When You Wonder WhySample

What Is Truth?

How can we know truth from our limited perspectives? When we are trying to determine the truth, we can’t just rely on our own perspectives or feelings. Feelings change over time, and we only see a small part of the picture, but God knows all things from beginning to end. He doesn’t just decide what is true. He is the truth.

The Bible is the living and active word of God, and God speaks to us from his Word so we know it can be trusted. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to interpret. The Bible was written long ago in cultures very different from our own. And, it can be easy to misunderstand what the Bible is saying.

Let’s look at a few principles for interpretation.

Context matters. Just like God came to us as Jesus in a particular time and place, God’s word in the Bible comes through individuals writing during particular moments in history. When we understand the who, what, where, when and why of the Bible, we’ll have a much better idea of the truth being communicated and how it applies to us today.

When you’re puzzled by something in the Bible, look to history. Christianity isn’t a new religion, and 2,000 years of studying Scripture has already taken place. Many of your questions are probably things Christian thinkers and writers have pondered throughout history. We can gain wisdom from others as we follow the paths of Christians who have walked before us.

Read with community. All Christians make up part of the body of Christ. Reading the Bible together allows us to hear the Spirit speaking in different ways, helping us gain a more complete picture of God’s Word.

Finally, read the Bible prayerfully, listening for the Spirit and weighing different parts of Scripture against each other. Ask God to reveal himself and make his Word clear to you as you read. God has the power to meet with you as you engage with the Bible. He wants to speak to you through his Word!