why can't get through the bible?

Question

try as i might, i cannot comprehend the bible.
i try to open the book up, to pure through it's pages in hopes of learning something, yet i feel like those people who struggle with math trying to read through an advanced calculus book! it all just goes over my head.
i have had the kjv for some time now, thinking that maybe it was just the old English that was stopping me. but recently i was given a copy of the new international version -or something like that, i don't quite remember it's name off the top of my head- & it's in "modern English". yet i still feel lost.
& it's not like i don't read much. on the contrary, in the past few months alone, I've blazed through a number of books that are a variety of genres. hell, I'm over halfway through "THE GODFATHER", & i just bought it last Saturday night!
so thus I've just about given up on reading it, for now, until i can find a more peaceful place away from the daily drama, to read & comprehend it.
----any suggestions?

Answer 1

Before I became a born again Christian, I was in your shoes. The bible made zero sense to me. I would read it, and could not remember what I read, nor see the importance of the "dusty old book" However, the only way you will be able to understand it is if you accept Christ into your heart. To do this you must be convinced that God exists, then you must have Him dealing with your heart (which I think He is given your concern about not understanding the bible) Then when this comes to light you will see your need of a Savior due to your lacking in the eyes of God.

Bleesed be unto you to harken unto this call.

Answer 2

i had a problem with trying to get through it when i first tried{years ago} but i guess since i really wanted know what it said, and not just what everyone said it said ,{sorry} i went ahead and made my way through. now years later i find that i have never finished reading it. i mean i have read it many times but i am still going back to read different things. i seem to learn new things every time i read a book or chapter that i hadn't really noticed before. i am an avid reader usually and don't usually go a day without having read something. but i guess it is just about what you want to get out of it. if you are looking for stories, i suggest you look into the individual books.

Answer 3

The truth is the Bible is a living document. That means that you can read the same verse two different times and see two different things. The Spirit of God uses the word to convict you of sin and to convince of Christ and to confess His Love. So my suggestion is very simple. When you study God's word begin with a Psalm. It will soften your soul to praise. Then admit all your faults, shortcomings, and sins openly. Then request whatever it is you want or need from God. He is Jehovah Jireh. Then thank Him for all he has done for you. Praise him for the opportunity to commune with him. That is your PART. Psalm, Admit, Request, Thanksgiving.

Then wait on God to do his part and I assure you he will. His part is LMNOP. Listen, Messages, New Testament, Old Testament, Proverbs.

Don't worry about going from point A to point B. Just commune with Him. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your path.

Get an NIV. See if that helps. If you still don't feel close to the Father, get "The Message."

Answer 4

You need the Spirit who inspired the bible. It is the Spirit of Truth. It isn't that easy though because I remember someone who was just saved & had the same problem. He secretly read a childrens bible.

But then Jesus said that one must become like a child with child like faith to be saved. That means trusting God & believing in His Truth.

The spirits behind some of your other books have awakened your mind to those books. But those books aren't the Lord's books. And those spirits will actually make it more difficult for you to read the Lord's Book.


I remember when I came back to God, It was too hard for me to remember the praise songs. I had to read them while singing. I wouldn't be able to remember them to sing them on my own. It took time to renew my mind, because of all the trash in my mind before I came back to God.

When praying with others, I didn't know how to pray when it was my turn & usually passed up my turn. I have learned now. To just pray truthfully from my heart. But then to do that and in Spirit took time. Now, I can pray in Spirit & in Truth any time & with others.


I would suggest that you just concentrate on the books John wrote (at first). All the bible is wonderful to read, but John is a disciple of Christ and was there at the cross when Jesus was on the cross. He wrote the Gospel of John. Also He wrote 1-3 John & Revelation. I would read Revelation last, because it can be confusing. It is written in the beginning of Revelation that whoever reads it is blessed. There are a lot of warnings of wrong choices that people are going to make prophecied.

Answer 5

Well, it's concentrated, so you have to take it in bits and pieces, not all at once, plus it's several different authors, more like an anthology (sheesh, I had to post a question to remember that word!)

What boggles my mind is that some people memorize entire tracts of it (like the book of Psalms)

I tried reading it all at once too. I think I had to force myself to read Leviticus or Numbers. I really enjoyed the Apocryphal books the most

Answer 6

the stories in teh bible are meant to make you think about what you are reading. you don't always understand whats going on or what it all means, and that is the whole point. you are supposed to read one story at a time, so that way you can reflect on it and understand the story better. plus, not everyone has the same explanation for what a bible story means. it has different meanings for different people. so don't give up on reading the bible, it is meant to be read slowly and thought about after reading parts of it.

Answer 7

Try the Good News Bible. It is written in language as books are written today, and much easier to understand. There are some versions that have the KJV down one column and the GNB version down the second column, so you can compare.

Here is one source where you can buy the Good News Bible for $3.99

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product/374282018?item_no=929695&event=1003GNT|200969|1003

Answer 8

I know this is going to sound all holy and everything,but you'll never understand it completely,without the illumination of the Holy Spirit.He leads us to all truth.Ask Him to .Also start at Matthew(skip the genealogy till you know more) and realize he was writing to the Jews,portraying Jesus as the coming King.Mark was written for the Roman mind ,a man of action"Jesus did this and Jesus did that and and and...."Luke wrote to the Greeks who were looking for the perfect man,John wrote to the downtrodden oriental mid eastern mind.

Answer 9

Keep turning the pages—one at a time. Also read Asimov's secular explanation iof the old and new testaments—it could actually get you interested in history and religion.

Answer 10

I don't know about others, but I struggle through specific books. Leviticus for example. Acts is really hard for me too - not sure why, except maybe because it's right after the gospels.