Reading vs Hearing Scripture

For a good number of years I have read through the Bible every year. I have the Bible on CD and I have probably listened to it all over the years but never as a one year plan.

Do any of you think there are advantages/disadvantages to hearing the Word versus reading it?

Hi Todd,
You ask,
"Do any of you think there are advantages/disadvantages to hearing the Word versus reading it?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I believe both are very good,... it’s like filling ourselves up with good things,... nothing could be better.
Because when we need Scriptures for ourselves or the need of others, we are not empty,... they can flow out from our utter most being,.. Living Words.

I have "The Word of Promise” .. the audio Bible, and love it,but it requires me to stay in one place/ room, and so I don’t get to listen to it as much as I would like... but am thinking of putting it on when I lay down at night.

But my favorite is to read,.. that way I can back up,read ia sentence or so slowly,.. absorb.

For the love of Him,

””””””””””-♥️
elizabeth

My plan is to read along with the narration. This will keep me from a tendency to speed read or skim over very familiar parts.

I am sad to say that much of scripture is so familiar to me that it is sometimes hard to focus. The solution would seem to be to not read it for a while but I don’t want to go that route.

Just looking for ways to keep it fresh.

Hey Todd,

I personally prefer reading. Rarely I've put on audio Bible when I was too tired physically to read. But unfortunately I find with myself that it is not of a great use ... because then perhaps I am also not able to concentrate enough.

I love listening to sermons for example while travelling. Although many texts in the Bible are like sermons (the prophets, the teaching of Jesus - I find it harder to get the message, since some records are monoton. But it could be a character issue - remember after all the first believers did not have a Bible to read but apostles to listen to.

Just some food for thought :)

And about the familiarity: I try to beat that by reading purposefully. For example take a month when you say: "Now I will study the letters of Paul or prophet Isaiah." Something like that. Or you search what the Scripture has to say on specific topics: covetiousness, meekness, discipleship, preaching the Word etc. And then after some time you can go back to reading from cover to cover.

Above all, pray to God for wisdom and may you grow in the knowledge of the Lord!

Yours in Christ,
E.

Great thread! For me personally, I can only read for maybe 20 minutes and literally fall asleep, this is why I have to do more listening. I've have some folks tell me I probably have Adult Attention Deficit Disorder and I might, but I've never been diagnosed with it. Of course if it means I have to take meds to deal with this, I'll just go on listening and forget reading.

Thus far this year I have been listening while reading along- it's working well so far- forcing me to slow down and pay closer attention.

Now that I have a poorer vision, audio bible is becoming more meaningful to me, and I think it doesn't really matter.

I am using a free non-dramatized KJV audio bible.

While I prefer systematically reading the scriptures slowly enough to meditate on and study certain portions that may really stand out to me, I've gotten a lot of good from hearing them read from time to time over the years.

I've done exclusive hearing while driving to and from work (e.g. about an hour each way at a certain job I had for some time), as well as hearing along with reading simultaneously at home.

One big hang-up I had for some time was in trying to find an NKJV audio Bible I felt comfortable listening to (the NKJV is my favorite version to study with and memorize). As someone pointed out here, some are too monotonous and it's hard to bear with them much. However, several years ago I came across one that I really liked and have stuck with it since. Here’s the link to it in case anyone might be interested:
https://www.olivetree.com/store/product.php?productid=43763

I have considered the NKJV Word of Promise dramatized audio Bible, but I guess I haven’t been able to get over the fact that some of the narrators are secular, unregenerate movie stars, and it seems a bit over the top in the dramatization to me; but maybe I’m just being too legalistic or something.

Something else I’ve recently started doing is going through Steve Gregg’s verse by verse audio teaching through the entire Bible. I’ve found this to be very edifying because for one, he uses the NKJV, and he just about reads every portion of Scripture he expounds on before expounding on it (seemingly with very few exceptions); and I really like his style of teaching the Word. There are other great Bible teachers out there who’s verse by verse audio teaching can be accessed online.

For those who have a hard time reading the scriptures and for whom hearing them is much easier and/or doable, I’d encourage you not to be discouraged. For many years throughout history many of God’s people did not have direct access to God’s Word, but relied solely on hearing it, and it seems that many were able to commit it to memory that way and profited much by that. As Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

I’ve listened to Steve Gregg for years- I really like that he presents all sides and lets us decide. I agree with with him on a lot, disagree with some, but I think as a teacher he is excellent.

Hi Todd, I too agree with a lot of Steve's teaching (e.g. his view on end-times and his view on salvation in terms of God's initiation and man's response).

I always loved the Alexander Scourby bible reading time when it used to come on radio...before radio stations realized they get more listeners without it.

I've had difficulty over the years...well because I am weird...who knew? I like to focus, but when Im driving I get distracted and feel like I am not giving myself properly to listening to the scriptures, plus I don't want to just randomly imagine scripture/teaching. So, I don't listen much to bible reading...I have no trouble with listening to sermons...one after the other, or seminary teaching, lectures etc.

I memorize KJV, other translations only muddy up what's left in the old head.

I can focus intently in the loudest restaurants or coffee houses, sometimes dead silence is 'too quiet', again just me.

Prayer is altogether different, I need alone-ness, solitude so I can focus, speak aloud and open up my heart. Normally I go for a walk, or actually get 'in a closet'.

I listen to a lot of audiobooks while driving and it is amazing how 10 minutes can go by and I haven’t heard a thing- so I have to back track.

This listening while I am reading is really helping me slow down and focus.

I've done a fair amount of listening to Alexander Scourby’s reading. I had a 90 year old friend that swore by it. I too have had issue with distraction while listening, especially while driving. My personal issue was quieting my soul to listen. This was true for listening to sermons as well. My mind would wander and I’d miss 10 minutes.

The Lord literally took me on walks where He disciplines me to not turn or look to the left or right. One time it was out into a very dark night in the countryside. Dogs would start barking as I walked down the lane and I caught the silhouettes of horses. I was frightened but I kept going in spite of my natural fear. The Lord trained me through situations like this to still my heart and actually listen. It was nothing of myself.

At one point, I was on 5-6 hour walks that lasted into the night. They compromised several books but were also interspersed with times of prayer and praise. And times of just being silent and aware of my surroundings. I was blessed many times by having new things brought to my attention. Because I wasn’t reading, I would just check the chapter and keep moving. These times also gave me better overall sense for the tone and purpose of each book which when stripped from the context I was raised in.

Literally learning to be still before the Lord has the largest impact on my ability to hear. The Lord certainly knows your needs and will be faithful to bring you into the newness He has instore.

Excellent Jeremy!