God is the principal Author of the Scriptures.  The content of each book of the Old and New Testaments has been inspired by the Holy Spirit so the Sacred Authors wrote everything he wanted and nothing more.

This premise—consciousness of its divine inspiration—is necessary to obtain spiritual benefit from the Bible:  if we read it in an atmosphere of faith, with reverence and respect, with the intelligence alert, the Word of God provides light and meaning to our lives: “All scripture is . . . profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” ^{(2 Tm 3:16)}.

Before starting to read the Bible, it is appropriate to ask the Holy Spirit for enlightenment.  This prayer can be used:

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.  Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.  And you shall renew the face of the earth.

Then we should approach the sacred text with humility.  We can never think that we know the Scriptures adequately or that we have understood them full: Their message is always new and relevant.

Let us read slowly with attention; avoiding haste and routine; it is not a dead script, but the Word “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” ^{(Heb 4:12)}.

The Bible belongs to the Church—since it has been entrusted to her—thus we never read Scripture on our own.  We read it in the context of the faith of the Church, even if we read privately.  We must always look for the sense that the Church gives to the various texts.  The introductions and the commentaries appearing in the Didache Bible (RSV-CE w/CCC text and Church teaching documents) has that intended purpose, hence, the usefulness of their consultation.

Sacred Scripture has been given to us so we love God and our neighbor more and better: with works, not just with words.  Every time we meditate on its pages we should ask ourselves: “According to this passage, how can I love God More? How can I love my neighbor more?”