What Is the Difference in Reading the Bible and Studying the Bible
Guest post, invitee mail! Can you see me doing the happy dance over here? Existent World Bible Written report was always supposed to exist a community projection, then every time I get to bring in a guest, I'grand doing the Bible boogie in my chair. And yes. I'm exactly that cheesy. Just don't worry – this is good stuff. Today's guest, Jana Carlson, shares most the differences between Bible reading and Bible written report. Y'all, I gravitate towards Bible written report more than reading myself, just later on just reading her introduction, I wanted to go out my Bible and simply do some direct up reading!
Bible Reading vs. Bible Study
When it comes to gathering treasure from God's Word, are you a "raker" or a "digger"? Do you read the Bible? Or exercise you written report the Bible?
Don't worry. I'g not about to put all the Bible "rakers" on a guilt trip, pointing out how much more spiritual the "diggers" are. The truth is, we all need to do both.
Bible reading is for breadth.
Bible study is for depth.
Knowing your Bible both "deep" and "broad" is a richness unmatched. Bible reading and Bible study are twin disciplines; they complement each other.
Bible Reading
In order to understand the Bible, we need to read information technology. That sounds obvious, but so many Christians just don't exercise it.
An essential aspect of accurate study of the Bible is context. If we don't study Scripture in context, nosotros are in danger of misinterpreting (and wrongfully applying) it. Bible reading helps united states of america keep it all in context.
Scripture interprets Scripture. I might read a principle or instruction or didactics in the New Testament, so immediately think of the perfect illustration from a story in the Old Testament. It's fascinating!
Having a "large motion-picture show" view of the Bible, seeing God'due south story of redemption throughout the ages as described in His Word, noticing connections and themes between the 66 books — these are enriching benefits of "raking" through the Scriptures.
[bctt tweet="Having a "big picture" view of the Bible, seeing God'south story of redemption throughout the ages equally described in His Discussion, noticing connections and themes between the 66 books — these are enriching benefits of "raking" through the Scriptures. with @janacwrites" username="RealWorldBible"]
PRIVILEGE
Accept you ever considered how privileged nosotros are to have such like shooting fish in a barrel access to the Bible? For most of the history of the Church, Christians have non had their own copies of God's Discussion to read for themselves. It was merely read aloud in gatherings. They had to memorize it if they wanted to "accept it with them".
Fifty-fifty though virtually of u.s.a. can read our Bible whatever time and anywhere, many of the states don't read information technology at all. A lot of Christians are content to get snippets of God'southward Word from whatever Scripture they catch a glimpse of in their social media feeds or from the verse highlighted in a devotional book.
Commitment
Would yous commit to reading the Bible for 30 hours? I'd be surprised if you said 'aye'. That's still a lot of fourth dimension.
What if I asked yous to commit to reading the Bible for only 5 minutes a day? Does that sound more manageable?
If you read the Bible for 5 minutes every twenty-four hour period for a year, you will read the Bible for thirty hours that year. Think of how much of this living and active Discussion (Hebrews iv:12) you will have consumed in 30 hours! [Joy says: SO COOL! I never put numbers on it that way!]
ALL OF IT
How much of the Bible do we really demand to read? God's Word tells us that all of it is beneficial!
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and assisting." (2 Timothy 3:xvi)
"Now these things happened to them every bit an instance, but they were written down for our instruction…" (1 Corinthians ten:11)
"Whatever was written in former days was written for our pedagogy, that through endurance and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might take hope." (Romans xv:4)
How to Read the Bible for Breadth
How exercise you lot read the Bible for breadth? I'll go along it simple. iii applied suggestions:
- Have a plan. You may choose to "rake the whole grand" by reading the entire Bible in a year. Or you might find a different plan that fits your schedule better or interests you more. Whatever plan yous choose, having a plan helps you keep track of which books of the Bible you've read. Some people find a plan keeps them accountable. Need help getting started? Join my next xxx-Day Bible Reading Challenge here.
- Read for understanding. Don't become bogged down past catchy passages. When you're reading for latitude, focus on what you do empathise. Your understanding will increment the more you read and study. It's a process and it takes time.
- Cull the right translation. Some translations of the Bible are more literal and meliorate for studying. They stay very shut to the original Greek and Hebrew languages. This can make them more hard to read and sympathise. Other translations are meant to exist a more than "natural" linguistic communication. I thoroughly enjoy the New Living Translation (NLT) when reading the Bible for breadth. (I similar the NASB or the ESV for studying.) [Joy says: I love the NLT or CEB (Common English language Bible) for reading!)
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Bible Written report
Studying the Bible gives us a greater depth of knowledge. Digging deeper into God'due south Word is how it gets into our hearts and transforms us from the inside out. Bible reading is excellent, but Bible study rewards us with magnificent nuggets we don't easily find on the surface. Digging is more work than raking, but so worth the effort!
If you've never studied the Bible before, the benefit of sitting nether strong Biblical pedagogy cannot be overstated. Joining a grouping Bible study or an online Bible written report will be an encouragement to you lot.
That said, you lot tin can study the Bible on your ain! There's nothing similar it. Information technology's one thing to hear a Bible teacher share a nugget she discovered in her study this week. Information technology's another thing entirely to uncover that nugget on your own! And you tin can do it.
God intends for His children to sympathize His Word because He desires for us to know Him. And we know Him through His Word. When we seek to know Him more than through studying His Word, He will reveal Himself to usa there.
If you are intimidated by the idea of studying the Bible on your own, I've put together a Elementary Guide to Inductive Bible Study to help you become started.
Don't miss out on the treasures God has for you in His Word! Become out your shovel and dig in!
Bio
Jana Carlson has an insatiable love for the Word of God. She blogs at Wield The Word where her want is to inspire women to know God's Word and live it out. To join her next 30-Twenty-four hour period Bible Reading Claiming, subscribe here.
Jana lives in Alberta, Canada with her married man and their 3 grown children. She works as a content creator and enjoys reading, animate in the fresh mountain air, and spending time with family and friends.
Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.
What Is the Difference in Reading the Bible and Studying the Bible
Source: https://www.realworldbiblestudy.com/bible-reading-vs-bible-study/