An open Bible, held open by hands. Someone is reading it.

Biblical Studies: how to read the Bible with fresh eyes

What if reading the Bible wasn’t about having the answers but learning to ask better questions?

That’s the heart of the Introduction to Biblical Studies Taster Term at St Augustine’s College of Theology.

Whether you’ve been reading Scripture for years or you’re just starting to want to explore it more deeply, this short course helps you look at the Bible in new ways.

What do you bring to the Bible?

Whenever you read the Bible, you bring something with you – your experiences, background and expectations. In everything we read, we all do it and often without realising. One of the first things you’ll explore is how to become more aware of what you bring to the text. 

  • What do you hope or expect it to say? 
  • What lens are you using as you read?

When we recognise this, we can start to read the Bible more openly and honestly. Biblical Studies is about learning to be curious and thoughtful. And that can open up all kinds of new insights.

What did the text mean back then?

The Bible was written long ago, in different languages, cultures and historical settings. So to understand it well, we need to step into that world. That’s where ‘exegesis’ comes in. Don’t worry about the term; it just means reading carefully and asking questions like:

  • Who wrote this?
  • What was happening at the time?
  • Why did they write it the way they did?

By looking at language, culture and context, we uncover what the text might have meant to its first readers.

An opened Bible on a desk with a highlighter pen. Some of the text is highlighted in green.

What does it mean for us today?

This is where interpretation comes in, sometimes called ‘hermeneutics’, and it’s all about making connections between then and now. 

  • How does this passage speak to your life? 
  • What might God be saying through it today?

There’s no right way to do this. In the Introduction to Biblical Studies Taster Term, you’ll explore a range of approaches, from reading the Bible as literature, drawing connections between texts, and seeing how your experience shapes your understanding. 

Why ask questions about the Bible?

Some people think studying the Bible will take away the mystery or challenge their faith, but it’s the opposite. A biblical studies course encourages questions because they help your faith grow.

As one of our tutors says, ‘There’s no such thing as a bad question.’ Some answers might surprise or stretch you, but that’s part and parcel. The course doesn’t aim to give you a ‘correct’ view of Scripture. It encourages you to engage in dialogue: with the text, with tradition, with others, and with God.

Book your free Taster Day to learn about Biblical Studies

Interested to learn more about the Introduction to Biblical Studies taster term at St Augustine’s College of Theology? 

Join us for a free Taster Day this spring. It’s the best way to try out classes, meet our fantastic tutors and students, and explore our campuses.

“I really enjoyed the Biblical Studies module. It was a fascinating and stimulating introduction that has changed how I relate to and interact with faith and has hopefully opened up new avenues for understanding it better.”

Joe Goodhart,
A student who completed the Introduction to Biblical Studies module as part of his theology degree.