For years, I taught biblical interpretation at a Bible college. We studied the different types of biblical literature and how to interpret each. In the classroom, we’d often go to texts commonly understood a certain way, then try to discern what the original writer was conveying to the original readers.

Often we found a striking difference between what the texts actually said and how they were popularly understood. We realized that our minds often weren’t open to the meaning of the texts because of the preconceived ideas we were reading into them, ideas we’d heard from others or picked up from our culture, but which didn’t correspond to Scripture. That’s why it’s so important that we know how to properly approach studying and interpreting God’s word.

In her latest video, [former] EPM staffer Julia (Stager) Mayo gives some very helpful guidelines for interpreting the Bible. I think you’ll really enjoy her insights.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. —Psalm 119:18