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Priest explains how to read the Bible without getting lost in the process

July 3, 2026 · 1 min read

Father Valentín Aparicio, vice rector of the major seminary of the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain and an expert in biblical archaeology, explained how to read the Bible “without getting lost in the process.”

Known as “Un cura de Toledo” (“A Priest from Toledo”) on social media — where he has thousands of followers — Aparicio shared his advice during an interview on the podcast “Se buscan rebeldes” (“Rebels Wanted”), hosted by fellow Spanish priest Ignacio Amorós.

During the conversation, Amorós defined the Bible as the “bestseller” that never goes out of style, a “fiery book that has changed history” and that tells the story of Godʼs love for humanity.

However, he also pointed out that many Catholics have difficulty understanding it and that some even become scandalized when reading certain passages of the Old Testament.

Considering this, Aparicio advised those who want to read and understand sacred Scripture: Start with the Gospel of Luke.

Reading this Gospel, which recounts the life of Jesus, followed by the Acts of the Apostles, helps one “gain a fairly clear and comprehensive idea of ​​what the New Testament is.”

“There are times when we do not understand the…

Source: Catholic News Agency  ·  Read the full story →
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💬 Comments (5) 🌐 Translate comments
M
Matthew Brown
Yeah, starting with Luke and then Acts makes a lot of sense. I tried jumping straight into some Old Testament books years ago and got totally lost in all the names and battles. Will give Father Aparicio's advice a shot this time.
P
Peter Clark
Yeah, Luke's straightforward storytelling clicked for me too after I got bogged down in Leviticus one Lent. Pairing it with Acts gives you that clear thread from Jesus to the early Church without the overload. You planning to read it straight through or with any commentary this time?
J
James Evans
Yeah, Leviticus can stop you cold if you jump in there first. Luke and Acts together keep the story moving without the whiplash. I usually read them straight through once, then go back with a simple commentary like the Navarre one when something sticks out. You sticking with any particular translation this round?
E
Emily Bennett
Yeah, those Old Testament name lists and battle chapters can feel like wading through mud. I started with Luke last summer and it really did give me a solid picture of Jesus before anything else. You thinking of reading it alone or grabbing a simple study guide this round?
G
George Miller
Yeah, those long name lists in Chronicles still make my eyes glaze over too. I tried Luke on my own a couple years back and found a basic study guide helped with the bits that felt confusing. You end up using one this time or sticking with just the text?
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