The 4 Senses of Scripture: How to Read the Bible Deeper – Monica Welsh – 06/25/2026

What Are the Four Senses of Scripture? Monica Welsh describes the four senses as a lens for drawing out the deeper meaning of God's inspired Word, which always has more than one layer. They fall into two categories: the literal sense and the spiritual sense (which includes the allegorical, moral, and anagogical senses), together giving a "360-degree view" of any passage. Start with the Literal — the Foundation Like the foundation of a house, the literal sense is what the human author intended to convey — and it isn't always obvious for 21st-century readers of an ancient text. Monica points to genre, literary devices, metaphor, and especially historical and cultural context as keys. Her example: when Jesus says "if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off," the surrounding sermon, His rabbinic teaching style, and His audience make clear He is speaking metaphorically about sin, not literally. Why a Teaching Authority Matters Reading Scripture in isolation can lead to misinterpretation, which is why the teaching authority of the Catholic Church is so important for interpreting the Word faithfully. Monica shares how the "wrathful" Old Testament God once troubled her as a teenager — until the literal lens revealed how ancient writers expressed power and authority, dissolving the false idea that the God of the Old Testament differs from the God of the New. The Bible Points to Jesus Monica recounts the "lightbulb moment" with her ninth-grade students studying Adam and Eve: the Tree of Life bearing fruit for eternal life prefigures Jesus on the tree of the Cross, who says "eat me and you will have eternal life." As the Letter to the Hebrews teaches, the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword — and it is layered, intentional, and ultimately all about Christ. Go Deeper with Monica's Courses Explore Monica's casual, audio-guided Old Testament and New Testament courses — made for the everyday Catholic and everyday learner — at The Catholic Bible Class with Mon. Hear more on The Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7:00 AM Central — stream at IowaCatholicRadio.com or on the Iowa Catholic Radio app. #SensesOfScripture #BibleStudy #CatholicBibleStudy #HowToReadTheBible #BibleLiteracy #LectioDivina #OldTestament #NewTestament #Scripture #Catholic #FaithFormation #CatholicPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm. ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show. 🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.