How do you read the Bible?

Cafe Society
1

For those who read the Bible - how do you read the Bible?

Do you read the words slowly and out loud?

Do you read them slowly but silently? silently and fast?

Do you dwell on the words? or do you read it like a normal book?

Do you follow the order it is currently in or do you have your own order?

Do you read the Bible at a set time or a set frequency, sort of as a ritual? Or whenever you have time?

Do you have a certain posture you use when reading the Bible, or will any posture do?

Do you consult notes, commentary, explanations, different translations, or whatnot while reading the Bible? or do you just read the text?

Do you begin and/or conclude with (a) prayer?

Do you approach the Bible as a religious work or as any ordinary book?

WRS/Thû

2

With tongue in cheek.

3

I read it as literature, mythology, poetry, and sometimes as a work that has teachings (there’s a phrase for this type of stuff, but it has escaped me, a word for a work that trys to teach or preach).

I don’t read it often, and then usually the OT, for I like the legends there more than I like the NT.

I sometimes read some of the annotated skeptical Biblical sites on the web, and have read some of Bishop Spong’s books.

Sir Rhosis

4

I have done just about everything the OP mentions at some time or other, except for maybe the posture thing. There is more than one way to profitably read the Bible. Taking a small passage or verse and thoughfully/prayerfully meditating on it and mulling it over is good. Reading a whole book at one setting to get the full effect is good. Consulting commentaries and reference works (written from a variety of different viewpoints) to see what other people have thought/said about it is good. Reading it on its own to try to figure out for yourself what it says is good.

It’s definitely important to keep in mind that the Bible is a collection of works in various styles and literary genres, not all of which should be read in the same way. (For example, some of it’s poetry, some is prose.)

5

I usually read it sitting up, or kneeling in the pews, or seated at a desk. Some verses and parables I dwell on, others I skip. I tend to read silently unless I’m flipping through looking for something, and I pick and choose segments to read as I go.

I like reading the footnotes and explanations in mine; I normally read it mostly on Sunday, but also during the week; I pray after reading it (not out of habit, mostly just because I feel like I have something to say with the big cheese); I do approach it as a religious work.

How’s that? :slight_smile:

6

I twist it apart and lick out the cream filling.

Wait … that’s how I eat an Oreo cookie. Sorry about that.

7

Uh…one
Uh…Two
Uh…Three
Uh, Three.

8

Hilarious answers!!

For me, it depends on what I’m going for in reading it. Usually I’ll use my New Jerusalem Bible, which has excellent footnotes, and just read as a narrative. On the occasions I’m looking for guidance, I’ll pause and think about each pericopé (single utterance or concept – one or a few verses, depending on context).

Needless to say, the idea of reading it cover to cover is valuable only in the sense that reading the Encyclopedia Britannica straight through is. I tend to focus on the New Testament and a couple of the prophets in my reading.

One thing that’s important is to read it as it was written to be read – Genesis, for example, is a collection of legendary accounts of the patriarchs who founded Israel, linked together by genealogies. You need to read the individual stories separately. Job is a dramatic dialogue in poetic form, somewhat similar to Plato’s writing, built on the framework of the tale of the patriarch steadfast in adversity. I Corinthians is a series of comments to the church in Corinth on problems besetting them; Romans is a letter setting forth Paul’s theology. To read the first “at a sitting” is absurd – each set of comments deserves individual focus; to read the second broken into chapter-length pieces is to miss Paul’s entire point in writing it.

9

When I read it, I do all the funny voices.

10

I usually set aside about a half hour in the morning before going to work. I usually pray before I read. Right now I’m reading Psalms. I like to read slowly and dwell on the meanings. I’m reading from a, NIV right now. I read Job from *The Message * last time.

Obivously I approach it as a religious work.

11

When I do read it (not often, which may or may not be a bad thing), I do it out loud or at least mouth the words. Otherwise I go too fast and start skimming. (Which isn’t a bad idea when it comes to the long lists of descendants or exiles who returned home, but not so hot when I’m trying to shore up on my theology.)

12

I try to read it regularly. I read it as a religious work, but I read it somewhat like a “normal” book (just slower because it doesn’t exactly read like your average novel). I’ll re-read passages if I feel I didn’t absorb the meaning well enough the first time.

I read it usually earlier in the day, but not always. I sometimes consult a Bible commentary, but not always. I read it in a comfy “reading” position, in a chair in the living room area where I do a lot of reading.

13

Do you read the words slowly and out loud? - I have, at times, been known to act out the passages.

Do you read them slowly but silently? silently and fast? - Usually silently at the pace which the passage and my personal purpose dictates for that reading.

Do you dwell on the words? or do you read it like a normal book? - Depends on what I’m looking for. If I’m looking for reasons, causes, and deep things, I pause and meditate. Otherwise, I read it at the pace in which the certain passage I’m considering lends itself to.

Do you follow the order it is currently in or do you have your own order? - Varies.

Do you read the Bible at a set time or a set frequency, sort of as a ritual? Or whenever you have time? - Yes and yes. I attempt to keep a spiritual focus by having a set period of Bible reading each and every week. But, I also read it as a sort of recreation, for it is a beautiful work of art.

Do you have a certain posture you use when reading the Bible, or will any posture do? - In my easy chair with good light. Sometimes I take it outside and sit under a tree, esp when reading for meditation. I also have several versions on my computer for research purposes, so I am at my desk at those times.

Do you consult notes, commentary, explanations, different translations, or whatnot while reading the Bible? or do you just read the text? - Again, yes and yes. When searching for answers to questions, either about specific beliefs or spirituality in general, I will research to the point of scaring theological scholars. Otherwise, I just use my handy dandy fave version.

Do you begin and/or conclude with (a) prayer? - When I am searching for answers, yes. Whether of not God is with me is not for me to say, but at least I am in the right frame of mind after prayer.

Do you approach the Bible as a religious work or as any ordinary book? - To me, it is an important religious work which also is a fascinating and beautiful work of literature.

14

I try to avoid it, but as I’m taking a comp lit class right now*, some of it is required reading. Neadlessly to say, I don’t read it in a religeous way, but only as literature, and I have the SD Staff Reports about who wrote the Bible bookmarked, to give me some more info on the way.
There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s the most important piece of literature ever written - its impact on history and culture is immense, and that alone is reason enough to study it. But I’m religeon free, so it carries no spiritual connection for me.
And as literature goes - it’s kinda repetitive and boring.

*Back in school at 43. I need the credits to get my exam to be a teacher.

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I see this thread and can’t help remembering the Simpsons episode where Homer thinks he may have eaten poisonous blowfish at a Japanese restaurant. He goes downstairs in the middle of the night for some inspiration from “the Good Book” - which turns out to be a cassette album of The Bible as read by Larry King. He listens for a while, but when he gets to the “begats”, he hits the fast-forward button several times. :smiley:

Despite not having the Larry King version at my disposal, I have to confess that I have done the same sort of thing when reading Genesis - skipped over the chronology of the Sons of Adam. Just too many characters for my poor befuddled brain to remember.

16

It sit in my pentagram, holding the Book upside-down, reading backwards…this his how I pray to the Goddess.

17

your
wow, if i was going to answer, there it is. as both a religious book, and a real book. set in any number of styles and by any number of authors. it’s been read as a guide, out of order, and as a “book” cover to cover. regardless of your religious stand, or belief system, it’s a magnificient book.

when they make a movie, i’m right there

18

When I was 16, during summer vacation, I read the Bible from cover to cover. I don’t remember how long it took me, but I spent at least six hours per day reading. It felt like I was undergoing a physical as well as mental challenge, but when I finally finished it, I felt like I had personally experienced some kind of epic journey. Then I started over again. I think I read it three times.

Today, I have often read the individual books in one sitting; even the longest ones only take a few hours to get through. I feel I have a much better understanding of the big picture than people who only read snippets, or who only read the (highly selective) passages that go with the pastor’s sermon in church.

19

I read the KJV (an old edition with explanatory headings like Shewing Christ’s love for the church over OT chapters), and as a Jewish atheist I approach it not religiously, but with great respect.

Do you read them slowly but silently? silently and fast? Fast and silent.

Do you dwell on the words? In difficult books like Job.

Do you follow the order it is currently in or do you have your own order? I usually read my favourite bits first.

Do you read the Bible at a set time or a set frequency, sort of as a ritual? Or whenever you have time? Whenever it strikes my fancy, irregularly, or whenever I want to fish out a “So and so begat” for an Inspirational Quote of the Day.

Do you have a certain posture you use when reading the Bible, or will any posture do? What, do some people like to read it while doing headstands or something?

Do you consult notes, commentary, explanations, different translations, or whatnot while reading the Bible? or do you just read the text? Just read the text, though sometimes I’ll go to Biblegateway.com if something is particularly ambiguous.

Do you begin and/or conclude with (a) prayer? No, see first paragraph.

20

I have never come close to reading the whole thing, but my latest strategy is to read the interesting-sounding books first. Maybe I’ll be able to face up to the dull stuff if I’m fairly close to finishing but if not, I’ll have read more than I probably could have managed otherwise.

I’ll let you know how it works out if I’m still around.