You might think I’m strange, but hermeneutics—the science of Bible interpretation—has long been one of my favourite fields of study. Of all the things I’ve learned about understanding the Bible, one of the most valuable insights was learning to truly observe Scripture.
Many Christians don’t realize it, but the majority of biblical truth can be revealed by focused, intentional reading and careful observation of Scripture. This kind of study doesn’t require the use of extensive study tools. Commentaries have their place, but it is far more exciting to discover truths for yourself first before looking at someone else’s observations. The more skilled you and I become at focused, intentional reading and observing, the more insight we will gather from the pages of Scripture.
Perhaps it’s my particular interest in Bible interpretation that makes me more aware of what I see as a growing biblical illiteracy among Christians and the common struggle to truly observe Scripture as they read. Biblical illiteracy might be understandable if we lacked the ability to read, had limited access to Bibles, or if they were only available in the original languages. But today, we have more Bibles and Bible translations than any other time in history!
We all acknowledge the importance of Bible study—some of us even attend Bible study groups. But how many are engaged in personal study for themselves? And when we gather for Bible study, what happens? Are we merely listening to the observations of others, or are we personally digging in to discover what God has said? I ask this because instead of truly observing, it seems many Christians today are keener on bringing their own experience to bear on Scripture than bringing Scripture to bear on their own experience.
In all fairness, perhaps this approach is due to a lack of knowledge and ability. In that case, all it takes to reveal truth is learning to observe. What do we need for that?
The first thing we need is the right mental attitude. Many times, I look at a passage but I don’t truly “see” because my mental attitude isn’t right. I am not mentally engaged. I do not have an inquiring posture. I’m not thinking like a detective hunting for clues. These are the things that are first required to unearth scriptural gems. The mindset we need is described in Proverbs 2:2–4 (italics for emphasis):
Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
Once we have that mindset, we can ask, “What are the most important elements to learn to observe and gather insights from?” Here are four elements:
1. Literary Forms
Let me illustrate a fundamental but often overlooked aspect of observation. If you picked up a storybook that began, “Once upon a time, long ago and far away in an enchanted land…” you’d likely be reading a fairy tale based on its literary style. Similarly, we need to observe the different literary forms of the Bible because it contains historical narrative, poetry, epistle, allegory, parable, and apocalyptic. Different “rules” govern how each of these must be handled. It is important that we know what we are reading so we don’t mishandle it.
2. Terms
We must learn terminology. Key words are crucial to understanding what is written. For example, when you read through John’s gospel, you will see that he uses the word “believe” no less than 79 times, always as a verb and never as a noun. Every book of the Bible is the same. Terms are the building blocks with which meaning is constructed.
3. Structure
Another important element to observe is structure. The Bible is not a collection of random sayings. It is a library of books that have been carefully constructed in their grammar and literary structure. By observing simple grammatical elements like nouns and verbs and literary devices like questions and answers, cause and effect, and patterns in the language, we will understand so much more.
4. Atmosphere
The final important element to observe is the atmosphere or tone of what you are reading. When Paul writes “Rejoice in the Lord always” from the depths of a stinky Roman prison, it takes on a different tone. When he scolds the Corinthians for their carnality (1 Corinthians 3:1–9), the atmosphere of the writing conveys that. Engaging our imaginations to observe the tone helps the text come alive to us.
Yogi Berra, the colourful one-time player and coach of the New York Yankees, said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” I love that. When it comes to understanding God’s Word, I say, “You can see a lot by observing.” Words to learn by as you gain skills in focused, intentional reading and practice observing Scripture.
