SIX HINTS
Read the Bible as a Bible Believer. Do so in a way that honors Jesus Christ as the author behind the words.
Read with Fresh Eyes. Read like a disciple hearing, for the first time. Set aside conditioned responses.
Look for Tension or Contrast. Tension often signals a passage confronting tradition. Where does the text challenge what we think? Jesus often teaches by turning our expectations upside down. Let those verses be our guide.
Spot the Clues. Look for repeated words, sharp turns, surprising phrases or strong verbs and adjectives. What stands out? What is emphasized? These are the fingerprints of the Author.
Trace the Thread. Follow the reasoning to its conclusion. Where does the author's logic begin and end? Don't isolate verbiage and verses. Meaning grows as the argument unfolds.
Uncover the meaning. Don't invent or interpret meaning. Let the passage define itself. Especially don't force it into a system. Let the truth come forth, not from religious tradition, but from the text.