How to Start Reading the Bible: The Blueprint
Mark HartYesterday we discussed a few tools you can use when studying the Bible; namely a good time of day, a good Catholic Bible, and a good Bible commentary book. Today, we’ll cover three things you can do as you study.
1. Pray, and then pray some more. Before you open God’s Word, ask the author of that word—the Holy Spirit—to be present in a bold and fierce way. Quiet yourself, spend some time in silence, and hold the Bible in your hands as you pray. Ask God, through the power of His Spirit, to open your mind, your eyes and your heart to His truth. Thank Him for the gift of His Word, a gift that millions have given their lives to defend and offer you the freedom to read and pray. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer but take some time … this is the most important step in Bible study.
2. Have a plan. If you were planning on reading the Bible cover to cover … don’t. The Bible isn’t a novel; it wasn’t designed to be read from Genesis straight through to Revelation. We must learn the story of salvation history – and I cannot recommend The Great Adventure series of resources highly enough, whether you’re an adult (TGA) a teen (T3) or a middle school student (Encounter), we’ve got you covered!
And after you catch the “big picture” of the Bible, then you can focus on smaller portraits. I’d pick one book that you are going to start in and make that book your focus for a while. If you are starting from scratch, I’d suggest the Gospel of Mark. St. Mark’s Gospel is the shortest and easiest to understand; you already know the main characters and plotline and its personal significance and relevance to your faith walk. The Gospels are the hinge-pin to the entire Bible, they’re a great place to start and get into that reading “rhythm.”
3. Get the background. If you do start in a Gospel, take the time to learn about who the author was, who he was writing to, and what the basic themes are of his Gospel account. Ask yourself what makes that specific account different than the other three. Don’t just jump into a letter of St. Paul without knowing what is going on in the city to which he is writing. If you are reading a prophet, know what was going on in his world at the time.
‘Where do I learn these things?’ you might ask. Read the Introduction to the Gospel on the pages preceding it. Use one of your additional books or resources to help you. When you know what is going on with the author and the audience, the words will jump out at you in a much different way and you will have a far greater insight.
Tomorrow, in the third and final part of this series, I will discuss how to build up your love for God’s Word.
Last week I discussed the tools and blueprint for reading the Bible. We explored the importance of selecting a good time of day to read, a Catholic Bible and a good Bible commentary. Then we discussed the need to pray before reading the Bible, how it’s helpful to have a plan as you read, and how important it is to know the background of the particular book in the Bible that you’re reading. Finally, in this third and final post in this series, let’s discuss four pieces of wisdom you should remember while reading the Bible and beyond.
1. Less is more. Don’t just open up the Gospel and read until you get tired or ‘for fifteen minutes’ because that’s what you committed to doing. Most Bibles break down the chapters into subchapters. If you began in the Gospel of Mark, for instance, you shouldn’t just start in verse 1 and continue through verse 45 (the end of the chapter). Instead, take verses 1-8 and spend 15 minutes meditating on them. Take just verses 9-11 and ruminate (chew) through them. That first chapter (the 45 verses) should be broken down into about 10 different studies alone. Studying the Scriptures is not like driving across country … it’s not about how much distance you cover in a set amount of time. Enjoy the time, roll down the windows and take everything in.
2. Periods are there for a reason. The periods at the end of each sentence are almost as much a gift as the words that precede them. Each little ‘dot’ is an invitation to take a breath and reflect on what you just read and prayed. At each period, take a moment to envision the story that’s unfolding. If you are reading about the Baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:9-11), don’t just say ‘Hey cool, Jesus is getting baptized.’ Go deeper. At each period, put yourself more deeply into the story … at His baptism, where are you? Are you on the shore, on the mountain overlooking the scene or in the water right next to Christ? Is it hot out? Does the water smell bad? Is it noisy or peaceful? Let the story come alive.
3. Journal. As you are writing and verses confuse you or questions arise, write them down in a journal. Don’t allow yourself to get hung up on ‘tough verses.’ Scribble down the verse number with a question mark and keep moving. Later on you can search the footnotes, other books, this website or just ask someone knowledgeable in the Bible for more help. The journal isn’t just for questions, though. You should also use it to write out reflections that the verses stir within you. Write down images God gives you in your imagination. Record key verses that stand out to you spiritually. God will reveal a great deal about yourself to you when you let Him.
4. Put the Book down. Don’t become a bookworm, who never takes their eyes off of the page. The Bible is the Living Word (John 1:1-5, Hebrews 4:12). It lives and breathes well beyond the page that contains it. Share what you learn. Write out passages and post them up in your room, locker or office. Email verses to people. Put them on the fridge. Just like the Eucharist, the Word should be taken, blessed, broken (down), and shared. The greatest gift you can give someone is to live a life that mirrors the Gospels … reflecting God in all you do. The second greatest gift is to invite others to peer into that mirror.
In Conclusion
Okay, so that’s a substantial start. Get the tools, pull together your blueprints, and start building your love for God’s Word. There are several ways to begin reading Scripture … these are just what I’ve found over the years to be the best, most realistic steps to begin and keep reading it daily.
And don’t just think that you have to ‘study’ every time you open the Bible. It’s great if you set aside 30-45 minutes every day to begin studying, but that doesn’t mean you can’t flip the pages in other books like the Psalms, Proverbs, Sirach, Wisdom, Ecclesiastes, or in St. Paul’s letters … you’ll be blessed by all of them.
I also strongly recommend the Book of James in the New Testament. Romans is a gorgeous and extraordinarily well-written book but is sometimes a little ‘too deep’ for the biblical beginner. While Romans teaches us how to get to Heaven, James teaches us how to live on earth (with people who might annoy you and try your patience). It’s great.
All I can tell you from my own experience is that the Word of God has changed my life. It has deepened my experience of the Eucharist, both at Mass and in Adoration. It has deepened my love for our Mother Mary and my gratitude for intercessory prayer and the communion of saints. It has deepened my love for the Church, the Papacy, and basic human dignity. It has fueled a fire within me for truth, the need to proclaim it, defend it, and uphold it – especially in this morally relative culture. I pray it will do the same for you.
You May Also Like:
The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation
Bible Study Program
Making Bible Study Do-Able (podcast with Sonja Corbitt)
Mark Hart has helped transform Catholic youth and young adult Scripture study in parishes, homes, and classrooms with his wildly popular Bible study programs, T3: The Teen Timeline (for teens) and Encounter (for pre-teens), as well as Altaration (a program about the Mass for teens). Mark’s humor and his passion for Scripture are helping hundreds of thousands of Catholics, young and old, begin to read and study the Bible in engaging, fun, and relevant ways. A devoted husband and father of four, Mark is also the main author and presenter in The 99, A New System for Evangelization.
Photograph via Wikimedia Commons