When you read the Bible

Before St Augustine became a Christian, he was struggling with immorality even as he discussed the big issues of the faith with friends. One day he heard a child’s voice in the street cry out repeatedly, “Take up and read”. Taking this as the voice of God, he picked up a copy of St Paul’s letter to the Romans, opened at 13.13-14, and read: “Let us behave … not in … sexual immorality and debauchery … Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature”. That powerful passage spoke to his heart and he capitulated to the Lordship of Christ, abandoning his immorality. Such is the power of God’s Word. He became a bishop and one of the greatest of all theologians.

When you read the Bible, read it with a pen in hand, ready to underline any passage that strikes you. Some verses are exceedingly rich and deserve to be memorised. The words of the Bible have an uplifting power. They convey truth from God that is totally trustworthy.

But the Bible is no mere compendium of fine words: it tells the story of humankind from God’s perspective. It is divided into two parts: the Old Testament is the Jewish Bible, written before Christ, and it starts with the creation of mankind and the tragic original disobedience that brought sin into the world. It recounts the covenants the Lord made, notably with Abraham, and the promises of a coming Messiah, “God with us”. The New Testament brings the Good News of the fulfilment of that promise in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The four Gospels which recount his life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection, are followed by the “Acts of the Apostles” which relates the earliest proclamation of the risen Christ by the eye-witnesses, and the consequent conversion of believers which brought about the beginning of the Christian church.

If you are approaching the Bible for the first time, it is good to read the early chapters of Genesis which lay the foundation for the rest of the Bible’s story. The first chapters of Exodus are also foundational. In Exodus chapters 19 and 20 the Ten Commandments are given.

But if you’re new to the Bible, read first at least one of the Gospels. After the Acts of the Apostles, there are numerous letters written to the early believers explaining the faith and guiding their Christian lives. These are well worth studying; they are very rich. While they often address specific issues raised in the early church, their principles are valid for all time, and so very relevant for Christians today.

Parts of the Old Testament may seem somewhat arduous; if you find them tough going, feel free to skip on to something you find more meaningful. There’s a lot to discover!

But keep your eye open, and your pen handy, to note down those jewels of truth that will make you stop and think, that challenge your outlook, or that speak to your heart. The key thing is to think about what you’re reading – What does this really mean? How should I react to this teaching? Is there a command to obey or a promise I can trust? What does this imply – about God, about my life? The Bible’s teaching needs to be applied to your own situation, and that demands honesty and humility. But in that way, the Bible will have its beneficial effect on you – you will be blessed with the positive result.

Clive Every-Clayton