How to read the Bible

Looking up Bible References

• Use the index in the front of the Bible.
• Genesis 1:2 means the book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 2

Basic Bible Reading Guide

• It uses different styles of writing (law, letters, poetry, history)
• We need to read poetry as poetry (often symbolic) and history as history (usually literal)
• We need to accept that the Bible is true (Psalm 33:4, John 17:17)
• We need to read the Bible with an attitude of being willing to trust and obey God’s word (James 1:22)
• The Bible itself interprets the Bible e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:3
• The context explains the meaning of words
• The Old Testament points forward to Jesus (Luke 24:44), and the New Testament explains what Jesus has done for us
• When reading the OT we need to ask, “How has Jesus fulfilled this?” and then “How does what Jesus has done apply to me?”