Why to Read the Bible According to the Bible
A lot of new and seasoned Christians have a story about their attempts to read the Bible cover to cover that goes something like this: It was going swell as they read through Genesis and Exodus, but somewhere in Leviticus or Numbers, they started to get bogged downwards in details they didn't quite empathise. And by the fourth dimension they hitting Deuteronomy, they were done.
While information technology's true that "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and preparation in righteousness" (ii Timothy iii:16), nosotros need to recognize that the Bible is not like any other book. It isn't necessarily meant to be read from forepart to dorsum. In fact, the Bible is really a library.
The Protestant Bible is comprised of 66 books, and many of those books are written in a diverseness of dissimilar genres or types of literature. These genres all demand to be read a petty differently. Starting at Genesis and trying to read straight through without a strategy tin go frustrating if yous don't know how these books and their literary genres work together.
At that place are a few ways to classify the genres of the Bible, merely they typically fall into these categories.
Historical narrative
Books include: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah, Acts
While near of the Bible's books have some chemical element of history to them, these are the ones that are primarily focused on communicating stories of historical significance. In these books, y'all'll find a lot of the Bible stories you lot probably heard when you were a kid.
Wisdom literature
Books include: Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes
Wisdom literature focuses on what it means to alive well. Some of the language is poetic and figurative, then it tin't always be read in the same way that you'd read the Bible's historical books. For instance, Proverbs 13:14 tells us that "the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life . . ." This doesn't hateful that wise teaching is a literal fountain, merely a rather standing source of intellectual and spiritual nourishment.
Poetry
Books include: Psalms, Song of Songs, Lamentations
While many Old Attestation books contain portions of poesy, these iii books are written equally poesy. Unlike English poetry that focuses more on rhyme and meter, Hebrew poetry creates an emotional touch on by focusing on counterbalanced, parallel lines. Nosotros can encounter an example of this in Psalm 24:3-4 where we're told,
"3Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4The one who has clean hands and a pure centre,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear past a fake god." — Psalm 24:3–4
Both verses use repetitive lines to bulldoze the point home. To ascend to the mountain of the Lord and stand in his holy place both communicate a blamelessness before God—and faithfulness is communicated by the comparable ideas of not trusting in idols or swearing past simulated gods.
Prophecy
Books include: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
The Bible's prophetic literature focuses on God's word spoken through his prophets. These messages tend to emphasize Israel's demand to repent before they experience the Lord's judgment. When reading prophecy, it's essential to understand who God is talking to through his spokespeople and the overall message he is trying to convey.
Apocalyptic literature
Books include: Daniel, Revelation
Like some of the Bible'south prophetic literature, the apocalyptic writings focus on future events. Because and then much apocalyptic literature involves dreams and visions translated into symbols and imagery, this is oft the most difficult genre to sympathize—and the easiest to misinterpret.
Gospels
Books include: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts
Sometimes the Gospels get lumped in with the historical narrative books of the Bible, and that makes sense. After all, their unabridged value rests on their historic nature. But what separates them into their own genre is that the Gospels focus on the life, expiry, and resurrection of Jesus. And while all 4 Gospels concentrate on the life of Jesus, they all have a unique emphasis and each one approaches the story differently. Luke's Gospel and Acts are both technically epistles, but they circumduct effectually the Messiah and his establishment of the church building, so they also fall into this literary genre.
Epistles
Books include: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, one and ii Thessalonians, one and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, ane and ii Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, Jude
Epistles are letters, and like modern letters, they're made up of a greeting, a trunk, and a closing. These messages focus on instruction, correction, and encouragement for these new kickoff-century churches.
Some books accept multiple genres
There's definitely some genre-hopping going on throughout the books of the Bible. Daniel is both historical narrative and apocalyptic literature, and Acts works as both history and Gospel. Proverbs is a wisdom volume that includes poetic elements. Just the bespeak is that learning to see these books through the lens of genre tin aid make Scripture reading a lot easier.
So where do I start?
Now that you have a better moving-picture show of the Bible every bit a drove of books, you can exist intentional about how y'all approach information technology. Instead of walking into what is essentially a library and trying to read your way through the books indiscriminately, y'all can read them strategically. As you practice, yous'll observe that with each Bible book that you read, you proceeds a meliorate understanding of the others.
Hither are some suggestions to become yous started:
The Gospel of Mark
Genre: Gospel
Chapters: 16
Total verses: 678
For the Christian, the Bible is ultimately about redemption through Jesus Christ. It makes sense then to begin your biblical journey in the Gospels, and Mark'southward is a great place to start. Running the length of a longer magazine article, it should take less than two hours to read in a single sitting.
Marking's Gospel will give you lot an overview of Jesus' life without getting y'all bogged down in too many details. One time you accept an understanding of this Gospel'southward narrative and all the characters, you'll exist able to swoop into the other Gospels with more clarity and agreement.
Key poesy: "For even the Son of Human being did not come to be served, but to serve, and to requite his life as a ransom for many." —Mark 10:45
The Gospel of John
Genre: Gospel
Chapters: 21
Total verses: 879
Where Mark focuses on what Jesus did, John looks closely at what Jesus said about himself. We find some of the clearest explanations of who Jesus was and what he came to reach in John's Gospel business relationship. It'southward from John's Gospel that we learn that "For God so loved the globe that he gave his one and merely Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Primal poesy: In the offset was the Word, and the Give-and-take was with God, and the Discussion was God. —John ane:1
Genesis
Genre: History
Chapters: 50
Total verses: one,213
Genesis sets up many essential biblical themes. It's hither that we acquire that God was responsible for creating the heavens and earth; nosotros witness humans equally they insubordinate confronting their creator; and we sentinel God establish the nation of State of israel. The entire biblical story of God's working with and redeeming humanity is established in this important book.
Genesis is a genuinely enjoyable read, but nosotros realize pretty apace that we're reading about an ancient, foreign civilization. It'due south helpful to have some tools on hand to brand sense of some unfamiliar concepts and traditions. Resource similar the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible or the NIV Faithlife Illustrated Study Bible can provide a lot of helpful context.
Fundamental verses: In the outset God created the heavens and the world. —Genesis 1:1
The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the country I volition evidence you.
"I will make you lot into a dandy nation,
and I will bless you;
I will brand your name great,
and y'all will be a approval.
I will bless those who anoint you lot,
and whoever curses yous I volition curse;
and all peoples on globe
will exist blessed through yous."—Genesis 12:one–3
Proverbs
Genre: Wisdom literature
Chapters: 31
Total verses: 915
While there is of class theological truth to be found in Proverbs, it's essentially a compilation of simple instructions for living wisely. Following these principles volition help you live a life of integrity and virtue.
As you're reading Proverbs, it's of import to recollect the difference between a principle and a promise. For instance, Proverbs 22:6 says, "Start children off on the way they should get, and even when they are sometime they will not turn from it." The point is that it's of import to exist intentional about didactics your values and beliefs to your children. But it's not a promise that doing and so volition ensure a specific outcome.
Proverbs is full of wise advice nearly living, simply information technology shouldn't be read as God promising sure results for specific behaviors. Remember that the wisdom that the Proverbs offers is wide-ranging and more than general in nature.
Fundamental verse: The fearfulness of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. —Proverbs 1:7
ane John
Genre: Epistle
Chapters: v
Total verses: 105
Since the beginning of the Christian church, authorship for this letter has been attributed to John the campaigner. In this epistle, John makes simple contrasts like light vs. darkness, truth vs. falsehood, and love of God vs. love of the world. This alphabetic character is intended in function to give Christians an balls of their conservancy.
Fundamental Verse: I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that yous may know that you have eternal life. —i John v:xiii
Psalm 119
Genre: Poetry
Full verses: 176
The entire book of Psalms is total of insight and comfort. Christians throughout history have turned to the Psalms when they needed direction, consolation, and delectation. Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and shares David'due south eye for God's Discussion. If you're diving into Scripture, Psalm 119 will help you see what falling in love with the Word of God looks similar.
Primal poetry: Your give-and-take is a lamp for my anxiety, a lite on my path. —Psalm 119:105
Bible reading plans
If yous're brand new to the Bible, it's good to have an understanding of the Bible's bulletin and scope before you lot dig into a through-the-Bible reading plan. Zondervan provides a fantastic drove of reading plans that volition give you lot a potent working knowledge of Scripture.
This reading program starts with an overview of Jesus' ministry, so spends a month helping you to go to know and sympathize God amend. From there information technology focuses on diverse topics and readings appropriate for new Christians. By the fourth dimension you're done with this reading plan, you're going to have a helpful understanding of the foundations of God and his Word, which will prepare you lot for committing to a more intensive Bible reading plan.
Most full-Bible reading plans focus on a year, which is a very reasonable amount of time to read through the Bible. The average reader reads about 200 words per minute. This means that you should exist able to get through the entire Bible in a yr past spending around 15 minutes a mean solar day on this endeavor.
There are a total of 1,189 chapters in the Bible, which means that you lot should be able to go through the entire Bible by reading 3 or four capacity each day.
Zondervan has a strong program to get through the Bible in one year. This one starts at Genesis and goes straight through to Revelation. They also have readings that include a 60-day overview of the Bible, and a listing of not-and so-famous Bible stories. You can bank check those out here.
BlueLetterBible.com has some helpful reading plan options that requite you readings for every day of the year. These include the following:
● Canonical plan: While this entire post is written to offering alternatives to reading the Bible directly through, in that location are people who still want to follow that method. This plan breaks Scripture into daily chunks for a embrace-to-encompass trip through Scripture.
● Chronological plan: This program organizes Scripture sequentially. As you lot work your way through this plan, you'll be reading Scripture in the actual gild in which the events took identify.
● Old Testament and New Testament together plan: Going through the Old and New Testaments simultaneously tin can give you a lot of insight into God's Word. This reading plan will equip you to read both testaments together in 365 days.
How to stick to your reading plan
Let'south exist honest; a year is a long time to stay committed to something—especially when yous're working through some of the harder-to-read passages. Here are four tips for seeing your one-year reading commitment through.
ane. Read at the aforementioned time every 24-hour interval
Habits are built on persistent beliefs. If y'all're doing your reading at random times every day, it's going to exist harder to constitute a routine. But one time yous begin reading your Bible at a specific time of day (and fifty-fifty in a consequent place), it'due south going to be a lot easier to follow through.
2. Find a Bible-reading partner
If yous're serious about your commitment, find someone who will join you lot. Setting goals with a friend tin can make all the difference in the world. Not only will the ii of you agree each other accountable for your daily reading, but yous'll also be able to go deeper by discussing what you're reading together.
three. Get a Bible you savour reading
Bible reading isn't very fun when you don't understand what you're reading. It'south incredibly helpful to have a Bible that tin help you sympathise what'due south happening (and how it applies to y'all).
If you're looking for a helpful resources, the NIV Educatee Bible will provide a lot of insight. Built specifically for students of the Bible, it gives you lot just the right amount of help without overwhelming your time in the Word. And information technology has its own 3-track reading plan!
Another great resource is The Books of the Bible. Broken into iv-volumes and past many of the genres mentioned before, this Bible is free from chapter and verse numbers that provides a seamless reading feel. When done with a partner or group, this arroyo to reading the Bible can exist very enlightening and meaningful.
iv. Heed to an audio Bible
For a lot of the church's history, people listened to God'southward Word instead of reading it. Sometimes information technology can exist helpful to purchase an audio Bible, then take a walk and mind to the Bible instead of reading information technology. If you find that y'all're struggling through your daily reading, consider supplementing it with an audio Bible.
With the NIV 50th Anniversary app (available for iPhone and Android), you tin read or listen to the full Bible text—and it's gratis!
Benefitting from God'southward Word
The Bible can be pretty intimidating for the new Christian, just it doesn't have to exist. Knowing where to start can help immensely. Every bit you brand your way through Scripture, you'll detect the assurance, strength, and wisdom that only come from immersing yourself in God's Word.
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November
2018
Source: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/start-reading-bible/
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