Reading the Bible Again for the First Time Chapter 7 Summary
A lot of new and seasoned Christians accept a story about their attempts to read the Bible cover to cover that goes something like this: It was going not bad as they read through Genesis and Exodus, but somewhere in Leviticus or Numbers, they started to get bogged downwardly in details they didn't quite understand. And by the time they hit Deuteronomy, they were done.
While it's true that "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and preparation in righteousness" (two Timothy iii:xvi), we need to recognize that the Bible is not like whatever other book. It isn't necessarily meant to exist read from front to back. In fact, the Bible is really a library.
The Protestant Bible is comprised of 66 books, and many of those books are written in a variety of different genres or types of literature. These genres all need to be read a little differently. Starting at Genesis and trying to read straight through without a strategy tin become frustrating if you lot don't know how these books and their literary genres work together.
There are a few means to classify the genres of the Bible, but they typically fall into these categories.
Historical narrative
Books include: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, one and 2 Samuel, ane and ii Kings, ane and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah, Acts
While near of the Bible's books take some element of history to them, these are the ones that are primarily focused on communicating stories of historical significance. In these books, you'll find a lot of the Bible stories y'all probably heard when yous were a child.
Wisdom literature
Books include: Task, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes
Wisdom literature focuses on what it means to live well. Some of the language is poetic and figurative, then information technology can't ever be read in the same way that yous'd read the Bible'southward historical books. For instance, Proverbs 13:fourteen tells us that "the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life . . ." This doesn't mean that wise pedagogy is a literal fountain, but a rather continuing source of intellectual and spiritual nourishment.
Poetry
Books include: Psalms, Song of Songs, Lamentations
While many Quondam Testament books contain portions of poesy, these iii books are written every bit verse. Unlike English language poetry that focuses more than on rhyme and meter, Hebrew verse creates an emotional impact by focusing on balanced, parallel lines. We can see an case of this in Psalm 24:3-4 where we're told,
"3Who may arise the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
fourThe one who has clean hands and a pure centre,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god." — Psalm 24:3–4
Both verses use repetitive lines to drive the point dwelling house. To ascend to the mount of the Lord and stand in his holy place both communicate a blamelessness before God—and faithfulness is communicated by 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'due south prophetic literature focuses on God's word spoken through his prophets. These messages tend to emphasize Israel'due south demand to apologize before they experience the Lord's judgment. When reading prophecy, it'southward essential to understand who God is talking to through his spokespeople and the overall bulletin he is trying to convey.
Apocalyptic literature
Books include: Daniel, Revelation
Like some of the Bible's prophetic literature, the apocalyptic writings focus on futurity events. Because and then much apocalyptic literature involves dreams and visions translated into symbols and imagery, this is often the virtually difficult genre to understand—and the easiest to misinterpret.
Gospels
Books include: Matthew, Marking, Luke, John, Acts
Sometimes the Gospels get lumped in with the historical narrative books of the Bible, and that makes sense. After all, their unabridged value rests on their celebrated nature. But what separates them into their ain 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 ane approaches the story differently. Luke's Gospel and Acts are both technically epistles, but they circumduct around the Messiah and his institution of the church, so they too autumn into this literary genre.
Epistles
Books include: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and two Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 and ii Peter, 1, two, and iii John, Jude
Epistles are letters, and like modern messages, they're made up of a greeting, a body, and a endmost. These letters focus on instruction, correction, and encouragement for these new outset-century churches.
Some books accept multiple genres
There'southward 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. Just the point is that learning to see these books through the lens of genre can help make Scripture reading a lot easier.
So where practice I commencement?
Now that you lot take a better picture of the Bible every bit a collection of books, y'all tin be intentional near how yous arroyo information technology. Instead of walking into what is essentially a library and trying to read your way through the books indiscriminately, you lot tin can read them strategically. As y'all exercise, you'll find that with each Bible book that y'all read, y'all gain a better agreement of the others.
Here are some suggestions to get you lot started:
The Gospel of Marker
Genre: Gospel
Chapters: 16
Total verses: 678
For the Christian, the Bible is ultimately about redemption through Jesus Christ. It makes sense then to brainstorm your biblical journeying in the Gospels, and Mark's is a great place to start. Running the length of a longer mag article, it should take less than two hours to read in a single sitting.
Mark's Gospel will give you an overview of Jesus' life without getting you bogged downward in too many details. Once you have an understanding of this Gospel'southward narrative and all the characters, y'all'll exist able to dive into the other Gospels with more clarity and understanding.
Cardinal poetry: "For even the Son of Human did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." —Mark 10:45
The Gospel of John
Genre: Gospel
Chapters: 21
Total verses: 879
Where Marker focuses on what Jesus did, John looks closely at what Jesus said most himself. We find some of the clearest explanations of who Jesus was and what he came to accomplish in John'due south Gospel business relationship. It's from John's Gospel that nosotros learn that "For God so loved the world that he gave his 1 and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Key verse: In the beginning was the Word, and the Give-and-take was with God, and the Word was God. —John ane:1
Genesis
Genre: History
Chapters: 50
Total verses: i,213
Genesis sets up many essential biblical themes. Information technology'south here that we larn that God was responsible for creating the heavens and earth; we witness humans as they insubordinate against their creator; and we watch God establish the nation of State of israel. The unabridged biblical story of God's working with and redeeming humanity is established in this of import volume.
Genesis is a genuinely enjoyable read, but nosotros realize pretty quickly that nosotros're reading almost an ancient, foreign civilization. It's helpful to have some tools on manus to brand sense of some unfamiliar concepts and traditions. Resource like the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible or the NIV Faithlife Illustrated Written report Bible can provide a lot of helpful context.
Key verses: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. —Genesis 1:1
The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the country I will show y'all.
"I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and yous volition be a approval.
I will bless those who bless y'all,
and whoever curses you I volition curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through y'all."—Genesis 12:1–3
Proverbs
Genre: Wisdom literature
Chapters: 31
Total verses: 915
While there is of class theological truth to be found in Proverbs, information technology'south essentially a compilation of simple instructions for living wisely. Following these principles volition help you live a life of integrity and virtue.
Every bit you're reading Proverbs, it'due south of import to remember the divergence between a principle and a promise. For case, Proverbs 22:6 says, "Commencement children off on the way they should become, and even when they are former they will not turn from it." The point is that it's important to be intentional nigh teaching your values and behavior to your children. But it's not a promise that doing so will ensure a specific outcome.
Proverbs is full of wise communication about living, but information technology shouldn't exist read every bit God promising certain results for specific behaviors. Call up that the wisdom that the Proverbs offers is broad-ranging and more general in nature.
Central poetry: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. —Proverbs 1:vii
1 John
Genre: Epistle
Chapters: 5
Full verses: 105
Since the beginning of the Christian church, authorship for this alphabetic character has been attributed to John the apostle. In this epistle, John makes uncomplicated contrasts like light vs. darkness, truth vs. falsehood, and love of God vs. dear of the earth. This letter is intended in office to give Christians an balls of their salvation.
Key Poetry: I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God then that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:13
Psalm 119
Genre: Poetry
Total verses: 176
The entire book of Psalms is total of insight and comfort. 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 center for God's Word. If you're diving into Scripture, Psalm 119 will assist you see what falling in dear with the Word of God looks similar.
Fundamental verse: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a low-cal on my path. —Psalm 119:105
Bible reading plans
If you're brand new to the Bible, it'due south skillful to accept an understanding of the Bible'due south bulletin and scope before you dig into a through-the-Bible reading plan. Zondervan provides a fantastic collection of reading plans that will give you a strong working knowledge of Scripture.
This reading plan starts with an overview of Jesus' ministry building, and then spends a calendar month helping you to get to know and understand God better. From in that location it focuses on various topics and readings appropriate for new Christians. Past the fourth dimension you're done with this reading plan, yous're going to have a helpful understanding of the foundations of God and his Word, which will prepare you for committing to a more intensive Bible reading programme.
Most full-Bible reading plans focus on a year, which is a very reasonable corporeality of fourth dimension to read through the Bible. The boilerplate reader reads nigh 200 words per minute. This means that you should be able to get through the entire Bible in a year by spending around xv minutes a day on this endeavor.
There are a total of 1,189 capacity in the Bible, which means that you should exist able to become through the entire Bible by reading three or four chapters each day.
Zondervan has a potent plan to get through the Bible in 1 year. This one starts at Genesis and goes direct through to Revelation. They also have readings that include a 60-day overview of the Bible, and a list of not-so-famous Bible stories. You lot can check those out here.
BlueLetterBible.com has some helpful reading plan options that give you readings for every mean solar day of the year. These include the following:
● Canonical plan: While this entire postal service is written to offer alternatives to reading the Bible direct through, there are people who still desire to follow that method. This program breaks Scripture into daily chunks for a embrace-to-cover trip through Scripture.
● Chronological programme: This plan organizes Scripture sequentially. As you lot work your fashion through this programme, you lot'll be reading Scripture in the actual order in which the events took place.
● Old Attestation and New Testament together plan: Going through the Old and New Testaments simultaneously can give you lot a lot of insight into God'southward Word. This reading program volition 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 fourth dimension to stay committed to something—peculiarly when you lot're working through some of the harder-to-read passages. Here are four tips for seeing your one-year reading commitment through.
1. Read at the aforementioned fourth dimension every day
Habits are built on persistent behavior. If y'all're doing your reading at random times every day, it's going to be harder to establish a routine. But once you brainstorm reading your Bible at a specific time of solar day (and fifty-fifty in a consistent place), it's going to be a lot easier to follow through.
two. Detect a Bible-reading partner
If yous're serious about your commitment, find someone who volition join you lot. Setting goals with a friend tin can make all the departure in the world. Non but will the two of you hold each other answerable for your daily reading, but you'll also exist able to go deeper by discussing what you lot're reading together.
iii. Become a Bible you savour reading
Bible reading isn't very fun when you don't understand what yous're reading. It's incredibly helpful to have a Bible that can assist you lot understand what's happening (and how it applies to you).
If you're looking for a helpful resource, the NIV Educatee Bible will provide a lot of insight. Built specifically for students of the Bible, it gives you just the right amount of help without overwhelming your fourth dimension in the Give-and-take. And it has its own iii-track reading program!
Another groovy resource is The Books of the Bible. Broken into four-volumes and by many of the genres mentioned earlier, this Bible is free from affiliate and verse numbers that provides a seamless reading experience. When done with a partner or group, this approach to reading the Bible tin can be very enlightening and meaningful.
4. Listen to an sound Bible
For a lot of the church'due south history, people listened to God's Word instead of reading information technology. Sometimes it can exist helpful to purchase an audio Bible, then take a walk and listen to the Bible instead of reading it. If yous find 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), yous tin can read or listen to the full Bible text—and it'due south gratuitous!
Benefitting from God's Word
The Bible tin be pretty intimidating for the new Christian, only it doesn't take to be. Knowing where to showtime can help immensely. As you brand your way through Scripture, you'll notice the assurance, strength, and wisdom that only come from immersing yourself in God's Discussion.
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seven
NOV
2018
Source: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/start-reading-bible/
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