There may be various reasons why individuals read the Bible, but in general, adherents of the Christian faith read the Bible because they desire to know and love God. So, Why should a Christian consistently read the Bible? Beyond learning to know and love God more intimately, Bible reading also nutures your spiritual growth and your knowledge of biblical principles which can lead to a more meaningful life.

Why read the Bible? Or rather, why do you not read the Bible? Sadly many Christians do not take seriously enough the importance of reading the scripture.

If you’re interested in learning more about your faith and the biblical principles that guide it, then take some time to consider why it is essential to read the Bible on a regular basis. Reflect on the spiritual discipline of Bible study and consider how you can incorporate the habit of regular Bible reading into your life. 

The Bible consists of 66 distinct books brought together into one volume. The books of the Bible were written by 44 authors over the span of about 1,500 years. Of those 66 books, 39 comprise the Old Testament, written between 1400 and 400 BC, and 27 books comprise the New Testament, written between 50 and 100 AD, according to Christianity.com.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

The books of the Old Testament were written in Hebrew and Aramaic, while the books of the New Testament were written in Koine Greek and Aramaic. Over the centuries, the Bible has been translated numerous times into many different languages, enabling Christians all over the world to access the Scripture of their faith.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Why is the Bible important? For Christians, the Bible is important because it connects them to their faith and to the truth [SH3.1]of Christ’s teachings. The Bible provides the foundation for the Christian faith, providing a unified narrative of the faith and establishing a cultural and historical framework for the worldview.

The Bible itself reflects on why reading Scripture is important for your faith. Consider these following verses:

Christians may read the Bible for a variety of reasons, including for the purpose of learning more about their religion. Christians may wish to deepen their understanding of the historical foundations of the faith, as well as to become more familiar with biblical principles. More importantly though, the Bible is a source of moral guidance and inspiration, encouraging Christians to emulate a Christ-like character and live in accordance with biblical truths.

Along with spiritual growth, the Bible can also be a source of comfort. For those who are navigating difficult life circumstances, reading the Bible can provide emotional support.

What you read has the potential to affect your mood and your actions. Reading the Bible consistently can offer Christians several benefits.

First, the Bible shows us God’s character and provides us God’s revelation of himself to his people. In each section of the Bible, we see God’s holy, unchanging, faithful, gracious and loving character.

Second, regularly reading God’s word reorients our thinking so that we can grow in maturity, which is part of the Christian calling (Ephesians 4:14–16; Romans 12:1–2). 

When considering the question, Why is it important to read the Bible? it can be helpful to consider what the Bible itself says about reading scripture. When discussing reading scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 notes that it is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” The next verse goes on to say that this leads to the completeness and equipping “for every good work” (ESV).

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” — Isaiah 40:8

If you haven’t spent much or any time reading the Bible yet, consider how doing so may help grow your faith and, in doing so, change your life. The Bible itself notes that Christians may thirst for spiritual knowledge and growth.

Consider the following verses:

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” — 1 Peter 2:2

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts…” — Psalm 42:1–2

Consistent Bible reading may affect every person differently. Some may find the Bible to be a source of comfort, supporting their emotional well-being. Others may discover behavioral shifts in themselves when they attempt to live by biblical principles and apply the teachings of the Bible to daily life. Reading the Bible may also affirm your self-identity as a Christian.

Now that you know what regular Bible reading may do for your life and spiritual growth, how can you get started? It may be a good idea to take small steps. You don’t need to spend hours every day reading the Bible; this may only cause burnout and cause you to give up prematurely. Instead, create a reading schedule that works for you (ideally, develop a consistent plan).

Reading the Bible is a spiritual discipline, which means the faithful need to be disciplined in their approach to it. If you lack the desire to read the Bible, pray and ask that God would give you a desire for His Word.

Then build time into your day to read Scripture and make it a priority. You may then find people to hold you accountable to a reading plan, such as by forming a Bible study group or enlisting a Bible study buddy.

While reading the Bible on a regular basis is a great start, it is also important to approach the Bible in the proper manner. It is easy to get into a habit of trying to focus only on application when reading the Bible. It is absolutely necessary for the Christian to apply the Bible to his or her life, but sometimes it’s possible to make applications that are forced or unintended.

In order to avoid misapplying texts, it may be beneficial to read whole biblical books and try to understand the text in light of both its immediate context and in light of the entire biblical book. Always ask what the text says about the character and nature of God.

Grand Canyon University is a private Christian university that integrates our faith-centered worldview directly into the curriculum. Our students are encouraged to participate in our regularly scheduled worship services on campus, which are also available to view online. In addition, our students can participate in smaller, student-led Life Groups for biblical study with their peers.

GCU’s College of Theology offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to Christian students interested in studying theology and nurturing their relationship with God. Choose from theology degrees in worship arts, Christian studies and more.