There's "The Beginner's Guide to Reading the Bible" from Crosswalk.com that advises Bible-newbies about selecting the most readable Bible: "Choose a Bible version that's understandable and easy to read." Then it tells them to accept this idea: "If we don't understand it, we won't read it." Is this belief even acceptable? So if you don't understand anything about the Bible or any Bible translation, you won't read it? They even call it as a flat-out truth. Would you agree with that principle?
You can have the most readable Bible in the world, so stayyyy with that! I mean, you can choose any Bible version if you want, but just be aware that going for an easy-to-read Bible might lead you to a naïve understanding. I am sure about this. Easy-to-read Bibles exist because it was meant for those with limited English. It keeps people from learning the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10) because, they say, "it is more suitable for oral reading, since many who understand spoken English are not literate."
Now, let me show you why as we look at these myths about Bible reading.
Myth 1: Choose an easy-to-read Bible
If you're a Bible-newbie and you were counselled by your religious leader to buy an easy-to-read Bible, you should remember that you are still dealing with the words of a translator as you read them.
Let's try the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) of Genesis as an example.
Gen 1:1 God created the sky and the earth. At first,
Gen 1:2 the earth was completely empty. There was nothing on the earth. Darkness covered the ocean, and God's Spirit moved over the water.
ERV might be that simple to read but did you notice the arrangement in the first verse of Genesis?
Next, let's compare ERV with the King James Version (KJV):
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
You can see the difference between the two Bibles. In fact, it is obvious now that there are a variety of English translations to choose from. So is it really a good idea to push a Bible-newbie to get an easy-to-read Bible but you know that "some translations focus on being more precise and are best for Bible study"?
The reality is that when you are about to read anything, you have to use a dictionary or a lexicon along with it. And to learn the meaning, you have to read the words in context by knowing the speaker/writer, audience, time, place, situation, and so on.
Myth 2: You don't have to start from Genesis
Sometimes Church pastors think that "If you're new to the Bible, the best place to start is the Gospel of John." This approach would certainly confuse a Bible-newbie. If s/he has a Bible with an Old Testament, s/he will notice that the first book is Genesis. If s/he has a New Testament Bible only, s/he will see the Book of Matthew before John's.
And if you know that John's account starts with the phrase "In the beginning...," that already would set forth a clue about the past; that is, there is a historical account to be considered. So Genesis matters because it is a record of beginnings.
Suggesting that it's okay to ignore the Book of Genesis is to disregard its sacred place in the whole Bible.
Myth 3: Pick one book of the Bible and read little each day
I guess it's possible that a Bible-newbie would "read a little each day, one chapter, perhaps." But why would we assume that? If s/he is really interested, would you, as a Bible-believer, coach the beginner to just "read a little each day"?
I know the importance of presenting the background of the Bible with the history of the Israelites so start with that. It is vital to share where the Bible came from before you instruct any beginner to just pick one book.
At the very beginning of the whole Bible, tell him/her about the God who created Adam and his children, then lay down the story of the founding fathers of the Israelite kingdom who were in a covenant relationship with God himself, and bring to the fore the Last Adam [Christ] who would restore their fallen status as God's people.
Instead of telling a Bible-newbie to "read a little each day," you could say you need to know first where the Bible came from. Then, tell him/her about its speakers/authors [God and humans], the text [language, interpretation, and meaning of the message], and the audience relevance [the real listeners/readers in their own real time].
Myth 4: When a word resonates with you, stop and write it down.
Why would you advise a Bible-newbie to "let the message sink in" if you know that particular passages were originally addressed to God's chosen people, the Israelites? And if a word or phrase is meant to be a part of the whole revelation of God in the Bible, why would you strive to internalize God's message to the people of Israel?
Reading the Bible from a relational perspective might help you to get to know God, but seeing yourself in the original Bible story can be dangerous to your spiritual being.
If your intention is to fully grasp the true meaning of each word, remember that the Holy Scriptures communicate God's thoughts and feelings to the original hearers/readers.
Let's say that you are selectively quoting from ERV's Book of Mark:
Mark 11:23 ...And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, then God will do it for you.
If you're going to connect Mark 11:23 to your prayers and wishes in life, and you believe that it must happen within a day/week/year, you're actually forcing God to do it for you. And if it did not happen, you'll say that God cannot be trusted.
Please don't do that. Mark 11:23 is the very words of Jesus to his disciples. Besides, the "casting of a mountain" represents the overthrow of a city (See Revelation 8:8, 18:21). It was not just a prayer or wish. It was used symbolically for the fall of Jerusalem.
So when you're sure that the words were promised to specific Bible characters, read the words in context [know the speaker/writer, audience, time, place, situation, and so on].
More to the point, if "the Bible was meant to transform us" today, it should inform us first that "it was written in former times" and "it was written for instruction or learning" (Romans 15:4). The reality is that the Holy Scriptures were originally addressed to God's chosen people, the Israelites.
Let's confirm this from ERV's Romans 9:
Rom 9:4 They are the people of Israel, God's chosen children. They have the glory of God and the agreements he made between himself and his people. God gave them the Law of Moses, the Temple worship, and his promises.
Rom 9:5 They are the descendants of [the] great fathers, and they are the earthly family of the Messiah, who is God over all things. Praise him forever! Amen.
Dive deeper with me again for another interesting topic.
Thanks for reading!