How does one read the Bible? There is no long or short answer, however, I would
like to suggest a few principles.
The Bible is not just another book. It was written by human hands but
through the divine inspiration of God. It's the Logos a
"living word" alive through the spirit of God, giving life through
His Holy Spirit to those who read it. It
imparts wisdom, knowledge, relationship, comfort, guidance and so much more to
those who through faith read it, believing every word to be true.
In the Bible we read the story of God, of His creation of the earth and all
in it. In Genesis and the Old Testament we learn of the fall of God's created
humans, Adam and Eve and the coming of evil into this world. We learn of the
generations of God's people who successively drew near to God and were blessed,
and who fell away from God into sin and destruction. We learn of the prophets
who foretold of a Saviour who would redeem fallen humanity.
In the New Testament we learn of the fulfilment of prophecy- the birth of
Jesus Christ. The Gospels outline His life, teachings and death on the cross.
He has paid the ransom forever so that all who believe in Him and commit their
lives to God are free to live an eternal life with Him. Christ's resurrection
is recorded, that we might rejoice in His victory over sin and death. The
coming of the Holy Spirit to be with believers is described in the book of Acts
and precepts for life in the early church and in the lives of believers are
written down in the epistles to the churches. Finally, God's plans to overcome
an increasingly wicked world and establish righteousness in Heaven and on Earth
through the second coming of Jesus are outlined in the last book of the Bible,
Revelation.
That's the short version. Sixty-six books, all of them inspirational. Where
does one start?
If you are a new Christian, I would start with Genesis and one of the
gospels. Thankfully in this age of technology there are visual aids and lots of
online programs and ministries which assist in understanding the basics of
Christian belief. The Jesus film and visual gospels enact the gospel well.
Websites such as bible.org and BibleGateway have Bible versions and resources
to help you study. Also the Psalms and Proverbs are useful for a new Christian
as they are easily readable. Bible reading should be accompanied by two
other fundamentals of Christian living- prayer and fellowship with other
Christians in a church community.
Mature Christians may have read the Bible many times in their lifetimes and
may follow many different ways of Bible reading. There are various reading
programs available. I know people who read every book sequentially from Genesis
to Revelation and then begin again. Some choose a particular book or series of
books of the Bible. Some use a study guide on a particular topic and read
various sections of the Bible in relation to this topic. It’s an individual
choice. At the moment I am reading a book of the Old Testament followed by a
book of the New Testament.
How often should you read the Bible? One of the pastors at my church has a
slogan he uses about prayer- "Much prayer, much power. Little prayer,
little power." I think the same thing applies to Bible reading. If you
don't read the Bible at all, you are missing out on one of the key ways to grow
in faith and spiritual maturity. If you read it frequently you will be
blessed.
Bible reading can be a joy. It should be a discipline. It should never be a
chore.
With considered words, let me say that a daily devotional where one reads a
few verses of the Bible and a supporting homily is a pleasant adjunct, not a
substitute for reading the Bible, straight from the Bible. Nor should you read
a chapter a day in order to tick that off your mental "must do"
list. So, what are some guiding principles?
Pray before reading. Ask God to reveal to you what He would have you
learn and understand.
Try to have a quiet space, free from distractions. This will help you
to concentrate on the word. In addition, choose a time when you will not be
rushed. Some people like to get up early and have time with God at the beginning
of each day.
Choose your version- there are many versions of the Bible available
and different formats. Some people like to have a physical copy, others use
online versions or audio Bibles. It’s down to personal preference. Some Bible
websites enable the user to compare verses in different versions which can be
useful. I would suggest that you use an internationally recognised version that
has been translated by a team of Bible scholars e.g., the New International
Version (NIV) or New King James Version, which seek to be true to the original
languages of Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. There are a few versions of
single-authored books that seek to transcribe the language into modern idiom,
seeking to be a version of the Bible but not necessarily true to the original,
and I would avoid these.
Avoid prescribed amounts. This is my personal opinion only, but I
think you should read as much or as little daily as is meaningful to you. I
have nothing against daily reading plans per se. as long as one feels free to
read beyond the daily reading plan. If you finish the “entire Bible in a year”
program in eight months, nine days, so be it. Conversely, if you read a few
lines and feel the need to meditate deeply on those few lines then that is
surely more meaningful on that day than ticking off several chapters on the
list.
Meditate on what you have read. Meditation is not emptying the mind.
It’s thinking deeply and there is no greater subject one can think about than
the things of God. One could read the Bible for a hundred years and still be
given fresh and new insights into His character, His wisdom, His ways, His
divine love and His power that passes all human understanding. If you are a
Christian God’s Holy Spirit will speak to you through the words of the Bible.
Refer to associated materials. Sometimes it helps to read a bible
commentary or view an online series in conjunction with your personal bible
reading. Some people like to journal or make notes as they read.
Pray and Apply Thank God for His word. Ask Him to help you not
just read it, but to believe it, to remember it and to live it. May it help to
change your heart and help you to be the man or woman of God that He created
you to be. May it help you to show God’s love to the world around you, in every
sphere of your life.
For the word of God is
alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart.
Your word is a lamp for my
feet,
a light on my path.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you
are deceiving yourselves. 23For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is
like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, 24and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets
what he looks like. 25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of
freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective
doer—he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
