Most people don't know how to read the Bible...

[TheOneHeLoves]

I don't believe that reading the Bible starting from front to back is the right way to read and study. I believe we need to read starting with The Gospel according to John (or another gospel) and then Romans, Hebrews and then Genesis. From there you can move around. I believe reading one book verse by verse and not rushing through. We must look at what each story shows about the character of God (Father, Son and Spirit). Devotionals are usually topical and about you and how to apply to your life - but where it the focus on knowing Jesus and what He commands. Obedience comes by the intimate relationship with Jesus.

How do you read and study scripture?

 

[Michiah-Imla]

You cannot go wrong reading the Holy Bible from cover to cover frequently.

Because slowly, little by little, any errors developing in the reader’s mind will be corrected.

But one must not stop reading the Bible faithfully because the flesh is constantly fighting the Spirit. And if one begins to slack, error will creep back into the picture. And worse, if one begins listening more to men than to the holy word, heresy definitely is a danger.

 

[TheOneHeLoves]

You cannot go wrong reading the Holy Bible from cover to cover frequently.

Because slowly, little by little, any errors developing in the reader’s mind will be corrected.

But one must not stop reading the Bible faithfully because the flesh is constantly fighting the Spirit. And if one begins to slack, error will creep back into the picture. And worse, if one begins listening more to men than to the holy word, heresy definitely is a danger.

I realize, I should have said start to study. once you have a foundation, you can read cover to cover in that order but I don't think that is a good way to start having never read before. Those that know Jesus and the gospel need to read regularly. Thank you for the response, does my clarification make better sense.

 

[Wick Stick]

I don't believe that reading the Bible starting from front to back is the right way to read and study. I believe we need to read starting with The Gospel according to John (or another gospel) and then Romans, Hebrews and then Genesis. From there you can move around. I believe reading one book verse by verse and not rushing through. We must look at what each story shows about the character of God (Father, Son and Spirit). Devotionals are usually topical and about you and how to apply to your life - but where it the focus on knowing Jesus and what He commands. Obedience comes by the intimate relationship with Jesus.

How do you read and study scripture?

John is the hardest gospel. Mark or Luke seem easier.

Romans is the book whose interpretation is most hotly disputed. It expounds on Genesis, suggesting that book should be read before it. Romans would be WAY down my list.

For that matter, most NT books build on the OT. Maybe Genesis still is the starting spot... but those first few chapters are really rough sledding for a novice.

 

[Muna]

I actually learned to read using the scriptures because I had graduated with a 5th grade reading average, and at the time we did not have computers, and I sat with the bible in front of me and dictionary on my lap, because I had to look up the most basic of words (forget Hebrew and Greek) and I was struggling with the "thee's and thou's" of the King James, I was pretty bad off when it come to the basics, I just recall having a laboursome those first two years were for me. But I also started in gospels, and then questions would come and I would seek those by comparing between the references given us in one place to another and eventually you just naturally begin to flip between places and begin comparing as the Holy Spirit teaches you to do the same.

And then when you begin to get his words in you and you become more familar with his speech it becomes easier to hear where to go when that is not as plain in the beginning, but its all part of an excellent practice and has its own rewards as things begin to (for the lack of a better description) jump off the pages and open up you. Which is really the help of Spirit in those times.

And so now I learn far better by comparing between places, but I certainly didnt start there, but it also didn't take that long after (considering my own lack of abilities) to begin flipping back and forth between books (naturally) without having been told to, its just that is where the words of God will take you (all over the place) when studying it.

Edit corrected sentence

 

[Muna]

John is the hardest gospel. Mark or Luke seem easier.

Romans is the book whose interpretation is most hotly disputed. It expounds on Genesis, suggesting that book should be read before it. Romans would be WAY down my list.

You know @Wick Stick speaking of Romans, it is pretty interesting to watch Paul make his argument in Romans 10:1-21 (minus his own interjections) because he starts in Lev 18:5 and is all over the place (when you are able to follow his footsteps through the recorded footnotes)

So Paul started in Lev 18:5

Paul then turns to Duet 30:12-14

And then he follows up with Isaiah 28:16

After which, he immediately turns to Joel 2:32

And turns back to Isaiah 52:7 (a whole other chapter altogether)

Then Paul jumps up a chapter into Isaiah 53:1

And then touches down into the Psalms, to Psalm 19:4

Then he goes back even further into Deut 32:21 (not quite as far back as Deut 30:12-14 where he began)

He then returns to Isaiah once again, reaching further up into Isaiah 65:1-2 at this time

All of which creates the context of Romans 10:1-21 from each of those places (combined)

So that portion of Romans is just 21 verses. 10 of those 21 verses come from 5 different books but they are not taken from the same chapters of those books. While only 2 verses are ever taken at one time (but twice) while the rest of it is Paul interjecting between all of these verses reasoning between all of them together into what becomes the created context of Romans 10:1-21. As I have often said, looking at this, I can't imagine Paul asking us to "open our bibles and follow along" with the movements he takes in such a short space, and so follow him through into so mary various contexts to create that one. But that still give us an idea the way the Holy Spirit led him to go, or navigate between them.

 

[Wick Stick]

You made me think about this for WAY too long.

It started as a reading list, but evolved into something more like a curriculum.

Genesis (excluding the first 5 chapters and the genealogies), with an emphasis on Abraham's covenant
Exodus 1-20
Deuteronomy, with an emphasis on the punitive nature of the Mosaic covenant
The rest of Exodus
Joshua
Judges
Selections from 1&2 Samuel, emphasis on David's life and two coronations
Psalms, emphasis on David's multiple offices as king, priest, and prophet
1&2 Kings OR 1&2 Chronicles (both aren't necessary), emphasis on the divided kingdoms
Selections from Ezekiel, establishing the different prophetic timelines for the divided kingdoms
Daniel 1-8
Selections from Jeremiah, emphasis on the proclamation of the New Covenant and the dereliction of the Mosaic covenant
Leviticus + Hosea, highlighting the disagreement between the Levitical priests and God's prophets
Amos, emphasis on the "day of the LORD"
Selections from Isaiah, emphasis on the coming Messiah
Luke
Acts
Hebrews, emphasis on a better covenant and the Melchizedek priesthood
Ephesians + a topical survey of chapters about Regeneration throughout the NT
1Peter + 1Corinthians, highlighting the harmonious teachings of Peter and Paul regarding the establishment of the church
John 6-8, Jesus' teachings on heredity and inheritance
Matthew 5, Jesus teachings in the Sermon on the Mount
Selections from Matthew + Hebrews, regarding fulfillment of prophecy and types/antitypes
Selections from Ezekiel + Genesis 2-5, on elect and unelected bloodlines
Obadiah + 1Maccabees, regarding the infiltration of Israel by the Edomites
The Parable of the Wheat and Tares
Romans, with attention to ideas of adoption
Job + Genesis 1, on the creation
...
literally everything else in the Bible
...
2nd half of Daniel + Revelation

 

[Wick Stick]

You know @Wick Stick speaking of Romans, it is pretty interesting to watch Paul make his argument in Romans 10:1-21 (minus his own interjections) because he starts in Lev 18:5 and is all over the place (when you are able to follow his footsteps through the recorded footnotes)

So Paul started in Lev 18:5

Paul then turns to Duet 30:12-14

And then he follows up with Isaiah 28:16

After which, he immediately turns to Joel 2:32

And turns back to Isaiah 52:7 (a whole other chapter altogether)

Then Paul jumps up a chapter into Isaiah 53:1

And then touches down into the Psalms, to Psalm 19:4

Then he goes back even further into Deut 32:21 (not quite as far back as Deut 30:12-14 where he began)

He then returns to Isaiah once again, reaching further up into Isaiah 65:1-2 at this time

All of which creates the context of Romans 10:1-21 from each of those places (combined)

So that portion of Romans is just 21 verses. 10 of those 21 verses come from 5 different books but they are not taken from the same chapters of those books. While only 2 verses are ever taken at one time (but twice) while the rest of it is Paul interjecting between all of these verses reasoning between all of them together into what becomes the created context of Romans 10:1-21. As I have often said, looking at this, I can't imagine Paul asking us to "open our bibles and follow along" with the movements he takes in such a short space, and so follow him through into so mary various contexts to create that one. But that still give us an idea the way the Holy Spirit led him to go, or navigate between them.

Do you suppose Paul expected the Romans to be familiar with all those books?

Perhaps this is why Peter calls him 'hard to understand.'

 

[marks]

Most people don't know how to read the Bible...​

Most people aren't Christians, so I agree with this.

Those who are . . . the Spirit will lead. Nothing wrong with starting at the beginning. Nothing wrong starting with Romans, or Colossians. The main thing I recommend is letting the Holy Spirit lead.

But rather than taking the new Christian and leaving them on their own, discipling, mentoring, that's our part to play.

Much love!

 

[Muna]

Do you suppose Paul expected the Romans to be familiar with all those books?

Perhaps this is why Peter calls him 'hard to understand.'

Paul was Jew but he was also a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25) his fellow labourers were of Rome Aquilla and Pricilla.

So there were Jews in Rome (to whom he wrote) although many of the Jews were expelled from Rome in Acts 18:2 but from what I have read concerning the dates that many had returned to Rome by the writing of the epistle Romans, because Paul speaks of being ready to preach the gospel to them at Rome in Romans 1:15 but I am not so good at the dates of these things, I would have to double check myself on this.

Regardless, if we read for instance Romans 2:27 he can be understood to be speaking directly to the Jews here

Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

And the Jews (even in Rome) would have known the scriptures moreso than the Gentiles who he then adresses here

Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office

So he adresses both, so I would think the Gentiles could possibly be the unlearned that wrest with some of what Paul wrote (when speaking to the Jews in the same letters) perhaps?

Unless he is speaking of the unlearned of the gospel (of the Jews) that would be a decent discussion for a thread, who are the unlearned? Afterall those who had the law and were of the learned actually fullfilled the scriptures killing their own Messiah, so it wasnt like it served for much of an advantage for them, but then again Jesus was always reproving them for not being able to hear Moses and so not being able to receive his words either.

 

[TheOneHeLoves]

Most people aren't Christians, so I agree with this.

Those who are . . . the Spirit will lead. Nothing wrong with starting at the beginning. Nothing wrong starting with Romans, or Colossians. The main thing I recommend is letting the Holy Spirit lead.

But rather than taking the new Christian and leaving them on their own, discipling, mentoring, that's our part to play.

Much love!

I have been teaching the Bible book by book since 2013. It has been such a blessing! I love to chat with anyone about Jesus and scripture.

 

[marks]

I have been teaching the Bible book by book since 2013. It has been such a blessing! I love to chat with anyone about Jesus and scripture.

The teacher is the first one blessed! Only, remember that you will receive a stricter judgment. Verse by verse, book by book, that's what I prefer also.

I love the small home Bible study, we can spend however long we need on any particular part til we all understand the same thing.

Much love!

 

[DJT_47]

It's a life-long, never ending endeavor. Start at the beginning and read to the end, over and over, and start putting the pieces together through study thereafter, as questions will be raised in your own mind, and recollection of what you've read will then generate answers as well as more profound questions you'll have to consider and study about. You must first gain a basic understanding of who and what God truly is and how and what he thinks about things, and you can only do that by reading from the very beginning so as not to get a skewed or biased understanding of him.

 

[Taken]

Most people don't know how to read the Bible...

Agree.

Most I would say:
…Have never read the Bible.
…Prefer the Ease of being told what to believe.

Many I would say:
…Are too busy, Without time For God.
…Attempt to read the Bible like a novel.
…Use select passages;
……….for Comfort.
……….as a Weapon.
…Search for “understanding” in the Bible, which is a Book of Gods Approved Knowledge, “Not Understanding”.
…Only consider God, when they are facing a crises.
…Demand PROOF of an invisible God, from a visible man.

Few I Would say:
… Have a one on one Relationship WITH God.
… Have a Relationship IN God.
… Have a Relationship of God IN them.
… Know HOW “How to Study” Scripture.
… Assuredly know their Standing WITH God.
… Verify what they HEAR are God’s inspired Words.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Rockerduck]

A new Christian should be in a Sunday School class and read the bible along with the class and read it on your own. This way you are not reading and not connecting the dots. Read your bible with a dictionary and a notepad. Complete the New Testament first, book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Then the Old Testament makes more sense.

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

I would open the Bible regardless and start from their, then go back to the start of that book. and read it again.

Then start at any other book in the Bible and read that and then go back and read it once again. etc etc ! then some things stick ? and as you read more and more over the years.

I would jot a lot of things down in a note pad, for what ever reason and as in regards, that I had questions regarding why that I was not sure on such 100%, but in time I would fined the answer, from reading the other books in the bible, as such was a ahah moment, that now such was understood.

One has to understand a bit on Hebrew and Latin and Greek as in regards that how they put things forward etc and then you may understand why it's written English the way it is ? translated ! or the English can come across as not worthy, but it tryes best, but miss the mark somewhat say ?

One needs a good Bible with the words of Jesus in Red helps. New Bible versions can be an abomination that destroys the key of such much like a cancer, key points being bastardised = a work of the Devil ! such will loose much of the key foundations in regards that a good Bible will be willing in the the Holy Spirit, giving you fruit in that regard, but others are toxic and only so called religious work or less !

Once one has studdyed the Bible devoutly for say 7 years, then you may just be on your way to start to know what it all about.
I came to call such as much like a sort of Web ! as you can not read the Bible as just any other book you have ever read ! it's not to be read that way at all ! For if you have read any of the books of the Bible, as you read it again, you will find that in some regards you missed something and only picked up on it Then ! like Oh my, how could I of missed that ? but you may of learned things during the time you read it last !

The Bible is astounding Awesome ! you will never read any books like it ! all other books come way short, nothing at all that can give such devotion and such is totaly inspiration ! It's God given ! It is clearly not a works of Man ! but written inspired by the Holy Spirit.

One best need the Holy Spirit to read the Bible, so as to make such come to good understanding.
It will inspire one who is openly devoted to seeking.

But we clearly do have Satanic people who work so as to use the Bible to their own ends ! stealing lines and making up a mumbo jumbo stack of deceptiond to fit into their depraved Religious nonsense, you find such lording it over others as if such is the truth, thing is with such Satanist is that they do not want you to seek outside their own demands that they clealy want from you ! or you are not alowed to question anything they peddle, but just sit back as a Dupe ! for They only want Dupes ! so they can lord it over all ! The do not have Christ Jesus in their life ! for they have no Life within them, they are Stooges ! who have learned a craft ? and the Devil has a Craft ! to be sure to be sure !

I know people who say they have read the Bible from the start to finish !
I say so what, that means nothing, one would of learnt nothing ? Where they inspired ? or only got browny points tickets on themselves.

I read the car Service Manual from start to finish too ! that does not make me worthy of being a Machanic at all ! not to mention not all Mechanics are the best, some are crap and some are an abomination that are clearly out to take you for a fool ! and they only excell in that. the same deal with some Priest ! child molestering Priest and are covered up by the top down of their Church ! Fact is That's totaly Satanic in fact ! and anyone who suport such is clearly going to Hell !