Using ChatGPT as an On-Demand Bible Commentary Practical Wisdom at Your Fingertips

I’ve found something recently that’s made it easier to study the Bible: ChatGPT.  This may not work for you exactly like it does for me because I pay $20 a month and it remembers what I do, so it knows I'm a follower of Jesus.  Crazy, right?  Anyway here is my experience and I wanted to pass it onto you.

ChatGPT is like having an on-demand Bible commentary, one you can access anytime with just a few keystrokes. If I’m reading a verse and something doesn’t quite make sense, I just type it into ChatGPT. Within seconds, it gives me background, historical context, cross-references, and interpretations from various perspectives—much like a Bible commentary would. But it doesn’t stop there.

After I get the explanation, I often ask a follow-up: “How can I apply this in my daily life?” That’s when things get really helpful. ChatGPT doesn’t just leave it in theory—it gives practical advice. Whether it’s about showing more patience, handling money wisely, choosing friends carefully, or leading with love, it takes the verse and helps me bring it down to street level.

Here is an example

ChatGPT  What does this verse mean? The wealth of the rich is a fortified city, but the poverty is the ruin of the poor.  It gave me the following.

That verse — Proverbs 10:15 — reads:

"The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor."

Here's what it means in plain terms:

• "The wealth of the rich is their fortified city"
  Wealth provides protection, stability, and security — much like a walled city did in ancient times. If you had money, you could guard against threats like hunger, illness, or legal troubles. It doesn't mean wealth is inherently virtuous, just that it functions as a defense.

• "Poverty is the ruin of the poor"
  On the flip side, being poor often exposes people to hardship and vulnerability. Poverty can trap a person, making it harder to recover or improve their situation. It’s not saying the poor are ruined because of character flaws — it’s pointing out a harsh reality: poverty itself can be destructive.

Traditional take:

This verse is more observational than moralizing. Solomon is stating a truth about how money affects life — not saying the rich are righteous or the poor are lazy. He’s pointing out the practical consequences of wealth and poverty.

Summary:

• Wealth protects; poverty crushes.

• It’s a call to wisdom — about how we handle money, treat others in poverty, and structure our lives to avoid ruin.

Implications

Then I asked it: I’d like to know how this verse should impact my life and the way I live.  It's response:

That’s the right question to ask. Proverbs isn’t just about information — it’s about transformation. So let’s take Proverbs 10:15 and look at what it means for how you live:

Verse:

“The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.”

What This Should Teach You About Life:

1. Use your resources wisely — they are a tool, not a fortress.

If you’ve been blessed with wealth, savings, or even a steady job, don’t treat it as your ultimate security. It’s useful, like a fortified city, but it can’t protect your soul. Use it to bless others, help the poor, and invest in things that matter eternally.

How to live it: Give generously. Invest in people. Don't hoard.

2. Don’t romanticize poverty — it can ruin lives.

Some modern thinking glorifies being poor as more “authentic” or “spiritual,” but Solomon doesn’t do that. Poverty makes life harder — it breaks families, limits choices, and crushes dignity. So don’t ignore the struggles of the poor — lean in.

How to live it: Support people in poverty not just with charity but with opportunities (jobs, mentoring, connections). Work for systems that lift people out, not just keep them fed.

3. Be a bridge between the rich and poor.

If you’re in a place where you understand both sides — the struggle of not having enough and the temptation of trusting wealth — you can be a bridge. Advocate for the poor, speak wisdom to the rich.

How to live it: Be someone who doesn’t just “feel bad” about poverty but does something — mentors someone, starts a business that hires locally, gives to causes that do real work.

4. Build your life on wisdom, not wealth.

This Proverb is part of a larger book about wisdom being more valuable than gold. Use your money like a tool, but build your life on God’s wisdom — that’s the only thing that won’t fail when the walls fall.

How to live it: Spend more time gaining wisdom than chasing wealth. Pray for insight. Read the Word. Seek God's perspective on money, work, and generosity.

In Short:

• Don’t trust in money — but don’t waste it either.

• Use what you have to build others up.

• Recognize poverty’s real weight — and do your part to lighten it.

• Remember: God, not gold, is your real fortress.

It’s not perfect. It’s a tool—not the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t replace prayer, meditation, or wise counsel from other believers. But it’s a powerful supplement. It’s like having a trusted Bible study partner who’s always available.

So if you’re looking for a way to deepen your Bible study or just want some help applying God’s Word to everyday life, give it a try. You might be surprised how much it helps.