You don't need vast knowledge to know the Bible

The Bible is one complex library of stories that tell of Salvation history and it's easy to get dissuaded by the immense knowledge of the Scriptures. You might think you can't get the most out of Scripture without devoting many years of study beforehand.

However, Dr. Scott Hahn and Dr. Shane Owens explain that this is far from the truth. Having studied the history and linguistics of the Bible might help with reading it, but that can only take you so far. Dr. Owens points out that the Bible was purposely written to reflect the human experience.

The various genres of the Bible are relatable and understandable to anyone- regardless of one's background. To further this point, Dr. Owens points to the examples of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Augustine and how they implemented the psalms in their daily lives.

You can watch the full episode from the Drawing Flame podcast here:

[Serquss]

I enjoy reading the Bible with my children. They make observations and ask such interesting questions I've never considered.

[deogratias]

I owe an enormous debt to Dr Hahn who undid for me some crazy stuff (e.g non-bodily resurrection of Jesus) that I learnt in the seminary. Then how to read the Bible as a covenant story - and for me, too. Thank you so much!

[Maccabees]

It's not necessary to be a Scripture scholar to benefit from reading the Bible, but neither is it acceptable to not grow in one's understanding of it. Nothing in this world is learned overnight or by settling for a superficial familiarization; it is no different with the Scriptures which are not learned by "holy osmosis." We should read them constantly, and meditate and contemplate on them assiduously, but to the extent of our natural abilities we should always seek to grow in knowledge of them-- literal meaning, context, typology, cultural and historical setting, etc., so that we don't just attach any meaning to them that strikes our fancy, but to know to the extent we can what the original authors were trying to teach their original readers and thus what the Holy Spirit wants us to take from it. This is the value of ministries like the St. Paul Center and the fine scholars our generation has been blessed with-- Dr. Hahn, Dr, Pitre, Dr. Bergsma, and others. We should read the Bible everyday-- both to meditate on it and to study it.

[davidthehermit]

Understanding scripture takes a little bit of effort: in reading the early Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church and some Catholic commentaries, that do not teach against what the the aforementioned taught who have already done the heavy lifting for us. By learning your religion and the Catholic Church's long standing interpretations of Scripture is a sure way of understanding the truth of scripture; stay away from the modernist and their corrupt ideals, for their path leads to hell.

[DenisOhAichir]

I hear people using their own interpretation based on their own ignorance messing up the Word of God, big difference between an idiot and Brante Pitre interpretation of the Bible.