People who enjoy reading the Bible suggest these ideas to help those who are new to reading it:
First, appreciate how fortunate we are that it exists in a language we can understand. Only a few decades before the King James Version was written it had been against the law to read a Bible in English. Even today, owning a Bible is illegal or dangerous in parts of the world.
Second, recognise the benefits that come from reading the Bible. It has insights into how to live well, how to cope with difficulties, how to forgive and be forgiven. It can tell us about what God is like, what the human spirit is like, what it is like to be loved. And it tells rattling good stories!
Third, start with the parts that you connect with. The Bible contains a huge variety of writing – stories, legal documents, letters, poetry and songs. Some parts are more relevant than others at particular stages of life. Enjoyment comes from the familiarity of reading them again and again. Starting with a single, appealing verse might open up the desire to study the whole Bible.
Fourth, don’t just read it like a textbook, but engage your heart and mind in what you read. Try reading it as though it was written just for your benefit. As you read each chapter work out what the main subject is, how it might impact on your life, and what your favourite phrase is.
Fifth, find a version that is easy to understand. If you are a lover of beautiful words, enjoy the King James Version (sometimes called the Authorised Version). But then consider whether you might also enjoy a version which uses the language of today. These web pages use the New International Version, which is both reliable and readable. If you are looking for a Bible in a bookshop, other translations that use straightforward language are the Good News Bible or the Contemporary English version. You can try them out free atwww.biblegateway.com.
Lastly, get help. Your enjoyment of the Bible will improve if you have something that will help you work out what the complicated parts mean. The Christian Enquiry Agency would be happy to send you a short list of resources that we recommend if you click ‘Find out more’ below and write that you would like help reading the Bible in the 'I have a question' box.
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