Perhaps you are one of the many people who think it might be good to read the Bible, but never seem to, or have tried and found it boring and difficult. Perhaps you have never tried it because you expected that this is what you would find. You might think that those of us who read it regularly are somehow different from you. Maybe some are, but most of us are not. We have just discovered, through good advice or simply by accident, that there are some things that can make our lives easier, more enjoyable and more beneficial. Unfortunately, some of these tips don’t get mentioned enough. We tend to take for granted that everyone knows what we know. Perhaps some of us assume that those who don’t read it have some deep theological objections (presumably developed without the benefit of knowledge). I doubt that. I hope you find at least some of these tips as helpful as I do. I assure you that the Bible is worth reading once you overcome the obstacles.
1. Choose a modern translation. Unless you are familiar with Elizabethan English and enjoy reading Shakespeare, you will find the Bible makes more sense and is easier to understand if you use a modern translation or paraphrase, such as the Good News Bible, Living Bible, New International. Version or Message. If you really want to study it, you may find that some of these are less than 100% accurate, but for most purposes the message is clear no matter which version you choose. Remember that the events the Bible describes took place before there was an English language, so there is no point in arguing that one version is “correct.”
2. Where to start? If you wanted to go trekking, would you start with the Himalayas? Some parts of the Bible are easier to understand and believe than others. Keep in mind that this is a collection of writings accumulated over at least a thousand years. They are not laid out in a logical order and certainly not in a “step by step guide” format. The first “book”, that is, the section, is Genesis which begins with the story of the creation of the Universe. This contains some of the most difficult passages to understand or believe. Once you get to chapter 12 or 13 of that book, it gets a lot easier. The second “book” is Exodus and it is also much easier to follow. However, you could do better, starting with the New Testament, which is the second major division of the Bible, starting with the Gospel according to Saint Matthew. By comparison, most of the New Testament is pretty straightforward, apart from the “book” of Hebrews, which is intended for people who know and understand the rest of the Bible. The other book to avoid, until you are fairly familiar with the rest of the Bible, is Revelation, also called Revelation. Nobody really understands it. It’s all symbolic and probably meant a lot more to the people living at the time than it did to us.
3. Help is available. There are many guides, notes, and reading plans available to make reading the Bible easier. Some are intended for children, some for students, some for adults. They all have different styles. They are all divided into daily short reads, but some are shorter than others. Choose one that suits you. If after a while it doesn’t work for you, change it for another. Don’t just read the notes.. Always read the Bible itself. You may find something in a passage you read that speaks to you in a way that the notes don’t. They are to help you not limit yourself. See the links in the resource box.
4. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Back to the Himalayas. Some people make the mistake of trying to read too much at once. Usually they find they can’t go on like this. Little and often really is the best way. If you get carried away and read an entire book in one sitting, I’m glad you have such enthusiasm, but don’t let that replace your daily reading of smaller bits. Be realistic. That’s one reason to use notes, guides, or plans: They set possible goals.
5. Enter the habitat. Try to make reading the Bible a habit. It helps if you do it at the same time and in the same place every day. Some people insist that it is best to do it first thing in the morning. That works for them. If you’re not a “morning person,” it’s best to do it late at night or during your lunch break or whenever. Just make up your mind and stick to your decision. I’m not a “morning person,” but I always read my Bible at breakfast. This only works for people who eat breakfast and don’t have to deal with a lot of distractions at that time, especially the little ones. Sometimes I also read some verses late at night, especially if I am upset or anxious about something. It helps me calm down and refocus which helps me fall asleep.
6. Choose your medium: This is 21street Century! There was a time when writing was done on parchment, except when it was done on stone tablets, and finding your place in a long story must have been quite frustrating. The book form we know, with pages and a cover, was developed in the time of the early Christians, and they were among the first to see how useful it was. Maybe they invented the bookmark. The Bible was one of the first things produced in that form. About 1,400 years later, someone invented the printing press, and again the Bible was one of the first things to be produced on a large scale using that new technology. You may think that’s where it’s stuck. But you would be wrong. You can get it as an eBook to read on a tablet or laptop, and you can get it in various audio formats so you can listen to it in the car or anywhere else. You don’t have to like reading to get it. Choose the medium that suits you best. See the links in the resource box.
7. Think gender. A genre is a type of writing (or could refer to a type of film or play). Examples of genre in the Bible are: historical narratives, laws, prophecies, poetry and songs, parables, and letters of advice and encouragement. It is a mistake to treat all genders as equal. Poetry is not meant to be taken literally. Not every action recorded in a historical account is meant to be something to copy. Not every character is meant to be a role model. There are several mixed genres in some of the “books” like Isaiah. Thinking about this should make reading the Bible more rewarding, but it makes it more difficult if you like everything “cut and dry.”
8. Read it with God: Pray. Ask God to be with you and help you as you read his book. Ask him to help you understand him and remember the correct message: what he knows you need to know in your situation. Some pray before reading, others after. Or both. Give God the opportunity to help you make it happen. However, don’t expect blinding flashes of divine inspiration every day. On the other hand, do not discard them. God is God so let him do what he wants. I find passages from the Bible that speak to me as I read them, sometimes. Many days I just read a little and add it to my memory. I don’t mean that I learn it. Only sometimes. It usually just gets stored like anything else I’ve ever read, coming to my mind when I need it, very often.
I hope you find at least some of the above useful. Regardless of what you think of this article, take a look at the Bible. You may get more out of it than you think.