How Do You Read the Bible?

[LanceA]

What I mean, is do you read it like literature, that can be understood plainly, with-in it's context or is it mystical, with hidden messages, that need special insights to understand them?

What does the literal translation of the Word mean to you?

Some days I like to read straight through a book. Other days I'll read one paragraph or chapter over and over again. I will also read the bible during a bible study. I guess it just depends on where God is leading me that day. When I am working out I will listen to the bible.

 

[WineRose]

Shorter sections first, longer sections later...

 

[resurrection33]

What I mean, is do you read it like literature, that can be understood plainly, with-in it's context or is it mystical, with hidden messages, that need special insights to understand them?

What does the literal translation of the Word mean to you?

Well, a commandment is a commandment. Those need to be understood literally.

 

[Grace777x70]

The law of Moses says that we are to stone anyone in our family that tries to get us not to keep the Sabbath day or that tries to get us not to believe in God. That's a commandment.

There are 100's of them like this one.

James says if we fail to keep one law - we are guilty of it all.

Obviously something has changed in the New Covenant. We live in the New Covenant and in this one "we believe on Christ and walk in love" 1 John 3:23 . Those are the New Covenant commandments. If we mix in the Old with the New - we ruin both of them for the purpose they have.

 

[Willie-T]

What I mean, is do you read it like literature, that can be understood plainly, with-in it's context or is it mystical, with hidden messages, that need special insights to understand them?

What does the literal translation of the Word mean to you?

It's pretty much an invitation for error and distortion.

 

[blue_ladybug]

Rarely and sporadically.

 

[stonesoffire]

Honesty is always the best policy...

And galatea....no shame ever on you.

 

[DustyRhodes]

In the beginning, it's good to take a bible study and become acquainted with scripture from
beginning to end. Once that is done, the Bible becomes a book of inspiration. Primarily the
N/T guides us to the examples that Jesus taught. It leads us to salvation, truth and love.
It also leads us to a beautiful personal relationship with God. Once we depart from the flesh
and become a new Spirit, we have become a new creation.

2Cor.5: Christ
…16So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

For us to get to that point, it is necessary to read scripture, perhaps about a dozen verses, then meditate on what we have read. That leads us to holiness and Spiritual growth and ever closer to be absorbed in the Spirit of God. If we read only for knowledge and so nothing with the knowledge, we have missed the entire message of Jesus.

 

[Johnny_B]

Are you saying men can not be Spiritual believers? That would mean men can not be Sanctified..........have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. I have to strongly disagree with that thought.

Come on, do you really think that's what I'm saying?

 

[Yahweh_is_gracious]

It'll come as the Spirit leads. A book that helped me greatly when I first started studying the Bible was a book called the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge 2nd edition, I don't think they print it anymore.

It cross references every verse to verses that have the same type of information in it. Here's an example, I just opened the book it opened to Psalm 23:1 it cross referenced it to John 10:11, then after that aways down. I shall not want, it gives the Hebrew name for the Lord, Because He is Jehovah-jireh (Gen 22:14) I looked down and where it says, still waters. it gives the Hebrew translation, waters of quietness. Because He is jehovah-shalom (Jg 6:24) you get the idea, it helped me, if you get it hope it helps you. It deals with alleged Bible difficulties as well it has some light commentary on some verses.

Oddly enough, I have a copy of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on my bookshelf. I happened to find it in the second-hand book store, which is where I get most of my religious study books. I picked the book up because I thought it might come in handy some day, but I found it very intimidating and wasn't sure how to use it. So for now, it does a nice job taking up space on my shelf between a KJV study Bible and a concordance I found at the same second-hand bookstore.

 

[Issachar92]

i read it only once thru and thru so far.
next time i try to remember what i read earlier to tie it all together better.

 

[preacher4truth]

i read it only once thru and thru so far.
next time i try to remember what i read earlier to tie it all together better.

My Bibles have 3 marker ribbons. The first one starts at Genesis, the second at Psalms, and the third at Matthew. I read a portion at each marker daily until I arrive at Psalms from Genesis, the NT from Psalms, and Revelation from Matthew. Then I start all over again.

 

[Spokenpassage]

What I mean, is do you read it like literature, that can be understood plainly, with-in it's context or is it mystical, with hidden messages, that need special insights to understand them?

What does the literal translation of the Word mean to you?

I read it in light of 2 Timothy 3:16-17. I approach this word as the ministry of God toward me in exhorting, correcting, comforting, teaching, strengthening, and disciplining me. I read it to grasp a greater glimpse of Christ, because all of it either point to, reveal, or glorify him. I read this collection of the prophets, apostles, and men carried along by the Holy Spirit to be the the written word of God, truly and reverently.

 

[joaniemarie]

I used to think the Bible had to be read in a quiet place without distractions sort of "officially" with due respect and reverence. Needless to say, it got read rarely because it became a hardship associated with guilt for not getting to it like I should. That was discouraging before I even started. Today I see that was a ploy of the enemy to keep the Word from being sown.

Today it's very different. I have it set up in messages & sermons on CD and DVD and on radio and TV for when I'm home working or sitting. It's set to go by CD by the bed so it's the last thing to hear before going to sleep.

It's set in the car in words and music.

It's subscribed to from different on line sources on my email so it's in my inbox and it's read as often as the computer is turned on.

Then the Bible in my carry all bag along with computer when I go to work and church. It's in a small booklet of the Psalms to take out and read the promises and be reminded Jesus is there with me. I literally must be reminded all the time of this truth especially in these middle years of my life.

Without this set up I would not have survived long in this life over the last 10 years. Literally the Word is the only consistent light on my path. Psalm 119:105 "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Not sure how any Christian can survive without making these kinds of arrangements to be on guard from within and without from attacks that seek to stop us from hearing the Word and getting faith we desperately need to live here on earth.

It's literally protecting myself from my flesh, the world and the devil. They are all 3 there seeking to influence me all the time unless I'm careful and prepared. The only way to be influenced by the Bible is to have it available at all times in all the usual places I go.

 

[Johnny_B]

Literal and in context!

It's pretty much an invitation for error and distortion.

That's the problem is people think literal translation of the Word means, to take every word literally. It's literally translated according to it's context and genre, you don't take allegorical writings like a poem or a parable and translate it literally word for word, that's were as you mentioned the problems start. Context is more than what book, chapter and verse, it also includes it's historical context as well, what the book, chapter or letter was written in response too. Just like the Gospels there is meaning for the Church in them, but the overall meaning is to the Jews and their perversion of the Law. That's why there is a general call to repentance, because they were called/chosen with/in Abraham, Deuteronomy 10:15 “Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.”

One of the most misquoted verse in the Gospels is Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." "after" opisō, behind, after, at ones back, Jesus is saying if you have the mind set of man, get a cross follow me to the punishment I am going to go through, drink of the cup of His affliction.

People say take up your cross daily, when it doesn't say that nor does it mean that. Look at what happened before Jesus saying that. Matthew 16:21-23 "From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

This is just after Jesus said “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Jesus is saying if you want to set your mind on the things of man, take up your cross and follow me. In other words, if my sacrifice or what the prophets have said of me, is not good enough for you, get a cross follow me and die for your own sins, is the general idea. Taking up our cross, is if you have the mind set of man, according to Jesus. I know it almost sounds like blasphemy, but in context, it's not a way of salvation, it's a rebuke of the idea that Jesus did not need to go to the cross. This is something liberal, being translated as allegorical or as a parable, when it's not.

 

[Rockrz]

How Do You Read the Bible?

With eyeballs!

 

[JaumeJ]

Since I was first given to have faith in Jesus Christ I have read the Book from Genesis through the final amen of Revelation. After that final amen, I would begin again at Genesis repeating the previous. This occurred repeatedly over the decades. This was my regimented reading.

At the same time I would read what subject was put into my heart separately.

I always read the Word aloud saying the Word to the creation so all hear . I derived this practice from knowing that every creature should be aware of our Father's will, his love and all that entails what is true knowledge and wisdom.

This is how I read the Word. Now, the only understanding I could possibly retain is that given me by the Holy Spirit. This is true for all who believe, while for those who may read and not believe, their understanding is nil.

God bless all who are in Jesus Crhist, amen. PS I do not include here the languages I have read the Word in......with prayer and care, all versions of the Word say the same with minor erros in translations that have no lasting effect to change the meaning of the covenants.

 

[Johnny_B]

Oddly enough, I have a copy of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on my bookshelf. I happened to find it in the second-hand book store, which is where I get most of my religious study books. I picked the book up because I thought it might come in handy some day, but I found it very intimidating and wasn't sure how to use it. So for now, it does a nice job taking up space on my shelf between a KJV study Bible and a concordance I found at the same second-hand bookstore.

It is really easy to use, all it does is cross references verses to one another, with some commentary depending on the verse. I don't have the first edition so if that's the one you have I'm not sue what it has in it, but it really is easy to use. I always have at hand when doing a study of a topic or book of the Bible.

 

[Johnny_B]

With eyeballs!

Wish I could, unfortunately I need glasses in front of my eyeballs.

 

[Johnny_B]

I used to think the Bible had to be read in a quiet place without distractions sort of "officially" with due respect and reverence. Needless to say, it got read rarely because it became a hardship associated with guilt for not getting to it like I should. That was discouraging before I even started. Today I see that was a ploy of the enemy to keep the Word from being sown.

Today it's very different. I have it set up in messages & sermons on CD and DVD and on radio and TV for when I'm home working or sitting. It's set to go by CD by the bed so it's the last thing to hear before going to sleep.

It's set in the car in words and music.

It's subscribed to from different on line sources on my email so it's in my inbox and it's read as often as the computer is turned on.

Then the Bible in my carry all bag along with computer when I go to work and church. It's in a small booklet of the Psalms to take out and read the promises and be reminded Jesus is there with me. I literally must be reminded all the time of this truth especially in these middle years of my life.

Without this set up I would not have survived long in this life over the last 10 years. Literally the Word is the only consistent light on my path. Psalm 119:105 "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Not sure how any Christian can survive without making these kinds of arrangements to be on guard from within and without from attacks that seek to stop us from hearing the Word and getting faith we desperately need to live here on earth.

It's literally protecting myself from my flesh, the world and the devil. They are all 3 there seeking to influence me all the time unless I'm careful and prepared. The only way to be influenced by the Bible is to have it available at all times in all the usual places I go.

Amen!!! Sis, I loved driving out to the prison listening to the NKJV on CD in an mp3 format, which got a lot more of the Word on a CD. The drive is about 2 and a half hours so I was able to get through the book of Romans and a few other books in the round trip.