Why Is The Bible So Difficult To Understand

Discover why the Bible can be challenging to understand and how context, culture, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance can deepen your understanding of God’s Word.

Let’s be real and practical today. Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Why is the Bible so difficult to understand?” If so, you’re not alone. As a Bible teacher, I hear this concern expressed time and time again. And it’s a valid one—the Bible, with its ancient languages, cultural contexts, and deep spiritual truths, can often seem daunting and confusing. It’s a rich, complex book that doesn’t always reveal its treasures easily.

But rather than shying away from these challenges, let’s lean into them. Today, we’ll discuss why the Bible can be so difficult to grasp and, more importantly, how we can begin to unlock its profound wisdom. Let’s dive in and tackle these questions together.

Important Things To Know

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. 2Timothy 3:16

To begin, let’s establish a foundational truth:

It is Truth with a capital T, a divine revelation that stands unchallenged regardless of others’ opinions or interpretations. This is not just a book of history, poetry, or moral teachings—it is the very breath of God, a living and active document that speaks directly to our hearts and lives today.

But there’s another essential truth we must recognize: our ability to understand Scripture is not something we can achieve on our own. “

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13

This verse reminds us that our efforts to comprehend the Bible will fall short without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our divine teacher, leading us into the deep truths of God’s Word. It’s through His illumination that the Scriptures come alive, revealing their wisdom and relevance to us.

So, with these crucial beliefs firmly in place—the Bible is God’s Truth, and we need the Holy Spirit to truly understand it—let’s delve into why, even with this guidance, the Bible can still be difficult to understand.

Culture Shock

One of the primary reasons the Bible can be challenging to understand is that it was written in a vastly different cultural context from our own. While we can’t cover every difference that makes the Bible complex, understanding a few key factors can significantly enhance our comprehension.

During my studies in Israel, I had a profound realization. The experience was like stepping into another world—the land, the people, the customs, the language, the food, and even the mindset were completely foreign to what I was used to back home. Everything was so different, so very unlike my everyday American experience!

This exotic land and its people form the very backdrop of the Bible. The stories, laws, and teachings within its pages are deeply rooted in the ancient Near Eastern culture, which is far removed from the modern Western world we live in today.

It became clear to me that if I tried to read and interpret God’s Word solely through the lens of my own culture and experiences, I would miss much of its depth and meaning.

The Bible is an ancient book written thousands of years ago in a time and place that might seem distant and unfamiliar. Yet, despite this cultural gap, it remains profoundly relevant to our lives today. To bridge this gap, we must approach Scripture with an awareness of its original context while seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance to apply its timeless truths to our modern world.

By understanding the cultural differences between the world of the Bible and our own, we can start to peel back the layers and uncover the richness of its message. So, let’s explore some of these cultural aspects that might initially seem like barriers but can actually become windows into a deeper understanding of God’s Word.

We Are Modern Western Thinkers

Here’s something crucial to understand: we cannot fully grasp the depth of the Bible if we approach it with the mindset of 21st-century Western thinkers. Most of us read the Bible through the lens of our modern experiences and philosophies, which naturally leads to difficulties in understanding its message.

We are, by nature, products of our time and culture. As modern Westerners, our thinking is shaped by the world we live in—a world heavily influenced by Greek philosophy, rationalism, and the scientific method. Our approach to life, logic, and even spirituality is deeply rooted in these Western ideals.

Ancient Western Orthodox Thinkers

But the writers of the Bible thought very differently. They were ancient Eastern Orthodox thinkers immersed in a worldview that was vastly different from ours. Their thought processes were shaped by a rich tapestry of traditions, oral history, and communal living, all within a culture that valued wisdom, mystery, and the divine in ways that might seem foreign to us today.

Stepping Into Ancient Shoes

If we want to truly understand the Bible, we must do more than just read the words on the page—we need to step into the shoes of those ancient writers. God’s message was written to the world through the pen of the Ancients. We must strive to understand their context, their culture, and their mindset. By doing so, we can begin to see the Bible not just as a collection of ancient texts but as Almighty God speaking across time and culture.

This requires a shift in perspective. We must put aside our modern, Western filters and try to view Scripture through the eyes of those who first penned it. This doesn’t mean abandoning our own ways of thinking but rather expanding our understanding to include the rich in the ancient Near East.

By learning to think more like the Bible’s original authors, we can gain a deeper, more profound understanding of God’s Word. This journey might be challenging, but it rewards those who are willing to embark on it.

Understanding The Bible Is All About Context

One of the most important principles in understanding the Bible is the concept that “context is king.” This means that to truly grasp the meaning of a verse, chapter, or even an entire book, we must consider it within the broader context in which it was written.

The Bible is not a collection of isolated statements or random thoughts. It’s a cohesive narrative with interconnected themes and teachings. Each verse is part of a larger story, and its true meaning can often only be understood when viewed in relation to the surrounding text. This includes the immediate context, like words, phrases, and passages that come before and after a particular verse, as well as the context of an entire book or even the Bible as a whole.

A Small Eye-Opening Example

Let’s look at Matthew 15: 21-28…

Jesus is renowned by the time this scripture passage occurs, so he withdraws with His disciples to a non-Jewish region in Thyre called Sidon. He encounters a Canaanite woman who calls out to Him, saying, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

The disciples wanted to send her away, but Jesus answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman persisted, even bowing down and worshipping Him, begging Jesus to help. Then Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

But the woman replied, “Yes, it is, Lord. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

What Does Matthew 15: 21-28 Really Mean

This passage is a prime example of why understanding the cultural and historical context is essential for interpreting Scripture. There are many elements in this story worth discussing to grasp its full meaning.

For instance, why are Jesus and His disciples in Sidon, a predominantly Gentile region? Why is a Canaanite woman, a non-Jew, addressing Jesus? And why is she calling Him “Lord” and “Son of David”? Why does Jesus initially respond by saying He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel? These are all crucial questions that help us uncover the deeper and true meaning of this passage.

But for the sake of illustration, let’s focus on Jesus’ response to the woman.

When Jesus says, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs,” it can easily be misunderstood if we approach it with a modern Western mindset. To us, this might sound harsh and condescending. However, when we consider the context, we find that the term dogs here actually refers to little puppies, household pets, rather than the derogatory sense we might initially think of.

What Jesus is expressing is that His mission was to the Jews first—not to the exclusion of others, but in the order of God’s redemptive plan. As Romans 1:16-17 explains, Jesus came to the Jew first, and then also to the Gentile. At this moment in history, Jesus was focusing on His mission to the Jewish people.

Yet, it’s the woman’s persistent faith that prompts Jesus to respond with compassion, leading Him to heal her daughter. This passage, when understood in its full context, reveals not only Jesus’ mission but also His openness to anyone, regardless of their background.

Why Study The Bible

When we read the Bible with faith and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we open ourselves to a deeper understanding of God and His plan for us. By placing His Word in the context of its time, culture, and the mindset of its authors, we uncover richer insights and truths. Studying the Bible is a sanctifying lifelong journey that not only deepens our knowledge but also empowers us to live out His Word in our daily lives.

Prayer Calendar

Pray for someone you love. Write down something you want to pray for on each day of the month.

Have a blessed, Sunday!

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