[aruanan]

I understand and agree with what you say. I think the Bible should be read in 4 ways
1) As a plain and simple reading of any text with an open heart and mind.
2) Comparatively i.e comparing Old Test to New or Book to Book so that you come to a reasonable understanding of the whole sweep of Scripture.
3) An informed, but not prejudiced, reading with some understanding of what others have gleaned from the Scriptures.
4) In prayer to understand what God might be saying to you through them.

You forgot number 5: In the context of the history and society and religion and languages in which the books were written so that people now won't read into them something that doesn't exist.

[melsec]

Yes, sorry, the who, why, when, where and to whom - I must admit the languages side has always been a problem for me as I haven’t learnt Greek etc.

Mel

[melsec]

I must say though in the past few decades the areas of history, language and context has seen a lot of abuse in liberal protestant churches. It seems that if ‘”New Scholarship” believes that history, language or context is different from the traditionally held view then the meaning of the Scripture can be changed. This has been true on the issue of homosexuality , on biblical marriage, women ministers etc. There has also been a strong movement to place doubt on the authorship of some books. All ending in confusion for those who have trusted others to tell them what the Scriptures say and don't read the Bible for themselves.

Mel