How to Read the Bible – A Three Step Plan (written for Catholics - valid for all)

taylormarshall.com ^ | September 30, 2013 | Dr. Taylor Marshall

[NYer]

How do you read the Bible? Today is the feast day of Saint Jerome, who once quipped, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” – Saint Jerome

It’s a running joke that if you want to find a Bible verse, you ought to ask a Protestant and not a Catholic. Protestants read the Bible. Catholics not so much.

This raises the question:

Why Don’t More Catholics Read the Bible?

I think the answer lies in the fact that we Catholics go to Mass. The Holy Mass has at least two Bible readings every time. If you pray the Breviary or Liturgy of Hours, multiply that several times.

Joe Catholic says to himself, “Why should I study the Bible? I go to Mass. I hear it there. Check and check.”

There is something beautiful in this. For Catholics, Bible reading is liturgical. Hence, Bible reading remains chiefly a community experience.

Three Step Plan to Kick It Up a Notch

It’s good to listen to the readings from the Bible at Holy Mass. However, we also need a personal (even private) encounter with God in the pages of Sacred Scripture. All of the saints breathed Sacred Scripture. Scripture served as the grammar for their souls. They couldn’t communicate without it.

Here are some basic spiritual needs that you have every single day of your life:

1. Praise – Voicing your delight in God and His provision for your life. Gratitude destroys discouragement.
2. Wisdom – You need practical advice to navigate the complexities of life.
3. Challenge – You need to be lifted higher. You need to grow in your faith. You need to be inspired. You must be an intentional Christian.

So when you wake up tomorrow, do the following:

1. Read a Psalm. Start with Psalm 1. Make it your anthem of praise for that day.
2. Read at least one Proverb. Proverbs are the wisdom morsels of your day. There are 31 chapters. Why not read one chapter every day during the month. Oct 1 is Provers 1. October 31 is Proverbs 31. You get the idea.
3. Read a chapter of the one of the Gospels. This is your challenge. Your Savior challenges you in the four Gospels. He calls you to be not merely a nominal Catholic but a disciple. You cannot seriously read the Gospels and stay lukewarm. Christ speaks in a way that cannot be ignored.

“But I’m so busy. I don’t have the time!”

What? You’re too busy. Sorry, you just got served a yellow card:

That’s a yellow card. You’ve been warned…

Doing these three readings will take you only 3-5 minutes. That’s the time of a commercial break. It will change your life for good. I promise. It takes 21 days to make a habit, so give it 21 days and see if you aren’t hooked. Put the Bible on your night stand and read it in the mornings. Start fresh.

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” – Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church

[verga]

Smvoices original comment The whole RCC system is built on the Book of Revelation!

My response: You are close, the Mass has quite a bit in common with Revelation.

Let's compare and contrast. smoice's comment was about the WHOLE Catholic "system" mine was about the celebration of the Mass. Do you see the difference?

Words mean things, especially when we are talking about something as complex as the Catholic Church.

[roamer_1]

When trying to slog thru Numbers, a noobie is HIGHLY tempted to give up!

Admittedly so - and for me, the Psalms and Proverbs (to include Song of Solomon) can seem a little sappy too, on the first go around... It isn't easy till you 'get it'.

[dartuser]

How do your protestant friends react when you tell them that?

lol ... Protestant friends ... lol ... good one.

[Iscool]

For Catholics, Bible reading is liturgical. Hence, Bible reading remains chiefly a community experience.

The hunger is fulfilled at mass.

As one who has attended mass and as one who hungers for God's word, I can attest that the hunger is not fulfilled at mass...You don't even get an appetizer there...

Perhaps you don't understand when we say 'hunger for God's word'...

[CynicalBear]

>>Perhaps you don't understand when we say 'hunger for God's word'...<<

But we can pray that he and other Catholics will one day soon understand the hunger that causes one to want to spend every available minute searching God’s word for truths that they hadn’t seen before. The freedom and peace of mind from understanding the complete forgiveness through the blood of Christ and the comfort of knowing that God will in no way allow us to taken from Him because nothing can separate us will transform their lives. The guarantees of Christ so far outweigh the doubt and striving that the RCC teaches.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

-— one who hungers for God’s word, I can attest that the hunger is not fulfilled at mass -—

How much Scripture is read at a typical Protestant service, compared to a Mass, where there are always three passages from Scripture, with Scriptural references woven into the rest of the liturgy?

But what truly separates the Mass from a Protestant service is the Eucharist, where Jesus is truly present under the appearances of bread and wine. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” How much more of a communion with The Eternal Word on earth, is possible?

[CynicalBear]

All that from Catholics who stutter when clear scripture is presented to them.

[NYer]

If you’re hungry, eat at home.

- Bible

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

-Jesus

Elsie, you go ahead and dine on the Bible. We catholics will dine on our Lord, Jesus Christ.

[Iscool]

God Bless You, my FReeper brother in Christ. The fire in the Spirit that glows from those that come into the church through RCIA is truly an inspiration for me. You are so right that it is not easy being a good Catholic, especially if we take the words of Christ to heart. When I read Matthew 25, I ask myself if, when the Son of Man comes into his glory, will I have brought extra oil for my lamps, will I bring as many talents as I have been given, will the king welcome me into the kingdom, for I ministered to the needs of the least of my brothers? I struggle with these questions every day.

That's a real shame...Because as this post suggests, make sure you study the Gospels but never any hint to go beyond that...Bondage...Bondage to do good but never knowing if you will have been good enough...

If you don't study further than the Gospels, then how are you to know that

Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

this applied to the earliest church and not the modern church??? The church started going thru a transition...This is where the Catholic religion stops teaching...And while you guys are taught to stick with the Gospels only, with the baptism of John, the modern church is yet to be revealed to you guys...

Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

While you guys are trying to do good, you WILL fail because NO ONE can be doers of the law, completely...

And yes, all those good works you do are part of the 'law' if you do them for what you perceive is merit, or salvation regardless of what your religion may tell you...

So while you are trying to be as good as you can to please God for your salvation, along comes Paul with the 'latest' shocker directly from Jesus Christ...

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Everything that we do, or don't that is done to gain salvation puts us under the law...

Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

No more need to struggle with whether you've been good enough...Why, because the righteousness is not yours...It is not of you, any longer...

Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Good works...The law of Moses...The law which the new Christians of the Gospels were still under...

Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Here is the new commission for the modern church...

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

ONLY believe on Jesus Christ...The good works will follow because of your belief, not as deeds to gain salvation which will lead people to hell...

Read the book of John...The entire book...And when you go thru Acts, you will see the transition from Christians living under the law to Christians living under grace and faith...Then, don't stop...Continue on into Romans and beyond...

[Iscool]

I have said repeatedly that it is absolutely impossible to have an intelligent discussion about theology/ religion/ Jesus with a protestant.

We are not so much interested in theology or religion or even philosophy...

We tend to focus on Jesus Christ and his 30+ thousands of Scripture...You ever get into that, let us know...

[NYer]

Perhaps you missed that I grew up as a Catholic and served for years as an alter boy?

Apparently, I missed that one.

In any case, in numerous Catholic churches, I watched dirges sung in place of joyful worship,

On which occasions were the "dirges" sung? Are the "dirges" your reason for leaving?

Perhaps you also missed when I posted that in numerous evangelical churches I attended for years, there was a systematic exposition of the Scriptures, book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse - through the Hebrew Scriptures and through the New Testament. ALL of it. Many times.

Beautiful! Very glad to hear this. So, when the minister "exposed" this verse:

"Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." John 6:53

and this one ...

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." John 6:54-56

what explanation was given?

I can appreciate non-catholics who grow up with nothing more than the Bible but am totally confused when a Catholic turns his back on Jesus, present in the Eucharist.

I aspire for all believers of every denomination to know the full counsel of God’s truth in order to be mature.

That is very commendable. According to the Bible Itself, the Church is the "pillar of truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), not the Bible. Can there be more than one interpretation of the Bible? No. The word "truth" is used several times in the New Testament. However, the plural version of the word "truth" never appears in Scripture. Therefore, there can only be one Truth.

The Reformation began with one rupture. Today, there are more than 20,000 christian "churches" all claiming to have the truth. The Bible is a religious book, not a scientific or a history "textbook."

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

We tend to focus on Jesus Christ and his 30+ thousands of Scripture...

Well, except for the following verses that Protestants never quote:

"if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

"which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."

Mat 16:19
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Isaiah 22:22
"I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."

Rev 3:7
"These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."

“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you."

"So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord."

the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection,(For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.

[Iscool]

But what truly separates the Mass from a Protestant service is the Eucharist, where Jesus is truly present under the appearances of bread and wine. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” How much more of a communion with The Eternal Word on earth, is possible?

Yes, that certainly separates it...But since most Catholics don't believe it is any more than a ritual, I don't think you've got much going for you...There's certainly no evidence of your mass in the scriptures...

[smvoice]

You know what that post of Rashputin to me makes me want to do? Not hang out under a rock. It makes me want to go to the local Catholic Church and hand our fliers. Not booklets, but fliers that I've put together, with Scripture and questions and answers and a phone number. And grace, LOTS of the grace of God, the gospel of our salvation, and 2 Cor. 5:14-21 in bold print. It's not about Rashputin, it's about those who might actually be seeking the truth. I'm afraid it's too late for Rashputin. She may well be chomping at the bit to stand before God and have Him weigh her life. She may well not realize she will be found wanting.

[Iscool]

Elsie, you go ahead and dine on the Bible. We catholics will dine on our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Mat_28:6 He is not here: for he is risen

Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit and his Holy Bible to feast on while he is gone...

[Iscool]

This is just silly...

Mat 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

So your religion picks an obscure verse and invents an interpretation, a meaning for the verse that somehow is supposed to bolster the Catholic religion's teaching...

So tell us...What did Peter bind on earth that became bound in heaven, and what did Peter loose on earth that became loosed in heaven...

Surely you have a biblical example to to stick your Catholic claim unto the verses...

[smvoice]

Not only that, Iscool, but with elevating Peter to "THE ROCK" they have actually done with him exactly what they accuse non-catholics of doing with Paul: elevating him above Christ.

and yet, the irony escapes them. Once again.

[Salvation]

We have never elevated Peter above God. Where did that idea come from?

[CynicalBear]

>> Elsie, you go ahead and dine on the Bible.<<

That is after all how God says to do it in His word.

Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Notice we are to “eat the word” and then speak it to others.

Ezekiel 3:1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. 4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.

>> We catholics will dine on our Lord, Jesus Christ.<<

Christ said to “eat His flesh” because He is the WORD.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

And His word is Spirit, not flesh.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Why do Catholics keep focusing on the flesh when Jesus said “the flesh profiteth nothing”?