40 Days in the WORD

What is the bible and how should we read it?

Things about the Bible most people agree on

It is not one book but a broad collection of ancient documents of various sorts (History, prophecy, personal letters, prayers, poetry, instruction)

There appears to have be many (40) authors

It is very old [1 century AD (12C15C) BC] What we have today is what the

What is the bible?

Did God write the Bible in heaven, and dictate all of it in bits to humans and then finally arrange for it to be all put together?

What is the bible?

Did ordinary human beings simply write down their own bright ideas about God

Christian's believe the Bible is INSPIRED

Every part of Scripture is Godbreathed and useful one way or anothershowing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live Gods way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (Message)

Christian's believe the Bible is INSPIRED

Inspiration means first, that God spoke through ordinary people determining the message they spoke, yet never violating their personalities and distinctive ways of communicating.

Secondly and just as importantly, people spoke in their own way from their own life experiences yet their message is God's true message for the world today (Heb 1:1, 2 Pet 1:21).

How should we read the Bible?

Because the Bible is authored by real people, we read the Bible as we would any other book. We look for the simple ordinary meaning, we seek out for the original meaning, we find the general meaning.

However we also read the Bible as we read no other book, as the same God who communicated through it as it was written, still communicates through it to us today.

Devotional Reading
Pronounce the text Picture the text Probe the text Paraphrase the text Personalise the text

Devotional Reading
Especially in devotional reading we need to be careful to read what the passage actually says not what we would like it to say.

Exegesis to draw out the meaning

Eisegesis to put our own ideas into the meaning

Devotional Reading
Remember the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek you can find out the original meaning of specific words

Remember passages have a context, ask what is happening or being talked about before and after the verse

Devotional Reading
Pronounce the text
Reading over the text (preferably aloud), emphasising each word to catch the full meaning of the passage.

Great for instructional passages

Do some study of the original words and context if you are unsure of anything

Devotional Reading

Devotional Reading
Picture the text
Imagining what is happening in the situation. Identifying in turn with different characters and reflecting on each.

Great for narrative passages

Do some study on the original environment and people.

Devotional Reading
Probe the text

Sin to confess?

Promise to claim?
Attitude to change? Command to obey? Example to follow? Prayer to pray?

Error to avoid?
Truth to believe?

Devotional Reading
Paraphrase the text
Writing the passage down in your own words

Great for teaching passages

Do some study to ensure you have understood the passage accurately.

Several translations can be very helpful

Its never too late to encounter God through his word with others.