How To Decipher the Bible: King James Bible kjv Method

How to Decipher the Bible with a Christ-centered King James Bible method, context steps, and obedience. Pray, read the kjv plainly, confirm with Scripture, then act. To decipher is to figure out something difficult to interpret.

How To Decipher the Bible With Confidence (kjv)

You open the Bible and you want Truth, not confusion. Yet some passages feel like a locked door. You fear “getting it wrong,” so you either quit or copy someone else’s opinion. That fear doesn’t come from the Living Jesus, it comes from pressure and pride.

You can learn How To Decipher the Bible with steady steps. You can repeat those steps in any book, any chapter, any day. In this guide, you’ll use kjv verses as anchors (we’ll quote them in the sections ahead). You won’t just collect facts, you’ll connect Truth to real choices. You’ll walk with Living Jesus in obedience, not just in information.

James M. Efird (1932–2020) was a respected Presbyterian minister, biblical scholar, and longtime Duke Divinity School professor known for making Scripture understandable to everyday readers.

Trained at Davidson, Louisville Seminary, and Duke, he spent more than five decades teaching New Testament, biblical languages, responsible interpretation, and hermeneutics while also leading thousands of church-based Bible studies across the country.

His clear, practical teaching style left a lasting impact on pastors, students, and laypeople alike. Let his Gift from God help you to decipher the Bible.

Start with the right foundation before you decipher a single verse

You don’t decipher Scripture by raw brainpower. You decipher it by posture, then practice. Bring the right heart, use simple tools, and ask the right question. Don’t ask, “How can I make this say what I want?” Ask, “What did God say, and what must I do?”

KJV gives you a clear way to begin. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7, kjv). Meaning: you start with reverence, not vibes, and God trains your mind from there. Take ten quiet minutes, remove distractions, and come ready to obey.

You also need a humble spirit that welcomes correction. “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:2, kjv). Meaning: God favors the teachable, not the cocky. When Scripture stings, don’t dodge it, yield. If you need a clear Gospel starting point, read why God so loved the world. When you trust Christ, you read as a child at the Father’s table, not as a stranger outside.

Keep your tools plain. Use a KJV Bible, a notebook, and a plan. Choose a book of the Bible and stick with it for weeks. If you want guided study support, use Bible study resources that build understanding. For a helpful overview of interpretation basics, see Bible.org’s lesson on interpretation.

If you’re looking for a complete yet simple concordance that enables precise, accurate word study, The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible is the ideal choice for your library.

Exclusive Features: Every word of the Bible is indexed
Includes the best of Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
Hebrew and Greek dictionaries have three times more word study information than any other edition
Words of Christ are highlighted in red for quick identification
Includes a complete topical index to the Bible
Contains additional cross-references to standard Bible dictionaries and lexicons

Ask the Living God for light, then submit to what you learn

You don’t read the Bible like a debate club. You read it like a disciple under orders. Start with a simple prayer rhythm: ask, listen, obey. Ask for light, listen with patience, obey with speed.

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him” (James 1:5, kjv). Meaning: God doesn’t mock honest seekers, He answers them. When conviction rises, don’t argue with it. Confess, repent, and move toward the Living God.

Watch your motive, because wrong motives twist meaning. You can read to feel superior, and you’ll miss Christ. You can read to excuse sin, and you’ll stay blind. If guilt and shame cloud your mind, learn the difference between conviction and condemnation in biblical ways to deal with guilt. Then return to the text with a clean conscience.

Use the “plain sense” first, then confirm it with the rest of Scripture

Start with what the words normally mean. Read the verses before and after, because context guards you. When the passage signals poetry or symbols, you adjust. When the passage reads like history or instruction, take it straight.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, kjv). Meaning: Scripture teaches you, rebukes you, and trains you, so don’t treat it as a suggestion. Confirm your understanding by comparing Scripture with Scripture. You don’t build doctrine from one hard verse alone.

A simple method to decipher any passage in real life

You need a method you can run on Tuesday night, not just Sunday morning. Think of it like a flashlight with fresh batteries. You point it at the text, then you point it at your life. Keep your steps steady, and clarity will grow.

First, read the whole unit, not a single line. Next, mark key words and repeated ideas. Then identify who speaks, who listens, and what problem sits on the table. After that, decide if the passage gives a command, a promise, a warning, or an example. If you want a practical way to keep your mind steady, practice Scripture-based Christian affirmations. Speak God’s words, and refuse fearful self-talk.

“The LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6, kjv). Meaning: wisdom flows from God’s Word, not your moods. So, don’t rush, and don’t cherry-pick. Let the passage say what it says.

Here’s a quick worked example you can copy today using John 8:31-32. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32, kjv). Meaning: freedom follows continued obedience, not quick inspiration. Context shows Jesus speaks to professing believers, so you test your walk. Genre reads like direct teaching, so you take it plainly. Application lands hard: you continue, you learn Truth, you walk free.

If you want to see how the Living God shapes daily choices through Truth, read how God influences your life. For more help on reading for the author’s intent, see Desiring God on reading the Bible for yourself.

Read the whole thought: who, what, when, where, and why

Run a quick “5W” scan, then read what comes before and after. Chapter numbers and headings help you navigate, but God didn’t inspire them. You still must track the main thought. Write one sentence that states the point in plain words.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11, kjv). Meaning: God honors people who test teaching by Scripture. You don’t swallow claims because someone sounds confident. You check, you compare, and you stay faithful.

Name the type of writing so you do not force the wrong meaning

The Bible uses different kinds of writing, and each kind speaks in a fitting way. History reports events, so you read it like testimony. Poetry uses images and emotion, so you don’t press every phrase into math. Letters give direct commands, so you treat them as marching orders. Prophecy points forward, so you watch for fulfilled patterns and clear anchors.

Stay guarded. Don’t turn poetry into strict science, and don’t treat prophecy like a riddle game. Keep Jesus at the center, because all Scripture serves His redemptive purpose.

Let the Bible change you, not just inform you

Understanding grows faster when you obey what you already know. Disobedience fogs the mind, and obedience sharpens it. So take the passage and press it into life. Ask what you must believe about God, what sin you must drop, and what step you must take.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22, kjv). Meaning: hearing without doing breeds self-deception. When you act on Truth, your vision clears. Peace follows obedience, because you stop fighting God.

Hold tight to this takeaway: Shalom restores what is broken when you submit to Christ’s rule. That restoration can touch your mind, your habits, and your relationships. When anxiety rises, ground your heart again in life-changing peace in Christ. God’s Word doesn’t just speak, it heals.

Turn insight into action: one truth, one step, one habit

Write one sentence that summarizes the passage. Choose one sin to repent of, and name it without excuses. Grasp one promise to trust, then pray it back to God. Decide one person to forgive or serve, and do it this week. Set one habit for seven days, like reading one chapter daily and obeying one command.

Living Jesus will help you walk it out. He won’t flatter your flesh, but He will strengthen your steps.

Conclusion

You don’t need secret codes to understand Scripture. You need a right foundation, a repeatable method, and real-life obedience. Start with humility and prayer before the Living God. Read the plain sense, confirm it with Scripture, and keep Christ at the center. Then do what you read, because action protects clarity.

Now hear the Call to Truth. Stop guessing, stop hiding, stop delaying. Trust what God said, and answer Jesus with repentance and faith. Get born again, because religion can’t save you; only Christ can. Walk in authority, because the Living Jesus leads you into Truth and victory.

Shalom is a Blessing, a manifestation of Divine Grace.

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