Reading the Bible - best way to start

Benny_Cake

Hi all, like a lot of people in this country I'm a lapsed / disillusioned Catholic. I never gave a huge amount of thought to faith and so on over the last 10 years. My views on most social issues would be pretty liberal as well, and I don't see that changing. But I never stopped believing in God,and the Christian message has a certain beauty to it that has never left me. Life has had it's ups and downs over the last year and I've been taking stock of a number of things and trying to reassess what I believe in. To cut a long story short, I thought that a good place to get started would be to read the Bible (I learnt a lot of Bible stories growing up, but haven't read it as an adult). It would probably a bit counterproductive to just dive in at Genesis and start, so does anyone have a techique, or way of reading the Bible that works for them?

Onesimus

I started by reading Matthews Gospel from start to finish a couple of times and thats how my interest in bible study grew.

There is a great bible study out there by Jeff Cavins on the Gospel of Matthew were he mixes the New Testament with the old so you get a bit of both and you grow in knowledge and spirituality without becoming too bored and seeing it as a big collection of books that will take forever to read.

You can get this study at Veritas, bit pricey though but I suggest you read Matthew.

Onesimus

PDN

It's best to start with one of the Gospels, because Jesus is the central figure in the Bible, so the more you understand Him then the more everything else will make sense. (Theologians, who love using one long word when a few short ones will do, say the Bible is Christocentric.)

Mark's Gospel is the shortest, and was originally written for Romans who weren't really into reading long theological or philosophical treatises. For that reason Mark is more action-oriented and fast moving, so it's a great introduction for someone just starting to read the Bible.

Most scholars think Mark was the first of the Four Gospels to be written.

gimmebroadband

Read the bible in a year. The following link gives you a reading from the OT, Psalms and NT for each day of the week - you can start it anytime!

http://iamlori2.wordpress.com/january/


Link to bible studies!

http://www.veritasbible.com/

alex73

As a Catholic Christ for me is not a historic figure from the Bible, but a living God really present in the Eucharist. I agree with post above, start with Gospels.


A good book to read is Poem of Man-God, interesting story about christ written by an Italian woman called Valtorta.

Onesimus

gimmebroadband wrote: »

Read the bible in a year. The following link gives you a reading from the OT, Psalms and NT for each day of the week - you can start it anytime!

http://iamlori2.wordpress.com/january/


Link to bible studies!

http://www.veritasbible.com/

thats cool but I think it's too much for the OP at the moment plus for someone starting out, sitting in the evening with the actual Bible in your hands makes for a much more interesting read.

Newsite

Anyone got any tips on approaching reading the OT? I went to read the Book of Job and understood one sentence...sort of.

tenchi-fan

Newsite wrote: »

Anyone got any tips on approaching reading the OT? I went to read the Book of Job and understood one sentence...sort of.

Try a more recent translation, and use a study guide.

Benny_Cake

Thanks for all the suggestions folks - I'll probably try and start with Mark so, it looks a little bit easier to start off with, and then to the rest of the Gospels!

gimmebroadband

alex73 wrote: »

As a Catholic Christ for me is not a historic figure from the Bible, but a living God really present in the Eucharist.

"The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host."

- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

PatricaMcKay2

Read St Paul's letter to the Romans first, the early Church Fathers considered it a concise summation of the Gospel, that the Gospel of St John which conveys that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh in the most powerful manner.

Chet Zar

PatricaMcKay2 wrote: »

Read St Paul's letter to the Romans first, the early Church Fathers considered it a concise summation of the Gospel, that the Gospel of St John which conveys that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh in the most powerful manner.

Romans 1 is seriously powerful stuff...especially 17-22...

Keaton

alex73 wrote: »

As a Catholic Christ for me is not a historic figure from the Bible, but a living God really present in the Eucharist. I agree with post above, start with Gospels.


A good book to read is Poem of Man-God, interesting story about christ written by an Italian woman called Valtorta.

Card. Ratzinger was not approving of it. See these links:
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/poem_of_the_man.htm
http://www.ewtn.com/library/scriptur/valtorta.txt

As regards the Bible, get a good commentary. Veritas will have some good ones.

yawnstretch

My mother always advised me to say a prayer before reading the bible - for guidance.

PDN

yawnstretch wrote: »

My mother always advised me to say a prayer before reading the bible - for guidance.

Great point! Thanks for reminding us of that. As Christians we believe that the same Holy Spirit who inspired the biblical authors is available to help us understand the Bible. So it can be like reading a book, but having the book's author on hand to answer questions too!

alex73

Keaton wrote: »

Card. Ratzinger was not approving of it. See these links:
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/poem_of_the_man.htm
http://www.ewtn.com/library/scriptur/valtorta.txt

As regards the Bible, get a good commentary. Veritas will have some good ones.

Of course the poem of man God will never be approved as a Gospel, its the writtings mistic.. And it would be dangerous for the church to approve every writting that a mystic pens. However if you read it just as a reflection on Christ, a book of fiction built on the Gospels, it can help give a clearer picture of true chuch scripture. just another life of Christ book that is written, there are many. I don't base my faith on the book, but its interesting to see how Valtorta describes moments of Christs life that are not in Scripture.

Keaton

alex73 wrote: »

Of course the poem of man God will never be approved as a Gospel, its the writtings mistic.. And it would be dangerous for the church to approve every writting that a mystic pens. However if you read it just as a reflection on Christ, a book of fiction built on the Gospels, it can help give a clearer picture of true chuch scripture. just another life of Christ book that is written, there are many. I don't base my faith on the book, but its interesting to see how Valtorta describes moments of Christs life that are not in Scripture.

The Vatican advised the faithful not to read it, so it would be imprudent and disobedient to disregard a warning from Holy Mother Church.

gimmebroadband

Yesterday I bought "The Life of Christ" by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, for my kindle - it comes highly recommended!

Fulton Sheen's book Life of Christ is a literary masterpiece. Sheen brilliantly navigates through the life of our Lord and highlights some of the more touching moments, while really bringing to life the moments that often get overlooked. Most importantly, this book will help you to nurture and inculcate a deeper and more profound love for Jesus Christ.

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Christ-Fulton-J-Sheen/dp/0385132204

The Quadratic Equation

Benny_Cake wrote: »

Hi all, like a lot of people in this country I'm a lapsed / disillusioned Catholic. I never gave a huge amount of thought to faith and so on over the last 10 years. My views on most social issues would be pretty liberal as well, and I don't see that changing. But I never stopped believing in God,and the Christian message has a certain beauty to it that has never left me. Life has had it's ups and downs over the last year and I've been taking stock of a number of things and trying to reassess what I believe in. To cut a long story short, I thought that a good place to get started would be to read the Bible (I learnt a lot of Bible stories growing up, but haven't read it as an adult). It would probably a bit counterproductive to just dive in at Genesis and start, so does anyone have a techique, or way of reading the Bible that works for them?

As most of the posters here have said, I would reccomend starting with the 4 Gospels, starting with the Gospel of Mark. The read the acts of the apostles.

Don't worry about buying bibles and books etc. yet

I'd just buy the following, it is excellent :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ignatius-Catholic-Study-Bible-Testament/dp/1586172506/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319140411&sr=1-2

alex73

Keaton wrote: »

The Vatican advised the faithful not to read it, so it would be imprudent and disobedient to disregard a warning from Holy Mother Church.

Who is the Vatican? I have worked there so I know a little. Reality is the books have 2 imprimaturs from Catholic Bishops. So until the Pope speaks ex cathedra on the books ( which he won't ) then is no sin to read them. its a good book on Christ.

Keaton

alex73 wrote: »

Who is the Vatican? I have worked there so I know a little. Reality is the books have 2 imprimaturs from Catholic Bishops. So until the Pope speaks ex cathedra on the books ( which he won't ) then is no sin to read them. its a good book on Christ.

Imprimaturs mean very little. They can be granted and withdrawn, so they mean little. I know that.

You obviously didn't read the links I posted to the EWTN site. Until you have, there is little point in discussing it further.

scriba

Like other posters, I too recommend starting with the Gospels, and try to focus on the general themes within them: salvation, Christ's moral teachings and his overall message for humanity. The Bible can be read in many ways, Paul's epistles give great advice on the spirit and the letter, as a means of interpreting the great events of the OT, such as the exodus of the Israelites. The Gospels were written with OT prophecies in mind, especially those of Isaiah. A good study guide will direct you on the way. My favourite book
Is Acts I think, followed by John's Gospel. For the OT I would not launch into Genesis and try read straight through to the NT. Genesis and Exodus are good reads in their own right, but maybe pick episodes like the tower of babel, or the flood, or the plagues of Egypt to begin with. These events relate the direct role of God in whats known as salvation history, the role of God in relation to his chosen people, who are initially the Israelites, but after Christ's passion and the apostolic mission to both Jews and Gentiles, salvation was made available to all, through Christ.

Good luck with your reading. These texts are rewarding on many levels. Apologies for any typos. I'm writing this on my phone!