How Do I Read The Bible? Part 2

It is important to realise that the Bible isn’t an easy book to read! It was written by people spanning dozens of centuries, nations and cultures. It is normal to read it and then struggle to understand everything it says. This does not mean that we can’t understand what it says, and it certainly doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t spend time learning how to read it. The Bible is God’s gift to us – all we have to do is learn to open the gift in the right way.

First of all, a basic Study Bible can be a fantastic tool. Parallel to the text of the Bible, scholars have written down in simple language, explanations of the text itself. So, as you are reading a passage of the Bible, if you come across something you don’t understand, then you can read the study notes and it will more than likely explain it to you.

Secondly, you need to know that reading the whole Bible is of no use to you if you don’t understand it! Reading smaller passages of the Bible more slowly may be the best approach. Write down your questions and ask a pastor or your church small group. Pray whilst reading it, and ask God to speak to you through His Word.

But the most important thing is to simply start! Like the man who asked the question “how do I eat an elephant?”, the answer is of course “one bite at a time!” And so don’t let the large size of the book or the small size of the text put you off. You really can do it! Begin today and set a pattern of Bible reading in place in your daily routine. You will look back years from now and be so grateful that you started.