How important is it that a Christian knows what's in the Bible?

Question

I think it's true to say that through history most Christians never read the Bible. The early church didn't let most people read it and besides there were very few around befor the printing press. Also, most couldn't read. My mother, brought up a catholic went to church a lot but has often told me she knowns very little of the Bible and was never encouraged to read it.

Answer 1

Jesus said His people perish for lack of knowledge ... read everything u can get ur hands on and study many subjects so ur not ill informed .. including the bible ..

Answer 2

Although I'm not a Christian, I think it's incredibly important to know the details of your faith.

I've read several places that the Bible is the most purchased of all literary works, but that it is the least read. I think that this is partially stereotypical; most young people feel that the Bible is not important; it will not make a difference in their lives.

On the other hand, some people find it difficult to comprehend. The old English, length, and overall difficult storyline cause a lack of interest. In my opinion, the Bible has a great amount of potential for an interesting read. However, the "confusing" theme of it causes people to become bored with it quickly; they don't know what they are reading, so how can it be interesting?

As a child attending church, they always focused on specific verses and sections, but I found that they jumped around so often, I never understood it, myself. From my viewpoint, the reading would be greatly increased if churches or religious schools would offer a "quick course" on the language of the Bible; how to interpret to terminology, and such.

I'll be honest--I have four or five Bibles, as well as a couple of youth versions, but only 1 or 2 have been used. This is in part because, like your mother, I've never been encouraged to read it.

For me, it took leaving Christianity to become interested. I am primarily atheist, with tendencies of both LaVeyan Satanism and agnosticism, and did not read the Bible leisurely until after I discontinued attendence at church and other services. I think that part of it was, I knew I didn't believe in Christianity, but I wasn't sure what I DID believe in--therefore, I had to research, and I found the the Bible was the best place to start.

Part of it is; stop forcing kids to read it--I love how the youth Bibles I've got offer relating ideas to the Bibles' teachings; it helped me to connect more. Really, it seems that unless a child is started reading the Bible early, out of interest rather than force, they'll continue. When I was constantly told to look at certain verses, I was never asked to actually READ it. I had to pick that up on my own, but luckily, it's continued--I'm not saying I believe it, but I want to know as much about religion as I can.

All in all, your religion often determines your beliefs. If you do not know the details of the most influential book of your faith, can you really know what to believe in? In my opinion, you cannot. That's why it's so important to read through it--if nothing else, open it to a random page, and just start reading. That's all it takes, really, to become interested--find one section, and focus, until you comprehend its true meaning.

Answer 3

The catholic church did not allow parishioners to read or own a Bible until long after the reformation. Only since about 1960 have they even openly encouraged Bible reading. They finally bowed down to "external" pressure applied by the Christian community and not from the catholics within.

Now, it is extremely important for any Christian to read and know the Bible, and to know the difference between the true canonical scripture and garbage. If you do not "know" what is in the Bible and what is not in the Bible, then-like most catholics and pentecostals-you can be led to believe in just about anything.
No offense intended here, but just question a few catholics or pentecostals and you will get a surprise. You will not believe just how much supposed Christians do not know about the Bible, and just how much non-sense they have swallowed.

Answer 4

In the early church, Christ's teachings were memorized and spoken...it wasn't until the dark ages...around 700 AD...with the translation, the Latin Vulgate, which was in Latin...did people not know what the Gospels said. The masses were in Latin, and people would go to the priests for advice...this of course is not how Christianity was intended...then came the reformation... around 1530 (not exact on the date)... Martin Luther...translated the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts into German so the average person could read the Holy Bible...this was the beginning of bringing the Bible back into the hands of the people...

It was never intended to be only for an elitist group. It is the word of God to the world...and needs to be read, or else how will we know what it says, and what God expects from us?

If we neglect to read the Bible, how can we share our faith without having the foundation of Biblical teaching to support it. If we do not know what Christ said, then we cannot teach others...if we neglect learning what the Bible says...we cannot defend against ignorant accusations.

The Bible was the only textbook Americans used after the founding of this country...it was not only learned weekly, but daily, as it should be for all who are Christian, for every justification of our faith is within.

Answer 5

The idea that all revealed truth is to be found in "66 books" is not only not in Scripture, it is contradicted by Scripture (1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Timothy 3:15, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3:16). It is a concept unheard of in the Old Testament, where the authority of those who sat on the Chair of Moses (Matthew 23:2-3) existed. In addition to this, for 400 years, there was no defined canon of "Sacred Scripture" aside from the Old Testament; there was no "New Testament"; there was only Tradition and non-canonical books and letters.




Protestants claim the Bible is the only rule of faith, meaning that it contains all of the material one needs for theology and that this material is sufficiently clear that one does not need apostolic tradition or the Church’s magisterium (teaching authority) to help one understand it. In the Protestant view, the whole of Christian truth is found within the Bible’s pages. Anything extraneous to the Bible is simply non-authoritative, unnecessary, or wrong—and may well hinder one in coming to God.

Catholics, on the other hand, recognize that the Bible does not endorse this view and that, in fact, it is repudiated in Scripture. The true "rule of faith"—as expressed in the Bible itself—is Scripture plus apostolic tradition, as manifested in the living teaching authority of the Catholic Church, to which were entrusted the oral teachings of Jesus and the apostles, along with the authority to interpret Scripture correctly

Answer 6

I just finished reading most of the answers. Whew - non-believers sure know more about who reads the Bible than believers. Lots of percentages thrown around (from one of the oft-quoted studies?)I'm sure.

The Christians that go to my Church, The Salvation Army, read and study the Bible. We have weekly Bible studies, where we READ and discuss the scriptures - in additional to Sunday school and worship services.

This isn't the early church - history (along with the Bible) is to be learned from - if we don't learn from it, we are doomed to repeat it (somebody famous said that - don't know who).

Most Christians that I know read the Bible. Unless you know, and have asked, more than your Mom and some of your relatives, this is another one of those assumptions that people throw around.

Now to answer: It is very important that a Christian knows what's in the Bible.

Why: It is the basis for what we believe. The OT is our history, the NT is how we are to follow Jesus - thus the name "Christian" - follower of Christ.

Answer 7

It's important to hear the Full Gospel. Not all who read the Bible do and not all who are unable to read the Bible do not.

I'm Catholic and I have been encouraged to read the Bible since being able to read and to hear it since birth.

Your mother should come to my Catholic parish that has many Bible studies. Also, if you go to Mass everyday you will hear most of the Bible read in 2 years.

Answer 8

I believe it is extremely important to read the Bible, if one is a Christian, as it would be for a person of any faith to read their "holy book." If the Bible is not read, how does one know who or what a Christian is? How can one spot deception unless one knows the truth he or she professes to beilieve in? Passages are quoted out of context all of the time and only knowing what the Bible says would reveal the truth.. One needs to know what they believe and why -- the Bible provides the foundation for knowing what Christians believe and who.
Rhonda F.

Answer 9

How on earth can you follow the faith if you've never read the word? I have not read the bible but then again I don't follow any religion. I'm quite stunned by this question, I didn't realise that there were 'religious' people who are not conversant with the bible. I'm shocked.

Answer 10

Personally, I don't consider it very important at all.

The message that the Bible strives to give is more important, and if that is only imparted through the spoken word, then that is enough. And as with any spoken word, things get distorted through time.

Yet, 2 thousand years later, some people still follow the words within that book, yet cannot read. So they take the word of the giver, and trust in it.

Isn't that what faith is? Trust.

Answer 11

It's very important to know what's in the Bible, it's full of lessons and moral guidance. It's never too late to start-get a children's book of Bible stories- one geared for older children. the stories are clear and concise- you'll be caught up in no time.