Must I read the Bible?

  • Thread starter Thread starter elysianverse
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
E

elysianverse

Guest
Yes, I know I should, and I do indeed read the Bible. But I spend more time reading commentaries and expositions on the Bible rather than the Bible itself. Is that wrong? Expositions gave me new insights (because various authors give new ideas on various passages), whereas reading the Bible gets monotonous after a while.

I hope that makes sense.
 
It’s ok; I do the same thing. It’s better to read one verse of Sacred Scripture and understand and obey with love and joy what it says, rather than reading a whole chapter and forgetting about it 5 minutes later. 😃

:gopray:
 
Every time you attend Mass the Bible is* read to you*.

Every time you attend Mass you pray from the Bible.

The Mass itself* is the Bible*.

Would you consider any of this as reading the Bible through living the Bible? Reading the Bible through action and practise? Reading through participation?
 
elysianverse said:
Yes, I know I should, and I do indeed read the Bible. But I spend more time reading commentaries and expositions on the Bible rather than the Bible itself. Is that wrong? Expositions gave me new insights (because various authors give new ideas on various passages), whereas reading the Bible gets monotonous after a while.

I hope that makes sense.
Click to expand...
it would probably be much more helpful to choose one book at a time, or a specific reading plan, such as following the liturgical readings cycle. then find one good commentary or study guide and use it to prepare for your reading, then commence your reading more in the lectio divina mode than in an academic mode. there are stickis in the reference threads on Spirituality forum on Lectio.
 
I understand what you are saying and often feel a lot of guilt myself for not reading the Bible. I agree with the previous poster that said, if you attend mass, you are hearing the bible etc. This is a wonderful way to look at it, and that you are still, of course, hearing the gospel and words of God.

I attend mass only once a fortnight…mmmm, I probably should be reading the Bible a lot more. :confused:

God loves you regardless. 😉

God Bless. 🙂
 
“Life is a journey, not a destination.” -Emerson

Did Lake and Palmer concur?
 
elysianverse said:
Yes, I know I should, and I do indeed read the Bible. But I spend more time reading commentaries and expositions on the Bible rather than the Bible itself. Is that wrong? Expositions gave me new insights (because various authors give new ideas on various passages), whereas reading the Bible gets monotonous after a while.

I hope that makes sense.
Click to expand...
Monotonous? :eek: So you got all the water out of that well eh?

Then I guess all that is left is for you to teach.

Would you mind starting with 1 John? 🙂 I am waiting for you to explain it to me.👍
 
If we go by our own ideas and understandings of the Bible, it can get monotonous. Too much looking in the mirror, not enough seeing what’s actually there. Commentaries do help people see the Bible from other angles; that’s part of what they’re for.

That said, of course it’s important to drink from the well, which is the lectio divina suggestion is a good one.
 
Lisa44 said:
Monotonous? :eek: So you got all the water out of that well eh?

Then I guess all that is left is for you to teach.

Would you mind starting with 1 John? 🙂 I am waiting for you to explain it to me.👍
Click to expand...
How about Leviticus or Deutoronomy? Now THERE’s monotonous.
 
Mintaka said:
If we go by our own ideas and understandings of the Bible, it can get monotonous. Too much looking in the mirror, not enough seeing what’s actually there. Commentaries do help people see the Bible from other angles; that’s part of what they’re for.

That said, of course it’s important to drink from the well, which is the lectio divina suggestion is a good one.
Click to expand...
What understanding do I have but my own?
 
St. Jerome said “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of God.”
As already mentioned, one of the ways we “read” scripture is to hear it proclaimed at Mass. The Word Among Us provides reflections on the daily readings while the Word Among Us provides a monthly schedule of reading a single book per month.
I have read the Bible cover to cover several times using the three chapter a day + 5 on Sunday schedule that allows a person to read the Bible in one year. It is a method that takes approximately 15 minutes a day.
The main way that I currently read scripture is by praying the Liturgy of the Hours.
There are many different ways in which a person can read scripture. Our prayer life, including how we read scripture is bound to change throughout the course of our lives.
 
I think we should do both. I do read a lot of commentaries and books about the bible. I also try to read my bible at least once a day. Even if it’s just a chapter here or there. I also try to keep a bible handy so when a book says (cf. book chapter verse) I go and read it. I don’t just assume I know it, I go and read that verse and the surrounding verse so I see how it applies directly to what I’m reading. The thing with the bible is it’s a living Word. It’s not just a past word, but a present word. So we definitely need to read it and see how it applies directly to us today.
 
bmullins said:
I think we should do both. I do read a lot of commentaries and books about the bible. I also try to read my bible at least once a day. Even if it’s just a chapter here or there. I also try to keep a bible handy so when a book says (cf. book chapter verse) I go and read it. I don’t just assume I know it, I go and read that verse and the surrounding verse so I see how it applies directly to what I’m reading. The thing with the bible is it’s a living Word. It’s not just a past word, but a present word. So we definitely need to read it and see how it applies directly to us today.
Click to expand...
Our understanding of a particular verse may change depending where on personal circumstance and where we are on our spiritual journey.
 
elysianverse said:
Yes, I know I should, and I do indeed read the Bible. But I spend more time reading commentaries and expositions on the Bible rather than the Bible itself. Is that wrong?
Click to expand...
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. The more you read His word, the closer you draw to God.

Commentaries and expositions are good, but we must read the Scriptures that they are trying to comment on and expound in order to properly understand them, otherwise it is useless.
 
Following CAF is a pretty good exercise in Biblical exegesis. Both protestants (etc) and Catholics liberally cite the Bible here - and mostly the “good parts” (nobody gets too worked up if too much (or too little) olive oil was pledged to pay for cedar to build the Temple of Solomon).

If anyone wants a “crash course” in the Bible (especially the parts most directly relevant to the Catholic Faith), s/he should spend a few weeks here. It would be more productve than reading a chapter from the Book of Numbers each week.
 
Before the invention of the printing press, most people were illiterate. Literacy, including reading the Bible, is not mandatory for salvation. That being said, many of the prayers that make up popular devotions have a scriptural basis.
Example, when I was growing up, my mother had a plaque with the Kitchen Prayer which includes the words, “I may have Martha hands but I have a Mary heart.” These words have more meaning when we are familiar with the Gospel story of Martha and Mary.
 
The best thing about the Catholic religion is their is two horses to ride; the bible and tradition. Meaning you do not need to be a bible scholar.
 
You don’t have to but why would one not want to? Especially in light of St. Paul’s admonition to “Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” in 2nd Timothy 2:15?
 
My husband, 2 daughters and I attended a Bible Study at a local Church - a dvd presentation and discussion developed by Jeff Cavins.

Beyond amazing. I cannot say enough about the Great Adventure Bible Study. At first, before we started, 24 sessions seemed so long. Each week we discovered more and more. The time flew by and now, I can pick up my bible, or hear the readings at Mass and I know where we are. Who the players are, the background, the situation and the depth of Scripture is so appealing we can’t get enough. I have purchased and borrowed other dvd’s from our diocese, ordered more books, enjoyed Steve Ray’s Footprints of God series, talks from the Fulness of Truth conferences etc…

It is like a thirst that we are trying to quench - each drink leaves us wanting more as we learn.

For an understanding of the Bible and an overview of Salvation History - check out the Great Adventure. Jeff divides the entire bible into 12 time periods with colours to help remember and takes 14 books as the storyline. Read the 14 (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 Maccabees, Luke and Acts) to get the “story”. He shows where the other books fit into the story and how they complement and you understand the background.

We loved it so much we ordered the Teen Timeline for our kids and Godchildren. Also pretty terrific. Mark Hart presents that one.

A great place to start.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top