Bible study help

[0ice0]

Hi! I've been a Christian for almost 4 years now.
I love going to church, love God and believe in Jesus.
But when it comes to reading the Bible, I get kind of... stuck and troubled.
There are lot of things I don't understand. And like others, I get confused by the violence and some contradictions and stuff. I've been running away from the need to read the Bible for some time. And have decided to pick it up again after my university entrance exam.
Problem is, I'm afraid I'll encounter the same problem. I think I might need some extra help. Are there any good websites or books or study Bible that you would recommend? Thanks!

 

[blessedmomof5]

Well I would Pray you have a good church to call home? So i would start there and join a Bible study.
then what has always helped me is Pray first, ask God for the Knowledge and understanding to open your eyes and ears to what you are about to read so you may understand, and that satan does not snatch it away from you when you are done reading it. My Advice is Always PRAY First. It works
May God Bless you In your Journey to better understand His Word.

 

[Yarddog]

Hi! I've been a Christian for almost 4 years now.
I love going to church, love God and believe in Jesus.
But when it comes to reading the Bible, I get kind of... stuck and troubled.
There are lot of things I don't understand. And like others, I get confused by the violence and some contradictions and stuff.

Hello ice.

You sound a lot like myself, when I was young. Don't be discouraged though because many of us grow slowly into what God is calling us to be. I'm almost 56 and still have so far to go.

There was a time when I didn't like to read the OT because it seemed so dark but as I grew into my Spiritual gifts, I saw the message in books like Job. Though it may seem hard to to read, it is about the self-pride we Christians have which keeps us from really faithfully embracing God. We may think we have faith or appear to have faith to others, but truly too many times we retain self faith. Many times losing what we hold dear is the only way to truly embrace God.

The Tower of Babel is another illustration of this. It represents man trying to achieve heaven through their own works. God's destruction of the Tower shows that this cannot be done.

I've been running away from the need to read the Bible for some time.

Do not be too hard on yourself, we all go through this.

And have decided to pick it up again after my university entrance exam.
Problem is, I'm afraid I'll encounter the same problem. I think I might need some extra help.

Don't put too much pressure on your and try not to figure out what the scriptures mean because their secret meaning can only be shown through the Holy Spirit.

Are there any good websites or books or study Bible that you would recommend? Thanks!

I do a lot on line as well as reading on Bible. There are sites where you can browse through the books and chapters. Here is the one I use.

USCCB - The New American Bible

Here is another site where you can type in key words and find scripture containing those words. You can see how they tie together.

SearchGodsWord.org, Bible study resources from HeartLight.org

It also has a Greek and Hebrew lexicon and other study tools. You can look at how different Bibles translate the different scriptures.

I hope you enjoy the scriptures better this time around.

God Bless,
Yarddog

 

[wayseer]

Hi! I've been a Christian for almost 4 years now.
I love going to church, love God and believe in Jesus.
But when it comes to reading the Bible, I get kind of... stuck and troubled.
There are lot of things I don't understand. And like others, I get confused by the violence and some contradictions and stuff. I've been running away from the need to read the Bible for some time. And have decided to pick it up again after my university entrance exam.
Problem is, I'm afraid I'll encounter the same problem. I think I might need some extra help. Are there any good websites or books or study Bible that you would recommend? Thanks!

Hi

Yes, the Bible is difficult and challenging. Even after years of studying you will never reach the end.

You sound like you could use someone close by to help you out. Have you spoken to your priest or pastor?

You might also consider a course at a seminary or university.

There are also some very good sites on the web you might like to check out. You could try

The Paul page http://www.thepaulpage.com/

NT Wright http://www.ntwrightpage.com/

NT Gateway http://www.ntgateway.com/

OT Gateway http://www.otgateway.com/

Centre for online Judaic studies Main Page - CojsWiki (Excellent study in the OT)

All are respected sites and there is a wealth of material in all the sites which will keep you going for years.

 

[IronManMatt]

Join a church that is based upon and teaches the bible. Then become part of a small group study. If you're trying to do Christianity on your own, then your not doing it right so find other Christians to walk with.

 

[Lukaris]

I know i have a long way to go & have only returned to Christ in the last 6 years. I have read the Bible and continue to do so but my knowledge remains slight but what I am trying to do is realize the framework of what the Lord Jesus Christ tells us regarding the scriptures and how we are to live our faith. The Old Testament is sometimes so clear & sometimes so perplexing yet the Lord sums it up so basically; the golden rule in Matthew 7:12 ("for this is the law and the prophets"), the commands to love in Matthew 22:37-40,"on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets". In Luke 24:44 the Lord concludes, "..These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfillled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." From Romans 1 & 2 St. Paul gives us a basic summation of our sinful predicament along the lines of Genesis chapters 1-12 without even mentioning Genesis itself. St. Stephen gives a summation of God's revelation to the chosen people from the time of Abraham in Acts 7 which forms a continuation from what St. Paul preached in Romans 1 & 2. ....have to break off at this point...hope this could be helpful...& will try to add later..?

 

[wayseer]

Matthew 7:12 ("for this is the law and the prophets")

So I wonder how it is that Jesus included the Prophets in his statement?

 

[OzSpen]

0ice0,

I appreciate your honesty in this statement:

Hi! I've been a Christian for almost 4 years now.
I love going to church, love God and believe in Jesus.
But when it comes to reading the Bible, I get kind of... stuck and troubled.
There are lot of things I don't understand. And like others, I get confused by the violence and some contradictions and stuff. I've been running away from the need to read the Bible for some time. And have decided to pick it up again after my university entrance exam.
Problem is, I'm afraid I'll encounter the same problem. I think I might need some extra help. Are there any good websites or books or study Bible that you would recommend? Thanks!

i have a couple of questions I'd like to ask:
1. When you became a Christian, what kind of discipleship did you receive? Does your church disciple new believers.

2. Are you in a church that answers honest questions like you are asking?

I suggest that you link up with some good apologetics' ministries. These are some that I pursue:
Watchman Fellowship
Probe Ministries
Personal Freedom Outreach
Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry

I have found that there is an absence at the local church level of people who are prepared to do the hard yards in answering people's difficult questions. This is part of an apologetics' and polemics ministry of dealing with obstacles to the Chirstian faith and challenge false doctrine.

I pray that you will find somebody in your church or find a church that takes seriously the ministry of apologetics.

I am pleased that this Forum has a secion for apologetics discussions. Why don't you post some of your questions on this site?

In Christ,
Spencer

 

[Lukaris]

So I wonder how it is that Jesus included the Prophets in his statement?

Collectively this is what the law and prophets teach us; I understand this to mean this as the Lord fulfilling the old covenant and to simplify it for the coming of the gentiles.

 

[OzSpen]

Wayseer,

Originally Posted by wayseer

So I wonder how it is that Jesus included the Prophets in his statement? [Matt. 7:12].​

​

Here Jesus gives the Golden Rule: "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (ESV).

The Golden Rule did not originate with Jesus. It can be found in the OT and with others such as Rabbi Hillel (ca. AD 20). Apparently it was left to Jesus to phrase the Rule in a positive fashion.

Jesus is connecting His teaching here with the Law and the Prophets. It is not a new teaching, but has excellent OT precedent. It is not an arbitrary rule without support as, say, in some of secular humanism. By the use of "so", Jesus wants us to know that this Golden Rule is connected to revealed truth in "the Law and the Prophets".

 

[Foghorn]

Hi! I've been a Christian for almost 4 years now.
I love going to church, love God and believe in Jesus.

But when it comes to reading the Bible, I get kind of... stuck and troubled.
There are lot of things I don't understand.

There will always be things which are difficult to understand. But, as you continue to study God's word, the Holy Spirit will teach you many things. Things will fall into place little by little, or whatever pace God so chooses for you.

And like others, I get confused by the violence and some contradictions and stuff.

Curious what you see as contradictions? Perhaps this is where your stumbling? Maybe this is where God wants you to ask questions, from your church leaders and others, this is one way we learn.

Now, about those contradictions, which verses or passages are you referring to?

I've been running away from the need to read the Bible for some time.

It is good you notice that.