Full Question:
How to read the bible and what to read? Hi guy, I want to read the whole bible to know about God and everything. But I don't know where to start. Is there any certain book or books I need to read? Also there are bibles with all different names and I'm really confused.
Answer:
Asking about how to read bible is a result of a good intention and is of course a good question. A good instruction will surely help you or anyone throughout their life. So I will do my very best to make this answer simple and the best with all necessary things mentioned.
Set a Time:
First of all, you should set a fixed time to read Bible before you start reading it. According to me, the best time to read bible is at early morning. It is because of three main reason. First one is, to Read bible is to eat our daily bread and it is like eating our breakfast which is the first and most important food of the day. Breakfast is our physical food and Reading Bible is our spiritual food. By reading bible in the morning, we can acquire the fuel which is the source of energy needed for the whole day. Second one is, suppose if you miss bible reading in the morning, you can read it in the evening or tonight. But people who read bible at night, miss reading it for some reasons will skip bible reading for one day. Most night readers skip reading bible in the night because of the tiredness of that day. Thirdly, if you are reading bible in early morning, there will not be much disturbances around you and for that you can concentrate on your reading very much.
First of all, you should set a fixed time to read Bible before you start reading it. According to me, the best time to read bible is at early morning. It is because of three main reason. First one is, to Read bible is to eat our daily bread and it is like eating our breakfast which is the first and most important food of the day. Breakfast is our physical food and Reading Bible is our spiritual food. By reading bible in the morning, we can acquire the fuel which is the source of energy needed for the whole day. Second one is, suppose if you miss bible reading in the morning, you can read it in the evening or tonight. But people who read bible at night, miss reading it for some reasons will skip bible reading for one day. Most night readers skip reading bible in the night because of the tiredness of that day. Thirdly, if you are reading bible in early morning, there will not be much disturbances around you and for that you can concentrate on your reading very much.
Set a Limit:
Secondly, you need to set a limit in the number of chapters you are planning to read for a single day, before starting to read bible. You can set the limit as much as you can. I prefer everyone to set that limit considering your situations and interest. It is not what limit you set, but to achieve the limit set by you is important. But you should set at a minimum limit as there is a minimum limit for your daily food. Setting a limit of 5 to 7 chapters per day is good and normal. Physically disabled people should try to make a minimum limit of at least 3 chapters per day. If you have plenty of time, you can set the limits from 10 to 50 based on your free time. Whenever you can, you can read more than the limits set by you as you wish. But you should take care to attain the minimum chapters set by you. Advanced readers can also set 1 year plan, 6 months plan and 3 months plan as they need.
Secondly, you need to set a limit in the number of chapters you are planning to read for a single day, before starting to read bible. You can set the limit as much as you can. I prefer everyone to set that limit considering your situations and interest. It is not what limit you set, but to achieve the limit set by you is important. But you should set at a minimum limit as there is a minimum limit for your daily food. Setting a limit of 5 to 7 chapters per day is good and normal. Physically disabled people should try to make a minimum limit of at least 3 chapters per day. If you have plenty of time, you can set the limits from 10 to 50 based on your free time. Whenever you can, you can read more than the limits set by you as you wish. But you should take care to attain the minimum chapters set by you. Advanced readers can also set 1 year plan, 6 months plan and 3 months plan as they need.
Plan, what to Read:
Many people read Bible from here and there, which is totally of no use. Consider the case of a novel or a story, do we read it from here and there? Of Course not. Similarly Bible is a book with its chapters set in a perfect order, so read it from the beginning to the end(cover to cover). But the one thing you can do is to start reading from the New Testament, because this is the New Testament period and so, to understand the things in New Testament is more important than Old Testament. So better you start reading from the New Testament and Old Testament after finish reading the New Testament.
Use a Pen/Marker:
Always Keep a pen or marker with you when you read your bible and underline or mark the things you feel to underline. You can underline an important verse, a message from God to you, a revelation, reference, etc.
Many people read Bible from here and there, which is totally of no use. Consider the case of a novel or a story, do we read it from here and there? Of Course not. Similarly Bible is a book with its chapters set in a perfect order, so read it from the beginning to the end(cover to cover). But the one thing you can do is to start reading from the New Testament, because this is the New Testament period and so, to understand the things in New Testament is more important than Old Testament. So better you start reading from the New Testament and Old Testament after finish reading the New Testament.
Use a Pen/Marker:
Always Keep a pen or marker with you when you read your bible and underline or mark the things you feel to underline. You can underline an important verse, a message from God to you, a revelation, reference, etc.
Which Bible:
You can read any available Bible. There are plenty types of Bibles available outside and they are only different according to their use. Most of them are common bible, some mention things in more detail, some contain background events, some contain the meaning of its basic written language, some are used for studying and so on. The best one for a beginner to read is a common NIV (New International Version) or a common NKJV (New King James Version) Bible. It is always good for you to have a bible for your own. (The only Bible which you need to avoid is 'Deuterocanonical Bible', because many chapters in these type of Bibles failed to pass the Canonical tests and are not preferred by Bible scholars and me.)
You can read any available Bible. There are plenty types of Bibles available outside and they are only different according to their use. Most of them are common bible, some mention things in more detail, some contain background events, some contain the meaning of its basic written language, some are used for studying and so on. The best one for a beginner to read is a common NIV (New International Version) or a common NKJV (New King James Version) Bible. It is always good for you to have a bible for your own. (The only Bible which you need to avoid is 'Deuterocanonical Bible', because many chapters in these type of Bibles failed to pass the Canonical tests and are not preferred by Bible scholars and me.)
Pray Before Reading:
Everything mentioned in it is only understandable by the grace of God. So it is essential for you to pray a simple prayer each and every time before you start reading. I will give you a sample prayer below.
Everything mentioned in it is only understandable by the grace of God. So it is essential for you to pray a simple prayer each and every time before you start reading. I will give you a sample prayer below.
" Heavenly Father, I am going to read this bible. Help me to understand and learn the things mentioned in this bible. Speak to me and give me my daily bread when I'm reading. Help me to learn your ways, to know your will about my life and to be a better person. All I pray in Jesus name. Amen!
May God bless all of you to start or to change the way of their bible reading, to know and grow God more. Wish you a Happy Bible Reading.
Its a good instruction for a beginner...by reading one will get a good idea for reading bible ...a gud start is a half done....thanks Alfred for giving good instruction...with lv n prays leya
ReplyDeleteThe instructions given above is understandable for all ages..It covers almost all aspect in bible reading. jilu
ReplyDelete