Reading the bible..

JMCD

Hows it going?

Bought myself a bible today and started to read it. Now what Im wondering is do you just open it on the first page and start from there? Im presuming you do yea?

Fanny Cradock

I would probably start with the NT and then tackle the OT. There are plenty of guides out there that tease out each book and help with an understanding that may not always be immediately apparent to the modern reader.

JMCD

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

I would probably start with the NT and then tackle the OT. There are plenty of guides out there that tease out each book and help with an understanding that may not always be immediately apparent to the modern reader.

Cheers thanks.

I thought as much do, because I just opened the first page and started reading from there and foun it very hard to follow nd understand.

And while im on the subject, would reading the bible be considered praying?

Mickeroo

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

I would probably start with the NT and then tackle the OT. There are plenty of guides out there that tease out each book and help with an understanding that may not always be immediately apparent to the modern reader.

Just curious. Why would you read the NT before the OT?

philologos

JMCD wrote: »

Cheers thanks.

I thought as much do, because I just opened the first page and started reading from there and foun it very hard to follow nd understand.

And while im on the subject, would reading the bible be considered praying?

I'd argue that reading the Bible is a spiritual activity. Praying is different. However God can speak to people through the Bible by causing them to notice passages in a way that is applicable to their lives.

You might want to pray before you read each day that God may open your heart to see His truth and that you may be inspired by the Holy Spirit by doing so.

Good luck with it

Mickeroo: You'd read the NT first because the NT builds on many Old Testament principles, and Jesus' words fulfil many Torah passages. Jesus directly quotes from the Torah and gives His understanding on the Scriptures. We as Christians seek Jesus' understanding of the Old Testament as Jesus is our High Priest in Christianity. I read from Genesis to Revelations and it can be confusing if you don't understand the significance of the New Covenant relationship that God has to Christians through Jesus His Son as opposed to the Old Covenant relationship God had with the Jews.

Fanny Cradock

JMCD wrote: »

Cheers thanks.

A couple of suggestions for you. If you are really interested in an in-depth investigation you could try a study bible like Oxford Study Bible. (I reckon you could get it cheaper in a Christian book shop).

I would heartily recommend the For everyone series if you want to explore some or all of the individual books in detail.

Seaneh

Most people start with John, But I'd recomend you start with Mark, it's a better reference point for applying Jesus' word to your life IMHO.

kelly1

JMCD wrote: »

And while im on the subject, would reading the bible be considered praying?

It certainly can be. Have you heard of Lectio Divina or Sacred Reading?

JimiTime

I'd start by saying, it depends on what you are reading it for. People read it for all kinds of reasons. An atheist may read it to pick it apart and use it as a stick to beat christians. An historian may read it from a mere historical point of view. A person may read it as a literary work etc etc.

From a Christian perspective, the NT is where its at. Its what is most relevant to us. It contains the good news of the kingdom etc. There is plenty of references back to the OT, and I always think of the NT as a looking glass for the OT, I.E. Reading the OT in light of the NT is better than the other way round. There are chapters of tabernacle dimensions etc in the OT which will have you sleeping before too long (or maybe thats just me).

If you are a Christian seeking to educate yourself more about your faith and Christs message, there's nothing better than to pray for guidance as to how you go about your venture.

My 2 cent.

Goduznt Xzst

Good luck with 1st Chronicles

homer911

Can I recommend "Word Live" from Scripture Union for a daily Bible reading and analysis

They provide a RSS feed so you can add them to iGoogle if you want, which is what I do....but they also do podcasts etc

Edit: I used to use Word-on-the-web, but they seem to have closed down

kelly1

For a birds-eye view of salvation history, can I suggest Scott Hahn's site?

Courses available at:

http://www.salvationhistory.com/studies/courses/online

wolfsbane

JMCD wrote: »

Hows it going?

Bought myself a bible today and started to read it. Now what Im wondering is do you just open it on the first page and start from there? Im presuming you do yea?

As others have said, the NT is the place to start - but I recommend you either get a good Bible Survey to give you an overview of the Bible, and/or read Genesis as you read the Gospels. That gives you the background to the genealogies you will immediately encounter in Matthew and Luke. The history continues in Exodus forward, and the history after Christ continues in Acts.

Other OT books deal with personal relationship with God, eg. Psalms, and prophecies of God's judgment on national sin, and Christ's coming and kingdom. The other NT books tell us how to live to please God and of Christ's return at the end of the age.

If you are reading for curiosity, you will still pick up so much about the real as opposed to common assumptions about what the Bible teaches.

If you are seeking God, you will find Him revealed there. Ask Him to open your understanding as you read.

wolfsbane

I like this Bible Survey:

Survey of the Bible
Author:Hendriksen William

Publisher:Baker

RRP:17.99
ICM Price: £13.97

http://icmbooksdirect.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=18299

Miss_Moneypenny

I find the Lion Handbook to the Bible excellent as a person who has recently started reading the bible properly:pac:

Lovethinking

Something that might be helpful to note is that the Chapter and Verse numbering system was only added later. There has been a tendency since then to recall stories or quotations by means of "Chapter and Verse" while sometimes forgetting context.
Perhaps recalling what you read the same way as you would another book might be better.
Certainly, I would also agree that the NT is the way to go.
It is so rich in content... beware not to be too sidetracked by the familiar portions that are used in debates about one doctrine or another... try to absorb it as a whole.
I believe the Sermon on the Mount (which you would come to very early in the book of Matthew) to be richest of all.

It would be very interesting to hear of any fresh perspective that you notice while reading it the first time... perhaps you could post on it?.

Jesus himself said that if you seek wisdom from God then he will most certainly give it to you without fail... in other words... he wants to give it to you... he's delighted that you want it.... just as a loving parent would be....

Miss_Moneypenny

I am working my way through the NT and the Gospel of Matthew was the first book I read. I am now reading Gospel of John. The part of the Sermon on the Mount that really spoke to me was verses 14 - 16

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven"

From my vague recollections of the Gospels up to that point, I had always associated the phrase "light of the world", with Jesus (maybe because of the "I am the light" statement). The part you are really made me think about how as a Christian I need to try (in my own humble way) to live well so that other people can see something of God. An image came to mind of travelling home through dark countryside and the comfort of seeing the lights of a town in the distance. That was my perspective on it at the time - you can see why I am only reading a chapter every day or so:D

kelly1

Miss_Moneypenny wrote: »

I am working my way through the NT and the Gospel of Matthew was the first book I read. I am now reading Gospel of John.

Lots of people recommend the Gospel of John as the place to begin apparently. Did the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke strike you at all? I certainly did me! The more you get into reading the bible, the more you will encounter the person of Jesus and truth just hit you now and again. It's wonderful.

Miss_Moneypenny wrote: »

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven"

From my vague recollections of the Gospels up to that point, I had always associated the phrase "light of the world", with Jesus (maybe because of the "I am the light" statement). The part you are really made me think about how as a Christian I need to try (in my own humble way) to live well so that other people can see something of God. An image came to mind of travelling home through dark countryside and the comfort of seeing the lights of a town in the distance. That was my perspective on it at the time - you can see why I am only reading a chapter every day or so:D

Jesus certainly is the Light of the world but we too can be lights to the world by living the Gospel by acts of love.

Lovethinking

Miss_Moneypenny wrote: »

I am working my way through the NT and the Gospel of Matthew was the first book I read. I am now reading Gospel of John. The part of the Sermon on the Mount that really spoke to me was verses 14 - 16

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven"

From my vague recollections of the Gospels up to that point, I had always associated the phrase "light of the world", with Jesus (maybe because of the "I am the light" statement). The part you are really made me think about how as a Christian I need to try (in my own humble way) to live well so that other people can see something of God. An image came to mind of travelling home through dark countryside and the comfort of seeing the lights of a town in the distance. That was my perspective on it at the time - you can see why I am only reading a chapter every day or so:D

Cool!
Another application that comes to mind is how meeting someone genuine (whose light is shining) is so refreshing.. it can often recover a persons faith in mankind, which can all too often be shattered by too many bad experiences..... sometimes we are not even aware of how just being genuine may have helped someone.

JimiTime

Lovethinking wrote: »

Cool!
Another application that comes to mind is how meeting someone genuine (whose light is shining) is so refreshing.. it can often recover a persons faith in mankind, which can all too often be shattered by too many bad experiences..... sometimes we are not even aware of how just being genuine may have helped someone.

Brings up another point. Alot may want the 'credit' for changings someones mind/heart etc. Being genuine, and a beacon for the light, may (I would say definately myself) do more to help others and give the message, but it may not give you a feeling of 'look what I did'. There is that feeling inside most of us that we 'want the credit' so to speak. However, Jesus' lesson of 'Don't let your left hand know what your right is doing' comes to mind. The plaudits, and respects these days in all fields go to the intellectuals, educated, book read etc etc. As it was back in Jesus' day. Love, honesty and indeed wisdom, are traits that are not identified very well by alot of people IMO. Probably because there is not a certificate to confirm such traits.

Lovethinking

JimiTime wrote: »

Brings up another point. Alot may want the 'credit' for changings someones mind/heart etc. Being genuine, and a beacon for the light, may (I would say definately myself) do more to help others and give the message, but it may not give you a feeling of 'look what I did'. There is that feeling inside most of us that we 'want the credit' so to speak. However, Jesus' lesson of 'Don't let your left hand know what your right is doing' comes to mind. The plaudits, and respects these days in all fields go to the intellectuals, educated, book read etc etc. As it was back in Jesus' day. Love, honesty and indeed wisdom, are traits that are not identified very well by alot of people IMO. Probably because there is not a certificate to confirm such traits.

+1
It seems to be human nature to always want to "measure" ourselves... hence the attraction of religious laws - we can look at a list of 600 laws and find that we obeyed 597 of them and feel "righteous".... but Jesus directed us away from that way and towards his way... "love God and neighbour"... i.e. "motive is everything". e.g. "giving is it's own reward"
Certainly, I have found that when we examine our motives then there is so much that we see that we must still learn... hence we are truly humbled based upon a more accurate knowledge of where we are at.
The bible usually serves well as the device to see ourselves with.

TravelJunkie

What a lovely thread. Wish more of them were like this. All your comments were great. I'm not the OP but I was blessed to read it.

Miss_Moneypenny

kelly1 wrote: »

Lots of people recommend the Gospel of John as the place to begin apparently. Did the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke strike you at all? I certainly did me! The more you get into reading the bible, the more you will encounter the person of Jesus and truth just hit you now and again. It's wonderful.


Jesus certainly is the Light of the world but we too can be lights to the world by living the Gospel by acts of love.

I just started with the Gospel of Matthew because it was first TBH but I did hear that about the Gospel of John. I have just finished it. I was going to start the Gospel of Luke next although I recollect the parable of the prodigal son. It does speak to me, as I have, in a way, "come back" to God. I definately turned my back on my faith for many years and it is only in the past year that I have "returned to the fold".