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Other things to watch out for
1.) Reading the Bible FOR someone else. I mean reading thinking "Now this is what so-and-so needs to read."
Too much of this is not too good.
2.) Picking up curiosities. "Oh this is neat. It says that they pissed against the wall".
Beware of too much picking up little curiosities as novelties.
3.) Only going to your favorite parts of the Bible.
If one book is really warned down but others seem not nearly touched, these may indicate you are too much under the control of your preferences. To get a steady diet of all the spiritual vitamins you really need, read through sequentially of books you might not normally read.
IE. I make myself to read through books not of my top favorite Bible books. At least some equal time should be given to them.
4.) Reading with no intention of letting God touch you - speak to you.
Some people study the Bible to find God.
But some people go to study the Bible to get away from God.
Don't read the Bible with a heart to look for reasons to distance yourself from God or prove to yourself God does not exist.
I have not said much about this yet, but the Bible can also "kill" you if you come to it with a wrong heart. Paul said "the letter kills but the Spirit gives life."
" [God] Who has made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit;
for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Cor. 3:6)
You should not be spiritually "killed" by the letter of either the Old or New Testament. It is best to come to the Holy Bible (either part) with an expectation that an invisible Person is behind the scenes ready to bless you with spiritual life and well-being.
I come to the Bible and simultaneously I come to this Person invisible behind the black and white letters of this book. God is near. God is ready to speak and to bless me. I am willing to hear from this Person. I do not come with contempt for the Divine. I come with openness to the Divine, even willingness to touch and "taste" the Person of God behind this book.
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Good ways to read the Bible in a group or by twos.
We take a chapter. I read a verse. You read the next verse. We alternate.
Or two or more people can read the chapter around in a circle. Each one reads a verse by turns.
Another way it for one to read a verse and the other to "echo" or read the same verse.
Then two or more people can follow the one reading first. Then they read the same verse in an echoing way.
Taking turns to take the lead is also good in this kind of "public" reading.
Paul exhorted Timothy to attend to the pubic reading of the Scriptures that they had at that time.
" Until I come, attend to the public reading, to the exhortations, to the teaching." (1 Tim. 4:13)
After reading around or repeat reading or echo reading, after the chapter has been digested, there can be fellowship. Each person can then speak what exhortation or enjoyment in teaching they derived from that portion of Scripture.
All may learn and all may be encouraged.
Gradually the readers and speakers learn to discern the Holy Spirit more.
When Joshua was jealous that others were in the Israelite camp prophesying beside Moses, Moses had a surprising response. He said that he wished God would put His Spirit on the whole congregation and that they ALL would similarly prophesy.
" And a certain young man ran and told Moses and said, Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.
And Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered and said, My lord Moses, restrain them!
But Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? Oh that all Jehovah's people were prophets, that Jehovah would put His Spirit upon them ! (Numbers 11:27-29)
God wants ALL His people to read and speak with the Holy Spirit His oracles.
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Good reading sonship. I have used a one year bible app for years now.
I also use commentaries and bible concordances when I wish to better understand certain passages.
Currently I am using the M'Cheyne one year which is a mixture of old and new testament, 4 chapters daily. It has worked well for me the last few years.
I also would suggest bible culture.
"7 Reasons to Study the Cultural Backgrounds of the Bible"
http://blog.olivetree.com/2017/04/24/7-reasons-study-cultural-backgrounds-bible/
Understanding the culture has helped me immensely and getting a feel for the mindset at the time.
Also bible maps help quite a bit. Understanding distance to major cities, time to walk, sail to destinations. Some even speak of what these cities were like.
Apologies if you plan on getting to these later in your post.
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Originally posted by checkbaiterTypological studies are interesting and helpful.
Good reading sonship. I have used a one year bible app for years now.
I also use commentaries and bible concordances when I wish to better understand certain passages.
Currently I am using the M'Cheyne one year which is a mixture of old and new testament, 4 chapters daily. It has worked well for me the last few years.
I also would suggest bible cultur ...[text shortened]... k of what these cities were like.
Apologies if you plan on getting to these later in your post.
The Bible in original is without chapter divisions. One day I would like to see what it is like to read through the Bible without the delineations of chapters that were arranged for it.
Glad the app you use is helpful.
I recommend that we always come to the word of God to touch God.
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Originally posted by sonshipThe Bible in original is without chapter divisions.
Typological studies are interesting and helpful.
The Bible in original is without chapter divisions. One day I would like to see what it is like to read through the Bible without the delineations of chapters that were arranged for it.
Glad the app you use is helpful.
I recommend that we always come to the word of God to touch God.
Also without punctuation. Uncials were something like this... FORGODSOLOVEDTHEWORLDTHATHEGAVE
No spaces, no punctuation, no spaces between words. 2 Timothy 2:15 I believe is speaking of "rightly dividing" or "right cutting". Rightly separating words.
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Originally posted by checkbaiterI don't think that that is what Paul meant about rightly dividing the word.
[b]The Bible in original is without chapter divisions.
Also without punctuation. Uncials were something like this... FORGODSOLOVEDTHEWORLDTHATHEGAVE
No spaces, no punctuation, no spaces between words. 2 Timothy 2:15 I believe is speaking of "rightly dividing" or "right cutting". Rightly separating words.[/b]
He did not say rightly dividing the words [plural].
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The Recovery Version on 2 Tim. 2:15 -
" Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth."
I think it would be too superficial that Paul meant to be able to cut the words from gibberish into separate words in order to be approved to God.
Do you see what I mean?
Originally posted by checkbaiterI've started listening to it as well as reading it.
Good reading sonship. I have used a one year bible app for years now.
I also use commentaries and bible concordances when I wish to better understand certain passages.
Currently I am using the M'Cheyne one year which is a mixture of old and new testament, 4 chapters daily. It has worked well for me the last few years.
I also would suggest bible cultur ...[text shortened]... k of what these cities were like.
Apologies if you plan on getting to these later in your post.