How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth

Christians around the world are encouraged to read their Bibles daily. Preachers, missionaries, and Bible teachers have spent countless hours sharing the importance of knowing God’s instructions for His people. Reading the Bible is not just an advantageous activity, it is a cornerstone of the Christian faith. 

Knowing to read our Bibles is important, but more important is knowing how to read your Bible for all its worth. The 66 books of the Bible are interconnected with sacred truths and instructions you don’t want to miss. 

So, how do you read your Bible for all its worth? Let’s take a look at some actions, techniques, and tips you can use to glean all there is from this sacred book. 

What, Exactly, Is the Bible?

To start our discussion, let’s freshen up our knowledge of the Bible. Over 1,500 years ago, the Bible laid out God’s epic plan for humanity by divine inspiration to its 40 authors. The Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments and has a total of 66 books. 

The Bible was not written all at once but over the course of hundreds of years. In the beginning, Bibles were handwritten in Latin. Around the 15^th century the printing press became popular, and Bibles were more widely dispersed and translated into different languages.

In the 7^th century, a monk named Bede, from Northumberland, translated the Gospel of John into Old English. By the 14^th century, John Wycliffe completed the first English Bible. William Tyndale is noted as the first man to produce a printed New Testament translated into English. Unfortunately, he would be executed for his work. 

The sacrifice of these men and many others ushered in the idea that all people should have access to Bibles. Because of them, we can open a Bible every day. 

Ready, Set, Action

Reading your Bible for all its worth starts before you turn the first page. You must ready yourself for the divine truths God will speak to you. Readying yourself starts with prayer. Prayer is a time when you share with God what is happening in your life, what your heart is longing for, and ask for wisdom and guidance.

Prayer is also the time to bring all your sins to the feet of Jesus. Sin disables the mind and clouds our reasoning. When we ask for forgiveness, we are taking off layers that would hinder our understanding of God’s Word. We are given discernment and ultimately transformation of our hearts and minds. 

When you pray, the Holy Spirit is set into action. The Holy Spirit is always working, but when we voice our aspiration to understand the Scriptures, it is a sweet melody to the Spirit’s ears. We cannot read the Bible for all its worth without the Holy Spirit! Jesus said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26).

Techniques for Reading the Bible 

The first technique to read the Bible for all its worth is just to open it. Simply open to page one of Genesis and read all the way to Revelation. Reading the Bible this way can be accomplished on your own or with a Bible reading plan. This technique is great for getting a big-picture view of God. It’s like getting a helicopter view of the land. 

Another technique is to choose a study method. Study methods are good for diving a bit deeper. There are many methods to choose from, but some of my favorites are focusing on a book of the Bible or character studies. You can also choose a word study. If there is a word that is sticking out for you, take some time and learn its origin and meaning. Topical studies are also helpful for understanding historical context and how that topic should be addressed today. 

Journaling your way through the Bible is also good. When you are reading and something pops out at you, write it down. After you have finished reading, write down your thoughts about the Scripture. Journaling is an excellent way to write out Scriptures for memorization or jotting down questions you may have. 

I would be letting you down if I did not mention small group Bible studies. God made us to need each other and by participating in a small group Bible study we can help one another in our quest to understand Scripture and learn better. Gathering with a small group is an excellent way to read and discuss Scripture. Hearing what others have gleaned from their Bible reading can be quite helpful in our understanding, and keeps us accountable to keep reading ourselves.

Tips For Reading the Bible

I must, sometimes reading my Bible seems like a daunting task. I get discouraged easily when I don’t understand something. Over the years I have found some tips that have helped me with this.

The first tip is to use a study Bible. We all have the Bible we carry to church, but we also need the Bible we read at home and make marks in. Study Bibles will have maps, note-taking room, and cross-references listed. I also challenge you to choose a Bible in a different translation from what your used to. Reading Scripture from different translations will help you get a well-rounded meaning of what God is saying to you. 

My second tip is to consider the historical context and literary elements in all of Scripture. Historical context will allow you to understand the society and culture of the passage or book. Literary elements are important to note because the fact is, you cannot read Psalms like you read Revelation. Repetition, parallelism, metaphors, symbolism, and idioms are all literary conventions used in the Bible. 

My third tip is to invest in additional study aids. The Westminster Confession I.9 says, “The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture, it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.” Study aids can help you follow a topic or idea through other places in Scripture for greater understanding.

Commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and a Bible atlas will aid you in understanding historical context and literary elements. I also suggest listening to audio Bibles or sermons on Scripture that is speaking to you. Bible Study Tools has many free commentaries and various Bible translations to read. If you’re a mobile person, apps are a valuable resource. You can check out this article for a list of the top Bible apps available. 

My last tip is don’t forget pen, paper, and highlighters. Write down or highlight verses that speak to you. You can carry those sheets of paper with you as you travel or put them on the wall of your home or office. 

God’s Word, the Bible, is a living document. Each time we open it we should prepare our hearts and expect a message just for us. That message is personal and different for each person. This is why it is so important to read the Bible for all it’s worth. Be in prayer, choose a technique that is right for you, and take advantage of the above tips. You do not want to miss anything God has to share with you. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/aldomurillo

Ashley Hooker is a freelance writer passionate about missions. She has collaborated with mission teams in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, and Vermont. Presently, she lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children, where she fulfills roles as a pastor's wife, a dance mom, and a farm girl.