Why reading the entire Bible is important?
Why reading the entire Bible is important?
- Reading the whole Bible is important because Scripture interprets Scripture. Understanding one part will help you understand the other parts. Del Potter, an apologist, shared on Twitter that when Jesus and the apostles explained things in the New Testament, they were speaking to an audience that had a good understanding of the Old Testament.
What can you learn by reading the Bible?
- The Bible tells us the true story of the world, the way things truly are and should be. Understanding the basic plot of the Bible that runs from Genesis to Revelation helps us better understand every passage in between. The Bible focuses on God and his plans for the world. God is the main character of the Bible.
Which book in the Bible should I read first?
- Therefore, any first reading of the Bible should probably begin with the Gospels. The Gospel of Mark is quick and fast-paced and is a good place to start. Then you might want to go on to the Gospel of John, which focuses on the things Jesus claimed about Himself.
Where is a good place to start reading the Bible?
For starters, it is important to realize that the Bible is not an ordinary book that reads smoothly from cover to cover. It is actually a library, or collection, of books written by different authors in several languages over 1,500 years. Martin Luther said that the Bible is the “cradle of Christ” because all biblical history and prophecy ultimately point to Jesus. Therefore, any first reading of the Bible should probably begin with the Gospels. The Gospel of Mark is quick and fast-paced and is a good place to start. Then you might want to go on to the Gospel of John, which focuses on the things Jesus claimed about Himself. Mark tells about what Jesus did, while John tells about what Jesus said and who Jesus was. In John are some of the simplest and clearest passages, but also some of the deepest and most profound passages. Reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) will familiarize you with Christ’s life and ministry.
After that, read through some of the Epistles (e.g., Ephesians, Philippians, 1 John). These books teach us how to live our lives in a way that is honoring God. When you start reading the Old Testament, read the book of Genesis. It tells us how God created the world and how mankind fell into sin, as well as the impact that fall had on the world. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy can be hard to read because they get into all the laws God required the Jews to live by. While you should not avoid these books, they are perhaps better left for later study. In any case, try not to get bogged down in them. Read Joshua through Chronicles to get a good history of Israel. Reading Psalms through Song of Solomon will give you a good feel for Hebrew poetry and wisdom. The prophetic books, Isaiah through Malachi, can be hard to understand as well. Remember, the key to understanding the Bible is asking God for wisdom (James 1:5). God is the author of the Bible, and He wants you to understand His Word.
You can be sure that God will bless your efforts to know Him and His Word, no matter where you start and no matter what your method of study is. We need the Word of God: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). God’s Word is “perfect, refreshing the soul . . . trustworthy, making wise the simple . . . right, giving joy to the heart . . . radiant, giving light to the eyes . . . pure, enduring forever . . . firm . . . righteous . . . more precious than gold . . . [and] sweeter than honey” (Psalm 19:7–11). God’s Word is truth, and the truth will change your life (John 17:17).
Why The Bible Is So Important For the Christian Life
Evangelicals assume the Bible is good. It is God’s word, we reason. And we would be right to make this claim. But if we interrogate further, we may not have any more ready answers to the question, Why is the Bible important for the Christian life?
Scripture is God’s word. Certainly. But why does that matter? What does that mean for us? These questions are not abstract. If we simply read the Bible due to some deontological push, then I fear we might miss the wonderful and graceful means by which we grow in the Christian life.
Here I will argue for the necessity of the Bible for the Christian life in real and substantial ways. I claim that apart from the Bible we miss out on the key way that the Spirit of Jesus makes Jesus personally present in us so that we become lost in the identity of Jesus.
To make this argument, I sadly can only assert a number of claims without fully proving them and then conclude from these claims the conclusion. The limitations of online writing and time prevent what should require a 20–50 page explanation.
I do not think you will mind, however, to read a short online article, however!
As a snapshot, here is the argument that I will make:
- First, Scripture is entirely about Jesus from Genesis to Revelation
- Second, Scripture reveals the heart of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation
- Third, the Spirit makes Jesus Present to us through Scripture
- Fourth, the only way to live the Christian life is to live Christ’s life
I should note that I am here influenced greatly by the work of Grant Macaskill, although not completely, as I have been trying to work out similar ideas for some time. With that overly detailed introduction out of the way, let me begin.