There are several different Bible reading plans available. After all, isn't that the whole point of reading the Bible! 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. This book (the fourth book in the New Testament) is John’s eyewitness account of the life of Jesus. This article has been viewed 17,032 times. If you keep on reading, starting at verse 18, you ˜nd that you are giv en a complete explanation of the parable. Helpful tips for reading the Bible: Use a translation that is easy to read. Maybe, even now, you’re shaking your head in agreement, thinking, Yes. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Getting God’s Word into your life doesn’t have to take long. You may also want to get a better sense of the Bible as a text through close reading and meditation. For example, if you want to study John 3, look it up using Bible Gateway's search feature. At times they are downright mean. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2020, Crosswalk.com. If you wake up during the night, think about the verse. By using our site, you agree to our. This will help keep you focused and motivated. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Instead, always read a paragraph—at least. (For example, see UCG Bible Reading Program (OT only, soon to be expanded to include NT.) wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Scared of messing up your first relationship? Listening to audio recordings may deepen your understanding of the verses and experience them as they were originally intended. • The Bible was written by 40 authors, covering a period of approximately 1600 years. After reading John, move on to the other gospels – Matthew, Mark or Luke. Sometimes I keep the verse with me throughout the day. Next to each reference is a short phrase from the verse containing the word. You can also bring the verses to a Bible study group so you can share them with others and reflect on them together. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. No doubt, as you read you’ll find one or two verses that seem to leap off the page. The Bible was never meant to merely inform us; the Bible was meant to transform us. The average reader reads about 200 words per minute. Unless the context seems to require it, it is not necessary to use an ellipsis (…) before or after a quoted portion of a Scripture verse. For example, locating John 3:16 requires the reader to first find the book of John in the Bible. That you read God’s Word is more important than when you read God’s Word. And we all need someone to show us how. These are my top suggestions for those wondering how to start reading the Bible. What is God seeking to communicate to us in it? How to read the Bible: Read a little every day! Genesis explains how everything began. Begin by looking up the Bible passage you want to read. Add the version of the Bible … It can be difficult to memorise the Bible. For example, I may read “For God so loved the world” in John 3:16. There are four steps to mastering the Bible so well that the Bible masters you: 1. % of people told us that this article helped them. Read the Bible 2. When Bible verses are listed, the first … For example, in the concordance of the NIV Study Bible, below the word warrior are the references Exodus 15:3; 1 Chronicles 28:3; and Proverbs 16:32. Is this a story or a letter? They are strictly there to make locating particular verses easier. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. So get a good Catholic Bible with great indexed footnotes. Translation names should not be abbreviated (e.g., write out King James Version instead of using KJV). But if mornings aren’t your thing, don’t sweat it. For exa… wikiHow's. Once you have been assigned a pas… Start small—five or 10 minutes is better than none. Keep in mind that from a spiritual perspective, the chapter and verse numbers do not have any significance on the meaning of the verses. It’s been years since I encountered the gal at Barnes and Noble but when I think of her, I smile. For example, if you are struggling with feelings of fear or doubt, you may read and reflect on verses that address these topics. Sometimes I memorize it. 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. This practice has cemented God’s Word into my thoughts in countless ways. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. You may find it useful to pray often on the verses as you read the Bible. On the radio I use this simple rule to help me answer the majority of Bible questions I’m asked, even when I’m not familiar with the particular passage. The 27 books of the New Testament pick up the story beginning with the birth of Jesus. Romans 3:23; 10:9; Ephesians 2:8,10). Psalm 119:103-105 “ How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 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. She looked even more relieved when I showed her where and how to start reading the Bible. Work your way through one book at a time, and you’ll never find yourself fumbling for where to read again. Pause before you open your Bible and ask God to speak to you. Ask God use His Word to teach you, to direct you and even to re-direct you, when necessary. Romans is jam-packed with essential doctrine. Sometimes, simply reading and praying on the verses can be a big help. Sometimes I meditate on the Bible verse. You may try picking Bible verses at random to read and analyze once a day so you can spend more time with the Bible. A popular Bible version for children and those who are still trying to learn … First, I encourage you to start, even on a modified and very small level. Already installed on over 450 million unique devices all over the world, the Bible App offers a free Bible experience for smartphones, tablets, and online at Bible.com. Listen to how the verses sound. 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. 10 Signs Your Marriage Is Built on Christ, Christmas Light Show Set To 'Mary Did You Know', Violinist Lindsey Stirling Performs 'Carol Of The Bells', Family Bluegrass Bands Sings 'I Know Who Holds Tomorrow', Lost Your Christmas Spirit? 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. The 39 books of the Old Testament are the story of God and his people before the coming of the Messiah—Jesus. Maybe they speak to an issue you’ve been grappling with; maybe they answer a long held question; maybe they give you comfort or encouragement; maybe they provide an example to follow or avoid. Ask God to help you understand His Word. Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. For example, you may follow a teaching on trust in the Bible by shifting how you talk to your partner or how you communicate with God. As you read … Don’t take scripture verses out of context. If you’re new to the Bible, the best place to start is the Gospel of John. Observation is the first and most important step in how to study the Bible. 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. Which is why in order to read the Bible in context, we need to read it in its historical context—beginning with the author and the original audience. 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. Subsequent citations do not require the translation unless that changes. The table shows on what page number the first chapter of John lies. Be intentional about getting God’s Word into your thoughts and you’ll soon see your relationship with God thrive and your life change. 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?”. For example, if you are reading verses that describe Jesus’ birth, check the surrounding verses for any details about events that lead to Jesus’ birth or an introduction by the author. 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. This may be useful if you are new to reading the Bible and would like to make understanding the sequence of events in the text easier. You can also select verses to study based on your interests. This is possible by locating the Bible's table of contents, usually found in the Bible's first pages. Read Multiple Translations. You may also pull out the verses regularly so you can read them and try to understand them better. 40 Day Bible Reading Plan – easy way to get started. Here’s the flat out truth: If we don’t understand it, we won’t read it. Reading Paul’s epistles as we read alongside his missionary journeys can give us a new appreciation for his relationship to these churches and their backstory. Analyze the verses by reading them aloud and identify any questions or ideas raised. You can try audio version of the Bible or maintain a diary or write and remember the chapters and verse correctly. You can also scan the Bible for verses that contain terms like “hope,” “love,” “healing,” or “fear.”. Think about how you can interpret older ideas or terms using a modern perspective. You may start with a few verses from one of the Gospels to deepen your understanding of Jesus’ life and teachings. It is my prayer that this beginner's guide to reading the Bible will encourage you and help you reach your goals! Choose a Study Bible in a User-Friendly Translation. All rights reserved. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you’ll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren’t heroes at all. 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. Her facial expression said it all: I have no idea where to start reading the Bible. And if studying the Bible doesn’t make you a more loving, kind, and gentle person, then you are doing something wrong. Look for audio recordings of the Bible at your local library or online. “When thinking about the original audience,” Hunter and Wellum explain, “we should distinguish the original characters in the story from the original readers, those who were reading Scripture about those characters” (47). Meditate on the Bible. This nontraditional type of Bible takes all the stories from the entire Bible and re-orders them so that as you read from front to back, you also read from the past to the future. Getting God’s Word into your life doesn’t have to take … Many books in the Bible, such as the Letters from Paul, were originally read aloud to a congregation, rather than written down. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Sometimes less is more, especially when reading less means you’ll actually remember more. Pause to let the message sink in because these words are God’s words to you. What does this teach me about how I should live. In the original Greek, “love” in this verse is agapaō which means good-will, to be fond of. In the morning, read through the five psalms with your verse in mind and let it be the theme of your meditation that day. After few days, I forget though. How in the world do I know where to start reading and making sense of the entire Bible? They get afraid and run away. Can Loved Ones in Heaven Look Down on You? By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. 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. They are often a good option if you are new to reading Bible verses. I always recommend starting with a translation that is more literal (word … The Bible is most of all a Story. My mind naturally thinks of “love” as affectionate or romantic, but that’s not what this verse means. Observation. Is this a poetic, meditative passage reflecting on pain and persecution? Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. May I reach across the computer screen and help you, too? It will give you a track to follow. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek. She stood frozen, open-mouthed in front of the rows of Bibles in the religion section at Barnes and Noble. Read the Bible like Jesus is talking to you personally. For example, historical books of the Bible clearly are meant to be taken literally as real, accurate history. The NLT version of the Bible is most readable while still being literal in its translation; the Study Bibles contain footnotes that explain difficult to understand passages of Scripture. Another example of the Bible explaining it self is found in the prophecy of Isaiah. My new friend looked visibly relieved when I asked if she’d like help choosing a Bible. Look for Biblical types of Jesus in the Old Testament like Adam, Moses, and Joseph. Some translations focus on being more precise and are best for Bible study, while others focus on readability and are great for devotions. 2. That’s right, never read a Bible verse. So pick one book of the Bible and read a little each day, one chapter, perhaps. “Every passage of Scripture emerges in the course of history” (47). Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 17,032 times. 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. 5) The fifth suggestion is to use a Bible reading plan. Ask Him to use His Word to help you know Him and love Him. Then close your Bible, and be sure to make that your last waking thought. If the second chapter-verse reference is from the same book of the Bible, do not repeat the book’s name (e.g. 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. Instead of reading single verses, read the entire chapter so that you can know what the verse means in context. Bible verses are expressed in numbers, or occasionally with Roman numerals. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). Bible Study Resources - Tips, Online Bible Search, Devotions, 3 Reasons the 'Christmas Star' of 2020 Is Bringing So Much Hope. Is this a triumphant passage proclaiming the glories of God? If you’re a beginner, I recommend the New Living Translation (NLT), or a study Bible in the English Standard Version (ESV) or New International Version (NIV). 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. Good News Translation. 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. References. When a verse resonates with you, stop and write it down, word for word. I rounded the corner and saw her. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Read-Bible-Verses-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Read-Bible-Verses-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f9\/Read-Bible-Verses-Step-1.jpg\/aid9490644-v4-728px-Read-Bible-Verses-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"