A beginners guide to reading the bible.

I'm not an expert, a theologian or Vicar, there's nothing that gives me the right to think I can give advice on the subject. But I have done it, I have read it from Genesis to revelation, I'm doing it again currently. I can honestly say my first read through was disastrous, unedifying, painful. So I feel at the very least I can talk on how NOT to do it, which might help you towards a better way of tackling the task.

It might be worth now clarifying who this might be useful for. I'm not an educated man, at least in the classical sense, I've had no liberal education. I'm definitely a product of the English state education system. I left being able to read and write and that was that. I would say that's all you need skill wise. I would then say you need a purpose. That purpose might be to see what the fuss is about, maybe to see what a lot of culture is built around, hopefully a spiritual search. If you can relate to any of that then I do hope this helps you, as it is for you.

So if you can read and write and want to get through the bible, I will tell you what I did so you can avoid it. I started by picking which camp I would sit in with regards to translation, I decided I had to pick one single translation and die in a ditch over it. I picked the King James version, as some people on the internet said it's the only one that isn't heretical and if you read anything else your an idiot. I then picked up a large Old Scofield Study Bible KJV. It was cumbersome but impressive. I then counted the pages and divided by 52 so I knew if I was roughly on track. Then everyday I just read a number of chapters, making sure it cracked out the alloted page numbers for the week. Soon I was ahead of my plan, flying ahead. I read every evening before bed, clocking up great page counts. About seven months later I had done it, I had read the Bible.

It's probably obvious what comes next, a dissatisfied, none the wiser individual who couldn't tell you anything about what he had read. A book that has shaped the world we live in, has provided spiritual healing to many, bought down to a tick in a box against a reading goal. Time to pick up the pieces, start again, or at least I am now. What I would tell myself from a few years ago today is to approach it differently. I would set a couple of simple steps.

1. Have a why.

Not just to say you have done it. Do you want to understand God and Jesus, do you want to grow your faith or explore the potential of one?

2. Have a flexible plan.

Do not try and read cover to cover! Make your own plan, or pick one. The Bible app/Youversion app has loads of 'Bible in a year' type of plans or shorter subject specific ones. It will give you daily readings and you can follow along in your bible. I like the McCheyne plan. If you make your own I would suggest you start with the Gospels. About 4 chapters a day is enough.

3. Do not worry about translation.

The King James Bible has beautiful language. If you aren't used to reading older forms of English, people have done the work for you too make it easier in the form or modern translation. You don't need to stick to one translation, pick a few second hand Bibles up on a eBay. They are cheap and you will get more out of utilizing different translations.

4. Don't do it alone.

I decided, even though I wasn't religious, to go to Church once a month. It sounds a big step, but I'm so glad I did. Scripture can be read, heard and sung. Don't limit yourself. I very soon found myself going every Sunday. Not long after that I plucked up the courage to ask the Vicar a question about something I struggled to grasp. Your Vicar or Priest will probably be over the moon with that. The church might have a study group or some form of fellowship where other people like you are seeking understanding.

5. Let it sink in.

Better to read a chapter a day and let the words sit with you than read page after page but not digest any.