What Is Biblical Literacy? Why it Matters for Every Christian

I’ve heard a lot of talk recently at conferences, on podcasts, and online about “biblical literacy.” I even mention it regularly in my blog posts and teaching. But I’ve never defined it in my writing or shared what we need to be considered biblically literate. Will you dive into this timely topic with me?

What is biblical literacy?

According to Webster’s online dictionary, to be “literate” is to have knowledge of and competency in a particular subject.Knowing a group of facts is insufficient to be considered “literate.” We also need the comprehension, wisdom, and skill to use those facts correctly.

Some Christian leaders make a distinction between biblical literacy and Bible literacy. They view “biblical literacy” as having basic knowledge of the facts and stories of the Bible and “Bible literacy” as including the practical skills to navigate, understand, interpret, and apply the spiritual truth taught through them. 

However, for the purpose of this post we will use those terms interchangeably. Biblical literacy isn’t simply knowing the content of the Bible. We will not be truly literate in God’s Word unless we are also able to understand what it means and how to faithfully live by this truth. 

What then does it mean to be “literate” in God’s Word? Or to possess biblical literacy? I propose the following definition:

Biblical literacy – or Bible literacy – is possessing wide knowledge of the Bible’s content along with the skill needed to correctly interpret and apply its truths to our lives. 

Even if we lived to be as old as Methuselah (Genesis 6:27) we could never fully mine the depths of God’s Word. But with discipline, desire, and God’s help we can be Bible literate. We can grasp the Bible’s primary narratives, key characters, overall chronology, and foundational themes. We can also equip ourselves with solid Bible study tools to properly understand and apply what we learn. (See “What is Inductive Bible Study” and “The 4 R Inductive Method for Everyday Use.”)

Why is biblical literacy vital?

Below I will touch on just a few of the most important reasons for intentionally working to build competency with God’s Word. However, the most foundational reason for biblical literacy is to know God and love Him more. 

The Bible is the primary way God has revealed Himself to us. We cannot know and love God apart from knowing His Word. As Bible teacher Jen Wilkin often says, “The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.” 

Here are a few more reasons:

1. To please God through obedience – God commands us to obey His Word (James 1:22-25) It is impossible to obey it if we do not know it.
2. To protect ourselves from lies by knowing the truth – God’s Word is truth (John 17:17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 2:1-3)
3. To submit to God’s spiritual refinement – God uses His Word like a surgeon’s scalpel to cut away sin and promote holiness (Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
4. To know God’s will – God uses His Word to align our thinking with His. Through this process we will learn to recognize His will, ways, and purposes (Romans 12:1-2).
5. To promote spiritual health and usefulness to God – When we ground ourselves in the truth of God’s Word, He makes us spiritually stable to stand firm in every circumstance. He also equips us for His purposes in this world (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3).

“Bible literacy matters because it protects us from falling into error. Both the false teacher and the secular humanist rely on biblical ignorance for their messages to take root, and the modern church has proven fertile ground for those messages. Because we do not know our Bibles, we crumble at the most basic challenges to our worldview.” Jen Wilkin, “Women of the Word”

What do we need to know to be Bible literate?

We need a practical, working knowledge of Scripture with both the ability to apply it and a desire for God to sanctify us through it (John 17:17). Although the following list may feel a bit overwhelming, remember this is a lifelong journey. We don’t have to do it all tomorrow. We just must begin. 

1. The nature of the Bible – The Bible teaches us about itself. For instance, it is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21), it is truth (John 17:17), it is eternal (Isaiah 40:8), and authoritative for our lives today (James 1:22). When we believe rightly about Scripture we are more likely to know it and live by it. (For more on the nature of the Bible see “Who Wrote the Bible and Why does it Matter?,” “How Should Christians Determine Truth,” “8 Things Your Bible Says about Itself,” and “3 Reasons We Can Trust the Bible.”)
2. The structure of the Bible – The Bible is not organized chronologically. Therefore, to be able to navigate its testaments and books and keep everything in the right perspective we need a working knowledge of how it’s put together. (To get started, see “How is the Bible Organized?”)
3. The “Big Story” of Scripture – The Bible tells one story from Genesis to Revelation. Every little piece of the Bible is woven into this Big Story or “Metanarrative.” Knowing the overall story helps us understand the smaller pieces. To get started see “What is the Metanarrative of the Bible.”
4. Key events and people – God tells His overall story of salvation, redemption, and restoration through the individual events and people in His Word. The more we know the better we will understand God, His plans, and purposes. To get started see “50 Major Events in the Bible Storyline.” 
5. The general historical and cultural background of the Bible – Every passage in the Bible was written to a particular audience at a particular time in history. To understand it correctly and fully, we need to determine the author’s original intent. Without a general knowledge of the background that shaped their world it’s easy to misunderstand. To get started see “Mind the Historical and Cultural Gap in Scripture.”
6. Basic tools needed to faithfully study Scripture – Biblical interpretation has its own set of rules! There are right ways – and lots of wrong ways – to observe, interpret, and apply God’s Word. Bible study doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. With just a few simple tools and instruction you can understand and enjoy the Bible! (See “4 R Inductive Bible Study,” “How to Understand the Bible,” and “How to Find Timeless Principles in Scripture.”)
7. Jesus’s life and teachings – The whole of Scripture points to and teaches about Jesus. But the Gospels present our Savior, His teaching, and His Saving work in a form that captures both our hearts and minds. (See “4 Tips for Understanding the Gospels.”)
8. The different genres and their purposes – We will never learn it all! But every portion of Scripture has benefit for our lives today. In the Epistles we find doctrine and practical teaching to live out faith today. In the Old Testament Law we learn about God’s character and how to relate to both Him and others. The prophets call us all to a holy life of faithfulness. The wisdom books show us how to live with godly wisdom in this world. The psalmsteach us how to worship and pray. The epic stories of the Old Testament narrative act out God’s sovereignty and saving power on the world stage. 

Maybe you’d like to get a general idea of where you are in your knowledge of Bible content. I have put together a 20-question “Bible Trivia Quiz” that traces the simple big story through Scripture. It’s not a scientific measuring tool but it will give you a general idea of where you are in your knowledge of the Bible’s metanarrative. TAKE THE QUIZ

What practical steps can you take to develop biblical literacy?

1. Learn to do Bible study correctly – Equip yourself with solid Bible study tools by learning how to do basic inductive Bible study. Start here: “The 4 R Inductive Method for Everyday Use.” By the way, I teach workshops on this and would love to come to your church!
2. Read the whole Bible – According to a 2025 survey by LifeWay Research 65% of Americans who attend church regularly have never read the Bible all the way through. If you never have – or it’s been awhile – this is the best way to get a grasp on the Big Story of Scripture and to read those sections that we most neglect, like the Law. Determine your pace and the method. If you have lots of time when your body is busy but your mind is free, consider listening to the Bible with an app like YouVersion Bible. There are also whole Bible reading plans that are chronological or go straight from Genesis to Revelation. One great resource to help you go through the whole Bible is “The Bible Recap.” Also, included in the free reading plans on my website are several that will take you through the Bible in different formats and paces. 
3. Study the Bible in community – God created the church because we cannot fully live out a life of faith alone. That includes learning and growing in our knowledge of God’s Word. We need to hear the Word taught by our pastors. We need to read the Word together and discuss it and ask questions. Don’t just attend, get connected. Be vulnerable. Serve. (If you are interested in an online study community to supplement your local church check out “Reading the Bible Together” on Facebook.)
4. Read the Bible regularly on your own – Don’t read haphazardly. Be intentional in both your time commitment and your reading plan. Find one with a doable pace. Read a wide variety of biblical genres and read out of both testaments. My favorite way is simply to work my way through one Bible book at a time. (See “First Steps to Study a Bible Book.”)

If this all feels overwhelming, just focus on one thing to start. Identify your greatest area of need and begin there. For instance, if you’ve never read through the Bible, do that first. Or if you lack confidence that you can understand what you read, work through some blogs on my website to learn the basic steps of inductive Bible study. Every little step takes you closer to biblical literacy.

What do you feel is your greatest area of need?