How to begin reading the bible?

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Walterross

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I know this question has probably been asked a lot, but bear with me. I find the bible very hard to read. It’s sometimes very dull and boring to me. I don’t want to feel this way, but I do. I’m wondering if I’m starting at too hard of a book. I find the gospels easier, because they usually are easy to understand and are referenced in the mass. Also, I’ve heard that you should pray when you read the bible. Perhaps to the Holy Spirit? What do I say? Like “Holy Spirit please allow me to read and understand God’s word.” ? I know reading the bible is a very important aspect of Catholic living, but I just don’t want to do it. I think all of my struggles in reading it including all the dryness lead me to avoiding reading it.

I also know that there are different bible reading plans out there. Especially on the Bible app on the iPhone. I’ve explored these, but many are not made by catholics, though you can still read your chosen bible. Mine is NAB.

It frustrates me that I struggle to find meaning in reading the bible. I don’t feel much at all. Is there any advice that anyone can offer for me? I would greatly appreciate it.
 
Reading the Bible is not really an essential devotion for Catholics. You get to learn from the Bible in the readings at Mass, and for most of history that’s the only exposure lay Catholics got of the Bible. If reading the Bible is not your thing, then you are free to spend your time doing other devotions more to your liking.

Of course, if you would like to read the Bible in spite of how you feel, then the best thing to do is being patient, and not try to set a deadline for finishing the whole Bible. It took me three years to finish my first reading of the Bible, and I still think I rushed through some parts of it.

If you’re overwhelmed by a few paragraphs, it’s better to stop and continue the next day, rather than pretending to read the whole chapter and not catching any of it. Or you can skip the boring parts all together, which is fine if you’re only looking for some devotional reading, and not studying the Bible.
 
It sounds like you already have a good sense of where you want to go and how to get there. Yes, praying to the Holy Spirit beforehand is very helpful, and, yes, the prayer you have articulated is exactly the kind of prayer to make.

And, yes, the Gospels are often easier for us to visualize and relate to, so they make a great place to start.

The important thing is to just keep at it. If you encounter a passage that seems “boring” or doesn’t make sense to you, take it to prayer. Ask the Spirit’s assistance in helping to mine the meaning. Obtain a commentary that you might turn to for additional insights.

In the Old Testament, perhaps you are familiar with the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel all night long. The Church Fathers saw in this an analogy for our prayer life—which includes reading Scripture. It can be a struggle sometime. It takes effort. Sometimes we may even be bored. Bring all those things to the Lord in prayer. As we struggle through it, we learn more about God and about ourselves. We grow closer to Him.

I would encourage you to also look into the practice of Lectio Divina. It is the ancient, time-tested way to read the Bible. First, we read through the passage. Try reading it aloud if it helps. Notice which words are repeated. Circle all the verbs. Try different things that make you think about the passage in new ways. Second, reflect upon the words. Imagine that you are there witnessing it. Who are the main characters? What might they be thinking and feeling? What is God trying to tell me through this passage? Third, we respond. How should I live my life differently in light of what I have read? What difference will it make in my life? Finally, we rest in the Lord. Sit and bask in His Presence.
Theban said:
Reading the Bible is not really an essential devotion for Catholics.
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I would respectfully, but strongly, disagree with this. Certainly, how this looks is going to vary from person to person, but if we own a Bible and have the ability to read, we should be reading the Bible—preferably every day.
 
I found that reading the Bible and personalizing it to history helps a lot.
Start let’s say in the New Testament.
Start looking at what was happening in history at that time.
Not just related to Jesus, but with the Roman conquest.
The Old Testament in terms of what and who were present that affected the Jews.
Try and grasp that these are not just old books and stories, but real people with real lives.
It helps me…

M
 
I recommend if its available to you, to go to a Catholic bible study. One that uses a Catholic commentary. Ive been going to my local bible study for about 2 years since I started to get into becoming a better catholic and the instructor is very well knowledgeable about the catholic faith and uses the commentary for our reading of it.

If anything I recommend the gospels, and a good catholic commentary.
 
Walter,

Since you have the NAB, may I recommend the New Collegeville Bible Commentary.
It’s easy to read. You can get it from Amazon.
 
First of all, there is nothing wrong with simply reading the Gospels to start. I have known many people who had maybe a nodding acquaintance with the Old Testament but really loved reading the Gospels, and for them that was probably sufficient.

Second, regarding prayers before and after, there is a traditional prayer for before and after reading the Bible that I use, it goes like this:
Before Reading the Holy Scriptures

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created, and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.

O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and ever to rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

After Reading the Holy Scriptures

Prayer of St. Bede the Venerable

Let me not, O Lord, be puffed up with worldly wisdom, which passes away, but grant me that love which never abates, that I may not choose to know anything among men but Jesus, and Him crucified.

I pray Thee, loving Jesus, that as Thou hast graciously given me to drink in with delight the words of Thy knowledge, so Thou would mercifully grant me to attain one day to Thee, the fountain of all Wisdom and to appear forever before Thy face.
Amen.
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If those are a bit much for you at this stage, you could just say before starting to read,
“Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10)

and when you’re done just say, “Thank you, Lord”.

Third: Maybe consider reading a book about the Bible instead, such as Scott Hahn, and then looking up the sections as he talks about each one of them.

Or another way you could do it would be to just read the Mass readings from each day. You can find them online at usccb.org .

You can also take a Bible study course at your parish, or at another parish near you. Just be aware that some Bible study courses are more about reading the Bible, and some are more about going around the room asking each person how they feel and spending 15 minutes discussing some point that’s pretty obvious to everybody in the room except the person asking the question. I have been frustrated by, and seen other people frustrated by, these kinds of courses in the past.

Finally, not everybody is cut out to enjoy reading the Bible as a form of prayerful study or devotion. If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself to do it. Pray in another manner instead.
 
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Maybe Pray as You Go. https://pray-as-you-go.org/

This has helped me so much. They just focus on one of the readings for the day, prompt you to visualize the scene and ask questions. This is great for me in the morning because it’s less than 15 minutes and begins with a short musical selection to get me focused. I’ve started lighting a candle (candles now during Advent) to cue my mind to settle.

Bible studies help as well. I participate in a group at my parish. Sometimes other perspectives make it more engaging.

And then sometimes I am just dry and not into it and need a break. Sometimes I break from any prayer, sometimes I choose to read a Catholic book or watch Catholic videos instead. The key is to find something that sets the mood for reflection, fits into your attention span and don’t worry if you lose interest from time to time. When I first converted I tried to deeply contemplate all of the daily readings, journal about them, etc and it was too much. I would get frustrated and then beat myself up when I wasn’t in the mood. I’m over that.
 
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You should start by first asking the Holy Spirit in prayer to illuminate your mind.
 
On the contrary, use whatever Bible you’re most likely to read and leave others to their own opinions.
 
Cor_ad_Cor said:
On the contrary, use whatever Bible you’re most likely to read and leave others to their own opinions.
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Nope. The NAB is a clunky, watered-down translation. Worse, by far, are the skeptical if not heretical footnotes.
 
Thanks, again, for your opinion. Let’s not use it to discourage someone from getting acquainted with the Scriptures in whatever mode is comfortable for them to start out.
 
Just to add, the Psalms are also lovely to read especially as an introduction to the Old Testament as they are not very long (except 119) and they are real. They rant and rave about life and beg and plead with God, but always trust in God and his providence. 88 is a bit down in the dumps. Some are praise and worship and some pleading and petitioning so you can find a lot of meaning in them for all different times in your life. Some you’ll find very familiar and others not so much. Researching the many layered meanings can be quite fun too. Or just see what comes to you. God bless
 
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First, congratulations on wanting to read the Bible. It is a foundational document for every Christian.

Second, as has been suggested find a translation you will actually read. You can find dozens of translations at sites like Biblegateway and BibleStudyTools.com.

Reading one of the Gospels or Acts is a great start.

Good luck!
 
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