Are Christians supposed to read the Bible every day?

Question

If so how do they read it? Do they just do a little at a time from beginning to end and then start over? Or do they read specific verses over and over again? Perhaps some other way?

Answer 1

We are not required to read it every day. I have however read it from start to finish. I have also read it starting with Matthew and reading just the New Testament. Sometimes I just pick a book and read it as a refresher.

Answer 2

I would say that the answer is different for each Christian. Reading the Bible is a necessary practice for spiritual growth, certainly...but I think each Christian has to let their conscience and/or the Holy Spirit be their guide.

As far as how to read: Well, some make a project of reading the bible from beginning to end...a good way to accomplish the goal of reading the entire Bible. However, if you're looking for guidance or inspiration, I believe you're better off doing what I call "targeted reading," in which you read specific passages that deal with your situation or issue. The Internet and other resources can provide you with a general guide on the books of the Bible and the specific themes/questions/issues explored in them.

Finally, I do know people who open the Bible to a random passage and start reading. This approach is good for casual reading, and sometimes you may find an unexpected lesson or message waiting for you. :-)

Good luck!

Answer 3

It's not really a matter of what you're "supposed" to do. Some Christians read parts of the Bible every day, some don't. It's certainly not any kind of "rule". People read it in different ways, but I've never heard of anyone reading it cover to cover in one sitting. Some people start at the beginning, and read a little each day through the end, some people jump around and read bits and pieces of it. Some find certain verses to be inspirational, so they read them each day. I like to start at the beginning, because it gives context to the scriptures. It's very dangerous to take the verses out of context, because that almost always leads to misunderstanding.

Hope that was helpful in some way.

Answer 4

There is no law in christianity. Only grace. A Christian who wants to be close to God will tae time with Him and read the Bible. it's lie any relationship. if you want it to wor well then you'll put in effort. Also reading the bible gives you wisdom in every situation. i can give your life meaning and guidance. Why wouldn't a christian read the bivble everyday?

it's a great and important habbit but it's not dependant on your salvation.


Oh yeah. There are plenty of ways to read the Bible. You could read a Psalm a day for a while. Then when your done with that you could do a proverb a day and then wor your way through the epistles (ephesians galatians phillipians ect.)

Most people i now do a chapter a day but it's up to the person really you could do more or less. Just as long as you read something if you wish to be blessed.


And it's important to pray for understanding before a christian reads the bible. Some of the bible is very dead and if miss-interpreted it can lead to confusion.

Answer 5

There is no requirement for how much to read. Reading the Bible daily keeps our mind focused on living by Biblical principles. There are a lot a Daily Bible reading plans out there. I think it is better to use one that reads from different parts of the Bible each day to give you a variety. If you just start in Genesis, sometimes you can get bogged down in all of the Levitical laws, etc. You could also use some specific verses in areas where you need encouragement. Write them on file cards to carry with you and read them throughout the day.

Answer 6

It doesn't hurt. At least as long as they maintain a sense of sanity while they do it.

I would recommend that you read it straight through a little at a time from beginning to end. At least the first time. This will allow you to read it in a way that makes sense, and so that it is more difficult for others to mislead by picking and choosing certain scriptures. You will already have seen what the scripture means based on the context.

For example, I have seen many Christians try to "prove" that there is a Trinity that includes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The only scripture they use is John 13:30, in which Jesus says "He who hath seen me hath seen my Father." Read alone, I could see a reference to a Trinity; even if it is a little vague. But if you've read the whole Bible beforehand, you will see that Jesus regularly references somebody higher than himself (and who is higher than God?, thus proving Jesus is not God but His Son). With this in mind, you can then realize that John 13:30 actually means that Jesus and Jehovah (God's name as shown in Psalms 83:18) are two separate personalities; and that Jehovah is God, not Jesus.

After you've read the Bible through once, you can then move around from scripture to scripture to speed up the process of showing how the Bible actually reinforces itself, rather than contradicting itself as the various churches would teach you. They don't attempt to teach that the Bible contradicts itself, but the teachings of the church contradict the Bible. So they pick the scriptures that, taken out of context, reinforce the beliefs of the church. Then everyone looks and sees other scriptures that go against the teachings of the various churches, and think the Bible contradicts itself.

Reading through the Bible beforehand will help you to see through the attempting changing of the teachings of Jesus and see what Jesus was actually trying to teach, rather than what the church would have you believe he taught.

Answer 7

It's a good idea if you want to grow in your relationship with Christ. If He went to all that trouble to have it written, it's probably a good idea to find out what He has to say.

You can read it in all the ways you mentioned. Personally, I use one or more of 3 devotional books each day to get me started: Our Daily Bread (free from Radio Bible Class), Daily Light (Zondervan) and this year I'm working my way through 'Every Day with the Master' by Dennis Kinlaw, former president of Asbury Seminary.

Then I read 5 Psalms and a chapter of Proverbs. This gets me through both books every month.

I also try to make time for more in-depth study of a given book, verse by verse, referring to any number of on-line commentaries and other reference material. Mostly, this is related to things I teach: I find teaching helps me focus and dig deeper.

As to reading specific verse over and over: this can be helpful as a focus for meditation if you find a particular passage that speaks to your current situation. Revisiting it every day for a week or two and then spending some time meditating on what it means and praying about implementing it can help you make progress in speciic areas. It can also help you better see the connections and associations with other passages. Sometimes it's also helpful to read the verses out loud.

Memorization is also an excellent tool for working to shape your thinking and attitudes along Biblical lines.

If you're just starting out, I don't know that I'd start at Genesis and work my way thru to Revelation. That can be quite confusing until you begin to understand some of the history and culture behind the Bible. I'd start with the gospel of John or his 1st epistle (I John) and probably stay in the New Testament for a while (apart from Psalms and Proverbs)

Answer 8

You should be in God's Word every day, but there is not a set way.
Somedays, you may read one verse and meditate on it. Other days, you may feel led to read an entire chapter. If this is new to you, start with the Gospels, I like the book of John. Read a little each day, pray about it, and maybe try to memorize one verse. It would be great to read the entire Bible in one to two years.

Answer 9

If they knew or have been taught the immense role the Bible has, then yes.
It is spiritual food, and no one can go very long without eating, right?
If they look to see the importance that Jesus put on the scriptures, as well as the others named, they would.
If they want to know the will of God, they will.

If they do not become familiar with, and understand the doctrines, they become EASY targets for the hucksters that want to make a quick buck from them.
If they do not know the scriptures, they can end up in some wierd cultic type of group.

Answer 10

Yes, I believe it is important to read your bible a little everyday. Set aside specific time between you and God. Pray and then study. You can do a chapter at a time or a few verses. Pray that God will show you what He wants you to study. You can also listen to the bible on tape or cd while you drive or do chores around the house. I find this very rewarding.

Answer 11

The Bible calls us to meditate on his word all the time. The best way is to read it daily. As for how to read it that is up to you. Some read it like a story. Others read it verse by verse performing exegesis on each passage. Depends on what kind of mind you have.