{"id":39183,"date":"2017-08-24T07:00:27","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T14:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.olivetree.com\/?p=39183"},"modified":"2021-09-21T15:58:48","modified_gmt":"2021-09-21T22:58:48","slug":"read-study-bible-new-ways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/read-study-bible-new-ways\/","title":{"rendered":"Read and Study the Bible in New Ways"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Bible is an ancient text. So, it isn’t surprising when we get a little bored while reading it\u2014especially with our entertainment-saturated culture. The average person watches only 10-seconds of a video on Facebook! If our attention spans can only handle 10-seconds of a video, how can we possibly stay focused while reading a historic text over and over again for our entire lives? Well, we have a few ideas for you! This blog post will offer five ways to study and read the Bible<\/strong> in a fresh way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) READ DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ever wondered what the difference is between all the English Bible translations? There are so many! The best way to think about this is to imagine a spectrum. One on end, there are Bibles that are translated word-for-word. These are very literal. Then, on the other side, you have Bibles that are paraphrased versions. In the middle, you have Bibles that are translated by sentence or thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, why would you want to read different translations? Languages are complex with idioms and phrases that don’t translate well word-for-word. At the same time, a paraphrase may miss out on key details. Comparing translations will give you the full picture, and also give you a fresh perspective on the verses you have read several times over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our app, it’s super easy to read two translations at once. Just pull open another Bible in the split-screen window!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2) CHECK OUT THE CROSS REFERENCES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever noticed the little green letters that appear in your Bible in our app? Those are cross references! Any time a verse appears that corresponds directly to another verse in the Bible, it gets tagged. Here’s an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In John 1, we learn about Jesus being at the beginning of all creation, bringing everything to life. Verse 5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” If you look closely, you’ll see an “h” appear right after the verse number. By tapping this, you’ll pull up the list of cross references, and you can look at the corresponding verses in the pop-up window. This cross reference took us to John 3:19, which talks about light coming into the world, but humanity hating the light because they were evil and loved darkness. Put together, we can now understand that John is foreshadowing Christ’s coming and death in the beginning chapters of his book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how can using cross references help you read the Bible in fresh ways? The Bible is one, big historical narrative that tells the story of God redeeming his people. When we use cross references, we are able to more clearly see the connections between these events, the ways God fulfilled His promises, and the richness of the text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) USE GOSPEL HARMONIES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We’ve created Gospel Harmonies to make studying Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John easier. Instead of flipping through your Bible to find the stories that correspond to one another, we’ve made them available in one screen. The best way to explain this is to show you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why use Gospel Harmonies? Each Gospel is written by a different author and with a different intention. By comparing all accounts, you can make sure to catch all the details, and perhaps make new connections you wouldn’t have made otherwise. We sell these Gospel Harmonies in several different translations. See the full list of Harmony of the Gospels available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) TRY A CHRONOLOGICAL STUDY BIBLE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chronological study Bibles are just what they sound like\u2014Bibles arranged in chronological order with study notes inserted. How does this work? Here’s an example! The Chronological Study Bible (NKJV)<\/a> starts the New Testament with Matthew 1:25, covering Jesus’ genealogy. There are a few study notes on the culture and society during Jesus’ birth. Verse 25 ends with Joseph believing that Mary is still a virgin and naming his son Jesus… and then the text jumps to Luke 2:1-20, sharing the more detailed account of Mary and Joseph heading to Bethlehem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reading a chronological study Bible can rejuvenate your quiet time by helping you see the story of God’s Word. All of the different historical accounts interact with one another and show God’s faithfulness through time. When you read it in order, you will be able to insert yourself into the story, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other recommended chronological study Bibles:
Chronological Study Bible (NIV)<\/a>
Chronological Life Application Study Bible NLT<\/a>
KJV Reese Chronological Study Bible<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) LOOK AT STUDY NOTES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Study notes provide deeper insights into the text of the Bible. Although they aren’t as developed as commentaries are, they are still very helpful when coming across difficult passages. Here’s a few study Bibles that we recommend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible<\/a>
Archaeological Study Bible Notes
<\/a>NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Bible is an ancient text. So, it isn’t surprising when we get a little bored while reading it\u2014especially with our entertainment-saturated culture. The average person watches only 10-seconds of a video on Facebook! If our attention spans can only handle 10-seconds of a video, how can we possibly stay focused while reading a historic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":50078,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5318],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-39183","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bible-study-tips"},"yoast_head":"\nRead and Study the Bible in New Ways - Olive Tree Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Need to read and study the Bible in new ways? We've got your back! 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