How do you study your bible?

[LiberatedChick]

So how do you go about your bible study? Do you simply read a bit each day or do you make notes, highlight things or meditate on things? When reading it how do you decide what you wish to read...do you follow a specific bible study guide or just pick a book that you haven't read yet/would like to read over again?

Personally, I'm just coming back to Christianity after drifting away from it for several years. I've started off with just reading through some books in order to just concentrate on understanding what I'm reading. Now I'm going to start making notes on the books I read, or at least copying out the verses that I think I should make a real effort to remember. I haven't been reading in a set way though. Someone recommended that I started off with the gospel of John so I did that and then read the first 7 books of the OT before reading Matthew, Acts, Timothy 1 and 2 and now I'm going to read Mark and Luke. I would like to read more of the OT but don't know whether to start reading where I left off (got part way through Judges) or just jump in anywhere.

 

[Dead Man Walking]

If I were you, I would read all of the Epistles (Romans - Jude) first. They provide so many of the basic doctrines of Christianity. I would save some of the Old Testament for later, it could make a new Christian get confused, but whatever you read ask that God would use it to change you. May God Bless Your Study of His Sacred Scriptures.

 

[Rich48]

I use a computer program called E-Sword. This program allows you to compare many different translations. You can also view various commentaries on the particular scripture you are studying. You can write your own study note, and save them.

The only real drawback to this program is the download, especially if you are on dial-up. Everything, and I do mean everything, is separate. That means that each and every translation, commentary, etc. must be downloaded separately in zip form. You then have to unzip each one. But the good news is that you do not have to do it all at once, Download the main program (this will give you the KJV w/Strong's numbers). You can then select what you want to download.

http://www.e-sword.net

Rich

 

[tqpix]

I mostly read the New Testament (NT) only, and hardly the Old Testament. The first time I truly studied the Bible, I read the NT in order from Matthew to Revelation. The second time, I made notes on the things I could apply to my life in a big Microsoft Excel file. For the third time, I'd probably only read the passages that I made notes on.

 

[Crazy Liz]

I like to read a whole book at a time. My favorite way is to choose a book I want to study and read the whole book on a Sunday afternoon, usually in the NIV. Then I think about it over the week - whatever parts of it come back to my mind, and read the whole book over again in a different translation the next week. When I get through every version I have in the house, which is quite a few, I have read the whole book weekly for 2-3 months, and I feel like I know it.

 

[LiberatedChick]

I like to read a whole book at a time. My favorite way is to choose a book I want to study and read the whole book on a Sunday afternoon, usually in the NIV. Then I think about it over the week - whatever parts of it come back to my mind, and read the whole book over again in a different translation the next week. When I get through every version I have in the house, which is quite a few, I have read the whole book weekly for 2-3 months, and I feel like I know it.

The reading of a book in different translations sounds like a good idea. I doubt I could read one book in an afternoon though...I wouldn't be able to sit still long enough lol. Once I get some more translations (Only got KJV at the moment) I shall start doing that...reading one book over the course of a few days and then taking some time out to think about it before reading it in another translation...mmm sounds good to me.

If I were you, I would read all of the Epistles (Romans - Jude) first. They provide so many of the basic doctrines of Christianity. I would save some of the Old Testament for later, it could make a new Christian get confused, but whatever you read ask that God would use it to change you. May God Bless Your Study of His Sacred Scriptures.

Thank you...I think I will start with the Epistles before I read more of the OT. I guess I want to read more of the OT because I find the NT easier to understand if I understand the history behind it. Before I drifted away from Christianity all I had was a Gideon NT and though the language didn't help matters (just couldn't get my head round the old english) I also found sections refering to things in the past which were in the OT. I just didn't understand what they were getting at fully because I hadn't read about them in the OT. It was only little things I didn't understand because of this but it got disheartening and I gave up reading. Anyway, that was then and I was around 10-12 years old, now I can understand the old english it's all making sense to me and I thoroughly enjoy reading my bible.

 

[filosofer]

The reading of a book in different translations sounds like a good idea. I doubt I could read one book in an afternoon though...I wouldn't be able to sit still long enough lol. Once I get some more translations (Only got KJV at the moment) I shall start doing that...reading one book over the course of a few days and then taking some time out to think about it before reading it in another translation...mmm sounds good to me.

When I teach Bible study methods, I encourage Liz's approach, but with a modification. The first week, read it all, every day (assuming NT epistle). Then the next week, read chapter 1 every day of the week, then next week chapter 2 every day, etc. Takes a little longer, but much more depth.

I think I will start with the Epistles before I read more of the OT. I guess I want to read more of the OT because I find the NT easier to understand if I understand the history behind it.

Even among the epistles, it might be best to follow this order:

Ephesians, Philippians, 1 John, Galatians, 1 Peter, Romans

Then I would read Luke and Acts, then the rest of the epistles, and then the other Gospels, and last Revelation.

I just didn't understand what they were getting at fully because I hadn't read about them in the OT. It was only little things I didn't understand because of this but it got disheartening and I gave up reading. Anyway, that was then and I was around 10-12 years old, now I can understand the old english it's all making sense to me and I thoroughly enjoy reading my bible.

For translations, I encourage NAS/NKJV/ESV/GW/REB (or some combination)

With the OT, a firm foundation needs to be set. In the historical books, the following chapters highlight the work of God in human history to bring about salvation, ultimately through Jesus Christ. Also, the glimpses that Paul gives in Galtains 3-4 and Romans will provide hints on understanding many OT passages.

OT History
Genesis 1-4, 6-9, 12-17, 22, 50
Exodus 1-24, 40
Leviticus 16, 23
Deuteronomy 1-8
Joshua 1-7, 24
Judges 1-2, 21
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther

Wisdom
Psalms 1, 2, 22, 27, 46, 51, 95, 100, 121, 137 (in connection with the captivity history of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther)

Proverbs

Prophets
Amos

Isaiah 1-2, 7, 9, 11, 40-41, Servant Songs (42, 49, 50, 53)

Jeremiah 1-7

Ezekiel 10 (relate to Exodus 40 and John 1:14)

 

[favored_one]

Crazy Liz and filosofer those are SWEET methods! I have been doing the bible in a year for the last 3 years and I think its time for more in depth study. I now have a general overview of the bible but now I need to memorize and understand context. For me, doing the bible in a year is not helping...I find myself rushing to keep up with the schedule rather than meditating.

Starleda, I'd like to try to save you some serious cash by giving a little advise based on my journey. I have spent so much money over the last 4 years trying to find a good study bible and commentary. I was raised KJV, so I bought alot of those in year one then it just went from there! If you want man's opinion, get a one volume commentary just to start off. For a study bible, I think you should try to get one free of alot of opinion..maybe a Thompson Chain KJV because it is easy to find scriptures in this bible and it has book introductions that are not too denominationally biased. Finally, the best $ saver and study help is the Zondervan parallels (probably because the bindings are horrible ). I have the Today's parallel with KJV, NIV, NLT, and NASB update. Much later in your studies, you may want to do what I did this week and cough up a LOAD of cash for a VERY NICE oxford or cambridge wide margin bible that you can mark up. It is a basic reference bible in what is for me the very familiar KJV (which is not the best traslation) with big margins that I can clean up the language or write my thoughts.

Sorry for the long post...just wanna help!

 

[MbiaJc]

I always suggest reading the NT through one or two times. Then start at Gen. and read through Rev. Then read the NT one or two times. Then start back at Gen. read through to Rev. Read the NT one or two times. Then start studying 1Cor. that is the milk of the Gospel. Then study Exodus, in a good study of Exodus you will cover the whole Torah. Then study whater you won't either by book or topic.

Just my two cents worth.

 

[Nazarite]

I notice that you are Anglican and reside in England. One of my favorite authors is John R. W. Stott who was or is Rector of the All Souls Church in London. He wrote a terrific book entitled Understanding The Bible. I would call it a must read for anyone wanting to do some serious study. The book has an easy flow to it and for a piece written by a scholar such as Stott, it is remarkably easy to read for the common folk like myself. Check it out you will enjoy it.

Eric

 

[hola]

Hello Starelda,

I'm not going to try to take away from what others have said...but I'll just add a little something.

After many years of being taught by many teachers and reading different books...I'm just not one for a routine. It's good to get into the Word so that you know what's in there...but I've found that that also is simply not enough either.

I know that there are those who will be "ever learning, but never coming to the knowledge of the truth". And I know that the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus' day with all their studies and knowledge still seemed to blind them from a correct interpretation, that would have showed them that Jesus was indeed their Messiah.

I just believe that it is more important to have the Word IN you, than to understand all of the "ins and outs" of theology (I don't suppose that this is your goal though, anyway--to be puffed up with knowledge, that is). The Word IN you, meaning Jesus living inside of you.

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 Johm 2:27)

I would just say, when you read your Bible, don't do it religiously, but do it with a heart to seek and to know Jesus Christ.

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)

 

[quadding]

To study the bible u must find all the bible says about the subject and put it together. U cannot have any contradictions and not have anything that does not fit.( that is something that does not fit with the rest of what the bible has to say about the subject). It is what is refered to as rightly dividing the word of truth. u cannot stand on one verse nor pick and choose what u will believe if u do u will probably believe incorrectly. take answering prayer, if u find all the bible says about prayer u will come to the conclusion that God answers prayer in one of 3 ways, YES, NO, and YES BUT WAIT. God's will has a lot to do with answering prayer.

 

[nickfury]

God will open the bible and take you to the direct page that he wants you to read. You must have faith and read your word daily to do this. ps God told me to tel you "yes" You know what that means?