
By reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture, Catholics join those faithful men and women who have taken God's Word to heart and put it into practice in their lives.

Together, these testaments help us to understand God's plan for human beings. While we read the Old Testament in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus, it has its own value as well. The Old Testament and the New Testament shed light on each other. What happens before and after – even in other books – helps us to understand the true meaning of the text. In the Bible, God teaches us the truths that we need for the sake of our salvation. It is not intended to be read as history text, a science book, or a political manifesto. The Bible is the story of God's relationship with the people he has called to himself.
USCCB BIBLE FREE
An imprimatur indicates that the book is free of errors in Catholic doctrine. A Catholic edition will have an imprimatur notice on the back of the title page. A Catholic edition will include the Church's complete list of sacred books along with introductions and notes for understanding the text. Get the whole story! When selecting a Bible, look for a Catholic edition.

Scripture reading should end with a prayer that this Word will bear fruit in our lives, helping us to become holier and more faithful people. It should begin with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to the Word of God.

Reading the Bible is not like reading a novel or a history book. Reading these inspired words, people grow deeper in their relationship with God and come to understand their place in the community God has called them to in himself. The Church encourages Catholics to make reading the Bible part of their daily prayer lives. Listed here are 10 points for fruitful Scripture reading. Today's Catholic is called to take an intelligent, spiritual approach to the bible. Some biblical passages have become popular maxims, such as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12)," "Thou shalt not steal (Exodus 20:15), and "love thy neighbor" (Matthew 22:39). We have Good Samaritan (Luke 10) laws, welcome home the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), and look for the Promised Land (Exodus 3, Hebrews 11). People hear Scripture readings in church.
