Why We Struggle to Read the Bible—And How to Fix It (Alex Goodwin) Ep. #192

What if the way we format and structure the Bible is actually making it harder to read? In this episode, Alex Goodwin joins The Biblical Mind Podcast to discuss how chapter breaks, verse numbers, and footnotes—while useful for study—can actually disrupt the natural flow of Scripture.

Alex shares his journey from marketing to Bible publishing, how his first exposure to serious theology transformed his faith, and why modern Bible formatting has fundamentally changed how people engage with Scripture. He and Dru explore how early Christians and Jews experienced the Bible (hint: it wasn’t through personal quiet times with a study Bible), why reading big sections matters, and how removing unnecessary “additives” can help us better understand the biblical story.

This episode also tackles the difference between Bible literacy and Bible fluency, the power of listening to Scripture, and why engaging the Bible in community leads to richer understanding. If you’ve ever struggled with Bible reading, this conversation will challenge and inspire you to rethink how you interact with Scripture.

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Chapters

00:00 From Marketing to Ministry: A Journey of Faith 04:47 The Impact of Formatting on Bible Reading 09:10 Bible Sales vs Bible Literacy 13:21 The Bible Reset 17:34 Listening vs. Reading: Engaging with Scripture in New Ways 20:41 Pursuing Biblical Fluency 27:08 The Concept of a Bible Reset 31:25 Reevaluating Church Practices 36:52 Engaging with Scripture in Community 40:55 The Role of the Congregation in Biblical Literacy