How One Man’s Defiance Made Reading the Bible a Blessing for All.

Earlier this year, a friend told me to try and read the Bible like a Jew. I am from the Kamba nation, and so this called for a shift in my mindset. Reading through the Torah helped greatly with that, as I got immersed in the Jewish culture, customs, and their conundrums (which, by the way, means a confusing or difficult problem—but that’s a conversation for another day).  

You see, he said, the Bible was written by Jews and primarily targeted Jews at first. Jewish influence is woven throughout its pages, and understanding their perspective can greatly enhance how we experience it.  

Take this sentence, for example:  

"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near."

On the surface, this may not scream "Jewish!"—but dig deeper, and you'll see it. Back in the day, Jewish gatherings revolved around two key spaces: the temple and the synagogue. The temple was the central hub where the scrolls (the law and prophets) were stored, and people would come to hear them read aloud. Synagogues, on the other hand, did not have scrolls on hand. These gatherings focused on edification through memory—people discussed what they remembered being read, asked questions, shared meals, and enjoyed fellowship. Unlike today, having written scriptures was a rare privilege.  

So when John writes, "Blessed is the one who READS ALOUD..." he is speaking to a specific tradition. Being the person chosen to read aloud the scriptures in a temple gathering was a great honor. Those listening were also blessed(read- happy), as hearing was often the only way they could engage with God’s Word. The one chosen to read had to do it loudly. We did not have microphones and sound projection technology back then. So maybe extroverts were the favorites?

For centuries, this tradition continued in the Church. Scriptures were kept in church facilities, written in one language—Latin—and inaccessible to most people. That is, until one courageous man, William Tyndale, stepped onto the scene.

Tyndale had a vision: to make the Bible accessible to everyone, not just the clergy. He believed every believer should have the opportunity to read God's Word. Despite fierce opposition from church authorities, he translated the New Testament into English, a revolutionary act that cost him his life. He was betrayed, strangled, and burned at the stake in 1536. But his work laid the foundation for future translations, and today, the Bible exists in countless languages. I personally have Kamba, Swahili, English and Borana writings.

What does this mean for us? Well, we no longer need to gather in temples and read aloud to feel blessed. We live in a time where the Word of God is abundantly accessible—on paper, on phones, in countless translations. Tyndale’s sacrifice, and the work of many others after him, have made it possible for us to engage with scripture anytime, anywhere. This has made it possible to also have Church fellowships at home settings.

These words of prophecy, revealing how our Redeemer will reappear, are dear to saints across the globe. The real blessing lies not in how loudly we read them, but in how deeply they shape our hearts and lives.