Understanding the Bible: Difficult Passages

Introduction

To understand a difficult passage in the Bible, the method comes down to a few simple habits: reread the passage in its context, compare several translations, let clear passages shed light on obscure ones, make use of good tools, pray and, if needed, ask someone more advanced for help. None of these habits require theological training. What they require, above all, is patience and the attitude of a disciple.

You may have just run into a text that shocks you, that seems to contradict another passage, or that simply stays opaque after three readings. That's a normal experience. In this article, you'll see why some passages resist understanding, then four concrete habits to apply, in order, the next time you get stuck.

Why some Bible passages are difficult

The Bible itself acknowledges the difficulty. The apostle Peter writes about Paul's letters that they contain "some things hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:16). If an apostle says so, you don't need to feel guilty when a text resists you.

The difficulties mainly come from three places:

Historical and cultural distance. Biblical texts were written two to three thousand years ago, in foreign languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek) and in a world very different from ours. Many images, customs, and allusions spoke immediately to the first readers, but no longer to us.
The diversity of literary genres. Historical narratives, laws, poetry, wisdom writings, prophecies, parables, letters: each genre is read differently. You don't read a psalm the way you read a genealogy or a vision from Revelation.
Our own assumptions. Everyone approaches the Bible with filters: their culture, their upbringing, their preconceived ideas. Many disagreements about what the Bible teaches come less from the book's obscurity than from its readers' biases. Becoming aware of your own filters already helps you read better.

Above all, remember this: the difficulty of certain passages does not call into question the overall clarity of Scripture. "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:130). God does not communicate in order to be misunderstood. The heart of the Bible is accessible to every reader, including beginners. If that's you, start with our guide How to Read the Bible When You're a Beginner: it lays the groundwork this article builds on.

Habit #1: reread the passage in its context

You hate it when your words are taken out of context. It's the same with the Bible: an isolated verse can be made to say the opposite of what the text actually affirms. Paul asks Timothy to rightly handle "the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15): that starts with respecting context. Concretely, there are four circles of context to examine, from the nearest to the widest.

Literary context

Read the verses before and after, then the whole chapter, then place the passage within the outline of the book. Ask yourself: what is the author talking about just before this? Where is he heading? What is the theme of the book?

Historical context

Who is writing, to whom, under what circumstances? The Bible was first addressed to its original recipients. Understanding their situation (a people in exile, a persecuted church, a discouraged disciple) often sheds light on an obscure passage.

Biblical context

Many texts quote or evoke other passages of Scripture. Spotting these quotations and allusions (often noted in the margin of your Bible) shows how the author fits within the story God has been unfolding since Genesis.

The context of the whole Bible

Every passage takes its place within the great biblical story: creation, fall, redemption, consummation. Ask yourself where your passage sits within this story and what it reveals about God's plan. An Old Testament text, for example, is understood in light of what Jesus accomplished.

Habit #2: compare translations and let Scripture interpret Scripture

Some of the difficulty simply comes from translation: an outdated word, an ambiguous phrasing. Before concluding anything, reread the passage in two or three different translations (one literal and one more common). Often, the difficulty clears up on its own. To know which versions to use, read our article Which Bible Translation to Choose.

Then apply a principle inherited from the Reformation: Scripture explains Scripture. Despite the diversity of its authors and styles, Scripture forms a coherent whole, and each passage sheds light on others. Concretely:

Look for parallel texts. The same event or the same teaching often appears elsewhere (in another Gospel, another historical book, another letter). Comparison sharpens the meaning.
Let clear passages shed light on obscure ones. Never the other way around. Don't build a doctrine on a difficult verse while ignoring ten plain passages that say something else.
Interpret the passage in a way consistent with the whole. If your reading of a verse contradicts the Bible's consistent teaching, it's probably your reading that needs revisiting, not the Bible.

Habit #3: use good tools and ask for help

In the book of Acts, a high-ranking Ethiopian official reads the prophet Isaiah without understanding it. Philip asks him: "Do you understand what you are reading?" He answers: "How can I, unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:30-31). This story shows two things: the biblical text needs to be explained, and God uses people to do it.

Here are the most helpful aids, roughly in this order:

A study Bible, with its book introductions and footnotes: it's the simplest tool for context.
A Bible dictionary and one or two good commentaries, for passages that truly resist.
Brothers and sisters more mature in the faith. Interpretation is not a solitary exercise: talk about it in your home group, ask an elder or your pastor. God's Spirit also works through faithful teachers.
The internet, with caution. You'll find the best and the worst there. Favor recognized Christian sites and always cross-check with your own reading of the text.

If you want to go further and work through a passage in a structured way (observe, interpret, apply), our article How to Prepare a Personal Bible Study gives you a step-by-step approach.

Habit #4: pray, be patient, and distinguish the clear from the obscure

Understanding the Bible isn't just a matter of method. It is God who gives light. Jesus praises his Father for having "hidden these things from the wise and understanding" and having "revealed them to little children" (Matthew 11:25). Before opening the text, simply ask the Holy Spirit to give you light and to set aside your preconceived ideas. Pray also during and after reading: understanding the Bible is received as much as it is worked for.

Then, accept patience. Some passages will become clear in six months; others will remain debated among sincere Christians until Christ's return. That's alright. The right attitude consists of:

honestly acknowledging the difficulty, without hiding it or dramatizing it;
holding firmly to what is clear (the person of Jesus, the Gospel, God's love, the call to obedience);
remaining in search on what is obscure, with the attitude of a disciple rather than a judge;
avoiding confidently settling what the Church has debated for centuries.

And remember why you make this effort: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Even a difficult passage is given to help you grow. The goal is not to win a debate, but to be transformed. That's why regular reading matters more than one-off feats: a difficult passage becomes familiar over the course of a daily habit of Bible reading.

Key takeaways

The difficulty of certain passages is normal and acknowledged by the Bible itself (2 Peter 3:16); it does not call into question the overall clarity of Scripture.
The first habit is always context: literary, historical, biblical, and the passage's place in the Bible's grand story.
Compare several translations and let clear passages shed light on obscure ones, never the other way around.
Study Bibles, commentaries, and more mature brothers and sisters are aids willed by God, just as Philip was for the Ethiopian.
Pray before reading, be patient, and stay humble about questions Christians still debate.

Personal application

Which biblical passage is stumping you right now? Take ten minutes this week to reread it along with the surrounding verses and the book's introduction in a study Bible.
Do you tend to isolate verses from their context? Which of your favorite verses deserves to be reread within its entire chapter?
Who can you turn to in your church when a text is beyond you? If you have no one, who could you ask this coming Sunday?
Do you pray before opening your Bible? Try, for one week, starting every reading with a short prayer asking God to give you light.

Verses cited

Frequently asked questions

Why are some Bible passages hard to understand?

Because the Bible was written two to three thousand years ago, in languages and a culture very different from ours, using varied literary genres (narratives, laws, poetry, prophecies). Our own assumptions also complicate reading: we approach the text with preconceived ideas. The Bible itself acknowledges this: Peter says Paul's letters contain things hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16). The difficulty is normal; it isn't a flaw in the book.

What should I do when a biblical passage seems to contradict another one?

Start by rereading both passages in their context: to whom the author is writing, for what purpose, in what literary genre. Then compare several translations, then let clear passages shed light on obscure ones, never the other way around. Scripture explains Scripture. If the tension remains, talk about it with a leader or consult a good commentary, and accept that some questions stay open without calling into question what is clear.

Do you need to be a pastor or theologian to understand the Bible?

No. Psalm 119:130 affirms that the unfolding of God's words gives understanding to the simple, and Jesus praises the Father for having revealed these things to little children (Matthew 11:25). The heart of the Bible is accessible to any reader who prays and perseveres. But God also uses faithful teachers, like Philip who guided the Ethiopian (Acts 8:30-31). Reading on your own and getting help are not opposed to each other; the two go together.

All articles on “Faith”

to take notes and ask questions.