What is the best way to read the bible?

[ironford]

I’ve looked at different study courses and they seem really expensive, I live in a small town so there isn’t’ anything here, do most people just read cover to cover or is there a better guide or easier way to read?

 

[KeenanParkerII]

I found I retained less from reading the Bible cover to cover, but it increased my familiarity with the books of the Bible and the order of events, so it's worth it.

I recommend reading all four Gospels, and then beginning an online Bible study. St. Paul Center For Biblical Theology offers an awesome Bible study that guides you through the Bible more or less chronologically. The readings at the end of each lesson are extensive, and it's very insightful. There's also Agape Bible Study - Bible Study List but I havn't tried that one myself.

Or you could just go for a solid reading plan: 52 Week Bible Reading Plan

Each way has its merits.

 

[City Smurf]

I suggest you start with the Holy Rosary. Read the appropriate passages that correspond with the mysteries of the rosary before praying and meditating on them. This not only gets you into the habit of daily reading Scripture, but also gets you into the habit on meditating what the Scriptures are saying to you.

From there, it will be easy to move on and read a little here and a little there, meditating on passages you come across.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Lectio Divina has always been my way of learning what the Bible says.


Here's how to do Lectio Divina;

"Lectio Divina" Bible meditation



Jim

 

[Rhamiel]

i read the bible in sections
like for Lent I read the Gospels and acts of the apostles
then I read the Wisdom literature
then i read Joshua, Judges and Ruth
Now I am reading the Gospel of Luke agian,
then I am going to read the history of the Kings and the Prophets

I do not know if this is a good way or not

 

[Bosco_Guy]

If you go to daily mass you will hear the Bible daily !

 

[Colin]

I get a monthly booklet "Bible Alive" .
Each day it takes one of the readings from the Liturgy of the Word , and gives a reflection on it , usually ending with a prayer . I find it very good .

 

[Maggie893]

Cover to cover works best for me. I purchase a study bible and start at the beginning. I commit to reading one chapter a day or until I want to stop which ever comes latest.

The Study bibles typically give lots of commentary and information to help understand the text.

Once I finish the book, I get a new and different study bible and start again.

I started doing this when I was a Protestant so I've read a lot of Protestant bibles and now I work on Catholic study bibles.

I'd recommend the Ignatius study bible series and/or the NT that just came out complete. Also, a significant investment and commitment, but well worth it in my opinion, would be the Navarre. I thoroughly enjoyed that.


No wrong answer on how to read it.... I do firmly believe though that interpretation is a significant piece so quality commentary is important and complimenting the scripture reading with Church teaching.

 

[Aeyamar]

The best way to read it is correctly.

 

[Via Cassian]

All good suggestions, every one.

I never mark in Bibles because, for me, marking changes and tends to hide meanings the next time I read.

I use several study Bibles from when I was a Protestant and treasure the different strengths of each. The text of a study Bible is jammed with notes, markings, footnotes, cross references. Great for study. You may find different translations are better for some kinds of reading than others. Use several. Use all those Bible helps.

But I also like to do lectio divina (a slow contemplative reading - defined) and for that I like to get the Bible text as plain as possible, even without verse numbers if possible.

You might like to read and keep a journal to write what strikes you as you read and pray about what is meaningful to you. It may seem odd, but writing may be an important part of your reading. It tends to make me understand and remember better. So, for how to read? -- consider a journal.

You also might like to read for:

1. Learning the historical context of a passage.
2. Seeing the allusions to OT parallels and Jewish customs and laws.
3. Understanding the shadings of the original Hebrew or Greek words and their distinctions from similar words.
4. Understanding the style of writing and manner of expressions and literary devices used in the drafting of the text.
5. Studying how a passage fits within the large theological themes of the Catechism.
6. Understanding the chronology of the passage in the overall chronology of the Bible. This helps me remember things.
7. Seeing how the passage speaks to topics that interest you -- prayer, seeking to improve some part of your life, helping with hurt and loss, finding courage, fighting sin.
8. Learning the ways of a fallen world.
9. Learning about spiritual gifts.
10. Enjoying the beauty of God expressed in his Word.
11. Growing closer in love to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

You might enjoy reading the Bible while you listen to the same translation on CD or MP3. For some reason, doing this outdoors is the way I like it the best.

If you can read the Bible in an old church -- another way to read -- different from all the other ways -- seems to me. There is something about the stillness in an old church -- affects the reading and the seeing.

Main point: You are already on the right track and headed in the right direction -- follow the lead of your praying heart -- God himself will be your best guide in how to read his word.

Blessings to you.

 

[Jay217]

I do like that Lectio Devina Style of Reading which you have posted. I think i shall try that with my own.

I'm a youth so i can't fully grasp what the entire Bible entrails but i have god lead me to certain books in that i read. Like with my military facination i read 1st Maccabees. When i 1st wanted to learn about Jesus i started with Mathew.

I just find that by reading and re-reading i seem to capture the points of the scripture alot better.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

When you read the Bible as prayer, it has spiritual meaning which is more useful than literal reading.

Spiritual revelations God gives us become part of who we are and become the tools that allow us to be free.


Jim

 

[Fantine]

There are some Bibles that will design studies for different themes or interests. Co-dependency has been a challenge in my life, and I have been meeting with a friend to do Bible studies based on the twelve steps. There is an NIV Recovery Bible that has lots of studies based on the twelve steps.

You can always use the outlines and questions from that Bible and read the text itself from an NAB, or RSV.

I wish that there were more Catholic Bibles that used this approach, because I think that it's important to relate faith to life.

I have a Serendipity New Testament, published by the Paulists, and it's wonderful--but when I looked into it further, I saw that it was really an NIV Bible and that the Paulists had revised the discussion questions to better suit them for Catholics.

Oh, well, there's a silver lining in this....it's out of print now, and Amazon and Ebay say it's worth several hundred dollars.