Till I come, attend to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, to teaching.
I Timothy 4:13
For many Christians, both Orthodox and non-Orthodox, reading the Scriptures poses a challenge to faith. There are many challenges to reading the Scriptures, including understanding why we read them, how to read them, and understanding what we’ve read.
There are many Christians, particularly some in non-Orthodox churches, who are very devoted to reading the Bible. They know what Scripture says. They can defend their faith and argue for things based on their vast understanding of Scripture. It can actually be kind of intimidating for those who do not read the Scripture to talk about the faith with them, because we actually feel inadequate in doing so. There is also a temptation in Orthodoxy to say “we have the Liturgy, we have Tradition” and cast aside the importance of reading Scripture. Ironically, all of our Traditions are based in Scripture and just about every line of the Divine Liturgy comes directly from Scripture, so we are more Scripture-based than most of us know. Others will argue that the New Testament wasn’t codified until the late fourth century, thus for the formative years of Christianity, there was no Scripture. Yes, that is true. However, with the Scriptures codified and now widely available to be read (up until a few hundred years ago, before the invention of the printing press, most people could not own a Bible, let alone read one), the Bible is an important tool in building a relationship with the Lord and is a foundational part of our Christian journey.
We build relationships with people by spending time with them. It is the same thing with our relationship with the Lord. We will build this relationship by spending time with Him. So, as to the question, why do we read the Bible, the simple answer is, in order to build a relationship with God. In prayer we speak to the Lord. In Scripture is where He speaks to us. God’s voice is revealed in Scripture. In Genesis, He is revealed as our Creator. In the Gospels, He is revealed as our Savior.
If you’ve never read the Bible, or haven’t read much of is, start with the Gospels. Meet Jesus. Learn what He taught. Understand what He did. In the Gospels, we discover the heart of Jesus—if we want to have a heart like Jesus, this is where we will learn things like compassion, humility, sacrifice, love, joy, mercy, forgiveness, and many other things. Saint John the Evangelist, near the conclusion of his Gospel, summarizes the purpose of the Gospel when he says: Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30-31)
After you’ve read through the Gospels several times, then go to the book of Acts. This book is the detailed story of how the early Church began and how it functioned. The Epistles are letters to the early church, with lessons and teachings that apply to all churches for all time. The problems and challenges of the early Christians and in the early church continue to this day, which is why there is still so much value in reading the Epistles.
The Psalms are a collection of songs that reveal God’s comfort for every need. Proverbs is a book of wisdom that contains God’s advice for a good life. The Old Testament is a compilation of books that include the history of God’s people before Christ. This includes the account of Creation, the Fall, the history of the Jewish people (God’s chosen people), the giving of the Law and prophecies about the Messiah. The New Testament is prefigured in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament.
There are several resources that can help us be in Scripture daily. There are several “Bible in a Year” resources, some audio, and there is even a Bible that is divided into 365 parts so you can get through it in a year. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has daily readings that mirror the passages that are read in the Divine Services of the church each day. Bible Gateway is a great site in terms of looking up certain words that are in the Bible. And of course, the Prayer Team messages always include Scripture verses.
As for how to understand what we are reading, there are several things that can assist us. First, if you have an annotated Bible, like the Orthodox Study Bible, there are helpful footnotes on each page to help us understand what we are reading. Create a daily habit of reading the Bible. Chose a time when you are not rushed or stressed. Choose a place where you are relaxed and won’t be disturbed. Begin by praying and ask God to speak to you through your reading. (A good prayer for this is included below). Keep a journal of what you read and how if affects you. It’s not how much we read that matters. You can read a short amount and then “sit with it.” Reflect, read the notes, jot down some thoughts. Reading the same message multiple times helps you remember, and also reinforces what you’ve learned.
In his second letter to Timothy, St. Paul writes: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3: 16-17) In these verses, he provides a great summary of the benefits of reading Scriptures, which are as applicable today as they were when he wrote them nearly two thousand years ago. It is so amazing that Scripture is timeless, just like God who has inspired all Scripture.
Shine in our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of my mind that I may comprehend the message of Your Gospels. Instill in me also a reverence for Your holy commandments, so that having conquered sinful desires, I may lead a more spiritual life, thinking and doing only those things that are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls and bodies, and to You we send up glory, with Your Father who is from everlasting, and Your all holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. (Adapted from the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom)
Make reading the Bible a central part of your Christian journey each day!
