Your choice of passage is an important first step in beginning the research process. As with any research, you should choose a passage of personal interest because your own interest helps to drive the research process. You can choose a passage you like or one that features a concept in which you are interested.
Your passage also needs to meet the parameters of the assignment. The passage must be of sufficient size and complexity to be covered in the required page length of your paper. For example, you could not interpret an entire chapter of Genesis and its Creation themes in a five-page paper. Your passage should also be a section that can be interpreted as a whole. Do not arbitrarily cut off a portion of the scripture because it fits a particular size. Rather, select a passage that represents a complete thought, argument, or story which can yield a complete interpretation.