 10 Ways to Deepen Your Understanding of Scripture

Jun 27

In a recent interview, Empowering Everyday Women asked founder Dianna Hobbs, an award-winning Bible teacher, for her top tips on going deeper in your study of God’s Word. We have condensed her powerful advice and strategies here for your growth and development. May they be edifying on your journey of faith.

Written By Sheila Walsh // EEW Magazine

In the age of social media, it's easy to fall into the trap of secondhand faith. We're bombarded with sermon highlights, inspirational quotes, and opinions from others on what the Bible means. While these sources can be helpful, they mustn't replace your personal engagement with God's Word.

Studying Scripture is essential for every believer, as it illuminates God's intentions, strategies, and requirements for us as His followers. As 2 Timothy 2:15 instructs, "Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Here are 10 practices to help you deepen your understanding of Scripture and your relationship with God, compiled from an interview with our founder, Dianna Hobbs, writer of a top-rated blog for Christian Women, Your Daily Cup of Inspiration.

1. Engage in Personal Study

While sermons and podcasts can be enriching, they shouldn't replace your personal time in God's Word. Jesus provides a direct channel to the Father, and Scripture is your unfiltered source of truth. Don’t let others do all the heavy lifting for you. As an able-bodied adult, you wouldn't want to be spoon-fed every day, and the same is true when it comes to ingesting and digesting the principles of the Gospel.

Scripture: Acts 17:11 - "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

2. Consider the Greater Context

Avoid isolating passages from their broader biblical context. This can lead to error, deception, and misinterpretation. Use reputable study aids like handbooks, concordances, and dictionaries to understand how the Old and New Testaments intersect and to make meaningful connections.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

3. Consult Multiple Translations

Reading verses in different translations can provide a more well-rounded understanding of the text. Parallel Bibles put several translations side by side, giving you clearer insights on word meanings. Don’t build your theology on a single translation, recognizing that the original languages of Scripture were Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.

Scripture: Proverbs 4:7 - "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."

4. Have Cultural Awareness

The Bible was written in a different historical and cultural context. Approach your study with humility and a willingness to learn about the customs and worldviews of the time. When you pick up the Bible, view yourself as a visitor, entering a whole new world that you must mentally, spiritually, and emotionally prepare yourself to understand.

Scripture: Romans 15:4 - "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."

5. Interpret with Humility

Acknowledge that, as finite humans, our understanding of Scripture will always be incomplete. Only the Holy Spirit can fully illuminate the truth. Don’t fall into the trap of arrogance, thinking you have all the answers. Humbly approach Scripture study with the recognition that some mysteries will only be fully understood in eternity.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12 - "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

6. Embrace the Paradoxes

The Bible contains seeming contradictions and mysteries, but it all works together in ways we cannot see. Embrace these paradoxes as opportunities to exercise your faith, recognizing that your understanding has limitations. Don’t try to force God into your box of logic. Scripture is not flawed simply because you can’t fully resolve every apparent paradox.

Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

7. Accept the Fullness of God's Nature

Don’t try to downplay or deny aspects of God’s character that make you uncomfortable. Scripture portrays Him as both loving and wrathful, merciful and just. It’s not your job to manage God’s reputation or make Him more palatable to modern sensibilities. Honor the fullness of His nature as revealed in His Word.

Scripture: Nahum 1:3 - "The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet."

8. Understand Historical Context

Recognize the Bible as a historical document. Understanding the events, customs, and laws of the time periods in which the stories took place is crucial for interpretation. Archaeology and ancient texts can provide valuable insights into the real-life context of the people and events of Scripture.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:11 - "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come."

9. Pray for Illumination

Before you study, ask the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding. He is your ultimate teacher and can provide the wisdom you need to apply Scripture to your life. Don’t approach the Bible as an academic exercise, but as a spiritual discipline that requires the Spirit’s illumination.

Scripture: John 14:26 - "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

10. Apply the Principles

Scripture is meant to transform you. As you gain insights, be intentional about how you can live out those truths in your thoughts, words, and actions. Bible study isn’t an end in itself, but a means to becoming more fully alive in Christ.

Scripture: James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

Deepening your understanding of Scripture takes time, effort, and dedication. By implementing these practices, you'll be better equipped to rightly handle the word of truth and grow in your faith.

Remember, the goal of Bible study is not just to gain knowledge, but to increasingly reflect the character of Christ in your life. As you engage with God's Word, may you find yourself becoming more fully alive in Him.