How To Read The Bible
Introduction
I write, read, watch and hear stories from papers, movies and people. So why not read the Bible? The Scriptures of God or the Word of God.
The general teachings of pastors and preachers suggest looking for what you need at the time of need or when you need something or an answer to what your heart and life's moment needs. Search for them in the books or online, the internet. Like if you need teachings on fear, love, or whatever in search of possible solutions or answers to problems. Be informed, adviced and enlightened through that particular verse or verses in the Scriptures.
On my part, since I wanted to understand the book from the beginning to end, I started my Bible Journey from the beginning, the Genesis.
The Scriptures of God are made up of two parts: The Old Testament and the The New Testament (wherein the Son of God was given a name, Jesus).
I received my first bible, The New Testament, when I was twelve years old. I have loved reading since childhood. When I read the bible at that age, I got fascinated, especially in the Revelation. It was the first to catch my attention. I remember not letting the book leave my hand till I finished all its chapters. Of course, I did not understand anything. My writer's imaginative mind just flew itself on the scenes like a child with an opened mouth, amazed and most probably, startled with fear but brave enough to stay and watch.
Of course, the first thing that struck me was fear. Imagine, end of the world?
Then the Proverbs. It gives advices, teachings on how to behave and carry on with your life. Full of wisdom. Interesting to me reading these chapters, because, you know, I aim to be good. I was oriented to be good to succeed in life. Who does not want success? So, learn how.
To make it clear, I only read. Not memorizing. Then I reread. Not memorizing. Slowly, through rereading, not memorizing, my brain and heart were trained to go on a deeper understanding of the meaning of what I have been rereading.
I have asked myself, "What is this book, The New Testament (the testament of Jesus through His disciples), all about? Then I started to understand, I have to learn from the beginning and know what the full story is all about.
Past fifty years, I haven't even completed reading all the books. Why? Because I found them repetitive, but narrated by different witnesses. Later I realize that what's missing in one narration can be found in another's version of the events and self countenance of them.
Until the time I received my second bible book, The Old Testament. When I opened it, I lost enthusiasm. God forgive me. It was thicker than the first bible I had received!
It was bad of me. I could read romance or other kinds of books thicker than The Old Testament book, and complained about a less thicker one.
I kept that bible without reading it, not even the first one, Genesis. It got lost, I didn't even know how. My last look on it is still on my mind, though. My eyes would not let my mind forget about that big mistake of ignoring it. At that moment I said to myself, "Neeh, you were the old one. What I have got is something new, the "new" version. What I regret as well, it was written in the language that I understand better, english.
Years passed by and another Old Testament book walked its way unto my hand. It happened ln March 2020, the recognition of Covid 19 as the pandemic of the century, hoping it would be the first and the last. The lockdown has convinced me to give it my attention. It results to be the greatest thing I have ever done since then. Though it was in a different language which I understand less than english. It was in spanish. That's the purpose of my rereading in the first place.
The book is an edition, years away from modern technology. I chose not to get another "modern" version as I have read many things about how and who they were written by. It was a matter of authors and publishers' versions then and now.
In The New Testament, I came to know God better, a lot better through the Son of God. But in The Old Testament, I found out that the Son of God was already there. Yes, He was!
Jesus fulfilled the scriptures of the old testament. So why not learn first about those scriptures He had referred to for many times.
Here below I share How I read the Bible.
How To Read the Bible:
1) Read from the beginning till the end,
Following the index of the book, I read starting from the five historical books, which are Genesis, Exodus, Levites, Numbers and Deutronomy. I did so to follow the events, Then Joshua, one of my favorites. The rest followed in accordance to which called my interest first.
Before them, I jumped to The New Testament to read the gospels of the disciples of the Lord Jesus, which are Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Acts (of the disciples).
The Letters of Paul are like reading the Proverbs to me. They are full of great stories of counsels and martyrdoms. Many to learn, good for self reflections.
Not in one sitting, many sittings that can take more than a year or two to finish the whole book. What matters is to read.
2) Note down.
Note pads and many other organizational helps are available and included in many downloadable bible apps as well. The bible is also in different versions. I opt for an amplified version (AMP) because it includes an amplified explanation. These tools are such a great and helpful assistance to readers and users.
Besides I provide myself some cut out papers or cards to index and notebooks or mini notebooks when phones or laptops aren't available.
3) No to memorization.
Unless you aim to be a bible teacher or preacher, I don't suggest memorization. But to reread and reflect until the mind and heart reach understanding.
The difference: memorizing feels like an obligation; rereading feels like an option.
There are so many names mentioned and it's hard to remember. However, the most important names are easier, like Abel, Cain, Noah, David and more.
If there is a verse of my favorites, yes! One of them is,
"Create in me a pure heart O God. Renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, nor take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore in me the joy of your salvation and grant me the willingness to sustain myself."
I repeat that especially at the moment of repentance. That was part of David's prayer. I memorize, repeat and use in praying the lines, not the chapter number or lines nor the author. Forget about asking me where in the bible it can be found. All I know, I can find it in my heart. That's all that matters between God and I.
4) Concentrate on events.
Learn how God works. How He helps, teaches, guides and shows His knowledge, patterns and judgment. Most of all, feel how much He loves.
There's so much to learn how God is amazing and reveals himself. It's a wonderful feeling. Like a father to a son is how He speaks, where the "son" means children. For that's how it is. His Son represents His children. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.
5) Stop, God speaks.
Pay attention, read slowly and diligently once God himself speaks. Put yourself in the place of those he was talking to. Take it to your heart and understand Him in every word.These are the parts where to feel Him most.
For as long as one is alive on this earth, there is hope. How to be saved and not be ignorant of the presence of God, learning about Him is an opportunity. So, I made a decision. I decided not to waste time. I grabbed the chance.
How about you?
