05 Biblically speakingWho Studies the Bible?

Lots of people enjoy reading the Bible. Pastors spend a lot of time studying the Bible in preparation for Sunday’s message. But others who teach the Bible, like Sunday School teachers or small- group leaders, also spend a lot of time thinking about the Bible. You don’t have to be a teacher to study the Bible. In fact, all Christians should study God’s word.

Should I study one book or read it all?

Reading the entire Bible is a worthwhile endeavor. But let’s be honest, that’s a lot to bite off at once. Besides, there are a lot of historical and cultural issues to study so that you can understand all the Bible. Granted, every Christian should seek to read the Bible at least once and maybe even once a year.

It’s also beneficial to study a single book of the Bible. Focusing on one book allows the reader to understand the original author’s purpose. It takes time to study the background of a book, but it’s important to know the author, audience and occasion of a book. It is also helpful to study “Chapter 3” after reading “Chapter 2.” It did come in that order for a reason!

Where Do I Start?

This question often baffles Bible readers. With 66 different books, is it better to start with the Old Testament or the New? Maybe a Gospel
about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? Or perhaps a shorter book like Philippians?

If you are ready to jump into a Bible book study, where do you start? Right now, I am working through the Gospel of Mark. It’s a relatively short book at 16 chapters. Plus, there is a lot of action. But there are shorter books, like Philippians, Colossians and 1 John.

A goal might be to read and study all 66 books of the Bible. But if you’re interested in getting a full sweep of the entire Bible, consider studying a shorter list of specific books. For example, the book of Genesis is important to the entire biblical story. Many Christians have found great comfort in reading the Psalms. The Gospel of John displays the story of Jesus’s life beautifully. Studying some of these major books helps put the entire Bible into context.

Bible book studies are important. Our Biblical Studies degree requires students to take courses in the following books: Genesis, Daniel, John, Romans and Hebrews. We believe these books are significant in understanding the Christian faith and doctrine.

For more information, visit www.ccbs.edu or give us a call at (910) 323-5614.