How to study the bible

 The study of the Bible is neither difficult or easy.  It's all about understanding that the answers should not come from us, but from God. 

First of all; be humble.  Ask questions to God in prayer.  

The beginning of every understanding comes from the acceptance that we do not know.  The more we think we know; the less ready to learn we are.

As king Salomon said: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  knowledge comes from God.

Start simple with the Gospels.  Why the Gospels?  The Gospels refer to the entire Bible.  We can confirm that most of the books of the Bible are inspired and good for every doctrine because of the fact that Jesus himself cited on them.  Jesus refers to so many passages of the old testament.  It's as if His entire life is a reflex of the scriptures.

Also; the Lord explains many passages and central purpose and knowledge of prophecies and actions.  To learn from Jesus is like having an insider in God's mind.  He understands everything we wish we would know.

Then from the references of Jesus and the Apostles; we start understanding the Prophets, and the Psalms, as well as the story of the patriarchs, Moses and the Judges.

Jesus brings many examples and parabolas so we could understand from any level.  He does not appeal to those with great knowledge; but rather to the humble willing to listen to.

In my opinion: everything Jesus said or better said, everything the Apostles and disciples considered to write about Jesus was very important and necessary to our salvation.

Often we see the story as a mythology, some distant story that doesn't really concern us.  I mean; we see Jesus as some character displaying remarkable characters impossible to copy in anyway.  The true is that Jesus wanted us to follow Him.  He wanted us to do the things He did.  He wanted to teach us and to prepare us so we could be where He is act and to do even greater things.

This truly challenges our faith.  And we think; am I really following Jesus?  Am I really practicing that faith He was preaching?

Then; we remember that Jesus said to dig into the scriptures because they are the ones that give testimony of Him.

Also it's important to understand that reading the Bible once for a short time isn't enough.  We should search, look for details, compare stories.  For instance; we see that the four Gospels that appear in the Bible are different stories about Jesus.  Some even dear to say that there are contradictory versions because they are different.  Nothing more absurd considering that four people can witness the same thing and to tell their own version.  This is exactly what every author of the Gospels did.  The beauty of it is that when we compare the stories; we can put some pieces together. 

The book of John which is the most controversial one; was written much later than the others.  Then we know that John lived much longer than the others and that by the time the book was written, everyone else was already death.  John was truly free to write besides the fact that he himself was pretty old.  There was zero strings attached.

The book of John mentions the name of the women who anointed Jesus with perfume while the others did not.  John mentions Nicodemus, the healing of the blind man who was born blind and the resurrection of Lazarus.  How in the world, the other writers would miss something so important?  Many would say that they did it to protect this people who were all Jewish.

When you read the Bible; compare.  Read over and over.  Meditate in different stories.  As yourself why the Lord did this?  What laws were these people subject to?  Laws, promises, curses and covenants are extremely important. 

The Lord doesn't speak with the purpose of just socializing.  Everything He says has meaning, purpose and consequences.  Do not take any word light.  If He said it; He surely meant everything He said.

Take every word spoken by God, very seriously and even every word spoken by Jesus.

Even if you are not Christian, but believe in God; understand what manifestations are.  Whatever the Angel of the Lord in the new testament spoke, was God's word.  The same way; whatever Jesus spoke, was also God's word.  Do not take it lightly.

Remember that in the old testament; even the word of the prophets used to carry a lot of weight.

One of the biggest treasures the Lord had given to us; it's His word.  Let's see it as what it is.  Let's treasure it in our hearts.  Let's memorize it.  Let's meditate in it.  And more than anything; let's remain humble to the world knowing that it's God's word.  

Also if it pleases God to grant us some wisdom; remember it is still God's.  Do not sell it.  Give it freely as you had received it freely.

God bless you and hide His words in your heart.