The Quote
“It is possible knowing all the Scriptures. It is not possible comprehending all the Scriptures.”
— Godwin Delali Adadzie
Context and Inspiration
This reflection addresses a pattern observed throughout the history of biblical interpretation: the difference between having information about Scripture and truly comprehending its depths. Many approach the Bible as a text to be mastered through memorization and academic study, only to discover that intellectual knowledge alone doesn’t unlock the transformative power of God’s Word. The distinction between knowing and comprehending Scripture has profound implications for how we read, study, and apply the Bible to our lives.
Theological Foundation
The Catholic Church has long recognized this reality. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that Scripture has multiple senses—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical. This ancient principle, summarized in the medieval couplet, acknowledges that God’s Word contains layers of meaning that unfold throughout salvation history and in the life of each believer.
Relevant Scripture:
- 2 Peter 3:16 – Peter himself acknowledges that Paul’s letters contain “some things hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction.”
- John 16:12 – Jesus tells His disciples, “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully.”
The Church Fathers consistently emphasized this mystery. St. Augustine wrote in his Confessions that every time he returned to Scripture, he found new riches. St. Jerome spent decades translating the Bible and studying Hebrew, yet confessed the inexhaustible nature of God’s Word.
The Distinction Explained
Knowing Scripture involves:
- Memorization of texts
- Understanding historical context
- Grasping the literal meaning
- Recognizing literary genres
- Identifying key themes and patterns
Comprehending Scripture requires:
- The illumination of the Holy Spirit
- Growth in personal holiness
- Living within the Church’s tradition
- Wrestling with mystery and paradox
- A lifetime of prayer and meditation
- Humility before the divine Author
Knowledge is achievable through human effort—study, memorization, academic training. Comprehension, however, is a gift that unfolds progressively as we grow in faith, wisdom, and union with God.
Practical Examples
Example 1: The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
A person can know this parable: the younger son squanders his inheritance, returns home, and the father celebrates. They can recite it verbatim and explain the cultural context of first-century Judaism.
But comprehending it means experiencing personally:
- The reckless abandon of sin and its consequences
- The humility required for genuine repentance
- The overwhelming mercy of God that defies human logic
- The subtle pride of the elder brother that lurks in religious people
- How this parable reveals the very heart of the Trinity
I have read this parable hundreds of times. Each reading in different seasons of life—during struggles, victories, losses, joys—reveals something I had never seen before. The parable hasn’t changed; I have. And with each change, new comprehension dawns.
Example 2: The Eucharistic Discourse (John 6)
Many people know Jesus said, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). They can debate the Greek words, discuss the reaction of the disciples, and trace the typology back to the Passover lamb.
But comprehending this teaching comes through:
- Receiving the Eucharist with faith over many years
- Experiencing Christ’s real presence in the Blessed Sacrament
- Understanding how this sacrament transforms us into what we receive
- Recognizing the connection between Eucharist, Calvary, and the Wedding Feast of the Lamb
I knew this passage as a young convert. Three decades later, I’m still comprehending it.
Example 3: The Creation Account (Genesis 1-2)
A scholar can know the creation narrative: the seven days, the literary structure, the ANE (Ancient Near Eastern) parallels, the theological affirmations about God’s sovereignty.
Comprehending creation means:
- Grasping humanity’s unique dignity as imago Dei
- Understanding the theological meaning of “very good” before the Fall
- Recognizing the Christological dimension (all things created through the Logos)
- Seeing how creation points to new creation in Christ
- Living in wonder at the Creator’s love manifested in existence itself
Scientists, theologians, and mystics can all know Genesis. Comprehending it requires seeing through the text to the infinite Mind behind it.
The Danger of Presumed Comprehension
One of the greatest spiritual dangers is assuming we have fully comprehended Scripture. This leads to:
- Biblical fundamentalism – Reducing God’s Word to a single, literalistic interpretation
- Theological pride – Believing we have nothing more to learn
- Sectarian division – Insisting our interpretation is the only valid one
- Spiritual stagnation – Ceasing to pray with Scripture
- Missing the living Word – Treating the Bible as mere information rather than encounter with Christ
The Pharisees knew Scripture exceptionally well. They had memorized the Torah, mastered the interpretive traditions, and could debate fine points of the Law. Yet they failed to comprehend that Scripture testified about Jesus (John 5:39-40). Knowledge without comprehension can be spiritually blinding.
The Role of the Church
The Catholic Church provides essential guidance for moving from knowing to comprehending Scripture:
Sacred Tradition – The apostolic teaching handed down through the centuries illuminates Scripture’s meaning. We don’t interpret the Bible in isolation but within the living Tradition.
The Magisterium – The Church’s teaching authority, guided by the Holy Spirit, protects us from error and provides authentic interpretation.
The Liturgy – Scripture is most fully comprehended when proclaimed and enacted in the Sacred Liturgy, especially the Mass.
The Saints – Their lives demonstrate Scripture comprehended and lived. St. Francis didn’t just know the Gospel; he became a living Gospel.
Communal Reading – We comprehend Scripture together, in communion with believers across time and space, not as isolated individuals.
Humility Before the Word
This quote is fundamentally a call to humility. No matter how much we study, how many degrees we earn, or how long we’ve been Christians, the Scriptures will always exceed our grasp. This should inspire:
- Wonder – Approaching the Bible with fresh eyes, expecting God to speak
- Persistence – Returning again and again to the same passages
- Prayer – Asking the Holy Spirit for illumination
- Patience – Accepting that some meanings will only unfold over time
- Openness – Being willing to have our interpretations corrected or deepened
The great Dominican theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, after a mystical experience near the end of his life, declared that everything he had written seemed like “straw” compared to what had been revealed to him. If Aquinas—whose Summa Theologiae synthesizes centuries of biblical and theological wisdom—could say this, how much more should we approach Scripture with humility?
Living Application
For Daily Life:
- Lectio Divina – Practice sacred reading: read, meditate, pray, contemplate
- Multiple translations – Compare different Bible versions to see nuances
- Scripture journals – Record insights and return to them years later
- Study and devotion – Balance academic study with prayerful reading
- Teaching others – Explaining Scripture often reveals our own lack of comprehension
For Apologetics: When engaging in apologetic discussions, this principle prevents:
- Proof-texting without context
- Weaponizing Scripture against others
- Claiming absolute certainty where mystery remains
- Dismissing others’ insights too quickly
For Spiritual Growth:
- Regularly revisit familiar passages with expectation
- Don’t rush through Bible reading plans; linger where God speaks
- Seek spiritual direction to help comprehend what God reveals
- Connect Scripture to the sacraments, especially Confession and Eucharist
Reflection Questions
- What Scripture passage do you know well but realize you may not fully comprehend?
- Can you recall a time when a familiar Bible verse suddenly revealed new meaning? What caused that shift in understanding?
- How does recognizing the inexhaustible depth of Scripture change your approach to Bible study?
- In what ways might you be confusing knowledge of Scripture with comprehension of it?
- What practices could help you move from merely knowing Scripture to comprehending it more deeply?
Conclusion
The Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, and like their Author, they are infinite. We can know the Bible—its books, its stories, its teachings. But comprehensive understanding remains forever beyond our finite minds. This is not a limitation but a gift. It means we will never exhaust God’s Word. There will always be more to discover, deeper truths to encounter, fresh applications for our lives.
As I continue my journey of studying Scripture—now enhanced by exploring how AI and technology can serve biblical education—I’m more convinced than ever of this truth. The tools may change, the translations may multiply, the commentaries may proliferate, but the fundamental reality remains: knowing all the Scriptures is possible; comprehending them fully is reserved for the beatific vision, when we see God face to face.
Until then, we read, we study, we pray, we live the Scriptures—always learning, never fully arriving, yet ever growing in understanding and love.
Let us approach God’s Word with both diligence and humility, confident that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth, one revelation at a time.
Related Quotes
- “Academic credentials are good. However, life is not all about masters and doctorates but about master Jesus our doctor.”
- “Faith is a journey. Not a one day trip. It is a life’s journey.”
- “Truth is a bitter medicine. That’s why many can’t take it.”
Want to explore more reflections on faith and wisdom? Check out my books on Catholic apologetics or read more articles on faith and technology.
