What makes the Bible fascinating is that it is profound and simple all at the same time. It can capture the imagination of a child and the mind of a scholar; and it can speak to people from every walk of life. The reason this is possible is because God’s Word is clear. He speaks to us in ways all humans can understand. In fact, the “perspicuity” of Scripture (as it was called in times past) is the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture. And yet, we know from reading even small portions of the Bible that there are sections that are confusing or difficult. The clarity of Scripture does not mean that all things in Scripture are equally clear or that we don’t have to exert effort to understand the text. I like how Kevin DeYoung explains it in his book, Taking God at His Word, “The perspicuity (clarity) of Scripture upholds the notion that ordinary people using ordinary means can accurately understand enough of what must be known, believed, and observed for them to be faithful Christians.” 

So, there might be certain portions of the Bible that remain enigmatic for us, but the overwhelming majority of it is clear–especially that which we need for salvation and Godliness. The Psalmist says God’s Word is a light and a lamp that illuminates the way for us (Ps 119:105). He would not or could not call it that if the Word was something obscure or unknowable. In fact, what we see throughout Scripture is that God’s people are called to know His Word and obey it, to teach it to our children (Deut 6:7), hide it in our hearts so we don’t sin (Ps 119:11), and to let it richly dwell in us (Col 3:16). The assumption in all of this is that it is clear enough for us to do these things. 

I want you to have confidence that God’s Word is clear, and that while we may not grasp everything perfectly or even immediately, through careful reading and study we can know enough to be faithful and obedient. So, when we come to difficult sections of Scripture let’s resist the urge to quit, throw up our hands in resignation, or ask Google. Let’s trust the Holy Spirit to help us, rely on the clarity of Scripture, and follow these 5 steps to work through difficult parts of the Bible.

1. Pray. 

Recognize that tough passages are a signal to pray more, not give up. We always need the Holy Spirit to help us study the Bible, but difficult sections expose that need plainly! Let your posture be one of humility—a deep need for the Lord and a recognition that we don’t study the Bible to “master” it but to submit to it.

Ask: Pray and ask the Lord to help you see His Word clearly and remove any misconceptions or confusion so you can understand it and obey it. 

2. Zoom out to make sure you understand the context. 

Don’t lose the forest for the trees. Difficult sections should prompt us to zoom out on a larger portion of the text to find the author’s entire train of thought. Then we can zoom back in to find his individual points. Read the chapter before and after your section to find the author’s train of thought. Read more if necessary. 

Ask: What is the big idea the author is trying to teach his readers in this section of Scripture? And what are the individual points the author makes in this context? How does your passage fit in?

Ask: Does the topic of your passage appear in other places in the Bible, too? Do those parts of the Bible need to be consulted to fully understand your section? Clearer portions of Scripture helps us understand more obscure sections. You can use a resource like Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology to read all that the Bible teaches on certain important topics like God, sin, man, angels, the Church, salvation, last things, etc. This might help you understand your passage better.

3. Zoom in to make sure you understand the details.

Once you can grasp (however loosely) the author’s train of thought, zoom in again to his individual points. The details in the passage help to reveal the meaning of the text. So, make every effort to understand each word and concept in your tough section.

• To help with this, read your section in another translation or look at the definitions of certain words in the original Greek or Hebrew.
  • Go to BibleHub.com or use the Bible Hub App to do both. (I have a tutorial for this!)
• Use a Bible Dictionary to look up key words like people, places, and ideas that appear in the text. 

Ask: How do the details contribute to the meaning of the text?

4. Consult key resources.

Once you have done your work to interpret the section well, consult key outside resources to help you assemble the correct meaning and application.

• Try asking your question at gotquestions.org for a short answer.
• Or consult a trusted commentary for a longer or more detailed explanation.
  • For a free commentary, use BibleHub.com or the Bible Hub app and choose the “Study” or “Commentary” buttons.
  • If you want to purchase a commentary:
    • Here’s a great list from Tim Challies.
    • This is another great list from Ligonier.

5. Engage your biblical community. 

You should be getting closer to understanding your text now (or at least knowing the main perspectives different Christians might have about it). As you come to a solid understanding, always double check your conclusions with wise Christians in your circle (pastors, small group leaders, mentors) and beyond (research what Biblically sound teachers/pastors have said about your topic in the past). You don’t want to have a completely rogue interpretation, so make sure that your thoughts align with wise and Godly thinking from at least a few trustworthy sources. Even if there is some disagreement about your text within the Church, confirm that your conclusions fall within sound doctrine.

Bottom line: It’s ok (and normal!) to feel some tension in Bible study and not walk away with an “answer” every time you close the Bible. That doesn’t mean the text isn’t clear! It just means that Bible study is a process. Don’t be discouraged! Follow the steps above. And don’t be afraid to flag your section and come back to it at a later time. We use challenging sections as motivation to purposefully pursue God’s Word with humility and determination, but we also trust that God will teach us step by step in His perfect timing!