Four Simple Principles for Deep Bible Study

Lessons I learned during my PhD program that don't require a PhD!

As a PhD student in theology, I recently found myself surrounded by towering stacks of academic texts—ten different books demanding my attention over three months. But in a moment of quiet conviction, I realized something troubling: I was spending more time reading books about God than actually reading God's Word itself. How easily we can gravitate toward C.S. Lewis or our favorite Christian authors while neglecting the very words God has graciously given us in Scripture.

We live in an unprecedented age of biblical accessibility. With a simple Google search, any translation of the Bible is at our fingertips. Yet paradoxically, many believers feel more distant from Scripture than ever. The perceived complexity of the text creates a barrier—questions about Greek and Hebrew, proper techniques, and scholarly methods can feel so daunting that we retreat to the safety of someone else's interpretation rather than engaging the text ourselves.