Reading the Bible as reading, is not efficient and does nothing to our spiritual life, but reading the bible in the spirit, with the Spirit edifies us in all aspects of our life. Naz

I like to begin with a question many Christians ask.

Shall we read only The New Testament,
or The Old Testament and The New Testament?

I have realized that many so called denominations do not practice reading both,
which is very wrong and absolute unbiblical and these are false teachings.

Why do I need to read both, the new and the old?
If I read only the New Testament: in the first I will not know the process of creation, I will not know the sin fall, I will not understand why Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden. I will have a missing part in the knowledge of the plan of salvation since the beginning and what was the cost for the people of old.

I will not know why we have just this short life instead of 900 and more years? I will not know why we speak different languages. I will not know why is it that satan rules this world. I will not know the price the Israelites paid to be the chosen people of God.

I will not know of many miracles and wonders the Lord did. I will not understand God’s character, why and when He gets angry. What is sin and what is abomination.

I will not understand how God hates Idol worship.

I will not know about all the prophets who prophesied about the Messiah Jesus Christ, over thousands of years and what it had cost them.
I will never be able to really link God to the risen Savior.

I will not understand God’s patience over thousands of years with these stubborn people and how God is a covenant keeper. I will never know about the power a prophet has been given and what heavy weight he carries on his shoulders.

I will not know how David became king and how long it took him to reign and his mistakes and good doing, as it is said that Jesus will come out of him.

I will not understand the scriptures Jesus and the apostles are mentioning from the Old Testament. How will I know about the flood? How will I know about the tower of Babel?
How will I know about the fallen angels and the giants? How will I know about Sodom and Gomorra?

How will I know how God started preparation for Israel to go to the Promised Land starting with Abraham, Isaak and Jacob and Joseph in Egypt and the powerful works of God freeing his people from Pharaoh and the mighty works of God during the 40 years in the dessert?
I will not know how the Israelites kindled the anger of God many times
and what is it that God makes angry.

I will not know what it means that I am freed from the law, because I will not know what it meant to live under the law and what the law was about.
I will not understand the sacrifice connection that comes out of the old.

How will I understand the Passover and the connection of the blood of Jesus to it? How will I understand that Jesus is a spotless perfect sacrificial Lamb for our sins, where is the connection?
I will miss the book of proverbs with a lot of wisdom in it; I will miss the glorious book of Psalms
I will miss to know that the book of revelation is a prophecy that
God showed to other prophets long time ago?

I could mention many things more to underline, why it is important to study both Testaments.
I say it is essential, very important to know God in all his doings, his reasons, his grace, his mercy even to the unbeliever and evil people; his way of forgiving his people and standing for his people.

I cannot understand the new, without the old!

Those denominations might say, it can lead into false doctrines.
If I am a misleader, then I can use the New Testament in many ways to fill my pockets and make people feel religious and I do not even need the Old Testament to do so,
I can do it with the New in many ways.
Jesus warned us about those people and the Old Testament showed us
that there were such people in great numbers.

And on top, how will I prove to a Jew, that Jesus is the promised Messiah? This man will let us look like a fool if we have no knowledge about the Tora.

Second: Apostle Paul writes to Timothy; 2nd Timothy 3
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

We see that teaching to read only The New testament is not a teaching of the apostles.

Third: Jesus is quoting the Old Testament as well as Peter, James, Paul. The New Testament is full of references to The Old Testament. How will I ever be able to build a relation from those scriptures to the New Testament and Jesus at all?

I say here, we are supposed to read both, other teachings are a deception.

Reading as reading

I said in the beginning that reading the bible as reading does nothing to our spiritual life.
Many believers have no bible and this is a fact of shame for those who can afford. Even in the early church where printing was not, and every scripture had to be copied by hand and was destroyed if there was a spelling mistake, believers had access to scriptures if they wanted.

Many believers have a bible, but it’s as a decoration in their house or they only carry it to church rarely opening it and if: they get tired of reading after a few minutes.

Others read, but when it comes to a part that is not pleasing to them, they murmur and say, ah that’s not for me I don’t need to read angry words, I am a good man; and they flip the pages until something pleasing of blessings is to read. In this case I am lost!

Reading the right way

What do I mean by saying if we read bible we must read it in the spirit with the Spirit?

2nd Corinthians 2: 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

If I want to read the bible as a believer, I need to know that:

The Holy Bible is a spiritual book, written by spiritual people, inspired by the Holy Spirit!

Time back when I was about 30, I tried to read a bible which was on the desk in a hotel room.
After few verses I closed it and said, what a kauderwelsh.
But I was reading books like Malleus Maleficarum.

Here is the open secret.

I want to gain revelations when I as a believer read the Bible.
I can’t get those revelations by just taking the bible sit and read and close it
and let God to be a good man the rest of the day.

I need to sacrifice my time!

If I want deep understanding of the written word, I have to do things in the spirit.
I need to be connected with God.
I need to have undisturbed time in a place where I feel,
that I can make myself comfortable, even in prison I can do that.

I take the bible and before I open it and I say a simple prayer by faith.

Lord, I like to know more about you, and so I ask the Holy Spirit, to read the written word together with me and that He may give me revelation and understanding, and that it binds me deeper into you my Holy Jesus, as you are the wine and I am a branch and as a branch of yours, It is my deepest desire to bring forth a multitude of fruits. Amen

From here I open the Bible and I read either the scripture I hear the Holy Spirit whispers unto me,
or according to my bible reading plan.

I do not have to read line by line till I end the chapter in one go, I shall start reading some lines and read in-between the lines. In a scripture, there are many more things said as it is written. Some scriptures are straight to the point, no shaking, no going to any side.
But many scriptures have deeper meanings.

I should have a notebook and a pan and make notes and write down my thoughts, some call it devotion.  2nd Timothy 2: 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

And when we go to church, not only on Sunday; let us carry the hard copy bible, a paper note book and a pan and let us make notes about the word we hear.

After this we do what the bible tells us to do. Because we are not blind sheep’s and we shall know, if we follow blind leaders or chosen servants of God.

Acts 17: 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women
which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Wow, this is powerful, isn’t it?

By doing so, we will discover a big change in our understanding, in our conversation, in the encounter with other people and religions and in our daily life and much more
in our spiritual life and in our dreams by night.

I do not want to discuss here which bible translation is the right and the wrong one.
There are many translations; they take off my socks so bad they are.

Why do I use King James Version?
Simple and it is a testimony:

As I was imprisoned in Kenya, there was one night I went to the bathroom in the immigration detention. I was down emotionally. I looked into the mirror and spoke: Lord this I see here the way it is, it is not me, what I need now is your word; this was 1am on 7th June 2008. I went back to my bed and slept. At around 7 am, the cell opened and a small strong build Indian man came in with his suitcases, who was arrested by the immigration in the airport. He sat opposite me. We looked at each other for a time. Then somehow we introduced each other. He said: can I ask you a question? I said sure, ask. He asked me: do you have a bible? I said: no I do not have a bible. He asked: can I give you mine? I said: I will be very honored by this gift; He opened his suitcase, and gave me this King James Bible which I have unto this day. I was thankful to him. After few minutes, the cell opened. The immigration officer stepped in and called this man to be released. I never heard of him again.
Glory to God this was I was asking Him in the night and he answered prompt without delay!

If God gives me a King James Bible, then it is the best he has in the pocket!

I also read in the Luther bible, as it is a very similar translation and in my language. Many people tell me, they do not like this thee and thou in the King James.
I like that kind of language of old, its respectful.

Everyone should find the translation which fits best, but I found many bible translations which have scriptures missing or in a complete another meaning which is danger!
The bibles we should not read is the homosexual bible, satans bible
and other misleading scriptures
from certain sects known unto us.

I believe what we have in the bible is a very good collection of scriptures that leads the man of the creation of God, from the beginning of the world to the rising Mesiah and leading to the promised hope of salvation. It shows us the way, the truth and the life, Jesus Christ and is a pure guide for God’ s people to stay in the way of salvation till we breath our last breath. It shows us how God wants us to be and how we can give glory to Him, and teaches us, what a real believer should be like. Let us be a follower of Christ and a doer, not just a joiner.

The bible has all what we need for our Christian life and all what we need to fulfill the great commission and to keep the commandments of the Lord.

Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Every believer is called to do so.

God bless you.

All scriptures from KJV
I always encourage for the mentioned scriptures to read the whole chapter.