How Should I Study The Bible
As you begin studying a particular passage, keep two things in mind. First, realize the literary context. This includes knowing who wrote the passage, to whom the passage was written, what comes before and after the passage, and the purpose of the book that contains the passage. This doesnt need to take much time, but scanning the introduction of the book and the verses before and after the passage is usually sufficient. Second, be aware of the cultural context. Remember, the Bible was originally written to people who lived a long time ago in another part of the world where they spoke a different language and had different cultural values. Consequently, we should attempt to understand the cultural background of the original readers, the genre of the passage, and any significant cultural/ historical events or phrases in the passage.
Allow the context and culture to inform your answers to the following questions:
1. What does the passage say?Read the passage and try to determine what it is saying. Become a detective. Is there meaning in the details? Are there one or two significant words or themes? What is the flow of the passage saying? Mainly, try to determine exactly what the author was communicating to the original recipients. Focus on the facts. One thing you might want to do is simply make a list of observations about the passage.
Ask the questions: What happened? What was taught?
Ask the question: How should the principle or lesson from this passage impact my life?
Why Christians Need To Read The Bible
In the 90s, there was a popular acronym for the BIBLE, which stood for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
And thats what the Bible is. Its our roadmap to how were supposed to live life on this earth as a representative of God and his son Jesus Christ.
The Bible has information on:
In short, the Bible is our instruction manual for how we should live in the world, filtered through the eyes of Christ.
- The nature and character of God.
- The history of our faith.
- Who Jesus is and why he died for our sins.
- How we should interact with God and other people.
- Proper conduct and behavior for Christians.
The Apostel Pauls sums it up perfectly in his letter to Timothy, 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. .
Now that weve covered what the Bible is and why its important to read it, lets talk about the best way to read the Bible.
The Bible is our instruction manual for how we should live in the world, filtered through the eyes of Christ.
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There is a book with the answers you need for your life. It was written by people who understand your struggles. Despite wars, natural disasters, and uprisings, it has been passed down and preserved as a must-read by countless, vastly different human civilizations. Billions of people believe it was inspired by a divine being who also became human and experienced every temptation weve ever known. This book is the Bible, and maybe like me, youve started reading it. Maybe like me, youve asked yourself, How can I actually understand the Bible?
Nearly everyone, with or without faith, respects Jesus as an incredibly wise and humble teacher, right? My pastor, Craig Groeschel, is preaching from one of the books in the Bible called 1 Peter. Regardless of your standing with Peters God, what if you could read the direct words of one of Jesus A+ students?
You can. Not only that, you can read Jesus words. You can understand the Bible. Lets talk about how.
First, here are two fancy words you can forget if you just remember their difference: exegesis and eisegesis. Exegesis is about drawing Gods intended truth from Scripture, and eisegesis is about adding your desires into the Scripture you read. Lets learn how to do the first one. Youve probably experienced firsthand the harm that can come from the second.
If putting Gods words into action doesnt make you look more like Jesus, then you may need to read them again.
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What The Bible Is
âAll 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 workâ .
The Bible is Godâs word.
It is inspired â as the author Timothy says, it is âGod-breathed.â This means that the original sources of Scripture were inspired, and we have a very accurate replication of the original text. By way of scribes, archeological work, and documentary criticism, we can look at the Bible we hold in our hands and know that what we hold is the word of God.
This doesnât mean that there is some mystical meaning that we must deduce from the text, but rather that God, over the course of thousands of years, through diverse authors, he guided the minds of the authors to write authoritative truth. The author of Hebrews writes: âIn the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Sonâ .
We are meant to understand the meaning of these texts by investigating what is the original meaning of the textâthe original authorâs intent, language, personal history, circumstance, and socio-cultural context.
Pray Before You Read Scripture
Pray that God allows you to see Christ in the passage. Pray that He allows you to understand the true meaning of the text. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate your mind. Ask the Lord to give you the desire to read His Word and enjoy it. Pray that God would speak directly to you with whatever you are going through.
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.
Remember that Hes the same God
God hasnt changed. We often look at passages in the Bible and think to ourselves, well that was then. However, Hes the same God that revealed Himself to Moses. Hes the same God that led Abraham. Hes the same God that protected David. Hes the same God that provided for Elijah. God is real and active in our lives today just as He was in the Bible. As you read, remember this incredible truth as you apply different passages to your life.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Look to see what God is saying to you in the passage that you are reading.
God is always speaking. The question is, are we always listening? God speaks through His Word, but if our Bible is closed we dont allow God to speak. Are you dying to hear Gods voice?
Do you want Him to talk to you like He used to? If so, get in the Word. Maybe God has been trying to tell you something for a long time, but you have been too busy to realize.
Write down what God is telling you.
Look in the commentary
Pray after you read Scripture
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You Will Read Biblical Text That Seems Confusing And Thats Ok
What happens when you come across a Bible verse you dont know what to do with?
Youre not the only one. And it only makes things muddier when people quote single Bible verses as commands or stand-alone thoughtsor when they print a single verse onto signs or bumper stickers. Sometimes the underlying meanings can get twisted around or even misused when words from Scripture are removed from their context.
This is why we study the Bible as a whole book. It was not written to be chopped into chunks and used to suit peoples own agendas.
But even as you read, youll probably encounter a verse or ten that sounds bizarre or radical. Thats why its crucial to consider:
- ContextWhat is happening at the time of the writing, who is writing it, what is the purpose of it, what was the culture like at that time, what style of writing it is, etc.
- TranslationDifferent versions of the Bible may use different words or descriptions, or varying sentence structures.
- Underlying principlesMany passages of Scripture contain metaphors, stories, symbolism, or heavy reference to the culture of the timethough the overall principle can be made clear through study.
During your study it can also be helpful to consult biblical commentaries, history books, or other materials to help describe what the setting was like when that part of the Bible was written.
Questions About The Bible
How many versions of the New American Bible are there?
The original version of the New American Bible was published in 1970. The translation of the New Testament was revised and published in 1986. The translation of the Book of Psalms was revised in 1991. A revision of the translation of the Old Testament, including the Psalter, was published in March 2011. This version is called the New American Bible Revised Edition .
Besides the various editions of the translation, many different publishers have produced editions of the NAB. Each publisher has added material, such as photographs, maps, devotions and prayers, and reference matter to the biblical text.
In what formats is the New American Bible available?
The New American Bible is available in the following formats: print, audio, electronic , and digital.
What’s the difference between a “Catholic Bible” and a “Protestant Bible”?
Catholic and Protestant Bibles both include 27 books in the New Testament. Protestant Bibles have only 39 books in the Old Testament, however, while Catholic Bibles have 46. The seven books included in Catholic Bibles are Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch. Catholic Bibles also include sections in the Books of Esther and Daniel which are not found in Protestant Bibles. These books are called the deuterocanonical books. The Catholic Church believes these books to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Do we read from the Bible at Mass?
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How To Read The Bible: Just Get Started
Once you get started, it is easy to expand your efforts. The key is just to start! That way, it will help prepare you for the next major issue that rocks your boat on the sea of life. You will be way ahead of the game in dealing with it.
If you commit yourself to this four-step process, you will begin to master the Bible so well that the Bible begins to master you. And as the Bible begins to master you, you will enjoy the inner peace, love, and joy that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. In addition, you will experience a peace and power in life and ministry that the Holy Spirit gives to those who meditate on and practice His Word.
Taken from 30 Days to Understanding the Bible by Max Anders. Copyright © 1988, 1994, 1998, 2004, and 2018 by Max Anders. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com.
About the Author: Dr. Max Anders is the author of over 25 books including 30 Days to Understanding the Bible. He has taught on the college and seminary level and is a veteran pastor. Max was also one of the original team members with Walk Thru the Bible Ministries. He provides resources and discipleship strategies at MaxAnders.com to help people grow spiritually.
God Changes Our Relationships For The Better
He helped those who were poor and needy, so everything went well for him. That is what it means to know God, says the LORD.
Jeremiah 22:16 NCV
Knowing God isnt just about having intellectual knowledge or scholarly wisdom of the Bible. When we choose to know God, our relationships change. Why? Because Gods love changes us from the inside out:
Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become Gods child. And so everyone who loves knows God.
1 John 4:7 ERV
Knowing God is not about gaining more knowledge, it is about understanding his love. When we do, we will naturally start to love the way God does.
Everyone wants and needs love. Knowing God is an important first step in loving the people around us.
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How Do I Read The Bible
June 2, 2017NPM Digital
There are two significant issues for anyone who wants to spend time regularly reading the Bible. First, how should I study the Bible so that I can understand what it is saying? Second, what kind of routine should I develop to help me apply the Bible to my life? Below are some suggested practices, tips, and questions to ask as you study the Bible.
Anyone Can Study The Bible
Sometimes I think we make studying the Bible more complicated than it has to be.
There’s a place for in-depth study and using all these remarkable resources that are available to us. But, at the end of the day, the goal is to encounter the living God.
And so as we learn to ask some basic questions of any passage, you don’t need to be a biblical scholar, you don’t need to have had advanced coursework, you don’t even need to have been a Christian for very long. All you need is to be able to ask questions: What do we learn about God? What do we learn about people? How should I relate to God? How should I relate to others?
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Study The Bible For Depth Of Knowledge
Few of us can gain a depth of knowledge without sitting under skilled teachers. So, for most people, they must sit under effective preaching from the Bible and be involved in a Bible study taught by an effective teacher. For maximum benefit, Bible study must have assignments that get you studying and interacting with the Bible on your own. To gain a depth of knowledge, you cannot be passive. You must become active in the process of deepening your knowledge.
If this is new to you, begin by attending a church that is committed to teaching the Bible, not only from the pulpit during sermons, but also in small groups or Sunday school classes. You might also find helpful information in Christian bookstores or online. More seasoned Christians might be able to give you helpful suggestions as well. If you are an avid reader, there is a wealth of knowledge available to you as well through good books available online or at Christian bookstores.
Use A Reliable Study Bible
The same principle applies to study Bibles as commentaries: dont make them your first stop. But again, they can be very helpful as you work your way through different sections of the Bible.
Im a fan of the ESV Study Bible. Its got loads of insightful notes, historical charts, diagrams, and more. Plus, its big so it doubles as a self-defense weapon.
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H3 Whats A Rich Text Element
H4 Whatâs a Rich Text element?
H5 Whatâs a Rich Text element?
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The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
H4 Static and dynamic content editing
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
H4 How to customize formatting for each rich text
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the “When inside of” nested selector system.
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Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the “When inside of” nested selector system.
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the “When inside of” nested selector system.
Level Three: The Prophetic Books
The last section contains the writings of the prophets. They wrote about a great deal of things, but mostly they spoke about two major catastrophes in Israels history.
In 722 B.C., Israel was destroyed by Assyria, and then in 586 B.C., Babylon attacked and captured Jerusalem. These events were incredibly significant in the life of Israel. By and large, the prophets wrote to warn of, or explain, these events.
The final prophet, Malachi, wrote about 400 B.C., and then there was silence until Jesus arrival.
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How Often Should You Read The Bible
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
In Joshua 1:8 God tells Joshua to meditate on the Law day and night. This will help Joshua obey Gods commands.
While reading and meditating on Gods word are two different spiritual disciplines, it is hard to do one without the other.
As a Christian, you should be reading your Bible daily.
Search For God Like You Would Search For Treasure
Call out for the ability to be wise. Cry out for understanding. Look for it as you would look for silver. Search for it as you would search for hidden treasure. Then you will understand how to have respect for the LORD. You will find out how to know God.
Proverbs 2:3-5 NIRV
You dont wake up knowing God. You have to put effort into searching. We search for keys, phones, food, and mates so why would our relationship with God be any different?
One way we can put this passage of Scripture into practice is by setting aside quality time with him each day. It takes effort to stop other things and prioritize prayer and reading the Bible. When we do, we show God we treasure our connection with him.
These Bible verses promise that when we search for spiritual wisdom, we will find out how to know God. God isnt difficult to find. He wants us to know him. We just have to make sure we decide to search for him.
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