God-Breathed and Spirit-Led
Christians believe that the Bible is not just a human creation, but a divine one. It was written by human authors—real people in real places, with their own languages, styles, and cultural understandings. Yet behind and through these human words is the voice of God.
The Church teaches that the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit. This does not mean that the authors were passive scribes, but rather that God worked through their minds, hearts, and hands to express what He wished to reveal. In Greek, the word for “inspired” literally means “God-breathed.”
The Role of the Church in Understanding the Bible
Since the Bible is inspired by God, it is profound and multi-layered. Some parts are easy to understand; others are complex, poetic, or symbolic. That’s why the Bible was never meant to be interpreted in isolation.
From the beginning, the Scriptures have been read within the Church—prayed, proclaimed, and explained in the context of faith, worship, and community. Just as the Church received the Bible through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so too the Church reads and interprets it with the same guidance.
The Church Fathers taught that Scripture has several levels of meaning—including literal, moral, and spiritual senses. For example, the crossing of the Red Sea was a real historical event, but it also points to Christian baptism and liberation from sin.
Tradition and Scripture Together
The Bible cannot be separated from the life of the Church. Just as the Bible comes from the Church, it must also be read with the Church—and this includes Sacred Tradition, which refers to the lived faith, liturgy, and teaching passed down from the apostles.
Scripture and Tradition are like two streams flowing from the same divine source, mutually illuminating and supporting one another. Reading the Bible apart from the Church risks misunderstanding or reducing it to a private opinion.
Reading with the Heart
While study and learning are valuable, reading the Bible is not only an academic pursuit—it is a spiritual one. The Church invites all the faithful to read the Scriptures with prayer, humility, and reverence. St. Augustine once said, “When you read the Bible, God speaks to you; when you pray, you speak to God.”
Before opening the Bible, it is good to pray and ask the Holy Spirit for light and understanding. Read slowly, attentively, and openly. Let the words challenge and comfort you. If something is difficult to understand, that’s okay—it’s part of the journey. What matters most is the openness of heart.
“The Scriptures were not given to us for display, but to be read with care.”
—St. John Chrysostom
A Living Word
The Bible is not a closed book from the past—it is a living Word. When we read it in the light of Christ, it speaks directly to our lives. It reveals who God is, who we are, and the path to eternal life.
In the East and the West alike, the Church continues to proclaim this Word, not only in books but in the lives of the saints, in the prayers of the faithful, and in the heart of every believer.
Next: Part 4 – Tradition and the Role of the Church →