What Is a Good Bible for Reading
A lot of new and seasoned Christians have a story about their attempts to read the Bible comprehend to cover that goes something like this: It was going great as they read through Genesis and Exodus, but somewhere in Leviticus or Numbers, they started to get bogged downward in details they didn't quite understand. And by the time they hitting Deuteronomy, they were done.
While it'southward true that "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and preparation in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:xvi), we demand to recognize that the Bible is not like whatever other book. It isn't necessarily meant to be read from front to back. In fact, the Bible is actually a library.
The Protestant Bible is comprised of 66 books, and many of those books are written in a variety of unlike genres or types of literature. These genres all need to exist read a little differently. Starting at Genesis and trying to read directly through without a strategy can go frustrating if you lot don't know how these books and their literary genres work together.
There are a few means to allocate the genres of the Bible, but they typically fall into these categories.
Historical narrative
Books include: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, ane and 2 Samuel, 1 and ii Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah, Acts
While most of the Bible's books accept some chemical element of history to them, these are the ones that are primarily focused on communicating stories of historical significance. In these books, you'll observe a lot of the Bible stories you probably heard when you were a kid.
Wisdom literature
Books include: Chore, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes
Wisdom literature focuses on what information technology ways to live well. Some of the linguistic communication is poetic and figurative, and then information technology can't always be read in the aforementioned style that y'all'd read the Bible's historical books. For instance, Proverbs xiii:xiv tells us that "the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life . . ." This doesn't mean that wise teaching is a literal fountain, only a rather continuing source of intellectual and spiritual nourishment.
Verse
Books include: Psalms, Vocal of Songs, Lamentations
While many Old Testament books comprise portions of poetry, these three books are written every bit verse. Unlike English language poetry that focuses more on rhyme and meter, Hebrew verse creates an emotional touch by focusing on balanced, parallel lines. We can see an example of this in Psalm 24:iii-4 where we're told,
"threeWho may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand up in his holy place?
4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does non trust in an idol
or swear past a false god." — Psalm 24:iii–iv
Both verses use repetitive lines to bulldoze the point dwelling. To ascend to the mount of the Lord and stand in his holy place both communicate a blamelessness before God—and faithfulness is communicated past the comparable ideas of not trusting in idols or swearing by simulated gods.
Prophecy
Books include: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
The Bible's prophetic literature focuses on God's word spoken through his prophets. These messages tend to emphasize Israel's need to repent earlier they experience the Lord's judgment. When reading prophecy, it's essential to understand who God is talking to through his spokespeople and the overall message he is trying to convey.
Apocalyptic literature
Books include: Daniel, Revelation
Similar some of the Bible's prophetic literature, the apocalyptic writings focus on future events. Because and then much apocalyptic literature involves dreams and visions translated into symbols and imagery, this is often the virtually hard genre to understand—and the easiest to misinterpret.
Gospels
Books include: Matthew, Marker, Luke, John, Acts
Sometimes the Gospels get lumped in with the historical narrative books of the Bible, and that makes sense. After all, their entire value rests on their celebrated nature. Only what separates them into their own genre is that the Gospels focus on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And while all four Gospels concentrate on the life of Jesus, they all have a unique emphasis and each one approaches the story differently. Luke'due south Gospel and Acts are both technically epistles, only they circumduct effectually the Messiah and his establishment of the church, so they also fall into this literary genre.
Epistles
Books include: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, one and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, Jude
Epistles are letters, and similar modern messages, they're fabricated up of a greeting, a body, and a endmost. These letters focus on instruction, correction, and encouragement for these new beginning-century churches.
Some books accept multiple genres
There's definitely some genre-hopping going on throughout the books of the Bible. Daniel is both historical narrative and apocalyptic literature, and Acts works as both history and Gospel. Proverbs is a wisdom book that includes poetic elements. Only the indicate is that learning to encounter these books through the lens of genre can assistance make Scripture reading a lot easier.
So where do I start?
At present that you have a better picture of the Bible equally a collection of books, you tin be intentional about how you approach it. Instead of walking into what is substantially a library and trying to read your way through the books indiscriminately, you tin can read them strategically. Equally you do, yous'll detect that with each Bible book that you read, you proceeds a better understanding of the others.
Here are some suggestions to become yous started:
The Gospel of Marker
Genre: Gospel
Chapters: 16
Full verses: 678
For the Christian, the Bible is ultimately about redemption through Jesus Christ. It makes sense then to brainstorm your biblical journey in the Gospels, and Mark's is a great identify to start. Running the length of a longer magazine article, information technology should take less than two hours to read in a single sitting.
Marking'south Gospel will give you an overview of Jesus' life without getting you bogged downward in besides many details. Once you have an understanding of this Gospel's narrative and all the characters, you'll be able to dive into the other Gospels with more clarity and agreement.
Central poesy: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life every bit a ransom for many." —Mark 10:45
The Gospel of John
Genre: Gospel
Capacity: 21
Total verses: 879
Where Mark focuses on what Jesus did, John looks closely at what Jesus said about himself. Nosotros discover some of the clearest explanations of who Jesus was and what he came to reach in John's Gospel account. It's from John's Gospel that we larn that "For God then loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but accept eternal life" (John 3:16).
Key verse: In the beginning was the Give-and-take, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. —John 1:1
Genesis
Genre: History
Chapters: 50
Total verses: one,213
Genesis sets upwardly many essential biblical themes. Information technology's here that we learn that God was responsible for creating the heavens and earth; we witness humans as they rebel against their creator; and nosotros sentinel God establish the nation of Israel. The unabridged biblical story of God's working with and redeeming humanity is established in this important book.
Genesis is a genuinely enjoyable read, but we realize pretty apace that we're reading nearly an ancient, foreign civilization. Information technology's helpful to have some tools on paw to brand sense of some unfamiliar concepts and traditions. Resources like the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible or the NIV Faithlife Illustrated Study Bible can provide a lot of helpful context.
Key verses: In the showtime God created the heavens and the globe. —Genesis 1:1
The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your land, your people and your father'due south household to the state I volition show you.
"I will make you lot into a keen nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and yous will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless yous,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
volition be blest through you."—Genesis 12:1–3
Proverbs
Genre: Wisdom literature
Chapters: 31
Total verses: 915
While at that place is of course theological truth to exist found in Proverbs, information technology's substantially a compilation of simple instructions for living wisely. Following these principles volition help you live a life of integrity and virtue.
As you're reading Proverbs, information technology's important to recall the difference betwixt a principle and a promise. For instance, Proverbs 22:six says, "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are sometime they will not turn from it." The indicate is that it's important to be intentional about education your values and beliefs to your children. Just it'southward non a promise that doing so will ensure a specific outcome.
Proverbs is full of wise communication nigh living, but it shouldn't be read as God promising certain results for specific behaviors. Remember that the wisdom that the Proverbs offers is wide-ranging and more general in nature.
Key verse: The fear of the Lord is the commencement of cognition, just fools despise wisdom and instruction. —Proverbs ane:7
ane John
Genre: Epistle
Chapters: v
Total verses: 105
Since the beginning of the Christian church, authorship for this letter has been attributed to John the apostle. In this epistle, John makes simple contrasts like low-cal vs. darkness, truth vs. falsehood, and dearest of God vs. love of the globe. This alphabetic character is intended in part to give Christians an assurance of their conservancy.
Cardinal Verse: I write these things to yous who believe in the proper noun of the Son of God then that you may know that you lot have eternal life. —ane John five:thirteen
Psalm 119
Genre: Poetry
Total verses: 176
The unabridged book of Psalms is full of insight and condolement. Christians throughout history have turned to the Psalms when they needed direction, consolation, and contentment. Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and shares David's heart for God's Word. If you're diving into Scripture, Psalm 119 will help you see what falling in love with the Word of God looks similar.
Key poesy: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. —Psalm 119:105
Bible reading plans
If you're brand new to the Bible, it'southward skilful to have an understanding of the Bible's bulletin and scope before you dig into a through-the-Bible reading plan. Zondervan provides a fantastic collection of reading plans that will requite you a strong working cognition of Scripture.
This reading program starts with an overview of Jesus' ministry, and and then spends a calendar month helping you to go to know and understand God better. From in that location it focuses on various topics and readings advisable for new Christians. Past the time you're washed with this reading plan, you're going to take a helpful understanding of the foundations of God and his Word, which will prepare you for committing to a more intensive Bible reading plan.
Most full-Bible reading plans focus on a year, which is a very reasonable amount of time to read through the Bible. The boilerplate reader reads near 200 words per infinitesimal. This means that you should be able to go through the entire Bible in a year by spending around fifteen minutes a day on this try.
There are a total of 1,189 chapters in the Bible, which ways that you should be able to get through the entire Bible by reading three or four chapters each day.
Zondervan has a strong plan to get through the Bible in 1 yr. This ane starts at Genesis and goes straight through to Revelation. They besides have readings that include a threescore-day overview of the Bible, and a list of not-so-famous Bible stories. You can check those out hither.
BlueLetterBible.com has some helpful reading plan options that give you readings for every day of the year. These include the following:
● Canonical plan: While this entire postal service is written to offer alternatives to reading the Bible straight through, there are people who still desire to follow that method. This plan breaks Scripture into daily chunks for a encompass-to-comprehend trip through Scripture.
● Chronological programme: This programme organizes Scripture sequentially. As you work your way through this plan, you'll exist reading Scripture in the actual club in which the events took identify.
● Old Testament and New Testament together plan: Going through the Old and New Testaments simultaneously can requite you a lot of insight into God's Word. This reading plan will equip you to read both testaments together in 365 days.
How to stick to your reading plan
Let's be honest; a year is a long time to stay committed to something—particularly when you're working through some of the harder-to-read passages. Hither are iv tips for seeing your one-yr reading delivery through.
1. Read at the aforementioned time every day
Habits are built on persistent behavior. If you're doing your reading at random times every day, it's going to be harder to establish a routine. Only in one case you lot begin reading your Bible at a specific time of day (and fifty-fifty in a consistent place), it's going to exist a lot easier to follow through.
2. Find a Bible-reading partner
If yous're serious about your commitment, find someone who will join you. Setting goals with a friend can brand all the difference in the globe. Not only volition the two of you lot hold each other accountable for your daily reading, but you'll as well be able to become deeper by discussing what you're reading together.
3. Get a Bible you enjoy reading
Bible reading isn't very fun when you don't understand what y'all're reading. It's incredibly helpful to have a Bible that tin help you sympathize what'due south happening (and how it applies to you).
If you lot're looking for a helpful resources, the NIV Pupil Bible volition provide a lot of insight. Congenital specifically for students of the Bible, it gives you lot simply the correct amount of assist without overwhelming your time in the Word. And it has its ain three-track reading programme!
Some other peachy resources is The Books of the Bible. Broken into four-volumes and by many of the genres mentioned earlier, this Bible is free from chapter and verse numbers that provides a seamless reading experience. When done with a partner or group, this arroyo to reading the Bible can be very enlightening and meaningful.
4. Listen to an audio Bible
For a lot of the church'south history, people listened to God'due south Word instead of reading it. Sometimes information technology tin be helpful to purchase an sound Bible, then take a walk and heed to the Bible instead of reading it. If you observe that you're struggling through your daily reading, consider supplementing it with an audio Bible.
With the NIV 50th Anniversary app (available for iPhone and Android), you tin read or listen to the full Bible text—and it's free!
Benefitting from God'south Give-and-take
The Bible can exist pretty intimidating for the new Christian, but it doesn't accept to be. Knowing where to start can aid immensely. Equally you make your way through Scripture, you'll discover the assurance, forcefulness, and wisdom that simply come from immersing yourself in God'south Give-and-take.
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Comments
7
NOV
2018
Source: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/start-reading-bible/
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