how can i read my bible?

Question

well im not the smartest crayon in the box
and when i try and read the bible
for my own studies.
i just cant understand any of it
any suggestions???

dont be rude
its not neccesary

Answer 1

I wouldn't waste your time unless you are reading it for entertainment purposes only. It is not a guide on how to live your life. I'm not intending to be rude, just truthful.

Answer 2

Hello UnBrEaKaBlE
The Bible can be hard to understand. It has nothing to do with your being the smartest crayon in the box. The Bible can never be understood by reading from front to back. It can be understood. The book of revelation, which most people say they cannot understand, can be understood. The Bible tells us. Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. That means you will find what you are searching for in more than one place. Here a little, there a little.

Don't believe anyone when it comes to the Bible. Believe the Bible.

Go to one or all the following sights. Click on booklets, or request. You might enjoy, no, you will enjoy the telecast. The booklets will help you to understand. They also have free Bible study lessons. Use your Bible and read every scripture. Everything is free. You will never be ask for money. I promise you will learn and the things you learn will be mind boggling.
You have a good day. OK?


Tomorrows World

Garner Ted Armstrong

Key of David

United Church of God

Answer 3

Don't be too hard on yourself. I am sure you are smart or else you wouldn't be asking questions. I think that you should remember that the bible was written about 2,000 years ago. Some of the text is even older than that. It was the transcription of the oral tradition of nomadic tribes that lived in the Middle East. They thought very differently from the way we do today. So the sentiments and descriptions would be interpreted and would mean something else to them than we would normally appreciate. In order to really understand the bible you need to try to think how the writers and their audience thought. You would need to put the bible in the context of the time. Being an originally an oral tradition the bible would use imagery much more than we do today because it would be easier to remember. So you need to go behind the words and try to imagine what message the writers were trying to convey. If you read the bible with an open mind and with an understanding of the times and context in which it is written then you may find that it is easier to appreciate and understand.

Good luck.

Answer 4

What is it you are having a problem with?

I have found that the first thing you need to truly understand the Bible is to be a child of God.

To know God is to understand God.

Once you know then you need to find other believers and study with them.

It is amazing how much you can learn in a study group.

Remember there are no dumb questions when you are trying to learn.

The bible says what it means. While there are a lot of things that are hard to understand.

There is so much that can be understood. Some prophetic statements are difficult.

It could be that you are trying to understand something you are not ready for yet.

Start off with the Gospels.
Read the Books of Moses.

Try and find a church that teaches from the Bible.

Answer 5

Like others have said, there are many different translations. Some are easier to understand than others. I'd suggest buying a study Bible as they are designed for just that...studying the Bible. I also recommend that you do NOT start with Genesis. I saw that someone else had suggested this. My pastor and many other's I know suggest starting with the book of John in the New Testament. I've even seen Bibles that start you out there and jump around to different books of the Bible rather than reading them in the order they're listed. If you want to know what that order is according to my Bible, email me and I'll tell you what it says. In the meantime, start with John...and do pray before you start. Pray for God to help you understand what you're reading.

Answer 6

♥ UnBrEaKaBlE ♥,
Have at least one Bible Commentary, and don't forget a dictioary. Many of the commentarys were written by people who use words that are more along the lines of Academics.

One good commentary is a two book commentary called:
The Bible Knowledge Commentary. There are more than one of those, by different commentators. Mine is by Walvoord and Zuck. But if that is too pricy at this time, Theophilos 3 is inexpensive software and has several commentators. Also I would recommend going to the closest Christian book store and trying to find commentary by J. Vernon McGee. They are likely to be found as paperback books that section out the Bible so that you can keep cost down and focus on one part of the Bible at a time.

AND THEN (boy, I'm just so full of help these days), You can get some free commentary online!
I'll put that in the sources. Also, since I have commentarys, and some commentary of my own, keep my name in mind, I can explain different things to you as well.

Remember, you are reading about an ancient people, with an ancient language, with a frame of mind differing from our own. Don't be surprised if they seem strange to you, it's all there for your instruction.

Answer 7

Hi, The first thing you need to do is pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand. Every time we read something new is shown to us. Our Pastor tells people to start in John, and read it a couple of times to get started in the Bible. A good Study Bible will help you out. I became a Sunday School teacher, and didn't understand a lot that I read, but the Study Bible helped a lot, and also find a good Women's Bible Study. That also helps. May God bless you.

Answer 8

Try a different version. The Good News Bible is written in plain English, there r many others as well. U may enjoy reading 1 of these Bible a lot more!!! ;-)

Answer 9

The Bible is to be read when you can find time enough to yourself to actually read it, my suggestion is to take a little at a time, usually when I read it I read no more than one chapter, and at times when a verse sticks out to me, I read that one over and over until I understand it.
Buy a more modern version of the Bible, New American Standard is good since it is written in our language, easier to understand.
Have a journal and write down questions that might arise from reading it. Then when you have to reflect on these questions do so.
The Bible was written for you, make it yours, read it and love it, in it is the greatest love story ever told. Enjoy.

Answer 10

You might try a different, more modern version of the Bible. I have the King James version with pronunciation at home, which is written in Shakespearean age English, and on top of that, the names are written as they are pronounced, not how we're used to seeing them. There are many different translations written in modern English.

Answer 11

Try not to be on the phone, then try relaxing.
You open your bible, Start at Genesis chapter 1 verse 1.

I just can't understand how people now days can't understand the bible, the world is truely going to the crapper!