HOW AND WHEN TO STUDY THE BIBLE
INTRODUCTION
In this post we are going to discuss how and when to read the Bible.
There is different between reading and studding.
Though read has study as synonyms.
Reading is just glancing, looking at the Bible.
But studding has to do with meditating on what you read and comprehending the subject matter results in study.
The Bible should be studied thoroughly. For one to rightly interpret the Bible, serious study should be done on it.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 KJV).
PRIVATE STUDDING OF THE BIBLE:
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Josh 1:8 NKJV)
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (Ps 1:2-3 NKJV)
In private study of the Bible, you need to have some study helps. Get a concordance Bible or complete concordance book. There are some soft and hard copies concordance this day. Get your writing materials very close to you. Get many translations very close to you. Determine how you will study the Bible. Determine your speed.
General Approach:
Plan your study.
Set aside a time and place to study.
Get a good study Bible.
Choose a translation to use during your study. ...
Study the Bible with an attitude of prayer. ...
Pray. ...
Focus on the New Testament first
Consider reading John first. ...
Pick out topics to study.
How to Study the Bible:
- Study the Bible book by book
- Study the Bible chapter by chapter
- Study the Bible verse by verse
- Study the Bible topic by topic
- Study the Bible chronologically
Take for instance, you pick the topic “love”, you begin from Genesis which is the first book of the Bible. Search for the word love; how it is treated in the book of Genesis. After one book, you to the next book on the list. When you reach to Revelation, it has taken you some days, weeks or months. But by the time you finish the topic “love” you will just become love personified.
THE CONGREGATION READING OF THE BIBLE:
The Bible is not only studied or read in the private. You can read it publicly. When you want to preach or teach the congregation, you can call for public reading of the Bible. You can also study congregationally. The Bible has some portions where the congregation studied or read the Bible together.
“Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient." (Ex 24:7 KJV). “And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursing, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law (Josh 8:34 NKJV)
“And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the LORD in the LORD's house” (Jer 36:8 NKJV) “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. (Luke 4:16 NKJV)
Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. (Col 4:16 NKJV).
CONCLUSION
Good study or reading of the Bible benefits. It shapes and sharpens your mind, heart and quickens your spirit and the spirit of God in you.