How can we understand difficult or confusing text in the Bible?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is to remember that the Bible's central message—God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ—is clear and simple (Question 56). The Holy Spirit (Question 66) is given to you to be your internal teacher. When you approach a difficult text, do not panic; simply slow down and ask the Spirit for wisdom.
The confusing texts often involve cultural details, complex prophecy, or history. God allows these difficulties to remain, in part, so that we will humbly seek Him, study diligently, and rely on the community of the Church for help. The hard work of studying a difficult text often results in the greatest spiritual reward.
The Simple Answer
The golden rule of biblical interpretation is: "Context is King."
Never read a single verse in isolation. To understand a difficult verse, you must apply the Three Cs of biblical study:
Context: What does the verse mean in the verses immediately before and after it, the chapter, and the book it belongs to?
Comparison (Scripture Interprets Scripture): What do the clear, simple passages in the rest of the Bible (especially the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles) say about this topic? Confusing passages should always be read in light of clear ones.
Consultation: What do mature Christians, trusted pastors, and sound Bible commentaries say about this passage? You are not the first person to struggle with it.
The Deeper Dive
Here is a four-step framework for approaching confusing or difficult passages:
1. Define the Context (The Immediate Ring)
The first question is not "What does this mean to me?" but "What did this mean to the original audience?"
Literary Context: Is this text poetry (Psalms), law (Leviticus), history (Kings), prophecy (Revelation), or a letter (Romans)? You read a proverb differently than you read a command.
Historical Context: Who was the author? Who were the readers? What historical circumstances caused this passage to be written? (For instance, understanding slavery in the Bible, Question 72, requires historical context.)
2. Apply the Comparison Test (The Outer Ring)
If a verse seems to contradict a core Christian doctrine (like the sinlessness of Christ, Question 74, or salvation by grace, Question 61), it means you are likely misinterpreting that verse.
The Analogy of Scripture: The entire Bible is consistent (Question 56). If your interpretation of one verse makes another verse untrue, your interpretation is probably wrong. The clear parts of the Bible shed light on the obscure parts.
3. Consult Reliable Sources (The Community Check)
You should always read the Bible alone, but you should never read it alone.
The Church: Discuss the passage with your small group leader or pastor. They have often been trained in ancient languages and historical background.
Study Tools: Use a study Bible, a reliable commentary, or a concordance to cross-reference words and concepts. These tools are available to help you understand difficult concepts like the Ark of the Covenant (Question 68) or the nature of God (Question 65).
4. Pray for Consecration (The Spiritual Condition)
The Holy Spirit is the ultimate guide to truth.
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." — John 14:26 (ESV)
Humbly ask God to remove any bias, pride, or intellectual resistance that might be blinding you to the truth of the text.
God's Assurance
God assures you that He is not trying to trick you. His truth is meant to be known, and He will reward your diligence in seeking it.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." — James 1:5 (ESV)
You are assured that the Holy Spirit is working within you to guide you into all truth.
Your Takeaway Thought
Never skip a passage just because it is hard. Instead, use the difficulty as an opportunity to dig deeper, pray harder, and rely more heavily on the Holy Spirit. If a passage truly remains confusing, set it aside for a time, focus on the clear teachings, and trust that God will reveal the meaning when you are ready.
