Billy Graham: The Best Way to Start Reading the Bible
The best way for someone to first begin reading the Bible is to start with one of the Gospels of the New Testament, the Rev. Billy Graham says.
Graham, founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wrote in a recent post for the Kansas City Star that while some beginner Bible readers may think it's best to start reading the Holy Book from the beginning, he personally believes it is actually best to start "three-fourths of the way through […] with one of the Gospels from the New Testament."
The reason for this advice, Graham explains, is "because Jesus is the center of the Bible's message. The Old Testament points forward to him, and the whole of the New Testament is focused on him."
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"In other words, once we understand who Jesus is and why he came into the world, the rest of the Bible will begin to make sense," Graham continues, pointing to Hebrews 1:2, which reads: "In these last days God has spoken to us by his Son."
The evangelical leader goes on to encourage Christians to "[not] give up reading the Bible, but make it part of your life every day."
"Begin in one of the Gospels, and ask God to help you understand what it says. Not only will you begin to realize who Jesus is, but you'll want to commit your life to him and learn more about him through reading his word," the renowned Baptist minister says.
Graham adds in his message that "the Bible is God's written word, and nothing could be more important than knowing it and applying it to our lives," pointing to Psalm 119:130 which reads: "The unfolding of your words gives light."
Graham has spoken on the importance of reading the Bible properly in previous blog posts, writing for his Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's "My Answers" page that although some Christians may use the Bible to prove certain arguments, the real message and purpose of the Bible is about God and Jesus Christ.
"What is the Bible's real message? It is a message first of all about God. It tells us we are not here by chance; God made us, and He made us because He loves us and wants us to be His friends. But the Bible also is a message about us: We are weak and sinful, and we need God," Graham wrote in the devotional from last year.
"Most of all, the Bible's message is about Jesus Christ, who came from heaven to save us from our sins and give us hope for the future. The Bible's message is good news!" the evangelical leader added.
In communicating the real value of the Holy Book, Graham points to Proverbs 8:19 which says, "my fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver."
