I just need a smidge of Bible-reading help!

[Forge3]

Can't you get into a study group with your local Church?

 

[ViaCrucis]

Hi all. I don't really have anybody to consult with after reading parts of the Bible, so I'm quite struggling to wrap my head around it. I am starting with the New Testament, but still struggling quite a lot.

In substitute of having somebody to discuss the Bible with, does anybody have any advice for a new Christian when studying the Bible? Should I make notes, and what of, and when? How much should I read per day? Any help at all in not only reading the Bible, but reflecting upon it, would be greatly appreciated!

A good study Bible can do wonders. Some that I have heard of, and heard good things about, include the New Interpreter's Study Bible and The Oxford Annotated Bible. Really, though, any good scholarly study Bible will be very helpful. It may be helpful to avoid Bibles with too much slanted commentary in the margins. I say "slanted" in that some study Bibles are clearly designated toward a specific denominational demographic, and a good study Bible should highlight the nuances of the text rather than force a very specific interpretation.

If you don't want to spend too much money, the NET Bible is a pretty good online resource.

Acquainting yourself with historic Christian theologians and leaders will also be of huge benefit, as you can see how Christians have read the Bible over the last two thousand years. Something I plan on getting for myself is Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers, as I would like to do this very thing more for myself.

There are other resources available as well, but may be even more overwhelming at the moment, Interlinear Bibles contain the original language text side-by-side with the translated text, these in conjunction with a good Lexicon or two and other helps is probably one of the best resources available. One can also accomplish this online at a place like the Blue Letter Bible.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[halfalive]

Last year I decided to read the Bible the whole way through. I got a reading plan off of Bible Gateway -- the one I did was usually about 3 chapters a day -- and my goal was to just read. Since there was a whole bunch I hadn't read before, I went into it knowing that there would be a lot that I wouldn't understand yet. My thought was: if I understand, great. If not, here's to next time.

I'm now on my second year, and I'm already starting to see that the more I read the more I'm starting to get it.

 

[FrozenOne]

Many have given you good advice already. It is good that you do read & study the Bible by yourself, though I hope you can do it in a church group setting also. No matter where you happen to be reading, if you get questions about something, you should find the right category here and ask about it. Don't forget you can ask the pastor and other christians at chruch too.

 

[dogs4thewin]

Well, first of all welcome to the faith. Secondly, you should start getting in the habit of reading the Bible each day. Notes or no notes is your choice. I would suggest maybe a Bible that is a study Bible and has notes in it.
Also starting with the gospels and Paul's letters are probably best.