Reading the Bible

I was asked by a young man on Sunday, how best to read the Bible. It's such a vast topic of course, and not easy to answer. But here are a few thoughts for those new to the Christian faith:

 

1.       Start in the morning.

I appreciate that not everyone is a morning person, but there is something special about greeting the day with prayer and worship, alongside reading the Bible. If you don't have much time, why not use one of the many Bible apps? My favourite is Lectio365. This is an app best listened to rather than just read, which is pretty much in line with what younger generations do anyway.

The app is quite meditative, and through the week takes you on a journey in a particular part of scripture.

2.       Start with the New Testament.

if you're new to the Bible, maybe read Mark's gospel first. This is the shortest of the gospels and tells you the story of Jesus in an easy-read way.

3.      Consider Bible reading helps.

For something a little deeper, I can recommend the Tom Wright ‘For Everyone’ series. Tom takes you through a whole book of the Bible at a time, breaking each section down into a daily reading. He's got great theology and explains things in an easy-to-understand way.

4.      Study yourself.

Why not have a go at studying one of Paul's letters in the New Testament? These are fairly manageable, as they are not too long. Maybe start by reading the whole of the letter in a modern version of the Bible. I love The Message version. It gives you a great overview in modern English. 

Then read the book again in a good translation, such as The English Standard Version (ESV). Having done that, break up the letter into smaller portions and dig into what each section says. Write your own notes at first, but you can then source other material to help you. Again, Tom Wright’s series is helpful. There are a couple of online sites that will give you some greater depth: Bible Gateway and Bible Hub.

 

Above all, ask God to help you understand the text. As a Christian, He is with us all the time and as we read His word, it comes alive. Read it. Enjoy it. Apply it.