How to Make Sense of the Bible

Everyone should sample this age old classic. There are so many who make reference to it that it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the text. Yet this is not by any means typical literature, and it’s a far cry from anything currently popular. There are things to keep in mind as you flip through these pages that can help you make sense of the bible.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Choose a version. The original English text is the King James Version, which works if thou doth understand old world verbs and pronouns. There is a New King James Version in current terms and a New International Version written in even simpler terms. The Women's Bible puts personal references in feminine gender for women. A Living Bible comes with supporting text for definitions and explanations. There are also versions known as the Amplified or Expanded Bibles that define references to cultural elements from the time period of the original text. There are also other versions available. One is bound to suit your needs.
2. Put yourself in the character's place. The writers have typically done what novelists are told not to. The events are logged as a simple account of things God did with people. Emotions, sensory elements and even adjectives are conspicuously missing. This makes it easy to overlook keys elements and at times even the main point. In many cases you’re left to flesh out the details.
3. Understand the division of testaments. The old testament starts with account of earth’s creation that God imparted to Moses. It carries genealogy and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. Everything dealing with the life of Jesus and the resulting adventures of His followers is documented in the new testament.
4. Start with the gospel of John. This is the fourth book in the new testament, and it accounts the life of Jesus differently than the other three gospels. John refers to himself as someone Jesus loved. This closeness gave John special insight to who Jesus is and what His life means to us.
5. Spread out your reading. The typical Bible is about two-thousand pages long. Some readers ingest that much text in a week and a half. Yet this reading demands attention to details and forces you to consider human elements that are brushed over. It deserves to be taken in small amounts.

Tips & Warnings

• To gain a full understanding of the Bible, find a church that teach Bible text line by line and verse for verse. Instruction is free and classes are available on weekends.