How is the Bible supposed to be read?

Question

A) Critically analyzed.

B) With an open mind.

C) With the assumption that it is the accurate word of God.

D) With a group of skeptical non-Christians.

E) With a group of Christian apologists ready to explain anything resembling an error.


Obviously, more than one may apply, but some seem more incompatible than others.

Also, would you give the same answer if the question was regarding the Qur'an?

Father K: Would you say the same of every holy book?

Answer 1

A and B if you want the real truth
C and E if you believe that you really ought to believe it and don't mind having it's problems waved away.
D. if you can't think for yourself and need someone else to explain why it is contradictory

Answer 2

You left out the most important option: (F) With sincere prayer to your Father in Heaven, in Jesus name, that the Holy Spirit will open your heart to HIS interpretations, that you will see the truth and that he will give you the courage and strength to put it into practice.

The Bible will stand up to "critical analysis", so go ahead, especially if approached with an "open mind", and you do not have to go on "assumption".....the Bible prophecies will prove themselves to be accurate because they can be proven by history. You need not study with anyone...."skeptical non-Christians" or "Christian apologists". The Bible will speak for itself IF you diligently (and sincerely!!!!) follow (F). Experience is 9/10ths of faith. The other 1/10th isn't hard to muster once you've "tasted and seen that the Lord is good."

Answer 3

Well that all depends on what you want to know. What are you searching for. As a Christian, I search the bible from the perspective of both a scholar and student, as well as from the perspective of the faithful. And when i read the Koran, it is with the intent to undersand my borthers as well as to find common beliefs. When I read the Torah it is with an effort to understand a different time and culture, and when I teach from these books it is with a hope that all will look at them both analytically and spiritually. The term Canon which is used to refer to the books of scripture that various religions use as atheir sourced of doctrine (ie Bible, Torah, Koran, Book of Mormon, etc) is derived from the greek word for a strightening stick, a tool used to test the straightness and accuracy of something. So when you read anything that is canon to someone, try approaching from the perspective of "what does this attempt to correct in my life?"

Answer 4

It's your call how you wish to interpret the bible. If you want to accept the bible as truth you must be willing to jump through the intellectual hoops to rationalize the contradictions. For example, in John 14:14 Jesus is quoted as follows:

"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

It takes a fair amount of mental gymnastics to reconcile that with reality but many people are comfortable with such statements. They'll tell you that it's true but only in certain circumstances. It doesn't work for selfish requests, for example. It doesn't apply to sinful requests. It must agree with God's plan for your life. God's will be done and so on.

After all the fine print the promise actually never works for anybody but it's still Gospel truth. You betcha.

Answer 5

Father K hit the nail on the head!

You also have to keep in mind that it was written by ancient Jews, who have different writing styles than we do. So if you try to read it like a book today you're going to run into error sooner rather than later.

Answer 6

A. If the 'holy ghost' gives insight on scripture, then you don't need anyone else to help you understand it. All you need to do is to read it for yourself and study the culture and terminology used during the time it was written. If you don't learn about the culture, then you fall for what ever someone else tells you about it.

Answer 7

Severely critically analyzed with an open mind. The same thing we should do with any outrageous claim.

Answer 8

A) taught by a pastor who studied from org. language and isagogics
B) 1 John 1:9 before you start your study

Answer 9

Left to right, one letter at a time to form words, which then form sentences, which in turn form paragraphs.

For the Qur'an you read right to left, but the same general idea.

Answer 10

like any other book from front to back alone or choose the best parts but in a nut shell it starts in the beginning and its about jesus christ coming dieing and being raise to life again and GOD win in the end p.s die for our sins luv dad ..hope it helps great book i have 3 of them if your bible is falling apart your not basic instructions before leaving earth. bible www.jctv.org.