Lost in the Bible? Finding your way through God’s Word

Jul 17, 2026

Many Catholics begin the Bible with great enthusiasm — only to find themselves struggling through unfamiliar names, ancient customs and difficult passages that leave them more confused than inspired.For those who have ever opened the Bible and wondered where to begin, Spanish biblical expert Fr Valentín Aparicio has a simple suggestion: start with the Gospel of Luke.Fr Aparicio, vice rector of the major seminary of the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain and an expert in biblical archaeology, said beginning with Luke’s Gospel, followed by the Acts of the Apostles, gives readers a clearer understanding of the message and mission of the New Testament.Known on social media as Un cura de Toledo (A Priest from Toledo), where he has gained a large following, Fr Aparicio shared his advice during an interview on the podcast Se buscan rebeldes (Rebels Wanted), hosted by fellow Spanish priest Fr Ignacio Amorós.During the conversation, Fr Amorós described the Bible as the “bestseller” that never goes out of style — a book that has shaped history and reveals the story of God’s love for humanity.Yet, he acknowledged that many Catholics find Scripture challenging. Some struggle to understand its meaning, while others are troubled by certain passages, especially in the Old Testament.Fr Aparicio explained that the difficulty often comes not from the Bible itself, but from the enormous historical and cultural distance between today’s readers and the world in which the Scriptures were written.“There are times when we do not understand the Bible because of the cultural gap that exists,” he said, noting that some biblical texts come from a period stretching back thousands of years.Because of this vast difference in time, language and culture, he said readers sometimes need someone to “take them by the hand” and guide them through Scripture. He encouraged Catholics to make use of reliable resources and explanations that help uncover the deeper meaning of biblical texts.The priest stressed that reading the Bible is not simply about moving from one page to another or “stringing words together.” Instead, the purpose is to discover what God is trying to reveal.To explain this, he compared Scripture to watching a movie.A good movie, he said, is not just a collection of individual scenes. What gives it meaning is the storyline that connects everything together. Without a plot, the audience quickly loses interest.The same is true of the Bible. Although it contains many different books, stories and styles of writing, Fr Aparicio said they are all connected by one central theme — God’s desire to enter into a covenant of love with humanity.This idea is captured in the Hebrew word berit, meaning covenant. From beginning to end, Scripture tells the story of God reaching out to restore His relationship with His <a href="https://christiancorner.us/2026/07/16/candle-light-prayers-for-the-people-of-burma/” title=”Candle light prayers for the people of Burma”>people.“In the Book of Genesis, God begins by creating the world; and in the Book of Revelation, He culminates with a new creation, restoring His plan and returning us to the paradise we had lost,” Fr Aparicio explained.For anyone intimidated by the size and complexity of the Bible, his advice is clear: do not approach it as a textbook to be completed, but as a journey to be entered into — one where every page points towards God’s enduring love and His desire to walk with humanity. –EWTN News