How do you read the Bible?

KevinT · Jul 27, 2024

I'd like to hear from others how they read the Bible. I'm not talking about how one interprets etc, but how you get the information into your head.

I'll start. I use this app: Download The Bible App Now - 100% Free and I LISTEN to the Bible. I will put it on when I am in the shower in the morning, or when I am out working in my shop. There are many passages in the Bible that if I were turning pages in a book, I would want to skip past them. But because I am listening, that is less of an option. I find that I can get through much more of the Bible this way. And I think I process it differently in my head. Also, I start at the beginning (Genesis) and listen all the way through to the end. Because the OT is so long, sometimes I listen to the NT twice before starting over again in Genesis. In the app, there are multiple versions, and I like to listen to different versions each time.

How about you all? What do you do for reading? How long do you read? Do you go topically or linearly?

Best wishes,

KT

Palmfever · Jul 27, 2024

Topically.
I research subjects that I am inspired to at any given time.
I tried many years ago to read from Genesis to Revelations. Never found any benefit in doing so. I most likely have read it in it's entirety. Just not as a deliberate cover to cover endeavor.
Length of time varies. The greater the interest on a topic the greater the enthusiasm. Hour on hour/days or a quick search.
I grew up in a church that required a new memory verse every week for children. retrospectively I believe I have benefitted much from the practice.

BobRyan · Jul 27, 2024

KevinT said:
I'd like to hear from others how they read the Bible. I'm not talking about how one interprets etc, but how you get the information into your head.

I'll start. I use this app: Download The Bible App Now - 100% Free and I LISTEN to the Bible. I will put it on when I am in the shower in the morning, or when I am out working in my shop. There are many passages in the Bible that if I were turning pages in a book, I would want to skip past them. But because I am listening, that is less of an option. I find that I can get through much more of the Bible this way. And I think I process it differently in my head. Also, I start at the beginning (Genesis) and listen all the way through to the end. Because the OT is so long, sometimes I listen to the NT twice before starting over again in Genesis. In the app, there are multiple versions, and I like to listen to different versions each time.

How about you all? What do you do for reading? How long do you read? Do you go topically or linearly?

Best wishes,

KT

yes I have used that method. I also take a file or notebook - write down key bible topics then add to each topic the texts that I find most strongly applicable to it.

In addition I make a list of key questions for each topic - to then look up what the Bible says about those questions.

sportygal45 · Jul 27, 2024

Hello there! I usually study a book from the the Old and New Testament everyday. Currently I’m reading and studying Exodus and Romans. I use the Through the Word app. Sorry to throw another app at you!

But this one is phenomenal because it not only reads the Bible to you but there is a short 10 minute in depth lesson taught for each chapter. It’s also free!

So, I listen to the chapter once. Listen to the lesson on the chapter and take notes. Then listen to the chapter again.

After that, I write down a summary of what I’ve read. How to apply it. Key verses, people, places, time frames, definitions.

Here’s a link to Through The Word: Through the Word | Read the Bible. Understand it. Apply it. Make it a Habit.

KevinT · Jul 28, 2024

BobRyan said:
yes I have used that method. I also take a file or notebook - write down key bible topics then add to each topic the texts that I find most strongly applicable to it.

In addition I make a list of key questions for each topic - to then look up what the Bible says about those questions.

I wonder if I could install a wikipedia type wiki page to my home computer and set up notes like you are describing with pen and paper. I like how you do this!

KT

KevinT · Jul 28, 2024

sportygal45 said:
Hello there! I usually study a book from the the Old and New Testament everyday. Currently I’m reading and studying Exodus and Romans. I use the Through the Word app. Sorry to throw another app at you! But this one is phenomenal because it not only reads the Bible to you but there is a short 10 minute in depth lesson taught for each chapter. It’s also free!

So, I listen to the chapter once. Listen to the lesson on the chapter and take notes. Then listen to the chapter again.

After that, I write down a summary of what I’ve read. How to apply it. Key verses, people, places, time frames, definitions.

Here’s a link to Through The Word: Through the Word | Read the Bible. Understand it. Apply it. Make it a Habit.

No need to apologize for app recommendation. That is exactly what I was hoping for. Thanks! How do you feel the lessons are? I always worry they will be above or below my level, or have a doctrinal slant that I don't agree with.

Best wishes
KT

KevinT · Jul 28, 2024

Palmfever said:
Topically.
I research subjects that I am inspired to at any given time.
I tried many years ago to read from Genesis to Revelations. Never found any benefit in doing so. I most likely have read it in it's entirety. Just not as a deliberate cover to cover endeavor.
Length of time varies. The greater the interest on a topic the greater the enthusiasm. Hour on hour/days or a quick search.
I grew up in a church that required a new memory verse every week for children. retrospectively I believe I have benefitted much from the practice.

I used to do this as well. But I found that I kept going to my favorite areas and missing other stuff. Still, zooming in on a topic can be very helpful. Thanks for your experience!

KT

eleos1954 · Jul 28, 2024

KevinT said:
I'd like to hear from others how they read the Bible. I'm not talking about how one interprets etc, but how you get the information into your head.

I'll start. I use this app: Download The Bible App Now - 100% Free and I LISTEN to the Bible. I will put it on when I am in the shower in the morning, or when I am out working in my shop. There are many passages in the Bible that if I were turning pages in a book, I would want to skip past them. But because I am listening, that is less of an option. I find that I can get through much more of the Bible this way. And I think I process it differently in my head. Also, I start at the beginning (Genesis) and listen all the way through to the end. Because the OT is so long, sometimes I listen to the NT twice before starting over again in Genesis. In the app, there are multiple versions, and I like to listen to different versions each time.

How about you all? What do you do for reading? How long do you read? Do you go topically or linearly?

Best wishes,

KT

I do mostly topically searching the entire bible ... I spend about 4 hours or so each day when I have settled down for the evening. Sometimes I research other theologies and also archeology and history of ancient times.

KevinT · Jul 28, 2024

eleos1954 said:
I do mostly topically searching the entire bible ... I spend about 4 hours or so each day when I have settled down for the evening. Sometimes I research other theologies and also archeology and history of ancient times.

Wow. 4 hrs a day is a lot of time! My hat is off to you!
Do you think you cover everything with the topics approach?

Best wishes,

KT

Akita Suggagaki · Jul 28, 2024

KevinT said:
I'd like to hear from others how they read the Bible. I'm not talking about how one interprets etc, but how you get the information into your head.

I'll start. I use this app: Download The Bible App Now - 100% Free and I LISTEN to the Bible. I will put it on when I am in the shower in the morning, or when I am out working in my shop. There are many passages in the Bible that if I were turning pages in a book, I would want to skip past them. But because I am listening, that is less of an option. I find that I can get through much more of the Bible this way. And I think I process it differently in my head. Also, I start at the beginning (Genesis) and listen all the way through to the end. Because the OT is so long, sometimes I listen to the NT twice before starting over again in Genesis. In the app, there are multiple versions, and I like to listen to different versions each time.

How about you all? What do you do for reading? How long do you read? Do you go topically or linearly?

Best wishes,

KT

I want to make the journey. With the Gospels I like to orient the narrative. Where are we in geography? At what point in the ministry,

Same with most of OT

Psalms and wisdom literature a little differently. Just plow through slowly.

KevinT · Jul 29, 2024

Akita Suggagaki said:
I want to make the journey. With the Gospels I like to orient the narrative. Where are we in geography? At what point in the ministry,

Same with most of OT

Psalms and wisdom literature a little differently. Just plow through slowly.

I think that orienting to the geography is a great way to immerse oneself in the situation, to bring it to life. Excellent!

KT

okay · Jul 29, 2024

KT,

Sometimes I use that same app to listen.

Otherwise I like to use study Bibles that have footnotes informed by Biblical scholarship - especially if they have a different perspective than I am used to.

Currently I am mostly using the Jewish Study Bible and the Jewish Annotated New Testament; there are enough notes and essays in them to last me many years, but so far those I have read have been really interesting and helpful.

Before that I was mostly using a Catholic Youth Bible from the USCCB - we had it around the house since one of my children went to a Catholic high school. In addition to the same footnotes you see in the USCCB online bible, the extra youth-oriented introductions and “boxes” explaining doctrine and applications of scripture (eg how to pray with scripture) were often helpful to this lifelong Protestant.

Any study bibles you-all would recommend?

KevinT · Jul 29, 2024

okay said:
Currently I am mostly using the Jewish Study Bible and the Jewish Annotated New Testament; there are enough notes and essays in them to last me many years, but so far those I have read have been really interesting and helpful.

Interesting. Does the Jewish Bible have just an Old Testament? Is it the same books in a Christian Old Testament Bible? What is the Jewish element of the New Testament? So many questions...

okay said:
Before that I was mostly using a Catholic Youth Bible from the USCCB - we had it around the house since one of my children went to a Catholic high school. In addition to the same footnotes you see in the USCCB online bible, the extra youth-oriented introductions and “boxes” explaining doctrine and applications of scripture (eg how to pray with scripture) were often helpful to this lifelong Protestant.

Any study bibles you-all would recommend?

One Bible that I used for a long time was a Chronological Bible, where they turned it all into one continuous story, interleaving all the redundancy where different books tell the same events. I liked it, but it was a pain when someone would say to turn to a particular scripture reference.

Then for a long time I used an NIV Bible. But I have gotten bad about not reading paper books, and thus I have gone more digital only.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

KT

okay · Jul 29, 2024

KevinT said:
Interesting. Does the Jewish Bible have just an Old Testament? Is it the same books in a Christian Old Testament Bible? What is the Jewish element of the New Testament? So many questions...

yes, the Jewish Study Bible is only the Hebrew scriptures, and uses the Jewish Publication Society translation which I love (first used it in a college class on the prophets). Same books but different order. The notes are by Jewish OT scholars and from a Jewish perspective. So it isn’t the text if you want predictions about Jesus highlighted, but I find it quite helpful since I am terribly ignorant about the Jewish roots of our faith. Jesus and Paul were Jews, so I think I need to understand that better.

The Jewish Annotated New Testament has footnotes and essays by Jewish NT scholars. Written so Jews can study NT in a neutral environment, and also very useful for Christians.

KevinT said:
One Bible that I used for a long time was a Chronological Bible, where they turned it all into one continuous story, interleaving all the redundancy where different books tell the same events. I liked it, but it was a pain when someone would say to turn to a particular scripture reference.

That would be a different approach! Perhaps not my cup of tea but would be interesting to see what decisions the editors made when combining the Gospels. My understanding is that attempts to harmonize them started in the earliest centuries of the faith.

I do listen to audio fairly often as well - including on my commute to work today. But my personal preference is to read a physical copy. I see it as a preference thing. If I could read digital it would be better (environmentally, space on my bookshelf, etc) but perhaps I am just too old! I am a very old 50-something….

Cheers!

godisagardener · Aug 4, 2024

KevinT said:
I'd like to hear from others how they read the Bible. I'm not talking about how one interprets etc, but how you get the information into your head.

Sometimes I read the Bible cover to cover, getting as much or as little done each day depending on how many rabbits I chase.

Other times I study a certain book or a certain topic. Choosing something like the meaning of numbers in the Bible or researching some minor character is always interesting.

I find listening to audio is difficult because I like to go back and re-read passages and because my mind tends to wander with audio. I also like to use a couple Bibles -one that has copious notes so I can study those as I read, and one that has no notes at all so I can think and reason for myself!

com7fy8 · Aug 5, 2024

I have been learning God's word for about fifty years. So, I have an overall familiarity with God's message. I just picked up more and more through my personal study and hearing messages and talking with people.

Also, by giving God's word to others, I possibly have gotten more and remembered more, than I would by just hearing and reading.

Now I am reading word for word through the Bible. At times, I might look up a word, but I already have the context of my overall familiarity.

And now I am in Psalms. I realized the Psalms are songs; so I sing the Psalms while going through them.

And I write notes.

Along with my English read-through I have been reading and memorizing Colossians chapter three in Spanish. This has helped me get more into New Testament growing in maturity and knowing God's word and in ministry.

KevinT · Aug 5, 2024

godisagardener said:
Sometimes I read the Bible cover to cover, getting as much or as little done each day depending on how many rabbits I chase. Other times I study a certain book or a certain topic. Choosing something like the meaning of numbers in the Bible or researching some minor character is always interesting.

I find listening to audio is difficult because I like to go back and re-read passages and because my mind tends to wander with audio. I also like to use a couple Bibles -one that has copious notes so I can study those as I read, and one that has no notes at all so I can think and reason for myself!

I like this. I'm a bit the opposite. When I read, I get through 1 or 2 sentences, and then want to stop and consider a topic, or look something up, and next thing I know, I've used up my time and I've hardly gotten through anything.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

KT

godisagardener · Aug 5, 2024

KevinT said:
I like this. I'm a bit the opposite. When I read, I get through 1 or 2 sentences, and then want to stop and consider a topic, or look something up, and next thing I know, I've used up my time and I've hardly gotten through anything.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

KT

What's important is that we're reading and studying the Bible, and that when we do so it has us going off on tangents. That means we're really involved, no matter our study method.

We talked in Sunday School yesterday about how lucky we are to have the Bible to read. Many people don't. And many who do have Bibles rarely open them or never read them at all, they sit somewhere gathering dust.

KevinT · Aug 6, 2024

I just found the GenZ bible. Basically a slang paraphrase. I read this version for church this last week when I was asked to read the scripture. Everyone seemed to like it.

I like different versions because it makes one reprocess what is being said. Your mileage may vary.

DragonFox91 · Aug 12, 2024

A lot of times I’ll just flip to a random page & start reading.

Also I like to read what we covered in church. I read the whole chapter, sometimes chapters around it too. I learned this habit because growing up I went to a church that would just pick a verse or 2 at time, & I’d want more, so I’d read the Bible for myself, I found they were preaching it out of context & leaving parts out. I think this is also a good habit because it focuses on what you learned on Sunday, it’s not just hearing it for an hour on Sunday, you’re dwelling on it & studying it, trying to learn it, making it your life.

How do you read the Bible?

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Junior Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

God is Love

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Romans 10:6-9, Ephesians 2:8-10

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Romans 10:6-9, Ephesians 2:8-10

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads