What do people mean when they say I should "read the Bible"?

Question

I've read a lot of answers to theological questions that simply say "Read the Bible", as though that is a solution to something. I tried it just now, out of curiosity. Starting from the beginning, I got as far as Genesis 8. Normally I enjoy reading fantasy, but I found the writing style rather bland. Was there a point?

Then I thought maybe I was supposed to open the bible randomly and start reading, so I read chapter 10 of Nehemiah; it was a long list of people who decided to become bigots, and take a vacation every 7 years. It's not that this isn't fascinating, but why would this be beneficial to me unless I really needed that particular piece of information?

Is it possible that people don't really mean "read the bible"? Instead, maybe what they mean is "Accept my personal interpretation of whatever part of the bible I think is relevant to the current topic." Another way of saying the same thing would be "I'm right, deal with it." If that is what someone means, why not just say so?

Answer 1

'read the bible' means actually 'i know something that you don't know, nananana, and i'm not gonna tell you, because you seem to have already made up your mind that my bible doesn't mean enough to you'

i actually think that it is somethng sweet. A person, living in a real world, being proud of having (more) knowledge of a phantasy-book than another person has.

When kids do that, it really has a nice innocent ring to it. When i was 9, a kid in my class knew everything about the A-team. and the whole class adored him for all his knowlegde. Of course he was proud, he had every reason to be.

when an adult does it, it all of a sudden gets something sad.
it's like my mom telling me proudly that she knows how many times Brook and Ridge had a relationship in the soap-series The Bold and the Beautiful. I respect her knowledge, yet it will also make me laugh.

Come to think of it, i might start doing it. Everytime a 'Thumper' (yes i like that word...) asks a question, i could answer with 'Go watch the Bold and the Beatiful'.

Answer 2

Whether you take it as the word of god or just a fairytale, the bible is a spectacular achievement in writing, with some of the most beautiful poetry in human history (the Jewish Talmud is great too). It's a bit harder for modern readers though. Perhaps if you find some books on Bible interpretation, you'll find it a little easier to understand.

As for what people mean: oftentimes "read the bible" does just mean "I'm right, and I'm pretty sure God agrees with me". Best response to this is to ACTUALLY READ THE BIBLE!!! If you know what's in there, it makes it a lot harder for people to fool you.

Answer 3

You started in the wrong place. Try beginning with the New Testament Book of John. Then Acts, then Matthew. That should help you get a better feel for it.

If you honestly want to understand then pray before you read. In your case something like: "OK God, if You are real, then reveal Yourself to me in the scripture--If you are real and the Bible is true then let truth come to light in my heart as I read these three books of the Bible."

Give it a try--what have you got to lose?

Be sure you are reading a translation that is easy to understand in English. Unless of course you are fluent in ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.

I suggest either the New International Version (NIV) or the New American Standard Version (NASB.) These are both "word and thought" translations from the original languages to modern English. These are considered the most accurate English translations available today.

You can read either or both (as well as numerous others) for free at:
http://www.biblegateway.com

Answer 4

Reading the Bible like a novel is a great recipe for sleep. Read bits and pieces at a time, you will understand it better.Remember, the Bible is full of interpretations and can be translated many different ways. It is full of contradictions and to fully understand what you are reading is impossible.But it is full of inspiring "information" and it will help you "win" arguments if you are well informed.I read the Bible in its entirety while incarcerated.GOOD STUFF, though fiction.

Answer 5

Because there are a lot of people out there who have no other response to anything that even sounds enlightened...read the bible...is the only thing they have been taught to say, spout, sputter..whatever. I have read the bible, and found it to be a fairytale, like you, not written very well (or at least, not translated very well), and in general, a bunch of mundane hog wash. ONly the very stupid cling to this stuff for they do not have enough mind of their own to think...they let their ministers do that for them, and anytime the minister is stuck, he says, "read the bible." So they think that is the proper thing to say. What can I tell you.

Answer 6

Some people seem to think that the bible has an answer for everything, it does not have an answer for everything because it is an outdated piece of fiction.
Christianity, and other religions have fallen by the wayside in this age of scientific and technological advances.
Only people who cannot make their own decisions and commitments rely on the bible to ease their indecisiveness.

Answer 7

The easiest way to dismiss a question that can't be answered about the Christian religion is to say read the bible. It is a cop out. I have been told the same many times. I have read it more than once. All that does is bring more questions that can not be answered properly.

Answer 8

A personal interpretation will be better, or they just can give you the exact chapter to read. The Bible is a book open to interpretations, even priests have different opinions of the same part of it ...

Answer 9

Most people will tell you to read the Bible simply because they;
1 don't want to be bothered with looking up the answer themselves

2 they don't know how to answer your question.

I have always realized that someone that doesn't believe in the Bible will never accept the authority of it.

The only advice I can give you is this;

If you read the Bible and ask God to reveal Himself to you HE will.

Answer 10

right on the money there.Peoples belief in religions is based on the fact that deep down they know it's just another story but it feels better when there's thousands of people saying the same thing .....
By the way answering trying to answer theological questions is like trying to read tea leaves ....a waste of time!