Should I start reading the Bible? I know that the decision has to come within me, but I want to hear what people think. I think analysing the Bible will help me to better interpret what the Bible's meaning is. I guess deep inside of all of us we want to believe that there is a superior good being that will protect us from all harm, but I guess many people don't believe (including me) because we can't physically see him/her.
2006-10-01 16:30:30 · 21 answers · asked by Loving Life, Always, and Forever 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I forgot to ask. Which bible is most accurate if you understand what I mean (no changes during history).
2006-10-01 16:34:59 · update #1
if not for religion, read the bible for history
2006-10-01 16:35:29 · answer #1 · answered by mcbrian2000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you download the Free e-Sword software from the Free Stuff page @ http://web.express56.com/~bromar/ ?
Then you can also download the Albert Barnes commentary along with a lot of other useful study tools and different versions of the Bible so that you can have some assistance in understanding passages that may not make a lot of sense to someone who is just starting out because they don't know how to interpret a passage in the context of the whole Bible. Many people get confused or come to false conclusions about a passage because they don't realize that there are other passages that put qualifiers on what one passage seems to be saying.
Of course the best thing for you to do would be to pray to God and tell Him that you want to believe in Him but you just don't and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. God loves an honest prayer like that and He delights in revealing Himself to someone who is genuinely seeking the truth. It may be that you might see a church that you have gone past many times before and suddenly think that you would like to go in next Sunday and see what they have to say or something like that.
Don't worry about having great faith or believing everything all at once. Just have a mind that is open to finding out the truth and keep looking for it and God will honor that and reveal Himself to you over time.
2006-10-01 23:40:15 · answer #2 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Deffinatly start reading the Bible, I agree with someone else here, who said start with the book of Matthew. But also read the Old Testament too, because there's alot of important teaching in the Old Testament as well.
Also find a Bible believing church and attend a Bible study. I think God is starting something in you because your feeling a conviction in your spirit, and sounds like there may be a desire to learn. God wants you to know his word.
As far as not believing because you can't see him, I'll use this as an example, we can't see or touch or feel air, but we know it's there.
You just need to have faith, Faith is the belief of things not seen.
I would certainly encourage you to read the Bible, it's the best thing you could do. As far as translations, I'd recoment the NASB, New American Standard Bible, it's writen in a contemporary format and I've found very easy to understand.
I wish you the best and God Bless.
2006-10-01 23:43:47 · answer #3 · answered by Bryan M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should probably invest in a bible that comes with something that will teach you how to read it. Its a Big Big book, and if read from page 1 on, it can get boring, and the true meaning behind the script can be lost. Spend the extra bucks to get a bible that will teach you how to read it so that you 1) dont get bored and 2) get the meaning and teachings out of it.
I take from your little blurb that your not a christian yet. I will not push religion on you, cause i dont want people pushing atheism on me, but I encourage you to try. Not being able to physically see the person who your supposed to believe in is a challenge, but you can see the wind, yet you know its there! Give christianity a try, it will help you, no harm can come from it, if anything it will give you a little direction in life.
Good luck to you
2006-10-01 23:40:30 · answer #4 · answered by Stupendous Man! 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is only by reading and ultimately understanding the Bible that you will learn what is of God and what is of evil. You did not state your age, but I would personally start by reading "The Living Bible", which will give you a broad understanding of the Bible contents and messages. When you are ready to study the Word in greater detail, try the New AMerican Standard, it is easy to read, and has not been changed from the original manuscripts in any significant way. Joining a Bible study group is also a great thing to do. You not only make new friends, but you get to learn something wonderful, with like minded souls. Never be afraid to ask questions though.
Know also, that you will always have other people be derisive to you because of your quest to learn. Ignore these people because they are lost to the only way, and that way to Heaven is ONLY through the blood of Jesus Christ. By faith through the Grace of Jesus and NOT by works. We are all sinners, and it is because of this, and His great love for us, that Jesus died to take away the sins of the world, and allow us to be reborn again, spiritually in Him. This is an invitation to join Him in eternity, and an invitation only the truly ignorant or evil would turn down.
May God bless you richly in your quest for the truth.
2006-10-01 23:53:45 · answer #5 · answered by darjan4055 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reading the Bible is always good. But you may find it hard to understand at first. Picking a Bible believing Church is a good place to start. Listen and go for at least a month. Talk to the Pastor and the other people at the Church. Go to Sunday School. Learn, then decide what you will do.
2006-10-01 23:37:30 · answer #6 · answered by sunny 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to find out about the bible sure go ahead read the bible. If you want to find out the truth and something that you can hold a strong faith on, read other holy books aswell. Quran, Torah , Etc..I mean study everything for the right answer and analyze them.
2006-10-01 23:37:07 · answer #7 · answered by TheWillBe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. But keep in mind, with knowledge comes responsibility. I can't see air either, but I can breathe it. God is all loving and constantly reaching for all people to come to Him through His Son Jesus. I hope that you do start, even if it's just a chapter at a time and see for yourself what it says rather than depending on what others interpret for you. Always be like the Bereans, double checking everything said biblically.
2006-10-01 23:33:58 · answer #8 · answered by Mommymonster 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, by all means. But you'll get a lot more out of it if you're willing to learn from it and are willing to correct yourself by what you learn.
When I decided to start reading the Bible, I bought a parallel version -- it had 4 translations in parallel for comparison.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2Timothy 2:15)
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thesselonians 5:21)
2006-10-01 23:52:50 · answer #9 · answered by BC 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you should definitely start reading the bible. I would reccomend starting in Matthew which is the first book of the gospel and chronicles Jesus' ministry. Feel free to ask any other questions even on my email if you want a less public forum.
2006-10-01 23:34:39 · answer #10 · answered by mojo2093@sbcglobal.net 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes reding the bible is probably one of the best things that you could do. I would suggest a NIV bible and a lot of people start with the book of John, but i would suggest starting with James and Luke then John
2006-10-01 23:40:07 · answer #11 · answered by papaofgirlmegan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋