On my 20th birthday, I made a personal commitment to Jesus that I would never go another day in my life without reading His Word. Eight years later, I recognize that moment as the catalyst to an unprecedented season of spiritual growth in my life. Since then, I have devoted my life to understanding the Bible and helping others do the same.

There is a renewed emphasis on biblical literacy in the Assemblies of God. This is exciting to me since, historically, interaction with God’s Word at broad levels has transformed communities and left indelible impressions on entire generations.

The subject of biblical literacy can encompass a broad spectrum of meaning, but as a young ordained minister, my inclination is to engage the subject with an emphasis on those who have yet to experience God’s Word for themselves. If I were discussing this topic with a friend who had no prior Biblical interaction, I would point out three foundational truths about Scripture.

1. The Bible’s origin story is rooted in God. The Bible’s origin is one of the most significant and legitimate concerns that first-time readers express. When contemporary religious leaders asked Jesus by what authority He preached and taught, Jesus responded by asking them whether John’s baptism was “from heaven, or of human origin” (Luke 20:1-8). In doing so, Jesus addressed the critical quality of the nature of His ministry.

To be sure, the New Testament unequivocally presents Jesus’ mission and authority as the work of God rather than just that of an influential Jewish sage (John 20:30-31). Similarly, the most significant question regarding the Bible as a whole is whether it is from heaven or of human origin. The answer to this question fundamentally influences how we read it.

Like the mission and work of Jesus, the Bible unambiguously presents itself as a trustworthy self-disclosure of God and His relationship to humanity (Psalm 19:7-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). And like Luke’s genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:23-38), we must appraise the Bible’s standing in history through its relationship to God. Now, that is not to disregard the rich history of the Bible’s development and transmission.

In my studies at the graduate and doctoral level, I’ve interacted with those who engage the Word through historically critical lenses. These disciplines illuminate our understanding of the Bible, and I respectfully interact with them. However, as a Pentecostal, my convictions demand that the Bible is unlike any other writing. Anything less leaves us with ancient literature simply to read alongside The Iliad — admirable for its literary and cultural beauty but nonetheless antiquated.

Biblical literacy engages a generation starving for meaning by introducing them to their God-authored purpose.

2. Jesus is the primary center for understanding the Bible. The second aspect of biblical literacy that I would emphasize while introducing the Bible is the means of understanding its content. The Bible crosses thousands of years of history and culture, but the primary key to understanding God’s self-disclosure is the Person and work of Jesus.

Although Jesus’ physical life is recorded in what we describe as the New Testament, the Early Church recognized that all Scripture up to that point heralded His coming. Figures like Paul and Apollos came to recognize the supreme importance of Jesus to fully understand God’s restorative plan as divulged across history (Acts 18:24-28; Romans 1:1-2).

Philip initiated an evangelistic conversation by helping a eunuch understand how Jesus fulfilled a portion of Isaiah (Isaiah 53:7-8; Acts 8:27-38). Furthermore, Luke closes His gospel with Jesus himself affirming this truth and supernaturally helping His disciples to see everything written of Him in “the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44-48).

At its broadest levels, the Bible teaches us that there is a God, and humanity has a special relationship with Him (Genesis 1:1-2,26-27). The apex of all revelation and relationship with God is demonstrated through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 3:21-26; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:2-3).

3. The Bible is trustworthy for application. The third aspect of biblical literacy that I would communicate to a new reader is that biblical truth is wholly trustworthy and applicable to present-day life. Sincere application of the Bible demands a conscious decision to trust God with our autonomy (Romans 12:1-2).

The Bible contains trustworthy standards for the most important decisions we face in life. First and foremost, it speaks to the universal problem of fractured humanity and offers every reader holistic restoration to God and others through Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Beyond this, it offers the highest caliber of insight into elements of life — such as work, family, marriage, sex and stewardship — from the One who designed them.

When sharing with someone unacquainted with the Bible, I candidly explain that at my age, and at this time in history, there is a lot about life I’m not sure of; however, I am confident that God has given us everything we need to succeed (Romans 8:31-32).

Application demands meaningful interaction with the Bible and guards it from simply being encyclopedic knowledge of biblical minutia. Figures like pre-conversion Saul and other misguided religious leaders of his time exemplify the ability to be simultaneously well-versed in Scripture and hostile to God (Luke 11:53-54; Acts 9:1-2).

When I have the privilege of introducing someone to the Word of God, the Bible’s divine origin, Jesus-centeredness, and worthiness of directing life choices establish a foundation for future transformational engagement. Rather than a single moment of contact, this happens consistently over a lifetime.

Ultimately, biblical literacy engages a generation starving for meaning by introducing them to their God-authored purpose, enabling individuals and communities to encounter Jesus personally.