What is the best way to study the Bible?

Question

I'm not interested in just reading the Bible in a year or anything like that. I want to study it so that I actually learn from it. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Cross reference as you are reading to other translations.
Then, check out the original word definitions using a King James Version to reference the definitions through a Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Then you will begin to see through the doctrinal twists that many religions have promoted.
The results can definately be rewarding.
Anyone can come to a clear understanding of scripture as the Bible was written for all of us to be able to understand it.

Answer 2

Please ignore the overwhelming amount of arrogant smartasses on this board that answer questions with completely unrelated nonsense.
The best Bible that I have found is the New International Version Student Version, edited by Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford. I had a lot of trouble trying to read the Bible chronologically, and lost my interest rather quickly. When I found this Bible, it divided the Old and New Testament into reading tracks, which all related to certain themes and concepts. Once you've been introduced to the fundamental passages, you begin to tackle some of the more obscure, challenging books. This version is also filled with informative blurbs that help explain everything in a historical and cultural context. I know some people who will only read the King James translation, but in my opinion, this is the best study Bible that I've found.

Answer 3

To study the bible is a noble endeaver.

1) The best way is by subjects.

This way the bible will interpet itself.

Get a concordiance and look up all scriptures that contain a specific word, (example: Father, Kingdom, works, soul, )

2) Get two or three bibles, (NASB, NWT, RSV should be one of the three if not the three) Then compare how they phrase the verses you are looking at in the concordiance.

3) Make sure you pray before and after.

4) Have an open heart to allow God's word to shape your thoughts.

Answer 4

Do you really want to know if the Bible is the word of God? Here is a time-tested method for uncovering the mystery of the Word of God: "the child of God (that's me) takes the Word of God (the Scriptures) into the presence of God (prayer) and lets the Holy Spirit of God (the Author) make that Word come to life for me and, more importantly, in me."

It would also be helpful if you use an annotated Bible and a Bible Dictionary. I use the NIV Dictionary of the Bible. I would also suggest that you read a New Testament gospel first. Catholics use a Daily Reading Guide which includes selected readings in both the Old and New Testament. After 3 years you would have finished reading the Bible if you stick to the guide.

Peace and blessings!

Answer 5

If your serious then look for a Community Bible Study in your area. They go through books of the Bible and Topics. It requires a workbook, a study group for discussion, and a Teacher. The teachers work very hard at bringing some of the, harder to understand verses, into comprehension and they try very hard to make sure you don't go into wacko beliefs. It is multi denominational. This is one way. You can always go book by book with a good study Bible that has notes and commentaries for the same problems I mentioned. There are also commentaries and lexical aids and Bible dictionaries but those tools can add up in price. If your church has a library you might want to check it out.

Answer 6

I use a several translations for comparison and deeper understanding, I like to study a particular subject I want to understand better or a meaning of word. Like "love" for example, I use a topical Bible which puts all the Scriptures about each topic together for easier study, You can just look under "love" and all the Scriptures about love are all right there. The more modern the translation the topical Bible is, the more topics there'll be.

I also like to use a Thompson Chain Reference Bible, as every Scripture has verses that relate to it listed right next to the verse and you follow that to the verse listed, for deeper meaning, then those verses will have reference verses next to them kindof like a chain of Bible study on each verse. Pretty cool. It also is filled with lots of topics that give even deeper meaning in the back of the book that's pretty thick .

I also like Life Application Bible because it explains each verse at the bottom of the page. Each of these Bibles come in several different versions for easier reading. I had the bookstore order mine because they didn't carry the translations I like to use. I also use a good webster's dictionary, to clarify a meaning of a word.

I just start with whatever is going on in my life, and search the Scriptures to understand myself and other people, why we do some of the things we do, or just a question I have and want to know and ask the Lord to teach me. Because it's all there, just need good study references to help you find it.

Answer 7

Buy a student Bible. You won't regret it. Or there is one we have here called the Ryrie study bible. Also, you can join the khouse internet news for no charge. just go to www.khouse.org. I have learned so much from them! Also, the Max Lucardo Bible is very good. I also have a supplemental book called "30 Days to Understanding the Bible" by Max Anders. It is very good but the student Bible or Ryrie is a great start.

Answer 8

I work as an international missionary. Here are some of the tips we give to those who ask us this question.

Dont treat the Bible as one book. Treat it as 66 individual books in one cover.

Dont start at the beginning, start with one of the gospels, I suggest Luke or John.

Find a church/bible study group. It is easier to understand the Word with other believers than it is on your own. What you may not understand another will.

Good luck and God Bless

Answer 9

The Bible is not a Science textbook; neither is it infallible, "the Word of God", or especially "Holy". The Bible starts out with the Myths that explained the World for the 10 tribes of Israel , their beginnings, their interactions with other peoples, and their religious and dietary laws. Many like to think Myths are nice stories, or flat untruths but that's unfair. In the Bible, they're's about how a culture saw itself, and about how its people lose and regain their faith several times over the centuries. The poetry, wisdom, and hymns (psalms) give insight into their culture and are often quite emotionally moving.

The "Old" Testament is about how a nomad herder culture saw itself in the World, where they believed they came from, and how they believed or rejected the promises made by the national god,YHVH (Adoni, Elohim, often rendered "Lord"] through their priests and prophets; and the conflicts between YHVH's priests and prophets and the imported gods from other cultures. How they became a nation, demanded a king, instead of a theocracy, like the other "pagan" nations around them - and the results. It's also about two nations abandoning the worship of God for other gods, the destruction of their capitals, and the dispersion or captivity by their enemies, the triumphs of faith while in captivity -- and their restoration to the land by King Cyrus after Babylon's fall.

The "New" Testament is about the promised "King of the Jews", the Messiah, his life, teachings, betrayal, and resurrection. It covers the foundation of early church, their miracles and their conflicts. Many of the books are letters written by St. Paul to the churches he founded, and the rest are books of instruction and prophecy by other apostles. In order to understand what's going on, it helps to have a Guide to the Bible that fills in the historic and cultural details the writers omitted.

Answer 10

If you want the Sunday school version you could simply enroll in Sunday school. Or choose from hundreds of books written about the bible. Or go to http://www.thruthebible.org/ and download the audio recordings of J. Vernon McGee's radio broadcasts which walk you through the bible from cover to cover. But you'll only get the sanitized, seminary spin.

If you're looking for a more scholarly approach check out Karen Armstrong's books.