Hearing the Word

“Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” - Luke 11:28

 

We all know that we should read the Bible more often and most of us have a desire to do so. However, some estimate that only about 10% of Christians have ever read the entire Bible. Why?  Christians love to read. Biographies, devotionals, and commentaries on the Bible sell in the millions and the Bible is the number one seller of all time. What gives?

 

While it has often been touted that the Bible is easy to read and simple to understand, it’s not (Nehemiah 8:7). Granted, some parts of the Bible are easy to read, some parts are easily understandable, and the overall message is perspicuous (clear).  But, many parts are quite a bit more challenging. Biblical scholar James Jordan in his lecture series How to Read the Bible, remarks that genealogies and such are “boring to read, but fascinating to study.”[1] Theologian and Pastor R.C. Sproul notes that most people fail to read the entire Bible because they get bogged down in Leviticus and Numbers.[2] He additionally observes that “the majority of people who read the first five books of the Old Testament will make it through the whole Bible.”[3]

 

So, on our first read through the entire Bible are we to stop, and become experts in the ceremonial rituals in Leviticus and master the nuances and implications of the genealogies in Numbers? We don’t think so. The best advice we could give is to hear the Bible first, in total, via audio CD or mp3, without pausing or rewinding to endeavor to perfectly understand a passage.

 

Why hear the Word? Jordan notes, in jest, that the Bible never commands us to read it, but the Bible does command us to hear it.[4] The original audience would have primarily heard it, not read it. Reading it is important, but it often forgoes the opportunity to multitask; listening while you’re walking, driving, eating, or working out. Deuteronomy 11 reads, “Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, … speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” In just thirty minutes a day, one can listen to the entire Bible in about four months! Most of us can’t read quite so quickly.

 

Why not pause it? In our view, the goal of the first “read” is immersion and acquaintance. Postponing engagement with perplexing passages can release pressure and intimidation. An important hermeneutic (interpretational principle) is that Scripture interprets Scripture. Without having a broad and general understanding of the Bible it is challenging to understand the narrow and specific portions of Scripture. By becoming immersed in the Bible, many difficulties will resolve themselves. Resisting the urge to pause and resolve difficulties will result in a more efficient and productive way of becoming Biblically informed.  Save the difficulties for later!

 

Finally, it has been advised by multiple sources that it is best to pick one translation of the Scripture and stick to it. This facilitates memorization, familiarity, cohesiveness, web searches etc. In our opinion the KJV by Alexander Scourby is the preferred audio recording of the Bible. Other prominent recordings include Max McClean (KJV, NIV, ESV) and Stephen Johnston (KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, NIV). These recordings can be obtained from Amazon.com or Christianbook.com from as low as $12. in CD or MP3 format. 

 

"Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen." - The Book of Common Prayer, 2nd collect in Advent.

[1] James Jordan, How to Read the Bible.
[2] R.C. Sproul, Knowing Scripture, 143.
[3] Ibid.
[4] James Jordan, How to Read the Bible.