How To Read the Bible for First Timers
The Bible is a complex book. Well actually, it’s not a book, but a library. It is a unique library of books written over a period of almost 2,000 years.
The purpose of the Bible is to point to one person. His name is Jesus.
As we read the Bible, it helps us to understand who Jesus is, why He came to Earth and what He plans for our World.
The Bible does not just contain biographies of Jesus, but is also contains:
books of poetry,
insightful books of wisdom,
prophetic books,
deep theological and philosophical books,
books on pastoral care
and many history books too.
There is so much in there. Anyone can read it and receive something; from the first time reader, right through to the most intellectual theologian.
So if you are struggling to read the Bible, don’t worry. It is rich and full of complexity, which can take time to understand.
Even after all my time as a Christian, I can struggle to read the Bible. Sometimes, I feel it is like wading through mud and nothing seems to be going in. Other times, it says the one thing I desperately needed to hear.
So if you are new to the Bible, what’s the most effective way to read it?
The best place to start is at the beginning.
Start at Genesis, but don’t go too far. Stop after the Tower of Babel. Then jump to Matthew, read Mark, Luke, John and then finish with Acts. This will give you a good overview.
While you do this, I’d encourage you to stop after each story and think about the characters. Think about their motivations, why did they act in such a way and what were they trying to achieve?
Don’t worry if you don’t fully understand what you are reading. The Bible is an ancient text, which means it can confuse our modern minds. Even after decades of reading it, I still have questions and don’t understand certain passages.
So keep going and keep a eye out for what God wants to say to you next though His Word.