This means that you should be able to get through the entire Bible in a year by spending around 15 minutes a day on this effort. Bible Engager’s Blog. The Bible was never meant to merely inform us; the Bible was meant to transform us. She stood frozen, open-mouthed in front of the rows of Bibles in the religion section at Barnes and Noble. Personally, I love to read my Bible at a local coffee shop, but I once read through the entire Bible while waiting in carpool lines. Look for audio recordings of the Bible at your local library or online. Look for Biblical types of Jesus in the Old Testament like Adam, Moses, and Joseph. Don’t take scripture verses out of context. You may start with a few verses from one of the Gospels to deepen your understanding of Jesus’ life and teachings. “Every passage of Scripture emerges in the course of history” (47). By using our site, you agree to our. wikiHow's. The 39 books of the Old Testament are the story of God and his people before the coming of the Messiah—Jesus. One of the earliest translations to English was the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, but today we have a variety of versions to choose from. Sometimes, simply reading and praying on the verses can be a big help. Getting God’s Word into your life doesn’t have to take … The Bible contains different kinds of literature — stories, letters, proverbs, poems, and prophecy to name a few — and we must be aware of the different ways each of these communicates. They are strictly there to make locating particular verses easier. At times they are downright mean. You can also bring the verses to a Bible study group so you can share them with others and reflect on them together. I always recommend starting with a translation that is more literal (word … You may also come across parables that describe a short scene and ask rhetorical questions or end with a clear lesson. The Bible study resources are available across all Bible versions, so it doesn't matter which Bible version you select. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 She looked even more relieved when I showed her where and how to start reading the Bible. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find Me, if you seek Me with all your heart.” God loves to reveal himself to those who seek Him. They are often a good option if you are new to reading Bible verses. Will I Still Be Married to My Spouse in Heaven? Maybe, even now, you’re shaking your head in agreement, thinking, Yes. You may then ask questions about the phrase, such as “Who is the ‘you’ and the ‘me’ in the phrase?” “What does this phrase say about my relationship to God?” “What evils do I fear or worry about in my life?”. Looking up a Verse by Number Identify the book of the verse. Getting God’s Word into your life doesn’t have to take long. You need to understand the genre, the tone, the purpose for which it was written, and at least have a general comprehension of what the passage means. Reference the verse, then cite the book, chapter and verse number in the first in-text reference to the Bible. For example, you may focus on a specific phrase like “I will fear no evil, for you are with me” to determine the key idea in the verses. Try reading one book of the Bible in one sitting or over the period of several days, as they were designed to be read all at once. In the original Greek, “love” in this verse is agapaō which means good-will, to be fond of. You may also want to get a better sense of the Bible as a text through close reading and meditation. Listening to audio recordings may deepen your understanding of the verses and experience them as they were originally intended. Start by reading the Bible five minutes a day. The Bible includes a lot of poetry, for example, and in order to understand a poem we must have a basic awareness of how poetry communicates. How to read the Bible: Read a little every day! Observation. Is this a triumphant passage proclaiming the glories of God? Abbreviate the name of the book and add a period if it is long – for example, abbreviate “Ezekiel” to “Ezek.” Add the chapter number, followed by a colon, and verse number. This is possible by locating the Bible's table of contents, usually found in the Bible's first pages. Jesus Christ can be seen in every book of the Bible. Many books in the Bible, such as the Letters from Paul, were originally read aloud to a congregation, rather than written down. Most full-Bible reading plans focus on a year, which is a very reasonable amount of time to read through the Bible. Subsequent citations do not require the translation unless that changes. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. There are several different Bible reading plans available. Bible verses are expressed in numbers, or occasionally with Roman numerals. Instead of reading single verses, read the entire chapter so that you can know what the verse means in context. 5) The fifth suggestion is to use a Bible reading plan. • The Bible was written by 40 authors, covering a period of approximately 1600 years. John’s purpose in writing is to help us believe, making it the ideal place to start. Sometimes I memorize it. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). As you read … References. It’s been years since I encountered the gal at Barnes and Noble but when I think of her, I smile. Sometimes less is more, especially when reading less means you’ll actually remember more. Next read Philippians, Ephesians and Colossians, which provide practical encouragement and instruction for living the Christian life. Remember, the Bible is God’s Word; it is God’s love letter written to His people, which includes you. Learn more... Reading verses in the Bible is a great way to enrich your spiritual practice and learn more about the teachings of God and Jesus. This daily Bible reading plan will give you all the benefits of a steady diet of God's Word as you read through Scripture in a year. Ask God use His Word to teach you, to direct you and even to re-direct you, when necessary. Concept #2: The Biblical literature contains a wide spectrum of literary styles that should be taken into account when trying to read and understand it. For example, you may analyze a verse like, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” by considering the importance of chariots and horses in the time the verse was written. Her story is our story. For example, if you are struggling with feelings of fear or doubt, you may read and reflect on verses that address these topics. You can also download a Bible app or read the Bible at biblestudytools.com. Bible Verses About Forgiveness - Read passages that offer biblical guidance on forgiveness and how important it is to forgive others as we have been forgiven by the blood of Christ. Let us know in the comments below how you've been able to begin reading the Bible and what is has done for you! Is this God speaking to man or man speaking to God? Read the Bible 2. Next to each reference is a short phrase from the verse containing the word. Another example of the Bible explaining it self is found in the prophecy of Isaiah. You may try picking Bible verses at random to read and analyze once a day so you can spend more time with the Bible. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Did you know: Originally, the Bible was written in … This book (the fourth book in the New Testament) is John’s eyewitness account of the life of Jesus. The whole Bible is arranged into 365 daily readings, including an Old Testament passage, a New Testament passage, and a Psalm or Proverb for each day. May I reach across the computer screen and help you, too? This can also broaden your faith and deepen your understanding of the Bible as a text. And we all need someone to show us how. Scores of people feel overwhelmed when it comes to reading the Bible. Psalms is filled with heartfelt prayers that offer encouragement for every season of life. If you read one chapter of John a day, (which will take no more than 5-10 minutes) you’ll read John in it’s entirety in 21 days. “These things were written to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Once you have done a close reading of the verses, apply them to your daily life to deepen your spirituality. There are many plans available to help with reading the Bible in a year, where passages are assigned for each day of the year. Look at Isaiah 14 v 12 10 Easy Ways to Get it Back, 10 Things the Bible Says about the Mark of the Beast, 6 Things to Know about the Messianic Prophecies of Jesus, A Prayer for Families Going through Divorce This Christmas, 6 Ways to Protect Your Peace This Christmas. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 17,032 times. You may find it useful to pray often on the verses as you read the Bible. Over 25 percent of the New Testament was written by the apostle Paul, and all of his letters fit into the narrative Luke provides in Acts. For example, if you are trying to find Proverbs 31:25-27, you would look in the book of Proverbs for chapter 31, verse 25-27. In the morning, read through the five psalms with your verse in mind and let it be the theme of your meditation that day. 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