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Where
should you start? We read most books from Chapter One to the end.
Although you could read the Bible that way, there are some chapters
that may be helpful for you to read first. Here are some facts and
suggestions for you as you start to study the Holy Bible.
Some
interesting facts about the Bible:
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The Bible is
divided into two sections: The Old Testament and the New Testament.
In all it contains a collection of 66 “books”, 39 in the Old
Testament and 27 in the New Testament. There are books of law,
history, poetry, prophecy and documentaries. The Bible teaches both
Law and Gospel. The Law is the divine Word which tells us what
we must do. The Gospel is the glad tidings of the grace of
God in Jesus Christ who fulfilled the law and became our Savior.
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The Bible was
written by different authors over many generations, but all the
writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit. II Peter 1:21 says “Men
spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” The portions of
Scripture that have been preserved for us have been divinely
protected and are meant to teach us all that we need to know about
God in order for us to come to know Him and His saving grace.
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The Old
Testament tells about how God created the earth and everything on
it, and how He led His people through many years of preparation for
the coming of His Son. It tells about some of the people who lived
then – both good and bad examples – people who exhibited great faith
and those who made great mistakes.
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The New
Testament tells about the birth, life, teachings and death of His
Son, Jesus Christ. It tells about the activities of the early
Christian church, explains the teachings of Christ and gives us
prophecies about the future.
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When you
begin to read the Bible, ask God to help you to concentrate and
understand. Don’t be in a hurry. Stop to think about what it is
saying. If possible talk over what you’ve read with someone else.
Pray and ask God to help make the words meaningful in your life.
It’s okay to read the same chapter or verse over each day for a week
or more.
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Let God guide
and instruct you.
“But as for you,
continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,
because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy
you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise
for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
(2
Timothy 3:14-15) |
