Tip 005 - Be Loyal to the Text

What if the way you’ve always believed the Bible should be read is actually keeping you from understanding it? That’s a challenging question—but one that serious students of Scripture must face head-on.

If we want to truly understand the Bible, we have to be willing to let go of our preconceived ideas and theological commitments. It’s not easy. Most of us bring years of tradition, teaching, and even emotional attachments to our Bible study. But here’s the truth: the more assumptions we bring to the text, the harder it is to hear what it’s actually saying.

We need to allow the Bible to speak for itself.

The inspired Word of God is the text on the page—not our interpretation, our denomination’s doctrine, or our favorite pastor’s teaching. Those things might be helpful, but they are not the standard. The text is. And if we want to grow in our faith, in truth, and in relationship with God, we must be loyal to the text, even when it challenges what we’ve always believed.

So how do we do that? Here are five practical ways to be loyal to the text in your Bible study:

Let the Text Lead—Not Your Tradition

We all have beliefs shaped by upbringing, culture, or church tradition. But sometimes those beliefs aren’t actually rooted in Scripture—they're inherited. When studying the Bible, set aside your assumptions and let the passage guide your understanding. Ask, “What does the text say?” before asking, “How does this fit what I’ve always believed?”

Don’t Read Into It—Read Out of It

This is the heart of good Bible study. We must resist the urge to insert meaning into the text (called eisegesis) and instead draw meaning from the text itself (exegesis). That means paying attention to context, original audience, literary style, and key words. The Bible will speak clearly when we let it.

Hold Theology Loosely—Until the Text Makes It Firm

Theology is important—but it should flow from the text, not be forced onto the text. If you’ve built a theological position that isn’t supported by Scripture in context, it’s time to reevaluate. That doesn’t mean tossing out truth—it means being humble enough to let Scripture shape what you believe, even if that means changing long-held views.

Be Willing to Be Wrong

This one is tough. Sometimes the Bible confronts our beliefs, our identity, even our family legacy. But when the text clearly teaches something different from what we’ve always thought, we’re faced with a choice: will we be loyal to our beliefs, or loyal to the Word of God? True discipleship means choosing the latter, every time.

Stay Anchored in the Text—Not in Emotion

Feelings can be powerful, and we often associate certain doctrines or interpretations with deeply emotional experiences. But emotion is not a reliable foundation for truth. The Bible must be. Let Scripture challenge you, correct you, and even unsettle you. That’s often where the deepest growth happens.

Closing:

At the end of the day, only the text is inspired. Not our ideas about it, not our traditions, not our emotions. Just the text. If our beliefs don’t come from the Bible itself, we have to ask—are they truly biblical?

Let’s be students of the Word who are loyal to the text above all else. Let it shape us, stretch us, and sometimes even undo us—because in the undoing, God builds something truer, deeper, and more faithful.

Ready to dig deeper? Start your next study session by praying: “God, help me lay aside my assumptions and see Your Word clearly.” Then read with open eyes, humble heart, and a commitment to follow wherever the text leads.