The Bible can prove you right. (this applies for us all)
To justify our own theological ideas, we can selectively take Scripture passages out of their Biblical context and then retrofit them into our own world view. This confession of a pastor explains it well: "As a Bible major in a Christian college, I graduated confident of what I believed. I knew how to read the Bible to overlook certain passages and to interpret others so that they always said what I had been taught. I knew that any other understanding of Scripture would separate me from close friends and family."

Non-Christians may do the same. They may use selected passages of the Bible to assert that there cannot be a God, or creation, or miracles, or a Messiah. They may point out surmised errors in text or in historicity (historical actuality)-by, for instance, attempting to prove that a particular book could not possibly be written by the author claimed by the Scripture.

The Bible may prove you wrong. (this applies for us all)
Do you want to read what the Bible really says?
- Even when that may shake your belief system.
- Even if that doesn't fit your world view?
- Even if that makes you uncomfortable?

How then do we read the Bible?
- Pastors, stop reading the Bible just to prepare your sermons.
- Nonbelievers, stop using the Bible to underwrite your unbelief.
- Believers, stop using the Bible to underwrite your comfortable interpretation.

Please read the Bible to find out what it says.

For nonbelievers:
Try to read with an open mind; don't take an inflexible position before you read it for yourself. Dare to let God Himself convince you of what is real and what is superstition. Don't shut your mind, just stick to the same rigorous principles of proof that you apply elsewhere in life and you will not be disappointed.
For Bible books such as the Psalms and Proverbs, allow the text to speak to you as poetry does, conveying rich complexity and layers of meaning. For most other books, with the exception of parts of Revelation (the last book in the New Testament), take the words literally as written. Don't try to spiritualize straightforward teaching or reporting of real world events.
Also, whenever you read a book in the Bible, be aware of the both the cultural context (historical and social) of that book and the audience (readership) to whom the book was addressed. This knowledge may profoundly influence your interpretation.

For believers:
Isn't it better to assume that the Bible is literally true and then be proven wrong, rather than to assume it is symbolic and be caught unprepared? You may prefer to meet your Savior one day and say "I took you at Your Word" rather than meet Him and confess that you didn't think He meant what He said.

The Bible reveals itself for those who seek to
2 Tim. 3:16-4:3 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. [4:1] I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

To interpret the Bible you have to ask and expect the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart. He is the one who inspired people to write His words down. He reveals the true meaning to people who ask.

If an explanation is not clear from the word(s) of the verse that is studied, than the exact same word(s) can be looked for in other places of the Bible. The understanding of the word(s) in all these other places almost always reveal(s) the true meaning.
(Click here for a powerful method using he original Hebrew and Greek Bible languages.
Even for people who have no in depth knowledge of those languages.)

Not every book of the Bible can be interpreted in the same way. Words from the poetic language of the Psalms paint pictures, while many other books use words that we have to take as these come to us without trying to make them something figurative.

The cultural context of the people and situations addressed are to be taken in consideration first. (A message for the house of Israel is not to be taken as a message for all but can still be a great lesson for all generations Jews and None-Jews.

Commentaries of the Bible are helpful as long as these are not a replacement for your effort asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you. There is no substitute for personal Bible study.