“The aim of theology is not just to make us smart sinners, but to make us holy people.”~ D.A Carson
In today’s busy world, it’s easy for Christians to read the Bible without ever stopping to ask, “How does this really impact my life?” We might study Scripture, grasp its theology, and even memorize verses, but often there’s a gap between what we know and how we live. The result? Lives that don’t fully show the transforming power of God’s Word. Many believers face this challenge: How do we move from understanding the Bible to applying it in a way that truly changes us? Theologian Kevin Vanhoozer once said, “To be biblical is not only to interpret the Bible correctly but also to embody its truths in our daily lives.” James also reminds us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Therefore, this article explores how we can bridge that gap between theology and daily living.
Theology Must Lead to Action
A real danger arises when Christians focus only on theology without considering how it applies to their lives. If we only aim for right understanding (theology) without right practice (orthopraxy), we create a disconnect between knowledge and life. This can lead to what John Stott called “double-mindedness”—professing faith while living contrary to it.
However, true theology and practical obedience go hand in hand. You can’t separate the two without weakening the Christian life. If our understanding of God doesn’t lead us to real, visible change, it’s dead theology. But God’s Word is anything but dead—it is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,” as Hebrews 4:12 says. It cuts deep into our souls, revealing our innermost thoughts, exposing our sin, and shaping our motives.
The apostle Paul also speaks about the transformative power of Scripture. In 1 Thessalonians 1:5, he notes that the Word of God came to the Thessalonians “not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” The gospel isn’t just information—it’s a powerful force that changes what we believe and how we live. It calls for a response.
Principles of Biblical Application
How do we apply the Bible in a way that honors God and stays true to its message? To do this well, we need to keep two key principles in mind:
1. Faithful Application Starts with Faithful Interpretation
You can’t apply the Bible correctly without first understanding what it really means. This process, called exegesis, is all about digging into the original meaning of a passage. Before we ask, “How does this apply to me today?” we have to first ask, “What did this mean to the people it was originally written to?” Skipping this step can lead to misusing Scripture, where verses are pulled out of context and made to say things they were never meant to.
Take Philippians 4:13, for example: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It’s often used as a motivational quote for personal success. But if we look closer, we see that Paul was actually talking about finding contentment even in tough times. Not promising personal victories in every situation. Without proper interpretation, we can end up misunderstanding the Bible in ways that mislead or even harm others.
For a deeper dive into how to correctly understand Scripture, check out our blogpost on “Exegesis vs. Eisegesis: Unveiling the Depths of Bible Study”, where we’ve covered the topic of exegesis in more detail.
2. Journey from the Original Hearers to Us Today
Once we have understood the meaning of a passage for its original audience, we can then ask how it applies to us today. This requires a careful journey—one that moves us from how the text would have been understood in the historical context of the Bible’s original hearers to our contemporary context. It is essential to avoid the temptation to jump directly from the text to our modern-day situation without first considering the historical and cultural context into which it was applied (1).
The Bible wasn’t written directly to a 21st-century audience, so our starting point must be to ask: What response did the author expect from the original readers? What was the biblical writer aiming to change in them? (2) Gwilym Davies captures this well in his book on Application, where he writes that “the Bible comes pre-applied” and “precontextualized.” He explains: “The Bible is a message: it speaks with purpose, and it comes pre-applied. But neither is the Bible a generalized message, vaguely addressing everyone, precisely addressing none. Each of the books of the Bible speaks into a context. They address specific people, with specific temptations, a shared history, and particular pastoral needs.”
This means our job isn’t to force an application onto a passage that feels right to us. Instead, we need to dig deep to understand the text’s purpose from the perspective of the author and the original audience. When we do this work well, we’re in a much better position to faithfully apply its truths to our own lives and contexts.
Sometimes the author’s purpose is clearly stated. For example:
- In John 20:30-31, the apostle John says he wrote his gospel so readers “may believe that Jesus is the Messiah” and “have life in His name.”
- In Luke 1:1-4, Luke explains that he wrote his gospel to provide an orderly account of Jesus’ life so that his audience could be confident about the teachings they had received.
- In 1 John 5:13, John shares that he wrote to assure believers that they “have eternal life.”
But not every passage spells out the author’s purpose as clearly as these examples. In such cases, we need to pay attention to the imperatives the author gives. Even then, it’s not enough to immediately apply those imperatives to ourselves. Instead, we need to consider the specific context in which they were given.
Once we have established the author’s intended purpose, we must then interpret this in light of Christ’s coming and the work He accomplished (3). This is especially relevant for Old Testament passages. As Christopher J.H. Wright notes in The Mission of God, “We must constantly move from the historical context of the Bible to its significance in light of Christ, asking how the redemptive work of Jesus reshapes the way we apply Scripture.”
For instance, when considering the dietary laws in Leviticus, though these are commands to be understood as outlined in stage two, it would be misguided to apply them directly to our lives today, as Christ’s coming has transformed their significance. Therefore, we should resist the urge to immediately transfer the message to our context without considering the gap between us and the original audience, and how Christ’s coming has affected our application of the same (4).
If we rush too quickly from the original audience to our modern context, we risk turning biblical truths into mere moral lessons, missing the richness of the gospel. The gospel, centered on Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, shapes how we read and apply all of Scripture. The laws, rituals, and prophets of the Old Testament find their ultimate meaning in Christ. Only after we’ve considered a passage in light of His redemptive work can we faithfully draw principles for today (5). Without this Christ-centered focus, we might reduce Scripture to a rulebook, rather than a story of redemption that points to Jesus.
Related: How to Develop a Gospel-Centered Approach to Bible Study
That said, moving from the original hearers to today’s context can sometimes be more straightforward, especially with New Testament letters. Many of these letters were written to believers who already understood Christ’s work, so in some cases, we can apply the message directly to ourselves as modern-day Christians. However, this does not negate the importance of carefully understanding the original context in which the text was written and the intended outcome of the author.
Check out our blog post on Context is King: How to Study the Bible in Context to learn more about why considering the context of a passage can positively impact your Bible study.
Other Principles for Applying Scripture
In addition to the foundational ideas, we’ve already covered, here are a few more key principles to keep in mind when applying the Bible:
1. Don’t Just Copy—Think First
When reading the Bible, two words should guide how we apply what we read: prescriptive or descriptive. We need to ask, “Is this telling us how we should live (prescriptive), or is it just telling us what happened (descriptive)?” Take 1 Kings, for example. It tells us that Solomon had a thousand wives. Does that mean we’re supposed to do the same? Or is it just reporting what happened?
Or consider Moses parting the Red Sea. Does that mean every Christian should expect to part seas, or is it simply a story of what God did in that moment? We also need to remember that not every action by a biblical character is meant to be followed. Some people in the Bible are examples of faith, while others serve as warnings. Take David, for instance—his courage against Goliath is an example of faith, but his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband should serve as a stark warning.
So, when we study the actions of people like David, Moses, or the apostles, we should ask: “What is this telling us about God and His plans?” Not everything in Scripture is meant to be copied; sometimes it’s there to show us human weakness and failure.
To learn more about Bible interpretation, check out our blog post on Bible Interpretation: Descriptive vs Prescriptive Passages.
2. See Yourself in the Story—But Be Honest
It’s easy to see ourselves as the heroes in Bible stories, but often Scripture challenges us to relate to the more flawed characters. Are we like the Pharisees, whom Jesus rebuked for their hypocrisy? Or maybe we’re more like the Israelites in the wilderness, doubting God’s goodness and provision. Sometimes we’re like the tax collectors and sinners, aware of our brokenness and in need of Jesus’ forgiveness.
The truth is, we’re not always the “good guys.” For many of us, our Sunday school teachers taught us to be like David and face our Goliaths. But if we’re honest, most of the time we’re more the frightened Israelites, scared and unable to save ourselves, in desperate need of someone to rescue us. We’re not the heroes that come and steal the show. In this case, David was and for us Jesus is. Recognizing who we really are in these stories can lead to real spiritual growth.
Related: Narcigesis: A Wrong Approach to Bible Study
3. Pay Attention to the Tone of the Text
The tone of a passage can makes a big difference in how we live it out. Some parts of the Bible come with a sense of urgency or warning, like when Jesus talks about coming judgment. Other passages are more comforting or encouraging, like Paul’s letters to the early churches.
If a passage feels urgent, it’s probably a good idea to take a close look at your life and make changes quickly. If it’s more comforting, it might be encouraging you to rest in God’s promises and find peace in His Word. Being sensitive to the tone helps us apply Scripture in the right way.
Conclusion
In this article, I’ve emphasized that studying God’s Word doesn’t end when we determine what the text means. The process remains incomplete until we identify the author’s purpose for writing that specific portion of Scripture. This requires diligent effort, as I’ve explained, to avoid turning the Bible into a vague book that can be twisted to mean anything anyone desires at any given moment.
We must commit to listening long and deeply enough to discern what the author intended for their original audience. Only then can we faithfully draw out the timeless principles they conveyed and apply them appropriately to our own lives as 21st-century Christians.
May God grant us the discipline to engage Scripture this way, so that we can be faithful handlers of His Word—those who, as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:15, “do their best to present themselves to God as ones approved, workers who have no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
Wanna approach your Bible study correctly? below are a few other articles we’ve written to help you do just that:
