Tips for reading the Bible
READ AS A FAMILY
Read the entire Old Testament, all four accounts of the Gospel or another group of Bible books at a brisk pace to get an overview. “Think novel”.
Read fairly quickly and concisely. Do not get caught up in brooding and think too much. The goal is to get the overview.
CHILDREN’S BIBLE
Read the stories in a children’s Bible. This is a great way to get the whole context.
Children’s Bibles can be perceived as childish and that is the point. Reading a children’s Bible provides an overview that can be difficult to obtain in other ways.
LISTEN
The entire Bible is available as an audiobook. Listening through the stories gives a new dimension.
READ MEDITATIVELY
Select a verse and then read it many times. Think and feel what the verse wants to tell you.
There are many methods to approach a text meditatively. You can easily say that the main point is to know the text. The important thing is not really facts or theological questions but rather to see what the text means to you. This sometimes means reacting with joy and peace but also struggling with more difficult texts. The important thing is to dare to face the issues that arise and not just reject them.
THE THREE QUESTIONS
Three questions to ask when you read are:
- What does the text say?
- What does the text mean?
- How does the text apply to your life and situation?
The texts are expanded if we dare to ask them questions.
Dare to ask questions to the Bible text can be an important way to gain a deeper understanding. The three questions are based on first gaining an understanding of what it says and then going in depth with the other two questions.
TOTAL BIBLE MAKEOVER
Use markers and highlight Bible themes as you read.
Make a list of different colors and which themes you would like to highlight, then read slowly and try to find these. The Bible will gradually take on a whole new look and become very personal.
READ COMMENTARIES
This is a good method for the beginner as well as for the experienced. Read what others have discovered in the text. There are several Bible reading commentaries available.
There are many opportunities where there are a number of devotional books to follow. You can also follow Bible reading plans that have comments on the text.
STUDY A THEME
Choose a theme and read what the Bible has to say about it. You can use reference books to find where you can read about your chosen theme.
READ THE ENTIRE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
By following a Bible reading plan, you can read the entire Bible in one year in about 15 minutes.
PRAY THE PRAYERS IN THE BIBLE
The Bible is full of prayers, especially the Psalmist. Feel free to study them and see if there is nothing that suits you.
The Bible contains so much more than The Lord’s Prayer. The Psalms and many other books contain a rich flora of prayers that can be used in the personal devotional life.
MEMORIZATION
Choose some Bible verses that you would like to memorize and practice them.
THE CHAPTER METHOD
Write your own summary of the chapters in the Bible.
Read the chapter, preferably several times, and make an attempt to summarize the chapter in one or two sentences. Imagine that you are writing introductions to the chapters.
READ A PARAPHRASE
A paraphrase is not a translation but an interpretation of the text. Reading a paraphrase can give a good flow in your reading.
A WORD OR A PERSON
Studying a word or person thoroughly is a good way to delve into the Bible.
Feel free to use the reference section in your Bible to find a good topic and also where you can find Bible words that touch on the topic.
WRITE
By keeping a spiritual diary or creative notebook, you can get more out of your reading. Writing is an important way to take in and think about what you read.
Other Posts
More from Category: Featured Publications > News & Updates