If we find the Bible dull or boring, the problem is with us and not with the Bible.
Maybe you think the Bible is boring. You’ve been tangled in a genealogy, you’ve been bogged down in tabernacle materials and cubits, and you’ve been confused by certain ceremonies and sacrifices. You’ve tried to pronounce difficult names, you’ve scrunched your forehead at some geographical references, and you’ve felt intimidated by the sheer size and scope of the Old and New Testaments.
But let’s back up. What kind of book is the Bible? Think about what Christians claim about this book. Think about the seriousness of its subject matter and the influence it has had—and still has—around the world.
The Bible is the Drama of the ages, the Story of all stories. In this book we read of the living God’s acts of creation and redemption. We see the true story of the world. It rivals all other epics and transcends ancient myths. The Bible is not like any other book.
If you’re bored with the Bible, have you wondered why? A variety of explanations exist, and any (or several) of them could identify the problem. Let’s consider four possibilities.
1. You’re ignoring the Christological shape of Scripture.
The Bible is a Jesus book. The Old Testament foretells his coming, and the New Testament announces his arrival. To properly understand the parts of Scripture, we must see them in light of the whole. The big picture is a redemptive story, and it leads to a cross and through an empty tomb.
We must ask how the various people and covenants, the many events and laws, the patterns and institutions fit into the overarching story. Knowing the story is like having the top of a puzzle box with the picture clear and right beside you. Maybe, then, you’ve been reading the Bible without the puzzle box nearby, so you don’t yet see how the many pieces fit together and what picture they’re forming.
When we discern Scripture’s Christological shape, we see how it’s a library of books that all serve the good news of God’s gracious pursuit of sinners. But without the big picture in mind, the various parts might seem disconnected and uninteresting.
2. You’re unaware of certain historical matters.
No matter what chapter or book you open in Scripture, you’re thousands of years removed from the composition and content of what you read. The more understanding you gain about certain historical places, customs, laws, or genealogies, the less likely challenging passages will deter you from reading further.
Be relentlessly curious! Learning about biblical background issues takes work and resources. There are atlases and commentaries and study Bibles that can illuminate what seems perplexing at first glance. So be a curious reader. Ask yourself, Why is this here? What role does this passage or chapter play in the surrounding flow of Scripture? What details about this do I not know and need to investigate further?
As you approach Scripture, assume there are things you don’t yet know but that you need to know and will come to know. This posture will give the benefit of the doubt—and rightly so—to the biblical authors. And it’ll be a humble reminder that though you’re the present reader of the sacred text, you aren’t the first recipient of it.
3. You’re reading inconsistently.
A vague familiarity with Scripture won’t produce love for it. Sometimes we grow to love something because of our investment in it. Relationships can work that way, when we find ourselves enjoying someone as we get to know them better. Skills can work this way, which get nurtured with consistency and perseverance. What once seemed burdensome can become delightful.
Think of Scripture as something you won’t love if you only read it occasionally or randomly. Play the long game. Don’t you want to become a better Bible reader? Don’t you want to understand Scripture more, love it more, and remember it more? You need to read consistently. This will immerse you in the teachings and worldview of the biblical authors.
Your Bible reading habit (or lack thereof) won’t increase or decrease God’s love for you. But your spiritual discipline will affect the warmth of your heart toward truth. Your devotion to Scripture will cultivate your delight in the glories of Christ and the gospel.
4. You’re reading prayerless.
This possibility comes last but not because it’s least important. It may be the most important. You shouldn’t try to form a plan of consistent and meditative reading that’s void of prayer. The fittedness of prayer with Bible reading has been noted by many people (including Donald Whitney in his book Praying the Bible).
You should pray when you read Scripture because the Holy Spirit is real and active. Do you believe that? Do you pray like you believe that? The Spirit grants understanding and illuminates your mind. The Spirit prompts you with conviction or joy or peace. Your growth and maturity are not apart from the Spirit’s work but are the result of the Spirit’s work.
When you open your Bible, pray for focus and delight. Pray for insight. Pray for the Spirit’s fruit. Don’t read the Bible prayerlessly. God will show himself faithful and gracious as he nourishes your soul through his Word.
These four reasons don’t exhaust the explanations for why a reader might find Scripture unengaging. But because Scripture is divinely inspired and testifies to God’s redeeming work in Christ, our hearts and minds need to know what God has said. His words are words of truth, goodness, and wisdom. The Bible isn’t boring. The psalmist is right: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105).
Article by Mitch Chase / TGC US Edition
Image by Wix
Mitch Chase (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the preaching pastor at Kosmosdale Baptist Church and an associate professor of biblical studies at SBTS in Louisville, Kentucky. He’s the author of Short of Glory and Hope for All the Earth. He is married to Stacie, and they have four boys. You can follow him on Twitter and at his Substack, called “Biblical Theology.”
The Bible - The Word of God
Comments