“How To Read” The Bible
Reading the bible or starting a journey into scripture can be daunting. The Bible is a story
(about Jesus Christ) but it’s not a novel. It’s not necessary to begin at page one and read to the
end. One of the joys and flexibility of reading the Bible is it can be opened literally anywhere
and a wealth of information, history, stories, lessons, and characters are presented.
So, where to start? The entirety of the bible, both Old and New Testament texts are
fundamentally about Jesus Christ and His relationship with humans throughout the ages. He is
the focus of the story. Therefore, He is the principal character we want to know about most.
The New Testament books detail the life, mission, roles, and purpose for Jesus. The best place
to start any bible study or reading is where we can learn about Jesus as the Christ.
With Jesus as our foundational cornerstone our reading can take on a unique and more
personal understanding. So again, where to begin? The following is a suggestion for those
looking to learn more while becoming more spiritually grounded, which is the goal of
scripture. All you will need is a “Red Letter” edition of the Bible. This is a Bible with the text of
what Jesus said and taught printed in red ink. You will only be reading the four ‘gospel books’;
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It won’t be difficult or time consuming. The first three gospel
books; Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the ‘synoptic’ gospels. This means many of the
stories and teachings presented are similar or the same in each book.
The book of Mark is thought to be the first written and is focused more on the message of Jesus
than his historic presence. The book of Matthew was written primarily for a Jewish audience
and the book of Luke portrays the birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
Finally, the book of John relates the who, how, and why of Jesus as the singular most important
connection between God/Father and Spirit to each of us as individuals.
Start in the book of Matthew and read only the sections printed in red. When you finish the
first red section go to the next red section, skipping everything in between. This may sound
convoluted or disjointed but you’ll get the flow quickly. By reading only the red worded sections
you will gain an understanding of Jesus’ thoughts, words, and deeds without being drawn into
other parts of the story. By the time you reach the end of John’s gospel you will be familiar with
Jesus more than you might have imagined.
The next step is to read the entire gospel book of John. Yes, I know you just finished the red
worded sections but now go back and read the whole book. Your knowledge and understanding
will increase tenfold.
The third step, if you’re interested or so inclined and wish to share with your family members
or others in your care is to re-read the red printed sections again with your loved ones. In this
way you will become their teaching aide and help them establish a knowledge and relationship
with Christ. You’ll be amazed how much this second reading will enlighten you further. More importantly, you’ll be sharing the most valuable information your family can receive and you’ll be doing it together. Take your time. There’s no rush. Think about what you’re reading and
what it’s saying to you. Let your family ask questions. Find the answers together or research on
your own so you’ll be able to answer effectively. If you need help, seek it out. ‘Google’ any
question and you’ll find direction with answers. Make it fun for your family to learn new
information about their lives and relationships. Remember, because you’re only concerned with
the red worded sections the amount of information and time is not overwhelming.
Good job starting to learn about Jesus! Stay tuned for more courses about where to go from
here.
Branch Isole, Author & Poet
Website & Books: www.BranchIsole.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcastguestbranchisole
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*As a side note I would like to add my suggestion regarding the book of Proverbs and the book of Acts. What Branch has given you is an exquisite way to begin. The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters in it (matching most calendar months’ day count) and as such you can easily use it as a daily read to get you rolling. For example, you would read Proverbs 1 on the 1st day of the month, Proverbs 2 on the 2nd day of the month etc. Proverbs gets into the area of human sexuality and plenty of wisdom as it is written mainly by King Solomon who God Himself granted to be the wisest man ever to have lived. This will provide for you a sexual reference point as you are making sexual decisions and it will also provide more general wisdom which you can guide your life by. The book of Acts I love because it demonstrates the power of the Holy Ghost and miracles which are still active in the world today. This provides for you a practical application and vision of what God can do for you in your life personally. As always pray and let God, Jesus Christ & the Holy Ghost lead you before anyone else.
*Do not read the Bible cover to cover as it is actually a compliation of many books that do not always proceed in order although some do.
*Websites like www.BibleGateway.com are excellent for easy access to many interpretations of the Bible. The King James Version (KJV) is the most accurate translation of the original Biblical text in most verses though not all.
*Reading the Bible is not a “one and done” type of thing. You must integrate this into your life as a standard. I read it most days although some days I do miss but not very often. I usually read it before I get out of bed so that I don’t let my day get in the way. Bible study must be a life time integration because as you grow in God what He reveals to you from His word will evolve over time. So in many ways it won’t even be like you’re reading the same thing again if you stick with it.
De’Vannon Seráphino, Show Host & Author
