Hey 👋

It’s been a looong minute! I know. I missed you too. How’ve you been?

I have acquired a wealth of new and intriguing knowledge during my absence, and I am eager to share it with you! I also have some captivating stories to tell! Okay, maybe I am getting a little carried away with the exclamation marks!

Okay, let’s get started with one of those stories:

In my younger and more vulnerable years as a believer, I greatly struggled with Bible study. I admired the way preachers explained the Bible, and I had a deep yearning to understand and explain it in a similar way.

Let's face it, even for the well-informed, understanding the Bible can be a challenging task. So, it's no surprise when we misinterpret what it says on some topics.

This is why believers must strive to learn how to effectively study the Bible. Now, without further ado, let's dive in! 🤿

1. Understanding the fundamentals:

The Bible is a large book made up of several smaller 'books' with different elements and factors to consider, such as theme, language, context, and culture. Recognizing all of these variables will help to avoid misunderstanding and confusion.

2. Determine your goal:

Different parts of the Bible address different aspects of life:

• Proverbs => Life applicable wisdom

• Epistles => Understanding your new life in Christ

• Gospels => Understanding the life and death of Jesus Christ

• Acts => Understanding the church and her origins

You can utilize a Bible reading plan to break down these books into manageable bits that can be covered within your day.

3. Select a Bible translation:

Selecting a translation is crucial when starting out with Bible study. There are plenty of Bible translations to choose from, and this wide array of options sometimes leads to confusion.

If you can grasp Old English patterns and enjoy reading 'thys' and 'behold,' then the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible would be a good fit for you.

However, if you find it difficult to understand the pattern of English spoken in the KJV, you might want to consider other versions written in recent times, such as the New King James Version (NKJV) or the New International Version (NIV).

4. Other study tools:

Now that you're reading, it's important to have a contextual understanding. Study tools such as commentaries, concordances, and study Bibles provide you with a deeper understanding of intended scriptures.

These materials provide a deep dive into the historical, cultural, and literary context of the passages. Some study Bibles draw a parallel between a passage in the New Testament and where it was referenced in the Old Testament, hence providing a better understanding for you.

One more thing...

It is important to note that no one ever comes to a deep understanding by accident. One would have to apply oneself to prayer, to study, to search, and to meditate on the scriptures read.

Proper exegesis of scripture requires faithfulness to the study of the scriptures.

I pray that the Holy Spirit grants you the grace to discipline yourself to study and also the grace to understand what you study.

We have an ongoing Bible reading plan on the Triumph30 devotional app. I implore you to take full advantage of this as you build consistency in the study of the word.