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Read This First- A simple guide to getting the most from the Bible
Discover how to understand the Bible for yourself
126 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2022
32 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
J. Gary Millar
18 books18 followersGary has been the Principal of Queensland Theological College in Brisbane, Australia since the start of 2012. After studying chemistry in his home city of Belfast, Gary moved to Aberdeen in Scotland to study theology, before completing a D.Phil at Oxford on Deuteronomy. Gary worked as a pastor for the next 17 years in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and was involved in both church revitalization and church planting, before moving to Brisbane to lead the team at QTC.
Gary travels widely throughout Australia and beyond, seeking to encourage local churches. He is also the co-founder and Chair of The Gospel Coalition Australia.
Gary travels widely throughout Australia and beyond, seeking to encourage local churches. He is also the co-founder and Chair of The Gospel Coalition Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 2, 2021
A little book with a profound aim. To help readers to read Bible.
To summarise the book. A 6 step guide to reading the Bible:
1. Pray- To make sure that we don’t read the Bible merely for interest but to hear God speak.
2. Context- To get our bearings
3. Read- Simple but obvious step. Read the passage.
4. Vibe- Pick up the tone or feel of the passage.
5. Words- Get down to the nitty-gritty of what the words mean and how they fit together.
6. Application- Applying the text to ourselves, our church and our world. Gospel shaped.
To summarise the book. A 6 step guide to reading the Bible:
1. Pray- To make sure that we don’t read the Bible merely for interest but to hear God speak.
2. Context- To get our bearings
3. Read- Simple but obvious step. Read the passage.
4. Vibe- Pick up the tone or feel of the passage.
5. Words- Get down to the nitty-gritty of what the words mean and how they fit together.
6. Application- Applying the text to ourselves, our church and our world. Gospel shaped.
August 26, 2023
Didn't necessarily present anything new but some really great practical examples of how to structure our study of the Bible to get the most out of it. If you're like me and have struggled with this at times or are getting into the Bible for the first time then I would really recommend!
January 1, 2022
Really enjoyed this, a good read to start off the year. One to recommend to new Christians, with some helpful reflections on approaching, enjoying and exploring the bible.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
February 10, 2025
For what it is, it’s stellar.
February 5, 2022
An excellent and readable introduction to reading the Bible well. It’s subtitled “A Simple Guide …” and that is the case. In fact, Millar would really hope that people just read the Bible over and over again. He’s confident that most will get the main “vibe” of most passages they read.
March 10, 2023
Another good book with info for how to read the Bible. This book lays the ground work for the layperson to read the Bible well. I will make this book available to the members so they can read the Bible well.
January 8, 2023
This was an excellent book that I would give to any Christian (young, old, or new) or someone who is just trying to read through it in a year for the first time.
Best parts of the book:
1. Short, tangible chapters with exercises at the end to practice what you learned with a verse/section of the Bible!
2. Down-to-earth writing style without sacrificing truth and important and valuable skills for interpreting scripture
3. Does not back down on the fact that there is only one correct interpretation of scripture and gives some practical examples on how to deal with situations in which others say "I feel this verse means ____ to me."
In short, his basic 6-step take-away is:
1. Pray - Pray for God to help you understand His Word
2. Context - Understand the time, setting, place, people
3. Read - Read for understanding
4. Vibe - What is the type of writing, style, author intent
5. Words - Flow of argument, illustrations, meaning, etc.
6. Application - The Bible was written TO a specific people in a specific time, but is was also written FOR us and we can and should take it and apply it, not just set it on the shelf and forget it.
Overall, this is an excellent little book that I would recommend to anyone. Quick read but oh so helpful.
Best parts of the book:
1. Short, tangible chapters with exercises at the end to practice what you learned with a verse/section of the Bible!
2. Down-to-earth writing style without sacrificing truth and important and valuable skills for interpreting scripture
3. Does not back down on the fact that there is only one correct interpretation of scripture and gives some practical examples on how to deal with situations in which others say "I feel this verse means ____ to me."
In short, his basic 6-step take-away is:
1. Pray - Pray for God to help you understand His Word
2. Context - Understand the time, setting, place, people
3. Read - Read for understanding
4. Vibe - What is the type of writing, style, author intent
5. Words - Flow of argument, illustrations, meaning, etc.
6. Application - The Bible was written TO a specific people in a specific time, but is was also written FOR us and we can and should take it and apply it, not just set it on the shelf and forget it.
Overall, this is an excellent little book that I would recommend to anyone. Quick read but oh so helpful.
July 23, 2024
Gary Millar wrote Read This First: A Simple Guide to Getting the Most from the Bible to “help people who would like to read the Bible but don’t really know where to start or how to go about it” (p. 2, Kindle version). Whether one is a new Christian or has never really gotten into regular reading, Millar hopes you will “read this first and go back to the Bible with the skills and confidence to truly enjoy it (p. 3).
First, Gary deals with the question, “Why bother with the Bible?” and lists reasons people don’t.
But he says, “I’ve written this book to help you meet a person—a living, loving, being like no other—through the pages of a book like no other. . . He made us, he loves us, he knows us inside out, and he speaks to us. And he does that through the Bible. That’s why reading the Bible matters so much—because when we read it, we meet the one and only God ” ( p. 10).
Millar assures that “the Bible was written to be understood by ordinary people like us. It doesn’t need insider knowledge or a special code to make sense of it. It’s not written for experts and professionals. It’s written for people like you and me (pp. 17-18).
Millar then gives tips on how to read, to pick up what he calls the “vibe” of a given passage, to understand different genres within the Bible, to discern meaning, and to apply what we’ve learned.
Every chapter ends with a couple of examples of Scripture to work through using the skills detailed in that chapter.
The appendix, titled “What Is the Bible?” gives a little background such as the difference between the two testaments, how we got the chapter and verse references that weren’t in the original manuscripts, and more.
Gary writes in a warm and simple style, so this book would be accessible to almost anyone.
This would be an excellent resource for someone new to reading the Bible or to anyone who feels they need a refresher course in how to do so.
First, Gary deals with the question, “Why bother with the Bible?” and lists reasons people don’t.
But he says, “I’ve written this book to help you meet a person—a living, loving, being like no other—through the pages of a book like no other. . . He made us, he loves us, he knows us inside out, and he speaks to us. And he does that through the Bible. That’s why reading the Bible matters so much—because when we read it, we meet the one and only God ” ( p. 10).
Millar assures that “the Bible was written to be understood by ordinary people like us. It doesn’t need insider knowledge or a special code to make sense of it. It’s not written for experts and professionals. It’s written for people like you and me (pp. 17-18).
Millar then gives tips on how to read, to pick up what he calls the “vibe” of a given passage, to understand different genres within the Bible, to discern meaning, and to apply what we’ve learned.
Every chapter ends with a couple of examples of Scripture to work through using the skills detailed in that chapter.
The appendix, titled “What Is the Bible?” gives a little background such as the difference between the two testaments, how we got the chapter and verse references that weren’t in the original manuscripts, and more.
Gary writes in a warm and simple style, so this book would be accessible to almost anyone.
This would be an excellent resource for someone new to reading the Bible or to anyone who feels they need a refresher course in how to do so.
May 14, 2025
An exceptionally simple and helpful book on learning to read the Bible. He lays out a simple process of reading the Bible that helps to move your reading from "I laid my eyes on every word of the Bible" to a way of seeing the Bible written in a particular time, to a particular people, that has particular relevance for that people, but carries to you in this day the promises of God that are necessary for you to see and believe. In chapter 7 he lays out his method "Pray, Context, Read, Vibe, Words, Application." In Appendix A, he also offers a simple defense of what the Bible is, how it came together, why we can have confidence in the manuscripts, how the Bible came to have chapters and verses, why we shouldn't fear many translations, and why different translations do different things. This is a book I would be more than happy to hand to a congregant in the church to help them.
May 15, 2022
This book is aimed at new Christians or Christians who are unsure where to start when it comes to reading the bible. It assumes a basic level of faith/belief and a willingness to pray. I had hoped it would be suitable for a wider audience than that...and I do think it is, it would just be a matter of making the reader aware of the intended audience.
What I found most helpful and rather enjoyable, were the examples given showing practical application of the lessons being taught.
It is an easy to read book, in language that is relatable and easy to understand (or well explained). It encourages readers to consider a variety of factors (including the importance of context) when reading and applying the Bible, as well as giving good reasons to read the Bible and some hot tips to help.
What I found most helpful and rather enjoyable, were the examples given showing practical application of the lessons being taught.
It is an easy to read book, in language that is relatable and easy to understand (or well explained). It encourages readers to consider a variety of factors (including the importance of context) when reading and applying the Bible, as well as giving good reasons to read the Bible and some hot tips to help.
June 11, 2023
Outstanding thorough explanation and introduction to the Bible
After decades of personal study, I finally was recommended this book by a pastor after I had a friend find their faith and I wanted to be sure to direct them appropriately. I learned much more than I thought I would and it really has helped put together in a clear and intelligible way key information that will really give new and experienced readers and advantage in getting the most out of reading the Bible. I highly recommend it to any and everyone, whether you are an experienced Christian, new to the faith, or have no religious beliefs at all and are just trying to figure out why people believe this book. Exceptionally well done.
After decades of personal study, I finally was recommended this book by a pastor after I had a friend find their faith and I wanted to be sure to direct them appropriately. I learned much more than I thought I would and it really has helped put together in a clear and intelligible way key information that will really give new and experienced readers and advantage in getting the most out of reading the Bible. I highly recommend it to any and everyone, whether you are an experienced Christian, new to the faith, or have no religious beliefs at all and are just trying to figure out why people believe this book. Exceptionally well done.
March 29, 2022
This accessible, easy-to-read guide on reading the Bible is relevant for both new and older believers. As a seasoned Bible reader, the content was still applicable for me. Written from a historical-redemptive perspective, this book also discreetly teaches a law/gospel distinction through example. Most refreshing was the emphasis on application being gospel-based rather than me-based. Overall, highly recommended!!
February 8, 2023
This is a very quick read for anyone who is interested in starting to read the Bible, or already a seasoned veteran, but wants to brush up on how to read the Bible. It lists different ways as how to differentiate between history, scenery or important details, and which ones are pertinent. It is a guideline in trying to make the Bible less intimidating, more understandable and comfortable to read.
September 29, 2023
This is a great little book to read alongside someone newer to the faith who has yet to develop the reflexes required for good Bible reading. This is a simple but engaging and highly practical attempt to package the fundamental principles of biblical exegesis. I read it one chapter at a time with a congregant, meeting together to discuss our answers to the exercises, which were designed to help the reader apply the principles from select Bible passages.
July 13, 2022
This was a short but thorough introduction to reading the Bible. Not a whole lot of new for me but I did have a couple lightbulb moments that made it worth reading. This would be a great book to give someone who was intimidated by reading the Bible or someone who just needed a refresher.
August 4, 2022
A really excellent, accessible book. Perfect for anyone who is just starting out on their Bible reading journey but also useful for anyone who has been reading the Bible for a long time. One to read, pass on, gift and recommend!
December 28, 2022
Even though I hope to start my third trip through the Bible in 2023, I still gleaned some great reminders. This quick, little book is chock full of good keys to hermeneutics that are good for those hoping to start a new Bible reading plan in 2023!
November 21, 2024
This book is ideal for anyone new to reading the Bible. It’s the simplest “how-to-read-the-Bible” book I’ve come across. It offers step-by-step guidance like a helpful friend. It delivers exactly what it promises, making it an excellent resource for beginners.
March 10, 2022
Excellent
A fantastic little book, very accessible. A helpful approach to reading the Bible with many solid principles simplified for its readers.
A fantastic little book, very accessible. A helpful approach to reading the Bible with many solid principles simplified for its readers.
June 11, 2022
Clear, simple, helpful, accessible, Insightful, direct
This is probably my new go to book for anyone looking for how to insight or help processing/understanding Scripture.
I will read again soon.
This is probably my new go to book for anyone looking for how to insight or help processing/understanding Scripture.
I will read again soon.
July 27, 2022
Simple yet helpful.
February 17, 2024
A good guide for a new reader of the Bible.
December 24, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. Might be the most accessible beginner’s guide to reading the Bible that I’ve read. The structure is sound and it doesn’t try to do too much.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews