Romans 15:4 – “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
There’s a mistake many well-meaning Christians make—especially when they’re new to reading the Bible:
They treat it like it was written to them—directly, personally, in modern English, with all the nuance of their own culture.
But here’s the truth:
The Bible wasn’t written to you.
It was written for you.
That’s not just a clever turn of phrase—it’s a critical distinction.
The Bible Is a Library, Not a Letter
The Bible isn’t a single book—it’s 66. Written over 1,500+ years, by dozens of authors, in three languages, across multiple genres, and addressed to real people in real historical contexts.
- Genesis wasn’t written to Americans.
- Leviticus wasn’t written to your youth group—so stop using it to condemn people.
- Jeremiah 29:11 wasn’t written to your graduating class.
- 1 Corinthians wasn’t written to you—it was written to a messy, chaotic first-century church trying to live for Christ in a culture that didn’t understand them.
- Revelation doesn’t exist to make us the star of the show. It’s apocalyptic literature—symbolism written to comfort persecuted believers, not a codebook for modern politics or conspiracy theories.
But even though these books weren’t written to you—they were written for you.
They show how God works, what God values, how humans respond, and how we’re invited to live. But to apply them rightly, you must understand the context.
Context Isn’t Optional—It’s Obedience
2 Timothy 2:15 says to rightly divide the word of truth. That means we don’t get to twist Scripture to fit our preferences or reduce it to motivational soundbites. Doing the work isn’t legalism—it’s discipleship.
A few common examples:
- Jeremiah 29:11 isn’t a promise that God has “great plans” for your next job interview. It’s a message to exiles in Babylon, assuring them of restoration after 70 years. It’s about long-haul hope, not quick fixes.
- Philippians 4:13 doesn’t mean you’ll win the big game. Paul wrote it from prison, saying he had learned to be content in every circumstance. It’s not about strength to achieve—it’s about strength to endure. And not minor inconveniences—Paul was in chains, literally in a Roman sewer.
- Matthew 7:1 says, “Judge not, that you be not judged,” but the passage goes on to teach how to judge rightly. Jesus doesn’t ban discernment—He bans hypocrisy.
When we ignore context, we don’t just misunderstand the Bible—we risk misrepresenting God.
Why This Matters
When we treat the Bible like a self-help book or a grab bag of quotes, we make it smaller than it really is. Worse, when we cherry-pick verses to prove our narrow points, we misuse Scripture to reinforce our image instead of being conformed to His.
Context always matters.
But when we ask, “What did this mean to them?” before “What does this mean to me?”, we unlock the power and beauty the Holy Spirit embedded in every passage.
The Bible has authority—but we must handle it with humility.
- We are not the center of Scripture—Jesus is.
- We are not the heroes—we are the rescued.
So What Do We Do?
- Study faithfully. Don’t just read devotionally—read intentionally. Ask who wrote it, to whom, why, and when.
- Use tools. A good study Bible, commentary, or Bible dictionary can help you go deeper.
- Ask better questions:
- What does this teach me about God?
- What does this reveal about human nature?
- How does this point to Jesus?
- Live it. Scripture isn’t for winning arguments—it’s for shaping lives. Your life may be the clearest “translation” some people ever read.
You are the living testimony. People see Jesus more clearly (or more distorted) through you.
The Bible wasn’t written to you—but by God’s grace, it was absolutely written for you.
Handle it well.
Learn it deeply.
Live it truthfully.
And let it shape not just your answers—but your heart.
Rooted & Reckoned 
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