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Some believers, even Orthodox Christians, attend temple services, observe fasts, but do not study the Bible and Holy Scripture. How can you recognize a person if you don’t communicate with him? How can you know God's will for your life if you do not read the Creator's writings?
The reason for this is sometimes simply laziness or neglect, but more often people are stopped by the fear of not understanding what is written.
Christian Library of God's Messages
There are 77 books in the Orthodox Bible, each of them tells about a certain period in the history of mankind and the formation of faith in the Creator. How to read the Bible correctly so as not only to be filled historical information, but also to understand the meaning of God's revelations?
Orthodox Bible
You can get closer to the concept of God and learn His plan only from the Holy Scriptures.
How to Read the Bible and See Its Value
For believers who are beginning to learn the Bible for the first time, it is advisable to receive the blessing of a spiritual mentor and listen carefully to his advice. Before you start reading the Holy Scriptures or Sacred Traditions, you should pray, ask the Almighty to bless and give wisdom to understand everything written.
Prayer to Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart, so that when I hear Your Word, I understand it and fulfill Your will. Hide not Your commandments from me, but open my eyes, that I may understand the wonders of Your law. Tell me the unknown and secret of Your wisdom! I trust in You, my God, and I believe that You will enlighten my mind and meaning with the light of Your mind and that then I will not only read what is written, but also fulfill it. Make it so that I do not read the Lives of the Saints and Your Word as a sin, but for renewal and enlightenment, and for holiness, and for the salvation of the soul, and for the inheritance of eternal life. For You, Lord, are the illumination of those who lie in darkness, and from You is every good gift and every perfect gift. Amen.
Sequence of reading the New Testament
- It is best to study the Holy Scripture, or rather the New Testament, the Gospel with the Good News transmitted by the Apostle Luke, who was a doctor by profession and lived in the time of the Apostle Paul. The Gospel of Luke gives the most detailed earthly biography of Jesus Christ, from genealogy to ascension.
- Some priests advise reading Mark first. This message is the shortest and easiest to read.
- Take your time to explore the other three gospels. Continue to enjoy Luke's revelations as conveyed in the Acts of the Apostles, which describe the lives of Jesus' disciples after His ascension to the Father.
- The Apostle John left his Gospel as a legacy to his descendants. Being the beloved and youngest disciple of Christ, John was able to convey to Christians the meaning of the main mission of Jesus - to save the world in the name of God's glory.
- Information about the earthly ministry of Christ is supplemented by the Gospels of Mark and Matthew.
- The letters to the churches written by the four apostles, Peter, Paul, James, and Jude, are surprising and delightful in their relevance to the problems of modern churches.
- The revelations recorded in Ephesians will help you feel truly protected by God and know your rights as an heir of the Living God.
- The Epistle to the Philippians will help restore the joy of communion with the Lord and give a new awareness of churching.
- The most difficult to read is the Apocalypse, written by the Apostle John during his exile on the island of Patmos. This revelation is encrypted and open to a select few.
Reading the Bible
How to Read the Old Testament
After studying the New Testament, you can move on to the Old Testament, which contains laws that, according to Jesus himself, are a teacher for Christians.
- You shouldn't read everything. For example, having begun to get acquainted with the Old Testament, having read Genesis, Exodus, do not rush to learn Numbers and Levites, this requires a special understanding. It is better to study such books with the help of a spiritual guide.
- Notice Deuteronomy 28 gives the principles of blessing and cursing.
- The Book of Judges and Kings will reveal the historical aspect of the life of the Jews and the actions of God there.
- After reading historical books about the lives of kings, you can begin to get acquainted with the psalms. The reading of Psalms, such as 50, 90, 22 and others, is included in the prayer order of Orthodox Christians, but not everyone knows that these texts are taken from the Psalter, part of the Old Testament, which consists of 150 songs.
About the Psalms:
Experienced Christians have a whole list of psalms, divided into groups, which are read in various life situations:
- illness;
- on the road;
- despondency;
- depression;
- loneliness;
- anxiety and others.
Discover Proverbs. You know that there is a saying among Christians that reading one parable a day drives away the devil. The Bible contains 31 parables, one for each day of the month. Reading for the first time these messages, received by King Solomon and written down under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you are amazed at their wisdom.
Wisdom, which is what Solomon asked God for when He asked about the king’s desires, made King Solomon the richest and wisest ruler in all the days of people’s lives on earth.
Wise Solomon
When reading Proverbs, you sometimes forget that they were written several thousand years ago, they are so relevant today.
Getting acquainted with the Holy Scripture for the first time, many former communists will see in it the principles of the Communist Party Manifesto, so there is nothing new under the sun. The great Russian writer Kuprin wrote Shulamith based on the Song of Songs and the life of King Solomon, using entire paragraphs from the Bible.
After reading an incomprehensible text, do not throw it aside, write it down in a notebook and turn to experienced Christians. Sunday school teachers, who, as a rule, are at every church, will be good helpers in this matter.
In what language to read the Bible
The original texts of the books of Holy Scripture are written in various languages:
- Hebrew;
- Aramaic;
- Greek;
- Latin.
No one argues that reading books from the original source gives the most accurate idea of what the author of the letter wanted to convey to the reader. In modern libraries there are practically no primary sources, only translations. The Holy Scriptures have been translated for almost all peoples of the world, so it is better to start reading it in your native language.
About the Bible texts:
Sometimes, in order to understand some incomprehensible place in the Holy Scriptures, it is necessary to have several Bibles from different translators, and it is better if someone speaks several languages, then in a foreign one. If Jesus spoke in Aramaic, only the words “love, the word” there have multiple meanings.
Advice! Do not rush to read the Bible in Church Slavonic, start with the Holy Scriptures translated into your native language, clear language. The Church recommends that beginning readers of messages from the Creator begin with the Synodal Translation of the Bible, which has been time-tested and has had a great influence on the development of Russian culture.
Bible. Books of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
According to the priests, spiritual food should be served to people in the language in which it will be better absorbed and beneficial. The Holy Traditions, the epistles of John the Theologian and the apostolic conversations will help you better understand the Holy Scriptures.
Why should Christians read the Bible?
The Holy Scriptures are God's revelations to people, in order to understand it, one should prepare to read the Bible. Even in monasteries, young novices are recommended, before studying the Holy Scriptures, to first read the traditions of the Church Fathers and the letters of the apostles in order to understand the essence of the matter.
The Bible is a mirror of human nature, and sometimes not everything it says is what people like. In this case, we should think about what is wrong in our lives, maybe the Creator wants to change our character in this way, awaken our conscience, reduce our pride, and all this only in order to bring us closer to Himself, to fill us with the Kingdom of God.
The church does not require memorizing biblical passages, but by regularly reading a particular text, exploring revelations on certain issues, such as love, obedience, faithfulness, healing, and others, writing down favorite passages, and there will certainly be some, people begin to quote them by heart. This does not require special memorization.
Regular reading of the Holy Epistles will eventually become a necessity and will fill you with spiritual strength. This process can be compared to the hard training of athletes who dream of becoming winners. There is no need to strive to embrace the immensity; you can read 1-2 chapters every day, preferably in the morning after prayer, in order to “drink” of living water, receiving God’s knowledge for the whole day.
Modern Christians should thank God for the grace given to have their own Bible, to freely read the Holy Scriptures every day, to go to church; under Soviet rule, this could lead to imprisonment. Truly, we have and do not value.
Daily reading of Holy Scripture in obedience will allow us to find in it God Himself and Jesus Christ, whose existence runs like a red thread through the Old and New Testaments.
By getting to know the Creator, Christians merge with Him into one whole, filling themselves with the Creator’s love. According to one priest, reading the Bible is like sailing in a small boat on a huge ocean.
Bible in Church Slavonic
What psalms to read in different life situations
These lines will help when:
- You're in trouble:
- John. 14:1-4
- Heb. 7:25
- You are grateful:
- 1 Thess. 5:18
- Heb. 13:15
- You are scared:
- Matt. 10:28
- 2 Tim. 1:7
- Heb. 13:5-6
- You need God's protection:
- Phil. 4:19
- Are you sick:
- Matt. 26:39
- Rome. 5:3-5
- 2 Cor. 12:9-10
- 1 Pet. 4:12-13.19
- Psalm 90
- 1 Cor. 10:13
- You are tempted:
- Matt. 26:41
- 1 Cor. 10:12-14
- Phil. 4:8
- Jacob 4:7
- 2 Pet. 2:9
- 2 Pet. 3:17
- Crisis in life:
- Matt. 6:25-34
- Heb. 4:16
- You are deprived of loved ones:
- Matt. 5:4
- 2 Cor. 1:3-4
- You need life guidance:
- Rome. 12
- You are alone:
- Heb. 13:5-6
- You are preoccupied with vanity and anxiety:
- Matt. 6:19-34
- 1 Pet. 5:6-7
- You are in danger:
- Onion. 8:22-25
- You judge others:
- 1 Cor. 13
- You are sad:
- Matt. 5
- John. 14
- 2 Cor. 1:3-4
- 1 Thess. 4:13-18
- You are defeated:
- Rome. 8:31-39
- Your friends are letting you down:
- Onion. 17:3-4
- Rome. 12:14,17,19,21
- 2 Tim. 4:16-18
- You leave home:
- Matt. 10:16-20
- You need peace:
- John 14:1-4
- John 16:33
- Rome. 5:1-5
- Phil. 4:6-7
- You need guidance in prayer:
- Luke 11:1-13
- John 17
- 1 John 5:14-15
- Faith weakens:
- Heb. eleven
- Are you in doubt:
- Matt. 8:26
- Heb. eleven
- Are you worried:
- Matt. 6:19-34
- Phil. 4:6
- 1 Pet. 5:6-7
- Are you tired:
- Matt. 11:28-30
- 1 Cor. 15:58
- Gal. 6:9
- Are you afraid and sick?
- Deut. 7
- Psalm 90
- Psalm 22
- 1 Cor. 10:13
- Isaiah 40:31
- Isaiah 41:10-13
- John. 10:27-29
- 2 Tim. 1:7
- Heb. 13:5-6
- John. 14:1
- 1 Pet. 5:6-11
- Phil. 4:6-7
- Sick and tired:
- Rome. 8:31-39
- Rome. 5:1-5
- 1 Pet. 4:12-13
- Luke 8:22-25
- 1 John 1:4-9
- 1 Cor. 10:13
- Rome. 8:11
Feb 3, 2019 13:22 Administrator
Bible School "God and Man"
The Bible will be of no use to a man unless he reads, studies, and puts it into practice. Therefore, study this lesson very carefully, which will help you with practical steps and methods for studying the Scriptures. Pray that the Lord will give you grace to understand His Word and to practical application him in your life.
Look at what God says to Joshua, showing him the absolute relationship between reading the law and success in doing it:
Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, for you will lead these people to inherit the land that I swore to give to their fathers. Joshua 1:7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to fulfill all the Law that My servant Moses gave you. Do not turn away from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. Joshua 1:8 Let the words of the book of the Law always be on your lips; meditate on them day and night, so that you can do exactly everything that is written. Then you will prosper and be successful.
I. Reading the Bible
Joshua 1:8 May the words of the Book of the Law always be on your lips; meditate on them day and night, so that you can do exactly everything that is written. Then you will prosper and be successful
God revealed His truth to people using language they understood (Hebrew in the Old Testament, Greek in the New Testament). In order for God's truth to be understood, it must be diligently studied.
The Bible must be read carefully. The Bible is written rationally and clearly, and contains a wealth of God's truth. To understand this truth, we need to read the text carefully, paying attention to every word. Pay attention to what is said about God and the relationship of the characters to God, what is said about God's commands or promises of blessings. Try to understand the meaning that the author wanted to convey to his readers.
The Bible should be read regularly. You cannot understand the Bible correctly unless you have a good knowledge of its general contents. The better you know the general content of the Bible, the easier it will be for you to understand the meaning of its individual texts. We constantly need spiritual food, so we need to read the Bible daily. In order to make good decisions in life, we need to have constant access to God's truth.
Reading the Bible is the most The best way our communication with God. God speaks to us through the Bible. A Christian is a person who listens to what the Lord says and obeys Him.
There are different methods of reading the Bible:
Reading the Entire Bible in a Year
Reading one book of the Bible at a time
Reading for Research and Study
II. Bible Study
Joshua 1:8 Let the words of the book of the Law always be on your lips; meditate on them day and night to do exactly what is written. Then you will prosper and be successful
In order to understand the truth of the Bible and know how to apply it in life, we need to study it. God conveyed the meaning of his truth through human language.
There are simple rules for studying the Bible:
Observation: What I see?
Pay attention to who the characters were and to whom their words were addressed. What were the author's circumstances when writing this text? Look for keywords in the text. Determine the relationship between words in a sentence and in a paragraph. Read, write, reflect.
Interpretation: What does it mean?
If you want to understand the biblical text, you will have to “bombard” it with questions. Look for answers to questions in the text itself. Try to determine the meaning of the paragraph (verse) in context. That is, look at what the author says before, what he says after, and how what he says in this verse relates to everything above and below. Correct interpretation is impossible unless you determine the meaning of your text in context.
As you read the Bible, answer the following questions:
Who owns these words?
To whom are these words addressed?
State in your own words the general meaning of what is being said here.
What does this text say about God, His actions and His attributes?
What commandments or commands are there in this text?
How does the principle presented in the text apply to you today?
What will you do to practically apply the revealed truths in your life?
Example 1
Ps.1:1 Blessed is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, does not stand in the way of sinners, and does not sit in the congregation of those who mock. Ps.1:2 But delights in the Lord's Law, and meditates on His Law day and night. Ps.1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which bears fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does, he will succeed in everything. Ps.1:4 Such are not the wicked! They are like chaff driven by the wind. Ps.1:5 Therefore the wicked and sinners will not stand in judgment in the assembly of the righteous. Ps.1:6 For the Lord guards the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked perishes.
These words belong to David - “Psalm of David”
To all. This is a general prophetic word that speaks of eternal values.
3. State in your own words the general meaning of what is said here.
The person who avoids sin and continues in the word will have a rich and fruitful life, bringing blessings at all times. A person who continues in sin and wickedness will be unstable in life and will receive eternal damnation.
God blesses the righteous and judges the wicked.
There are no direct commands, but there are lessons we can learn from this:
In order to be blessed, one must avoid sin and its influence.
In order to have strength and fruitfulness, you need to meditate on the Word of God and fulfill it constantly.
6. How does the principle presented in the text apply to you today?
Identify areas of your life through which sin and wickedness enter or influence your life.
Analyze your personal spiritual relationship to the Holy Scriptures. How much time do you actually devote to staying there?
Outline practical steps to avoid all influence of sin and wickedness in your life. Make a specific plan for when and how much you will read and study the Bible.
Example 2
Luke 5:4 When Jesus finished speaking, He said to Simon: “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:5 Simon replied: “Master, we worked all night and caught nothing, but if You say so, then I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:6 And when they had done this, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. Luke 5:7 They began to call their comrades from the other boat for help. They swam up, and together they filled two boats so much that the boats began to sink. Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the feet of Jesus and said: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Luke 5:9 He said this because he and everyone who was fishing with him were overcome with horror at the sight of such an abundant catch.
1. Who owns these words?
Evangelist Luke describes the fact that happened to Christ and His disciples
2. To whom are these words addressed?
Theophilus, friend of Luke
Luke 1:1 Since many had already begun to compile a description of the events that took place among us Luke 1:2 on the basis of information transmitted to us by people who from the very beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of God's word, Luke 1:3 I also decided carefully having examined everything from the beginning, describe to you, most honorable Theophilus, everything in order, Luke 1:4 so that you can be convinced of the authenticity of what you have been taught.
3. Formulate in your own words the general meaning of what is said here
Jesus Christ performs a miracle that is incredible to Peter and his friends. This miracle brings them to a vivid awareness of what stands before them. The revealed Divine power of Christ fills them with fear and trembling.
4. What does this text say about God, His actions, and His attributes?
Christ cares about the physical lives of his disciples
Christ controls the fish, commanding it to appear where it does not usually appear
When people come to know God better, they are in awe, aware of His holiness and their sinfulness
God teaches people lessons using life's circumstances
5. What commandments or commands are there in this text?
There are no direct commandments, but there are lessons we can learn from this:
Obeying God Even When It Seems Futile
The need for the will to clearly understand who God is
The need to understand one's sinfulness
6. How does the principle presented in the test apply to you today?
See in which areas it seems to you that it is impossible and pointless to perform
God's commands
Do you have a deep understanding of God's greatness in your life that brings
you are in awe of Him.
How aware are you of your sinfulness?
7. What will you do to put the revealed truths into practical use in your life?
Make a practical plan for how you will submit to God in the areas that you cannot submit to now.
Determine where and under what circumstances you will have meetings with God, so that you can better understand His greatness and see your sinfulness and need for Him.
III. Bible Reconciliation
Even the most accurate interpretation of the Bible will not lead us to success if the revealed truth is not practically applied in life.
At the application stage, you ask the question: “How will this work in my life?”
Joshua 1:8 Let the words of the book of the Law always be on your lips; meditate on them day and night, to do everything exactly what is written. Then you will prosper and be successful.
The task of Bible students is to understand the principle expressed in the Bible text and determine how it can be practically applied to life today.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired of God and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness,
As you study the Bible, ask yourself these questions:
What does this text teach you?
What is he accusing you of?
How does he propose to fix your problems?
What is the overall message from this text that is essential for your spiritual growth?
When reading and studying the Bible, you need to remember the main purpose of its writing:
John 20:31 But what is written here is written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His Name.
Therefore, reading and studying the Bible must be approached prayerfully, in humility before God and with a willingness to submit oneself to His will.
Whenever you approach a portion of Scripture, consider it in terms of the big picture:
What I see?
What does it mean?
How does it work?
The Bible is God's revelation designed to transform our character into the character of Christ. And for those people who put into practice the principles they learn from this revelation, their lives change.
Control questions:
Name the three main principles of knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.
From 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we can understand that all Scripture is profitable for...
What is the main purpose of writing the Bible?
Spiritual Center Father's Blessing – Page 7
— We Orthodox Christians are often reproached for not reading the Bible as often as, for example, Protestants do. How fair are such accusations?
— Orthodox Church recognizes two sources of knowledge of God - Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. Moreover, the first is an integral part of the second. After all, initially the sermons of the holy apostles were delivered and transmitted orally. Sacred Tradition includes not only Holy Scripture, but also liturgical texts, decrees of Ecumenical Councils, iconography and a number of other sources that occupy an important place in the life of the Church. And everything that is said in the Holy Scriptures is also in the Tradition of the Church.
Since ancient times, the life of a Christian has been inextricably linked with biblical texts. And in the 16th century, when the so-called “Reformation” arose, the situation changed. Protestants abandoned the Holy Tradition of the Church and limited themselves to only studying the Holy Scriptures. And therefore, a special kind of piety appeared among them - reading and studying biblical texts. Once again I want to emphasize: from the point of view of the Orthodox Church, Holy Tradition includes the entire scope of church life, including the Holy Scriptures. Moreover, even if someone does not read the Word of God, but regularly attends the temple, he hears that the entire service is permeated with biblical quotations. Thus, if a person lives a church life, then he is in the atmosphere of the Bible.
— How many books are included in the Holy Scriptures? What is the difference between the Orthodox Bible and the Protestant Bible?
— The Holy Scriptures are a collection of books, different books according to the time of their writing, and by authorship, and by content, and by style. They are divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. There are 77 books in the Orthodox Bible, and 66 in the Protestant Bible.
—What causes this discrepancy?
— The fact is that in the Orthodox Bible, more precisely in the Holy Scripture of the Old Testament, in addition to 39 canonical books, there are 11 more non-canonical books: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach, Epistle of Jeremiah, Baruch, the second and third books of Ezra, three books of Maccabees. In the “Long Christian Catechism” of St. Philaret of Moscow it is said that the division of books into canonical and non-canonical is caused by the absence of the latter (11 books) in Jewish primary sources and their presence only in Greek, i.e. in the Septuagint (translation of 70 interpreters). In turn, Protestants, starting with M. Luther, abandoned non-canonical books, mistakenly assigning them the status of “apocryphal”. As for the 27 books of the New Testament, they are recognized by both Orthodox and Protestants. It's about about the Christian part of the Bible, written after the Nativity of Christ: the New Testament books testify to the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ and the first decades of the existence of the Church. These include the four Gospels, the book of the Acts of the Apostles, the epistles of the apostles (seven - conciliar and 14 - of the Apostle Paul), as well as the Revelation of John the Theologian (Apocalypse).
— How to study the Bible correctly? Is it worth starting knowledge from the first pages of Genesis?
— The main thing is to have a sincere desire to learn the Word of God. It's better to start with the New Testament. Experienced pastors recommend getting acquainted with the Bible through the Gospel of Mark (that is, not in the order in which they are presented). It is the shortest, written in simple and accessible language. Having read the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John, we move on to the book of Acts, the Apostolic Epistles and the Apocalypse (the most complex and most mysterious book in the entire Bible). And only after this can you begin to read the Old Testament books. Only after reading the New Testament, it is easier to understand the meaning of the Old. After all, it was not for nothing that the Apostle Paul said that the Old Testament legislation was a teacher to Christ (see: Gal. 3: 24): it leads a person, as if a child by the hand, to let him truly understand what happened during the Incarnation, What in principle is the incarnation of God for a person...
— What if the reader does not understand some episodes of the Bible? What to do in this case? Who should I contact?
— It is advisable to have books on hand that explain the Holy Scriptures. We can recommend the works of Blessed Theophylact of Bulgaria. His explanations are short, but very accessible and deeply ecclesiastical, reflecting the Tradition of the Church. The conversations of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospels and Apostolic Epistles are also classic. If any questions arise, it would be a good idea to consult with an experienced priest. It is necessary to understand that reading the Holy Scriptures is part of a spiritual achievement. And it is very important to pray, to cleanse your soul. Indeed, even in the Old Testament it was said: wisdom will not enter an evil soul and will not dwell in a body enslaved to sin, for the Holy Spirit of wisdom will withdraw from wickedness and turn away from foolish speculations, and will be ashamed of the approaching unrighteousness (Wisdom 1: 4-5) .
- So, you need to prepare for reading the Holy Scriptures in a special way?
— Experienced elders in monasteries gave the novice a rule: before studying the Holy Scriptures, you first need to familiarize yourself with the works of the holy fathers. Bible readings are not just studying the Word of God, they are like prayer. In general, I would recommend reading the Bible in the morning, after the prayer rule. I think it’s easy to set aside 15-20 minutes to read one or two chapters from the Gospel, the Apostolic Epistles. This way you can get a spiritual charge for the whole day. Very often, in this way, answers to serious questions that life poses to a person appear.
— Sometimes the following situation happens: you read it, understand what it’s about, but it doesn’t suit you because you don’t agree with what’s written...
— According to Tertullian (one of the church writers of antiquity), our soul is Christian by nature. Thus, biblical truths were given to man from the very beginning; they are embedded in his nature, his consciousness. We sometimes call this conscience, that is, it is not something new that is unusual for human nature. The main tenets of the Holy Scriptures are the voice of God, sounding in the nature of each of us. Therefore, you need, first of all, to pay attention to your life: is everything in it consistent with the commandments of God? If a person does not want to listen to the voice of God, then what other voice does he need? Who will he listen to?
— Once St. Philaret was asked: how can one believe that the prophet Jonah was swallowed by a whale that had a very narrow throat? In response, he said: “If it were written in the Holy Scriptures that it was not a whale that swallowed Jonah, but Jonah a whale, I would believe that too.” Of course, today such statements can be perceived with sarcasm. In this regard, the question arises: why does the Church trust the Holy Scripture so much? After all, the biblical books were written by people...
— The main difference between the Bible and other books is revelation. This is not just the work of some outstanding person. Through the prophets and apostles, the voice of God Himself is reproduced in accessible language. If the Creator addresses us, then how should we react to this? Hence such attention and such trust in the Holy Scriptures.
— In what language were the biblical books written? How has their translation affected the modern perception of sacred texts?
— Most of the Old Testament books are written in Hebrew. Some of them survive only in Aramaic. The already mentioned non-canonical books have reached us exclusively in Greek: for example, Judith, Tobit, Baruch and the Maccabees. The third book of Ezra is known to us in its entirety only in Latin. As for the New Testament, it was mainly written in Greek - in the Koine dialect. Some biblical scholars believe that the Gospel of Matthew was written in Hebrew, but no primary sources have reached us (there are only translations). Of course, it would be better to read and study biblical books based on primary sources and originals. But this has been the case since ancient times: all books of Holy Scripture were translated. And therefore, for the most part, people are familiar with the Holy Scriptures translated into their native language.
— It would be interesting to know: what language did Jesus Christ speak?
— Many people believe that Christ used Aramaic. However, when talking about the original Gospel of Matthew, most biblical scholars point to Hebrew as the language of the Old Testament books. Disputes on this topic continue to this day.
— According to Bible societies, back in 2008, the Bible was translated in whole or in part into 2,500 languages. Some scientists believe that there are 3 thousand languages in the world, others point to 6 thousand. It is very difficult to define the criterion: what is a language and what is a dialect. But we can say with absolute confidence: all people living in different parts of the globe can read the Bible in whole or in part in their native language.
— Which language is preferable for us: Russian, Ukrainian or Church Slavonic?
— The main criterion is that the Bible must be understandable. Traditionally, Church Slavonic is used during divine services in the Church. Unfortunately, in secondary school it is not studied. Therefore, many biblical expressions require explanation. This, by the way, applies not only to our era. This problem also arose in the 19th century. At the same time, a translation of the Holy Scriptures into Russian appeared - the Synodal Translation of the Bible. It has stood the test of time and had a huge impact on the development of the Russian language in particular and Russian culture in general. Therefore, for Russian-speaking parishioners, I would recommend using it for home reading. As for Ukrainian-speaking parishioners, the situation here is a little more complicated. The fact is that the attempt at the first complete translation of the Bible into Ukrainian was undertaken by Panteleimon Kulish in the 60s of the 19th century. He was joined by Ivan Nechuy-Levitsky. The translation was completed by Ivan Pulyuy (after Kulish’s death). Their work was published in 1903 by the Bible Society. In the 20th century the most authoritative were the translations of Ivan Ogienko and Ivan Khomenko. Currently, many people are attempting to translate the entire Bible or parts of it. There are both positive experiences and difficult, controversial issues. So, it would probably be incorrect to recommend any specific text of the Ukrainian translation. Now the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is translating the Four Gospels. I hope that this will be a successful translation both for home reading and for liturgical services (in those parishes where Ukrainian is used).
— In some parishes, during the service, a biblical passage is read in their native language (after reading in Church Slavonic)...
— This tradition is typical not only for ours, but also for many foreign parishes, where there are believers from different countries. In such situations, liturgical passages from the Holy Scriptures are repeated in native languages. After all, spiritual food must be given to a person in a form in which it can bring spiritual benefit.
— From time to time, information appears in the media about some new biblical book that was allegedly previously lost or kept secret. It necessarily reveals some “sacred” moments that contradict Christianity. How to treat such sources?
— In the last two centuries, many ancient manuscripts have been discovered, which has made it possible to coordinate the view on the study of the biblical text. First of all, this concerns the Qumran manuscripts discovered in the Dead Sea area (in the Qumran caves). Many manuscripts were found there - both biblical and gnostic (i.e. texts that distort Christian teaching). It is possible that many manuscripts of a Gnostic nature will be found in the future. It should be recalled that even during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The Church fought against the heresy of Gnosticism. And in our time, when we are witnessing a craze for the occult, these texts appear under the guise of some kind of sensation.
— By what criteria can one determine a positive result from regular reading of the Holy Scriptures? By the number of memorized quotes?
— We read the Word of God not for memorization. Although there are situations, for example in seminaries, when exactly this task is set. Biblical texts are important for spiritual life in order to feel the breath of God Himself. In this way, we become familiar with the grace-filled gifts that exist in the Church, we learn about the commandments, thanks to which we become better, and draw closer to the Lord. Therefore, studying the Bible is the most important part of our spiritual ascent, spiritual life. With regular reading, many passages are gradually memorized without special memorization.
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Chapter 7.
How to Read the Bible
People quite often have very strange ideas about how to read the Bible. Some treat it as if it were some kind of talisman or amulet. They open a book at random and read the first text that catches their eye, confident that God is speaking to them this way.
Others act in this case as if the Bible is a kind of “smorgasbord” table, when they snatch a piece of text in one place, then in another, and thus try to find food for thought in them.
Still others, out of a strict sense of duty, believe that they must begin at the very beginning and read every word of Holy Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.
Such approaches to reading the Bible leave much to be desired.
It cannot be denied that prayerfully, that is, with prayer preceding the selection, very valuable texts selected at random can sometimes bring sudden and much-needed blessing to a suffering soul. But such a method should hardly be recommended for a full and enriching understanding of the Bible. It can even lead to unforeseen conclusions, when a carefree reader can jump abruptly from “Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him” (Gen. 4:8) to “Go and do likewise” (Luke. 10:37).
Of course, jumping from one favorite text to another is better than not reading the Bible at all, but this is also a very superficial approach. The Shepherd's Psalm (Ps. 22) actually brings comfort; Isaiah’s description of the coming of the Messiah (chapter 53) is also beautiful; Jesus' attempts to comfort His disciples (John 14) are very moving; Paul's discourse on love (1 Cor. 13) is an incomparable literary pearl of moral teaching,
but we should not limit our understanding of the divine purpose of the Bible by continuing to read the same passages. It's like living in a beautiful little garden and never looking beyond the fence to the flower-strewn meadow, towering hills and snow-capped mountains. After all, all this beauty is beyond its borders!
As for systematic reading, starting from Gen. 1:1 to Open 22:21 - many zealous Christians do this annually as a pious exercise, reproducing the contents of the Bible in their memory. For those who are already well acquainted with the Bible, such zeal is to be commended, but for the beginner it may not be worthwhile to be such an ardent reader. Many, having successfully read Genesis and Exodus, constantly get stuck on the book of Leviticus or Deuteronomy. But even if they manage to overcome these difficult books, they will almost certainly give up by the time they come to the books of Ezekiel, Daniel or the minor prophets.
Below are some tips to help you enjoy reading the Bible and discover what a truly wonderful and wonderful book it is:
1. Start reading from the most simple books- such as the Gospel of Mark. Read it to the end. It won't take you long, no more than an hour.
Here are the very first records of the life and death of Jesus Christ, as reported by eyewitnesses. The many references here to the Apostle Peter suggest that significant information was provided by the “great fisherman” himself, which makes this narrative even more significant.
The Gospel of Mark is very dynamic, and as you work through the text you will find that it is not that difficult to read. It will introduce you not only to the New Testament, but will also point out the basic factors of the Christian faith.
2. Then read the Gospel of Matthew. This book was written several years after the Gospel of Mark and repeats many of its details. In addition, it contains most of the teachings of Jesus that Mark omitted in his work.
Matthew gives six sermons of Jesus, with the first most important and most familiar to us all being the Sermon on the Mount. In it we find bliss, " Golden Rule"and the Lord's Prayer.
The second sermon tells how to evangelize (chapter 10); the third (chapter 13) concerns the Kingdom of Heaven, which is narrated in parables or short stories; and the fourth (chapter 18) talks about forgiveness and humility.
The fifth sermon (chapter 23) contains a rebuke of the Pharisees for their hypocrisy; and the sixth (chap. 24 and 25) is a prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world.
These six sermons paint a vivid picture of the wonderful message Jesus proclaimed to both the people of his time and to you and me.
3. Then read the Gospel compiled by Luke, who has been called the first church historian because of his careful attention to such important details as the name of the Roman emperor and the year of his reign, who was on the throne when John the Baptist began to preach (Luke 3:1 ).
Luke's obvious interest in medicine demonstrates his humane approach to many issues, which undoubtedly was the reason that prompted him to write down the parables of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Rich Man, and Lazarus.
Once you finish reading the Gospel of Luke—which won't take you more than an hour and a half—your understanding of the true greatness of Jesus will be even greater.
4. Now begin to read the Gospel of John, which is very different from all the others, but in some of its aspects - in particular, in its beauty - it surpasses them. The Gospel of John was written at least half a century after the Gospel of Luke, and many changes occurred during that time. Two generations have grown since Jesus died on the cross. The Christian Church had established itself despite much suffering and hardship, and John was moved to write down his priceless memories of Jesus for its encouragement.
By reading all four Gospels, you will have the most wonderful introduction to the Bible. You will be sufficiently prepared to begin reading the Acts of the Apostles, Luke's history of the early Christian church, or, if you prefer, begin in Genesis, with the beginning of the tragedy of sin that culminated in Calvary. You can choose from many Bible reading tips - at your own discretion.
5. Pay attention to Bible stories. There are hundreds of them, covering an amazing variety of topics. Many years. I told Bible stories to children. As I studied these stories and told them to children in simple language they could understand, I found the Bible to be a fascinating book. She attracts you like a magnet. You can see this for yourself.
6. Pay attention to biographies. There are many of them in the Bible. Unlike many biographical works in the world, everything is presented in it - both the good and bad traits of the characters described.
You can focus your attention on Joseph and read everything that is said about him, from the birth of his firstborn Rachel to that happy day when Pharaoh placed the fate of Egypt in his hands (see Gen. 37-50 chapters).
Then read the biography of Moses, that great liberator of the Jews, and follow his amazing journey from the day when his mother placed him in a reed basket and lowered him into the waters of the Nile River, until the moment when he stood on Mount Sinai and talked with God. face to face". Book of Exodus 1:20, 24; Chapters 31-35 and Numbers 10 to 27 will cover the main stages of this story.
The story of Joshua will move you from his victory in the first battle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17:9) to the capture of Jericho, Ai, and finally all of Palestine (Joshua 1-24).
You will certainly enjoy reading the story of David. From the moment he appeared on the pages of the Bible as an innocent shepherd boy to the last moving speech of the dying king of Israel. This story will not leave you indifferent. By the way, this is the most extensive biography in the Old Testament, which occupies the 13th part of the entire volume of the book. Much of it is found in the First Book of Kings (chap. 19-31), throughout the entire Second Book of Kings, and in the first and second chapters of the Third Book of Kings.
If you want to know more about Solomon, this great king who was famous for his wisdom, turn to the first eleven chapters of the Third Book of Kings.
Elijah is another outstanding personality you will definitely want to get to know. He, along with his successor Elisha, was the prominent Israeli prophet of the ninth century BC. Like few others, they learned to use God's power. They brought down fire from heaven, raised the dead and performed a wide variety of miracles (see from chapter 17 of the Third Book of Kings to chapter 13 of the Fourth Book of Kings).
In the New Testament, one of the most prominent biographies, apart from the story of Jesus and the minor fragmentary descriptions of His disciples, is the biography of Paul. He enters the scene in Acts. 7:58 as the official representative of the Sanhedrin at the stoning of Stephen, and already in the eighth chapter it becomes the center of our attention and remains in this place until the last verse of the book. His three missionary journeys are described in great detail; in them he strives to bring the message of Christ to Jerusalem, Damascus, Antioch, Tarsus, Athens, Corinth, Philippi, Ephesus and Rome. He was the greatest missionary to proclaim the gospel in the first century A.D. And you, of course, should not miss the story about him.
7. Another very useful approach to the Bible is to view it as a kind of library in which, through reading, you can find many different topics to study. For this purpose a good Symphony is necessary.
You may wish to explore the topic of prayer in more detail. If you look into the Symphony, you will find hundreds of places where this word or its equivalent is used.
The names of people who prayed will appear before you, you will learn the reasons for their prayers and the results of prayer. Through this study, you will understand the reason why and when, in what case God answers prayers.
Another one important topic: faith. What is it? How much does God value her and why? What is its importance in Christian life? The Bible will answer all these questions.
Obedience and disobedience is another theme that is covered by many biblical examples; love and hatred, loyalty and betrayal, greed and generosity, justice and injustice, joy and sadness - all these topics deserve the closest attention.
You will want to understand the mercy and justice of God, the importance of law and grace, the reward of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked.
Another truly fascinating topic is that of prophecy. There are a lot of them in the Bible. It records the most diverse types of prophecies, telling, as we ourselves will see a little later, even about their fulfillment. Nothing else can strengthen our confidence in the Bible more than the fulfillment of its prophecies.
If you are a practical person, then turn to scientific facts that clearly prove that the Bible was much ahead modern research. Here are just a few examples:
A). “He... hung the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7). It was only in 1530 that Copernicus discovered the fact that our earth is in a “suspended” state in space.
b). “For He despises to the ends of the earth... When He gave weight to the wind” (Job 28:24, 25). It was not until 1630 that Galileo came to the conclusion that air has weight.
V). “For the life of every body is its blood” (Lev. 17:14). It was not until 1615 that William Harvey discovered the function of blood in the human body.
G). “And then the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be destroyed with burning fire, and the earth and all the works in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Only recently have scientists learned that global destruction is possible through nuclear fission, although God, of course, can use another method to bring the history of the earth to its “fiery” end.
If you feel that you haven't had time to complete some research and draw a line under it at once, continue reading until you find the answer to the thought that is bothering you.
Do not hesitate to emphasize important phrases in the Bible if you feel it is necessary. Carefully underlining texts with pencils of different colors brings great benefits to many.
There is much more that can be said about how the Bible should be read, for this subject is truly inexhaustible. But the most important thing here is not the method or the plan, but the spirit, the disposition in which you begin to read. If you approach the Bible with a critical attitude, ready to look for all sorts of sins and inaccuracies, then it will not lead to anything good. On the other hand, if you read it with a prayerful heart, turning to God for guidance and blessing, you will find in it not only an inexhaustible source of wisdom and joy, but also “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John. 4:14).
Test your knowledge of the Bible
(questions for the first section of the book)
Answer the following questions and check the text for correct answers.
1. What are the main differences between the Old and New Testaments?
2. How long did it take to compile the Bible? How many writers took part in its writing?
3. What is the oldest and most complete manuscript of the Bible still in existence?
4. What language was the New Testament first translated into? When did it happen?
5. When was the first translation of the Bible into English language? Who did it?
6. What archaeological excavations have shed light on the Jewish invasion of Palestine led by Joshua?
7. What evidence is there that an ordinary person could write and read 1000 years before Christ?
8. Does the Bible lose its power and influence when it is translated into a foreign language?
9. Who was the most famous "urban" evangelist - urban missionary in the first century AD?
10. Give four examples that show that the Bible was ahead of modern scientific research.
