Where To Start

[Echoes]

Hi guys! This post might not belong under Bible Study, but It's a quick question.

I am the type of person that picks up the Bible, opens it up, reads a verse and done...I have friends of mine that read the entire Bible 2 times per year. I really want to study the Bible and keep notes and such, but I just don't know where to begin or what to read.
Any suggestions would be great!



Jonathan

[Diggindeeper]

Hi Jonathan,

Since this is not a Bible Study, I'm moving it to Bible Chat, where it will get more replies.

[andrew_no_one]

Hi guys! This post might not belong under Bible Study, but It's a quick question.

I am the type of person that picks up the Bible, opens it up, reads a verse and done...I have friends of mine that read the entire Bible 2 times per year. I really want to study the Bible and keep notes and such, but I just don't know where to begin or what to read.
Any suggestions would be great!



Jonathan

http://bibleforums.org/showthread.ph...65#post2882865

[Love Fountain]

Hi guys! This post might not belong under Bible Study, but It's a quick question.

I am the type of person that picks up the Bible, opens it up, reads a verse and done...I have friends of mine that read the entire Bible 2 times per year. I really want to study the Bible and keep notes and such, but I just don't know where to begin or what to read.
Any suggestions would be great!



Jonathan

Hello Jonathan,

The place to start is Matthew chapter 13.

If you don't understand the parables in Matthew 13 you will not understand anything written. There is the parable of the sower, the parable of the tares and the wheat, etc..

The parable of the tares and wheat is very important because the tares are poisonous even to this very day and if you eat of them they will kill you!

Jesus said if you don't understand the parable of the sower you wouldn't understand any parables!

May you be Blessed in your studies!
Love Fountain

[Raybob]

There are many ways to begin. I think the gospel of John is the best of the 4 gospels for a beginner. It shares the most of things dealing with the spirit. The other gospels are great too, but I believe the most understanding of the spiritual things of God are found in John. It's great to find an online concordance, or download a free study program like e-sword.net where you can click on a word and see a concordance to see what the original text meant for that word, or to do topical searches, or word searches, etc.

If you start with John 1, you will be stumped at the first verse, until you continue on down the chapter. Then you'll re-read what you just read, etc., etc. When you finish John, then you get into the next book of the Acts of the disciples after Jesus rose from the dead. When you finish that, you might want to go back and read Matthew, or one of the other gospels. I'd just continue until you've completed the New Testament. Then go to Genesis, or where ever God's spirit guides you. Oh, and when you open the book, ALWAYS ask God to help you understand Him. He will.

[Walls]

Hi guys! This post might not belong under Bible Study, but It's a quick question.

I am the type of person that picks up the Bible, opens it up, reads a verse and done...I have friends of mine that read the entire Bible 2 times per year. I really want to study the Bible and keep notes and such, but I just don't know where to begin or what to read.
Any suggestions would be great!

Jonathan

Let God choose for you. His decision was to put Genesis first. The very name of the book tells us that it is the beginning of things. Every concept in the bible has its beginning in Genesis. Example; The bible starts with a Garden of Pleasure with rivers, fruit, gold, bdellium, precious stones, man, a bride and the Tree of Life in it. In Revelation Chapters 21 and 22 we find a walled city with a river, fruit, gold, pearl, precious stones, men in pleasure, a Bride and the Tree of Life. If you get to understand why bdellium in the Garden of Eden became pearls in the New Jerusalem you have taken a giant step in understanding the death of our Lord Jesus.

In Genesis all the foundations for what is to come are laid. In Genesis 1:11-12 a rule is established by God that has its fulfillment in John Chapter 12 in respect of our Lord Jesus and in respect of us in John Chapter 3. The covenants of promise are in Genesis and Galatians explains how these become ours. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are in Genesis and these three show the process of the Christian life. Abraham for promise, Isaac for inheritance and Jacob for the transforming process that Romans Chapter 8, 2nd Peter Chapter 1 and 2nd Corinthians Chapter 3 talk of.

Genesis introduces Bethel, which means "the House of God." The whole gospel of John deals with this theme from Bethel in Chapter 1, God's new House in Chapter 2, the Father's house in Chapter 14 and how we become the Father's House in Chapter 20. This all is then expanded upon in 1st Corinthians and Ephesians.

There are many good commentaries on Genesis around. Pray about it and the Lord will surely guide you to the right ones.

[adampjr]

Start wherever. My preference would be one of the gospels, I think Matthew is best for that.

There's no reason to "go in order," just so you know. There is absolutely nothing sacrosanct about the order of the books. Just try and look into the background of the book a little bit so you have some context on what you are reading.

If you were going to try and take a "order of importance approach" I would suggest Gospels, Law, Prophets, Poetic Writings, Epistles, and then the OT historical books. Or something along those lines.

[Ta-An]

I'd say : Begin at the Beginning

It helps to have a study book that asks questions about what you have read... and that makes you see the Scripture in a different light... (I especially use that for NT studies,,,, or specific topic studies )

[turtledove]

I would suggest reading from one of the four gospels, i.e., Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, a chapter a day along with one of the Psalms from the OT, and also a chapter from any of the letters of Paul. Do this consistantly for some time. I didn't use the bible in a year reading plan until I had been reading and studying scriptures for many years. I do use it now; but it can get tedious wading through many lists, and repetitive details at first when you are just getting into the Word. The gospels will give you a grasp on the life and purpose of Jesus and Paul's theology will explain much upon which Christian doctrine is based. The Psalms can inspire, comfort, confront, and help you to identify with difficult things in life's journey.