How Do You Read the Bible?

[Guest]

I'm curious to know how others go about the study of God's word. I'll start by sharing my own person method of bible study. Many years ago I read a book that surveyed the entire scope of the biblical narrative and gave me a book by book breakdown, which helped a lot. Then I began reading, starting with Genesis 1:1.

After reading up to Chronicals I got bored and started the New Testament, which I finished in 7 days. Then I went back and finished the Old Testament. My current method is to to listen to an audio bible while I'm working. Using this method I'm able to go through the entire bible every three weeks. I still find reading the scriptures more enjoyable but listening to the audio bible has been one of the best tools in my own personal study.

I consider the audio bible to be a "Cliffs Notes" version while reading the scriptures provides further insight. I enjoy using both methods. This past week, I listened to the book of Daniel. Then I listened to Steve's commentary on the book. After this I read the book once more. I can now say I understand the book of Daniel pretty well. The week before, I did the same thing, but with Isaiah.

I think going through the bible this way is very helpful. In my opinion, a bird's eye view of the scriptures is a good way to start. Then going through the entire bible a few times, followed by book-by-book in depth studies. It's impossible to read the bible all the way through a number of times and NOT know what God is like. I can confidently say that I know what God's personality is like and that information is invaluable if you plan on doing things his way.

I should note that this type of study has helped me tremendously but my wife is completely different. She thinks theology and debate are the most boring things in the world and just reads and re-reads "The Purpose Driven Life." This would concern me if not for the fact that she resembles Christ more and more each passing month. To each his own, I say... but how about you?

[Guest]

In my study, I seek to avoid monotony. I've been reading the Bible through every year for the past few years, but I don't do it the same way twice. One year I followed my church's reading plan (6 days a week, some OT and NT every day). Then I read through from cover to cover. This year, I decided to read the NT and listen to the OT (MP3 Listener's Bible - ESV). That worked fine until I finished the NT...so I started on the OT.

One thing I did with the NT this year was break it up a bit. I've found in years past that reading the Gospels in order, I tend to miss a lot (particularly in the Synoptics...all runs together). So, I did this:

John, 1-3 John, Revelation
Matthew, Hebrews
Mark, 1-2 Peter, James, Jude
Luke, Acts, Pauline Epistles

This worked really well for me, since each Gospel seemed much fresher to me. Paul's letters got a bit long, though. Next year I'll probably break those up a bit, too.

Then, for the OT this year, I read one Psalm a day, and now I'm onto Proverbs. I then broke the rest of the OT into the Hebrew Bible divisions (Torah, Prophets, Writings), and I've been nibbling at all of them. I printed out bookmarks for everything, so I can track what I've read (the one drawback of a non-sequential readthrough).

If you're curious, check out my bookmark format:

http://www.heasley.net/bible/2006BibleNT.jpg

I also indulge in a lot of Steve's lectures on various topics. Right now I'm working my way through the Life of Christ series. People think I'm strange when I tell them I listen to Steve while running. And in the car. And at work. And at home sometimes.

With all the reading and listening, I'm still not really *studying* the word. I guess at this point I'm trying more to learn it than to study it. Just trying to get it in my head...and then I'll just have to learn Hebrew and Greek and really "git down ta bidness".

[Guest]

good topic--

right now i use a palm pilot; i have a reading program set up so that i read the NT through 4 times a year, and the OT once per year; some of each every day. i also read oswald chambers everyday and one psalm everyday. i listen to the bible fairly frequently (max mcclean) in preparation for group bible study.

i spend 80 minutes in the car everyday which at the present is filled with Steve's lectures.

i must tell you, though, that my Pastor is not big on reading the Bible just for the sake of reaching a daily "goal". he recommends reading it prayerfully until you "get something" and then stop. this may not be a bad idea, at least once you have read the Bible and know generally whats in it.

how did Jesus read the scriptures? how often? how about Paul?

TK

[Guest]

Great replies... I'm always curious how others read the bible. As to your question, TK, I believe Jesus and Paul were both brought up on the scriptures and memorized a great deal. The Jewish custom, I believe, was to instruct children in the scriptures the way we instruct our children in social studies, science, mathmatics, etc. So they all attended "bible school" so to speak. But I do think the ancient Jews memorized large portions of scripture. Today we're a little more intellectually lazy (me too) so we prefer reading to drawing upon our memory.

I'd also like to hear Steve's thoughts on this, though I imagine he became quite versed in the bible over the course of teaching through it 16 times. I gain new insight whenever I'm preparing to teach a bible study.

[Guest]

Hey JC-

i think that you are right that Jesus and Paul likely memorized large portions of scripture.

i used to feel guilty about not memorizing large portions of scripture. maybe i should do so. however, we have bibles handy; i have three versions of the bible on my palm pilot and it is always with me. i know the scriptures well enough to know where to look for a particular verse. if i don't, i can run a "search" and find the verse i am looking for. would it be impressive if i could memorize large portions of scripture? it would, but i guess i dont want to impress anybody in that way. last year i memorized isaiah 53; however right now i could not recite it by heart because i have not refreshed my memory recently. but i could pass a multiple choice test on the contents

some here might argue that my reason for not memorizing large chunks of scripture is like a school child saying they shouldnt memorize the multiplication tables because we have calculators.

but i think as a practical matter, we have such access to bibles in different forms that the scriptures are readily available. back in bible times this was not the case. paul carried some scrolls around with him, i believe (i think he told somebody in a letter to bring them to him) but that would be rather cumbersome.

i suspect thatif i lived in a country where bibles are outlawed, then i would have a very keen interest in memorizing voluminous portions of scripture. but since i dont see that happening any time soon in the states (God willing) i would rather spend the time available to me on other things.

i guess thats just a long drawn out way of justifying why i dont memorize large chunks of scripture when perhaps i should be!

TK

[Guest]

Hi JC,

you wrote:

My current method is to to listen to an audio bible while I'm working. Using this method I'm able to go through the entire bible every three weeks.

Wow, JC! I'm very impressed that you are able to listen to the whole bible every 3 weeks!!! And I thought I was doing pretty good going through it every 6 months. I'm also amazed that you are able to do this at work since I seem to remember you mentioning that your job is creative in nature isn't it? Most guys can't even think about two things at once, that's truly a gift bro. (Of course, most women have no problem with multi-tasking, but I can't even walk and chew gum at the same time ).

My current method of study is much like all of yours.....saturate and meditate and lots of audio lectures (MP3 players are truly a God send).

I used to be very studious with the inductive and didactic methods, but that was before kids. .

Memorization? Not on purpose. For me it's only through repitition or when the Lord really speaks to me through a certain passage.

The Lord will surely bless your zeal brother.

[Guest]

Christopher, don't be impressed, bro. While it's true that I'm working toward financing a feature film company, my day job is that of a billing analyst. So for nine hours a day I have my headphones on, listening to either the audio bible or a lecture series. So doing this for nine hours a day, anyone could finish the bible in three weeks.

Reading through the bible takes me a full year though so you have me beat there. I prefer this method myself (reading) but it's not as practical for my situation since I spend most of my day at work or in my car. Reading the bible whilst driving my car may cause me to meet God before the alotted time.

[Guest]

i must tell you, though, that my Pastor is not big on reading the Bible just for the sake of reaching a daily "goal". he recommends reading it prayerfully until you "get something" and then stop. this may not be a bad idea, at least once you have read the Bible and know generally whats in it.

Your pastor's approach is what I'm currently doing now.
My approach in times past was to read the Bible on a schedule, attempting to read as much as I could. However, I found I wasn't able to dig deeper this way, and while I'd feel the accomplishment of reading through the Bible, I didn't feel that I was learning anything.

Since I realized this, I've thrown out the schedule and am slowly reading through the Bible, starting with the NT, pausing frequently to consider, cross-reference and digest passages. I'm in no hurry and don't have to worry about "falling behind the schedule."

[Guest]

good call, schoel.

i am likely going to take this approach starting in January.

TK