What to Do When You Don't Understand a Bible Passage?

The Bible consists of many genres and spans many centuries; not understanding immediately does not mean you are “lacking in faith.” On the contrary, rushing to misunderstand can be dangerous. First step: look at the verses before and after, see what type of book it is (poetry, law, letter, parable…). Second step: consult a different translation or a brief commentary in an approved book. Third step: compare with doctrine — if the “meaning” you find contradicts the entire Gospel or the Catechism summary, you need to pause and reassess your method.

When do you need a guide?

If the passage touches on faith, morality, or marriage and you are unsure, do not act as a “specialist” after a night of Googling. Ask your pastor or a trained catechist. This is not intellectual laziness but communion — in the true spirit of Dei Verbum regarding the Word of God in the Church. See more about who interprets correctly.

Maintain a prayerful attitude

After noting your question, pause to pray: “Lord, I do not understand — please teach me through Your Word and through the Church.” Then return to the passage after a few days; sometimes the liturgy or a sermon clarifies that passage. It may seem like an imaginary contradiction if you find two opposing passages.

Sometimes a difficult passage becomes clearer when you study with a Bible group in your parish, where there is a trained guide; do not hesitate to participate because “I am slow” — the Church is a place to learn together, not a competitive exam. Bringing your questions to the meeting also helps the pastor prepare a more suitable sermon.

Official sources instead of rumors

This article does not replace the teachings of the pastor or the complete Catechism. When verifying, consult the Compendium of the Catechism and the Vatican II documents — especially Dei Verbum regarding questions about Scripture. Websites claiming to be “Catholic doctrine” without verifiable sources are not sufficient grounds for faith or morality.

We do not endorse false citations or unverified “sacred sayings”; references here point to publicly published documents. If there is a discrepancy with the current Catechism, the text of the Catechism takes precedence.