Well you open it and....that's where all the problems start. Many people want to know how they will know when they're reading the Bible 'right'. It would be so lovely, and so simple, if we could apply a formula to reading the Bible where 'x' = the ancient world and 'y' = our modern context and we do something fancy to 'x' and 'y' which means that out comes the 'right answer' for today. Alas no such formula exists, but there are things we can do to make sure we understand it 'better' and avoid some classic pitfalls. Attempting to reading and understand the Bible is exhilarating, frustrating, challenging, inspiring ...and of course transforming.
Paula Gooder is a freelance writer and lecturer in the Bible but with a particular interest in the New Testament.
She is a Reader in the Church of England and a member of the General Synod. She lives in Birmingham with her husband, Peter, and two children, Susie (7) and Ruth (3).
