From the DAWGHouse…
How We Read the Bible Means Everything
In a recent Forge session, John Farwell shared that the way we approach and interpret the Bible can shape not only our understanding of God but also how we live out our faith. For many in Western civilization, it’s easy to read Scripture through the lens of individualism, self-reliance, and material success. But the Bible wasn’t written within our modern Western framework. It emerged from ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures, filled with communal values, covenant relationships, and an emphasis on collective identity. Without recognizing this, we risk missing the fullness of its message.
As John shared, the biblical authors wrote with a deeply communal mindset. In contrast to the Western focus on personal freedom and autonomy, biblical societies valued family, tribe, and nation. When Paul writes about the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12), he’s not encouraging mere personal growth. He’s calling believers to live in unity and mutual dependence. Without this understanding, we might reduce passages like this to self-help advice rather than a call to radical community.
Similarly, the Hebrew Scriptures are brimming with covenantal language. God’s relationship with Israel was not just a private spiritual connection but a public and communal commitment. Reading the Old Testament solely as a personal moral guide misses the profound covenant narrative that threads through its pages.
The Bible contains poetry, prophecy, law, history, and letters—each with unique literary conventions. Western readers sometimes struggle to differentiate between these genres, leading to misinterpretation. For instance, reading the Psalms as if they are doctrinal statements rather than heartfelt expressions of human emotion can strip them of their depth and honesty. Likewise, parables, a teaching form often used by Jesus, are not mere moral lessons. They are designed to provoke thought, challenge assumptions, and reveal kingdom truths. A Western mindset may seek to systematize or intellectualize these stories instead of sitting with their transformative implications.
Western culture often prizes personal success and self-actualization. As a result, it can be tempting to interpret Scripture as a blueprint for achieving our own goals. Verses like Jeremiah 29:11 (“For I know the plans I have for you…”) are frequently claimed as personal promises without considering their original context as a message of hope to an exiled people.
The Bible’s central narrative is not about us as individuals; it’s about God’s redemptive work through Jesus Christ. Recognizing this shifts our reading from a self-centered perspective to a Christ-centered one. It leads us to ask, “What does this passage reveal about God and His kingdom?” rather than merely, “What does this say about me?”
Reading the Bible rightly requires humility and a willingness to step outside our cultural biases.
Engaging with perspectives from believers across the globe can deepen our understanding of Scripture. The experiences of Christians in non-Western contexts often illuminate themes of suffering, communal reliance, and unwavering faith in ways we might overlook.
Ultimately, the Bible is God’s Word to all people.
But understanding its timeless truths means recognizing the cultural world in which it was written. By doing so, we open ourselves to a richer, more faithful reading—one that transforms not just our minds, but our hearts and lives.
May we read with eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts that seek the truth beyond our own cultural boundaries.
Freedom, as Jesus intended!
Joe Bouch
