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WHAT To know about the bible
Bible reading is for Catholics. The Church encourages Catholics to make reading the Bible part of their daily prayer lives. Reading these inspired words, people grow deeper in their relationship with God and come to understand their place in the community God has called them to in himself.
Prayer is the beginning and the end. Reading the Bible is not like reading a novel or a history book. It should begin with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to the Word of God. Scripture reading should end with a prayer that this Word will bear fruit in our lives, helping us to become holier and more faithful people.
Get the whole story! When selecting a Bible, look for a Catholic edition. A Catholic edition will include the Church's complete list of sacred books along with introductions and notes for understanding the text. A Catholic edition will have an imprimatur notice on the back of the title page. An imprimatur indicates that the book is free of errors in Catholic doctrine.
The Bible isn't a book. It's a library. The Bible is a collection of 73 books written over the course of many centuries. The books include royal history, prophecy, poetry, challenging letters to struggling new faith communities, and believers' accounts of the preaching and passion of Jesus. Knowing the genre of the book you are reading will help you understand the literary tools the author is using and the meaning the author is trying to convey.
Know what the Bible is – and what it isn't. The Bible is the story of God's relationship with the people he has called to himself. It is not intended to be read as history text, a science book, or a political manifesto. In the Bible, God teaches us the truths that we need for the sake of our salvation.
The sum is greater than the parts. Read the Bible in context. What happens before and after – even in other books – helps us to understand the true meaning of the text.
The Old relates to the New. The Old Testament and the New Testament shed light on each other. While we read the Old Testament in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus, it has its own value as well. Together, these testaments help us to understand God's plan for human beings.
You do not read alone. By reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture, Catholics join those faithful men and women who have taken God's Word to heart and put it into practice in their lives. We read the Bible within the tradition of the Church to benefit from the holiness and wisdom of all the faithful.
What is God saying to me? The Bible is not addressed only to long-dead people in a faraway land. It is addressed to each of us in our own unique situations. When we read, we need to understand what the text says and how the faithful have understood its meaning in the past. In light of this understanding, we then ask: What is God saying to me?
Reading isn't enough. If Scripture remains just words on a page, our work is not done. We need to meditate on the message and put it into action in our lives. Only then can the word be "living and effective."(Hebrews 4:12).
By Mary Elizabeth Sperry, Associate Director for Utilization of the New American Bible.
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how to begin reading the bible
he Bible can be a challenging book to read, especially without any guidance. It may appear to be a book of strange stories that don’t have any real impact on our everyday lives. Yet, the Bible is vitally important and can transform our souls. Here is a Catholic guide to reading the Bible that may help you see the Bible in a new way.
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The Bible is God’s letter to humanity
For Catholics, the Bible is the key to unlocking all the teachings of the faith. It is the foundation of the Catholic Church and continues to inspire the daily lives of her members.
This is because the Bible is God’s “letter” to humanity; he is the primary author and has a message he wants to communicate to all of us.
God is the author of Sacred Scripture. “The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.“ - CCC 105
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Find a good Catholic translation of the Bible
According to some Catholic scholars and teachers, there is no one “best” Bible for Catholics, but several versions are suitable. Often, it depends on the individual, his background in Bible reading and study, and the way he wishes to use the Good Book.
Because there are two main ways biblical translation is done, it may be a good idea to have more than one Bible in one’s possession: one that was translated more literally, for use in Bible study, and one that is not strictly word for word, providing perhaps a “smoother” reading experience.
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Keep in mind the 4 ways to read the Bible
The medievals had a little Latin rhyme that says “Litera gesta docet, Quid credas allegoria, Moralis quid agas, Quo tendas anagogia.” Translated poetically, it means: “The literal teaches what God and our ancestors did, / The allegory is where our faith and belief is hid, / The moral meaning gives us the rule of daily life, / The anagogy shows us where we end our strife.”
These four dimensions of interpretation offer just one set of keys to help Catholics mine the hidden meaning of the Sacred Page.
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Don’t play “Bible Roulette”!
Some more good advice: playing “Bible Roulette” won’t do much for you, if you’re serious about reading scripture. We have all done it, of course — we’ve opened the book to a random page to “see what God has to say” to us. This practice may have had limited success with certain saints, but with this method the Bible will still remain a mystery to the modern Catholic; it won’t illuminate the rest of salvation history.
The proper approach to the Bible in an intentional one. It consists of using all available resources to plumb the depths of divine wisdom. In this way the Bible “comes alive” and can speak to our hearts.
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Try starting with the Gospels
Reading the entire Bible seems daunting, so first open the Gospels. These can be much easier to grasp and the names and episodes within them are more familiar. In particular, start with the Gospel of Mark, the shortest Gospel. Reading Mark can give you a sense of accomplishment as well as an interest to see how the other Gospel writers narrate the life of Jesus.
Many Christians will simply read through all four Gospels over and over again, digging deeper into the heart of Jesus and his message. For the reader who doesn’t know where to start, the Gospels might be the perfect place.
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Don’t give up!
Reading Sacred Scripture can help our faith mature. Many Catholics stop studying their faith when they leave school. This epidemic leaves our adult believers with a stunted faith. Confronted by difficult questions from non-Catholics, all too often we offer weak or uncertain defenses of our faith. Not every Catholic has to become a seminary professor, but every Catholic can benefit from grappling with serious questions of faith, grounded in the study of the Scriptures.
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resources to help
In The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks you through the entire Bible in 365 episodes, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way. With this podcast, you won’t just read the Bible in a year … you’ll finally understand how all the pieces of the Bible fit together to tell an amazing story that continues in your life today!
Each 20-25 minute episode includes:
- Two to three scripture readings
- A reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz
- A guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his WordThe podcast is available free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and more.
Click to Listen on Spotify
Think Catholic Netflix! . . . FORMED is an online library that provides the very best Catholic content from more than 60 organizations to help parishes, families and individuals explore their faith. Formed features thousands of video-based study programs, movies, documentaries, audio talks, and audio books, including many bible studies to help you grow in your knowledge and understanding of the Bible. It's FREE for St. Bartholomew parishioners. Simply visit formed.org, click Sign Up, tap Sign Up as a Parishioner, and search for St. Bartholomew Church, Scotch Plains. Click the link below to register for your free account:
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how to pray with the bible
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bible verses when you're feeling...
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Psalm 34:4
Matthew 10:28
2 Timothy 1:7
Hebrews 13:5,6
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(Tap any verse to read more)
Psalm 46 - God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.Matthew 6:19-34 - But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Philippians 4:6 - Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:6,7 - Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.
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(Tap any verse to read more)
Psalm 23 - The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul.Psalm 42:6-12 - Why are you downcast, my soul, why do you groan within me? Wait for God, for I shall again praise him, my savior and my God.
Matthew 5:11,12 - Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:8-18 - We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed . . .
Philippians 4:4-7 - Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
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(Tap any verse to read more)
Matthew 14:22-33 - Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him . . .Hebrews 11 - Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.
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(Tap any verse to read more)
Psalm 23 - The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.Psalm 145:18 - The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.
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Psalm 38
Matthew 26:39
Romans 5:3-5
2 Corinthians 12:9,10
1 Peter 4:12,13,19
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Psalm 51
Matthew 5:4
John 14
2 Corinthians 1:3,4
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
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Psalm 90
Matthew 11:28-30
1 Corinthians 15:58
Galatians 6:9,10
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