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How to approach reading the Bible in its entirety?

Silmarien

Silmarien

Member
I've read bits and pieces in the past, but I'm hoping to do a full readthrough now. My only question is whether to start with the Old Testament or the New Testament.

My preference would be to start with the New Testament--it seems more foundational than the Old Testament, and I'm honestly really interested in reading it in its entirety right now regardless of how much I end up believing. I do intend to get to the Old Testament too, of course, but... I'm familiar with what's in there and I know picking it as a starting place is only going to cause me problems.

Would I be missing too much context starting with the New Testament? Is there a preferred order to reading through the Bible that isn't immediately obvious?
 
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Not necessarily. What can be more confusing is for a non-Christian seeker to come into a forum to ask questions and suddenly the Christian members begin debating among themselves. Suppose you enter a room in a clinic where a few doctors are talking and you ask a question about your health. Instead of getting your question answered, the doctors begin arguing back and forth about the proper treatment.
 
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WIP said:
Not necessarily. What can be more confusing is for a non-Christian seeker to come into a forum to ask questions and suddenly the Christian members begin debating among themselves. Suppose you enter a room in a clinic where a few doctors are talking and you ask a question about your health. Instead of getting your question answered, the doctors begin arguing back and forth about the proper treatment.
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Well, I'm a Christian but now *I'm* confused. I thought this forum was for Christians seeking answers to questions, not non-Christians. There is another forum for non-Christian seekers. But anyway, I think it's healthy to everyone to understand that Christians often differ and like to discuss (politely and respectfully) in their opinions about many things, biblical and otherwise. We all (reading back over the comments) seem to agree on one thing: Jesus is the way. That's what counts.
 
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If you look at the header for the forum from the main page, you'll see this. Notice the part in blue. What you are thinking of is the Christian Talk & Advice forum. That is a forum set aside for Christians seeking Christian answers but we limit the amount of debating and arguing in that forum. If you want to find a forum that goes deeper into theological discussion then you are looking for the Theology forum.

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Hope this helps.
 
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WIP said:
If you look at the header for the forum from the main page, you'll see this. Notice the part in blue. What you are thinking of is the Christian Talk & Advice forum. That is a forum set aside for Christians seeking Christian answers but we limit the amount of debating and arguing in that forum. If you want to find a forum that goes deeper into theological discussion then you are looking for the Theology forum.

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Hope this helps.
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So sorry if I'm still misunderstanding the "Questions for Christians" title. Please believe me, I am not a debater..... the OP asked "Would I be missing too much context starting with the New Testament? Is there a preferred order to reading through the Bible that isn't immediately obvious? " and most of the subsequent posts seem to address those questions. I only saw one post that might be pushing the "debate" definition, but that's just my understanding. I am probably missing something, but it wouldn't be the first time. I'll just bow out now to avoid any further risk of this turning into a debate. Thanks for your help, WIP. Forums do need moderators.
 
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just start reading where you like i read it through once started at gen ended in rev john is a good book also.my preference either start new test or old test start reading
 
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I was saved at 19 and started reading Bible then -- I had a King James and a Living Bible (which was just a paraphrase)

But the Living Bible had a unique feature in the front -- boxes where you could x or check off every chapter in the Bible.
Whether I read from KJV or Living Bible, I checked off chapter by chapter, just skipping around (I do recommend New Testament first) and eventually I had read the whole Bible in one version or the other.
 
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I have set up my Bible readings so that I read 3-5 verses a day, starting at Genesis 1:1 on January 1 and ending with Revelations 22 on December 31. I have changed the order I read the books though. I have set my readings so that the Old Testament is read in chronological order, meaning Ezra is no longer read after 2 Chronicles but after Daniel. I have also swapped the books of John and Luke in the New Testament so I read Acts right after Luke. I also try and end each book on its own reading and not end a book and start a book on the same day. As of today (Sunday May 6th) I am on 2 Chronicles 16-18.
 
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Anything -- just ANYTHING that can get you started reading it -- then when you're hooked; you start reading it before you go to bed, get up and discuss it on message boards... on and on...

Read it -- argew abowt it on message boards - think abowt it - read it some more

I came to scoff at paraphrases, which in my time were Living Bible and Good News for Modern Man

One day I had a flat -- in some strange position, the jack could not lift the tire up far enough to get the tire changed. I finally placed my Living Bible underneath the base of the jack, and was able to change the tire.

I was dissing Good News for Modern Man one day - saying how bad it was - brother Rick softly said

"I was saved reading Good News for Modern Man"

Yikes.

Nowdays its THE MESSAGE - I didn't like it until I read its producer explain why he brought out such a paraphrase.

All of them have their place.

Just read 'em
 
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Silmarien said:
I've read bits and pieces in the past, but I'm hoping to do a full readthrough now. My only question is whether to start with the Old Testament or the New Testament.

My preference would be to start with the New Testament--it seems more foundational than the Old Testament, and I'm honestly really interested in reading it in its entirety right now regardless of how much I end up believing. I do intend to get to the Old Testament too, of course, but... I'm familiar with what's in there and I know picking it as a starting place is only going to cause me problems.

Would I be missing too much context starting with the New Testament? Is there a preferred order to reading through the Bible that isn't immediately obvious?
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I dont think it is too important, what matters most is what you grab from it. Not what you read entirely. i mean reading the bible as stories is different to getting the Spirit of the bible's messages, and application.
 
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Silmarien said:
I've read bits and pieces in the past, but I'm hoping to do a full readthrough now. My only question is whether to start with the Old Testament or the New Testament.

My preference would be to start with the New Testament--it seems more foundational than the Old Testament, and I'm honestly really interested in reading it in its entirety right now regardless of how much I end up believing. I do intend to get to the Old Testament too, of course, but... I'm familiar with what's in there and I know picking it as a starting place is only going to cause me problems.

Would I be missing too much context starting with the New Testament? Is there a preferred order to reading through the Bible that isn't immediately obvious?
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Silmarien,

I recommend starting with the OT as it provides the foundation for God's redemptive program in the NT.

I use the Two-Year Bible Reading Plan prepared by Stephen Witmer. Daily I read from the OT or NT and then a chapter from the Psalms and Proverbs.

Don't be ruffled if you miss a day or two because of activities. I find it's important to maintain a discipline of daily reading. For this year, I'm using the Easy-to-Read Version (available online). This version was originally prepared for the hearing impaired who were used to sign language. So the words are simpler and the sentences are shorter. It uses a dynamic equivalence approach to translation (meaning-for-meaning and not word-for-word).

Oz
 
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OzSpen said:
Lee,

Well what do you mean?

It was you who stated in #37, "its not the reading of the entire bible that gives us guidance revelation and wisdom but that each day we take up our cross and when we read the word of God the holy Spirit reveals to us what food is relevant for us that day".

So in your theology the entire Bible does not provide guidance, revelation and wisdom in obtaining the content of salvation, knowing the nature and attributes of God, demonstrating that God is Trinitarian and not Unitarian, that when sin entered the world it has led to chaos in individuals and in our world, etc.

How is it that the entire Bible does not provide revelation and wisdom in these core theological doctrines?

Or, am I missing something about your beliefs?

Oz
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Hi Oz

Sorry I never saw your response and it is 4 years later lol.

I am responding because i got an email from this site only to discover i had used this site and forgotten about it.

I read my previous comments which i apologize for not responding sooner.

You are right the entire bible is relevant and of course the entire bible provides guidance wisdom and revelation.

I meant each day when you renew your mind you are transformed and this helps to sustain and encourage the person.

I hope this helps to clarify things.

Peace.

Lee
 
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Lee2000 said:
Hi Oz

Sorry I never saw your response and it is 4 years later lol.

I am responding because i got an email from this site only to discover i had used this site and forgotten about it.

I read my previous comments which i apologize for not responding sooner.

You are right the entire bible is relevant and of course the entire bible provides guidance wisdom and revelation.

I meant each day when you renew your mind you are transformed and this helps to sustain and encourage the person.

I hope this helps to clarify things.

Peace.

Lee
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Hi Lee
It's nice to see you back and I agree with the above.

It's important to know Jesus and this almost makes reading the bible unnecessary...we'd be saved anyway.

But I do think it's very important to know what He taught to help us sift through this odd world we live in these days.
 
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Whichever way you start, asking God to correct you, teach you, and train you in righteousness and actually do what you think God wants to correct in your deeds will bring a lot more understanding than any commentary.

The best view of the Bible is seeing it as it describes itself…

2 Timothy 3:16
 
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Prycejosh1987 said:
i mean reading the bible as stories is different to getting the Spirit of the bible's messages, and application.
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So read the Bible from your spirit. Do not read the Bible from your carnal flesh mind. All it takes to do this is an internal willful act before you begin to read. Connect with the Spirit first. Sounds weird but, do not engage mind when reading the Bible, engage Spirit!
 
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I just read from beginning to end over and over. Each time I read it makes more sense. I read about a chapter of two every morning. My goal is to read every version.
 
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