The best way(s) to read Scripture

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amcintosh

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I’ll confess that I have read more books and texts about theology and the Church than I have read the Bible. I know much more about Sacred Tradition than I know about the Bible. As someone who will be Catholic soon, I want to understand the Word as through Scripture on a level so I can synthesize that knowledge with Tradition, as the Church holds. Since I am relatively new to Christianity, I haven’t read that much of the Bible; at home, I have one copy of the KJV (it’s a family Bible from Scotland and England), the RSV Catholic Bible, which I primarily use during readings, and the New American Bible, a gift during the Rite of Welcome.

The Bible is a huge collection of books that are difficult to read and require a ton of context, which I have learned much of, to understand fully as His Word. If I read select passages from Scripture, I can usually interpret them very well and understand them, yet when I try and read a full book I feel exhausted. I think the only full books I’ve finished have been the Gospels and the Two Epistles to the Corinthians, and I’ve read selections (but never finished) various NT books, and Genesis & Exodus of the OT.

How do I read the Bible, in short, without getting confused? A chronological read is very long and exhausting and don’t know if it’s the best way to hear His Word. Thanks!
 
A chronological read is boring and exhausting, and boredom is something to be minded. When you are bored, it means that you aren’t getting what you expected from the book, maybe you expected the wrong thing, maybe you just feel like you “should” be the kind of person to read this boring text and find it meaningful when you aren’t. Don’t be guilted by society into what you should and should not read, or what you should and should not find meaningful. Scripture all is profitable, but not all at the same time, or for the same reason. There is no sin in not often touching or being minded with parts of the Bible, even for the entirety of your life. Analyze yourself, what do you want from a reading, what questions are you looking to be answered, and go about it that way.

For instance, you might specifically want to know about the development of ideas in the Jewish religion (like what happens after death). Reading parts of Deuteronomy, the Psalms, some passages of the Prophets, and then the discussions on what happens after death in the NT to see how that went. It won’t be boring at all. This subject-based reading has worked best for me, I ask a question like “what is God’s view of animals?” to the Bible, and base my readings specifically on that, parts of Genesis, laws to do with animals in the Penta, God’s concern over them in the prophets or His view of sacrifices, and even parts of the NT like the interactions of Jesus with them, and ONLY that. Same thing with “what will the end be like” or “what kind of friendship does God value” and so on. You can pair this subject-based reading with books about the theology of that ideas that the Church has made over time, or even modern inquiries. This is the method I currently use, and it’s worked wonders for getting around the thing and always being rewarded. Using word-look up tools online helps to find material for this.

A book for a good overview of it so you can maybe begin to find some questions and subjects to look further into is this: A Practical Commentary On Holy Scripture by Frederick Justus Knecht D.D. The Bishop who wrote this book summarizes the main content and events of the Bible and gives their overall lesson. Going through it in a chronological way without reading the whole Bible, you’ll know where everything is and what the whole plan of Scripture is in general, as a base for further looking into things. It is very short compared to Scripture.
 
I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve read the entire Bible all the way through twice , and I’m on my fifth read-through of the New Testament. I don’t really get hung up about biblical chronology or genre or things like that , not that I don’t find it interesting. But if I choose to read a book of the Bible, I stick with it until I’m done. That being said, some of the books I could probably be more familiar with than I am. Especially in the Old Testament. Although, I am the guy that intentionally read Leviticus four times. I read Genesis to Revelation, and while that’s fine for some people, I know that’s not for everyone. A lot of people say start with the gospels, that’s up to you, but it couldn’t hurt.
 
Keep in mind, you need to know the Old Testament to know the new. If you have one available, use a Bible with some good footnotes and cross-referencing .
 
adamhovey1988 said:
Keep in mind, you need to know the Old Testament to know the new. If you have one available, use a Bible with some good footnotes and cross-referencing .
Click to expand...
Isn’t the book of Hebrews an explanation of the NT in light of the old. Might be useful.
 
The great thing the Catholic Church gives us is the Liturgical Calendar. That means that throughout a 3 year cycle, all the Gospels are covered and the readings and psalms from both Old and New Testaments that relate to the Gospels accompany the Gospel.

This year we are in Year A focusing on the Gospel of Matthew every Sunday in Ordinary time. Year B focuses on Mark and Year C on Luke during Ordinary time. During Lent, Advent and other special times the Gospel and readings focus on that aspect we are remembering and often using the Gospel of John.

So if you want to start by contemplating on the Gospel and reading for next Sunday, which is what many people do for the week prior to Sunday, you can find them here on the USCCB site which has the text for every days Scripture for the year.

When I was growing up Mum would talk to us about the coming Sundays themes and Gospel during the week and so we were interested then to hear Fathers homily when Sunday came around.
 
Yup, that’s one of my favorite beauties of the Church as well! This Lent, I opted to receive daily readings from the USCCB every morning. Unfortunately, I don’t stay consistent with morning readings as the life of an undisciplined college kid is, but I do love the Liturgical Calendar’s readings. My dorm’s bible study involved reading the Gospel of the Sunday to come (it was on a Monday night, so 6 days to really reflect on the next Sunday’s readings) and it really helped me understand the readings during Sunday Mass and connect with the homily much more.
 
Here you go! From Jeff Cavin’s “Great Adventure Bible Timeline Study”, a chronological reading plan:


Following this plan revolutionized my understanding of the story told across all of the books of the Bible.

Also, you might find “Bible Basics for Catholics” by John Bergsma to be a helpful chronological overview.


I’d suggest reading Bible Basics before diving into the Great Adventure.
 
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