The Bible: The least read book in the world

THE English Bible is the bestselling book – but it is also the least read book.
There are three main topics in studying the Bible:
l    Read your Bible:
l    Interpret correctly: and
l    Apply correctly.
Christians read the Bible to learn about God and their relationship with Him – and to
others.
They read it because – apart from prayer and helping others – it will help them grow spiritually. 
Music has a place in Christian worship but learning from the Bible must be a priority.
Physical exercise helps the body grow; reading good literature helps in mental growth but to grow spiritually believers must read the Bible and submit to it.
It is the milk essential for growth (I Peter 2.2) and meat for those who are strong (Hebrews 5.14). The Bible gives hope and light when life becomes dark. Psalms 119.105 states: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
It promises spiritual blessings to those who study and live in it. Psalms 1: 2,3 states that one whose delight is in God’s words will be “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season”.
The English Bible –particularly the King James Version – is one of the best English prose. Literature professors study it as an academic exercise.
The Protestant Bible versions have 66 books. (Bible comes from the Greek word biblia meaning books.)
It comprises 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New.
The original Old Testament was in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek.
Since the 1500s the books have been translated into English for kings, professors and commoners to understand what God is saying.
Genesis, Exodus, books of Samuel and Kings, the gospels and the book of Acts are historical books and are simple narratives.
The poetical books include Psalms, Proverbs and Songs of Solomon. The prophetical books such as Isaiah and Ezekiel are the most challenging to understand.
Nobody understands the Bible by reading it for the first time as one cannot understand Calculus or Basic French in the first lesson, first week or first month. It will take time – but the good student must be determined.
In reading it would be good to alternate between the Old and New Testaments.
Start with Genesis then go to Mathew, back to Exodus and then to Acts and so forth.
Try to read three chapters a day.

Next week: Interpreting the Bible correctly