{
  "id": "dict_004704",
  "term": "Public reading of Scripture",
  "slug": "public-reading-of-scripture",
  "letter": "P",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "The public reading of Scripture is the practice of reading God’s Word aloud in the gathered worship of His people. It is a biblical pattern for instruction, exhortation, and reverent attention to God’s truth.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "The public reading of Scripture refers to reading the Bible aloud before the assembled congregation. This practice appears in both the Old and New Testaments and serves to teach, remind, exhort, and direct God’s people. It is not merely a preliminary act in worship but a meaningful ministry of the Word itself.",
  "description_academic_full": "The public reading of Scripture is the gathered-church practice of reading the written Word of God aloud before God’s people. Scripture presents this as an established pattern among the covenant community, seen in Israel’s assemblies and continued in the life of the church. Such reading helps the congregation hear, understand, remember, and respond to God’s revealed truth, and it naturally supports preaching, teaching, exhortation, and worship. While churches may differ in how much Scripture they read publicly and in what order, the basic practice itself is plainly biblical and should be treated with seriousness, clarity, and reverence.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "The public reading of Scripture is the practice of reading God’s Word aloud in the gathered worship of His people. It is a biblical pattern for instruction, exhortation, and reverent attention to God’s truth.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/public-reading-of-scripture/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/public-reading-of-scripture.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}