Reading the Bible
What is the Bible?
One of the biggest issues confronting the American church today is Bible illiteracy. Not only do many people not read the Bible, many who do read it don't actually understand how to read it the way its meant to be read. Oftentimes, we will read our own prejudices and traditions into the Bible instead of allowing scripture to speak for itself.
In this module, we will learn what the Bible actually is and how we can approach it. Watch the following Bible Project videos, then work through the Practice section:
Practice
Take time to memorize either 2 Timothy 3:16-17 or Hebrews 4:12-13.
Use this 2PROAPT method to read through the book of Jonah.
Or pick another, shorter text.
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The 2PROAPT guide will aid you in reading the text in its unique context.
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Allow yourself to experience the literature as it was written. Jonah is actually funny. Allow yourself to laugh. In this way, you will be able to truly understand the literature the way it was meant to be understood.
If you haven't yet, take a look at our plan to read through the Bible every two years. Jump on board with the community in exploring God's word today.
Going Deeper
If you're interested in going deeper, here are a couple of resources to explore:
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
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This book by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart is one of the best resources on understanding how to properly read the Bible. It goes into detail on translations of the Bible, using Commentaries, and understanding literary genres.
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The Bible Project videos on Literary Genres
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The Bible Project website continues their exploration of the literary genres with 6 videos on Narratives, 6 on Poetry, and 3 on Prose Discourse. It is worth checking out.