To understand any of the parts of Scripture, you must have a grasp of the Bible as a whole. As a Christian, one of your lifelong goals should be to make the Bible your book! Specifically, this means taking the time to read the Bible on a regular basis. By doing so over a long period of time, you will become more familiar with the content of Scripture and its major themes.
A few guidelines will help you in your personal Bible study. First, you don't have to start your study of Scripture at the book of Genesis and read all the way through to Revelation. You might find it more satisfying to start with the easier sections first. This means reading and studying the New Testament letters, the Gospels, Genesis and the Psalms until you are familiar with their content. While there are many things in these books which you may not understand completely on the first few readings, they enable you to understand how God has worked with people across the centuries. In addition, click on the "Study" button and "Books" to get an overview of the Old Testament books.
After you become familiar with the basic books of the Bible, you can expand to other sections of Scripture. This is important for two reasons: first, new books keep your Bible reading fresh and stimulating. Second, as you gain a greater knowledge of the whole of Scripture, some other books you have studied will be easier to understand. The Protestant reformers called this the 'rule of faith' - the interpretation of the obscure parts of Scripture by the rest of Scripture. The rule of faith presupposes a unity within the whole Bible which will come clear as you become more familiar with the different parts. Moreover, becoming familiar with all God has said in the Scripture aids you in managing your life. The Bible influences the way you think, the choices you make, and how you live. By giving the Bible a central place in your outlook on life, you will find that you are given ability and insight to resolve the problems and dilemmas which you face. That's why Bible reading and Bible memorization are an integral part of a healthy spiritual life.
