I would have to agree on John. It show Jesus as He really is - true God and true man. Can't beat it. Next I'd pick Psalms.
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I would have to agree on John. It show Jesus as He really is - true God and true man. Can't beat it. Next I'd pick Psalms.
The book of St John is the best to start with. It starts off telling you exactly who Jesus Is. He's the divine Logos. Unfortunanetly most English translations of the Bible says "Word." From there we go to John the Baptist. The best thing to do is to find an Orthodox Church. Most places have at least one. Find an English speaking Church. I respect all belief systems But it's impossible for one church to sprinkle, another pour. Some have infant Baptism while another adult. Everyone can't be right. Go to www.ancientfaithradio.com I grew up in the Baptist Church and the Church of Christ. I studied and prayed until I couldn't stand it any longer. Then I decided to go back to the beginning, the very beginning. A Church that never made any changes in faith or morals.
I'm partial to the book of Genesis myself. I like creation stories, though, so I suppose it is a bit fitting that this is the one I favor.
Not that I know anything, but having read the Bible cover to cover over half-a-dozen times (and studied for 35 years), I would definitely recommend as a beginning place the book of Mark.
Why? Well, it's short and direct.
A scholar I follow has suggested that the four Gospel narratives were written with a view towards the four types of peoples of the day, viz., Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Arabs.
(There is a numerology system in the Scriptures e.g., 3, 4, 7, 12, etc.).
By this understanding, Matthew is directed towards the Jews; Luke towards the Greeks; John towards the Arabs; and Mark towards the Romans.
And since we as Western cultural folk are in the Roman cultural train, Mark would likely make a more direct appeal.
You could easily read it in one sitting in probably not more than an hour.
Caveat: There is one textual problem: the book of Mark ends with Mark 16:8.
So-called Mark 16:9-20 is spurious: most early manuscripts and witnesses do not include those 12 verses.
I'd start with Matthew or Mark , they're both about Jesus' life here on earth , it's easy to understand . you can also read Isaiah to refer to his prophecies that refer to the birth of Jesus.
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I like Psalms for Old Testament.
Yes, it is difficult to begin reading the Bible at the beginning with the droning on of names and lists, but that will happen throughout the first several books, you can skim that part, or bite the bullet and read it all.
Without knowing your religious preference, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest starting with the book of John, then perhaps Proverbs, Kings, Samuel, but eventually, I think you will be led to read from the beginning to understand the parallels and references.
Just tough it out and start at the beginning. Do it in short spurts, if you must. It'll make the 'good' parts that much sweeter.Quote:
Originally Posted by G4C Chiodos
Proverbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol should read this http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.co...bout/index.htm
biblical quotes are interesting to say the least
Sine the OP, and indeed other posters on this thread, seem to find the Book of Genesis so difficult to read, may I suggest R. Crumb's wonderful graphic novel version of it? I know. I know. I'm sure some people feel that a guy with the history that Crumb has should never be allowed to touch such sacred work -- but, c'mon, give the guy credit. He illustrated the entire, unabridged book of Genesis, making everything, in my opinion, a lot easier to read -- yes even the infamous begets -- without ever lapsing into anything anyone could consider offensive.
Ecclesiastes for me. Surely the most philosophical book in the Bible.
Philemon is one page I think, so you can feel like you are making progress on your goal very fast.
Were I re-reading the Christian Bible, I would do Genesis first. Next I would skip to Revelation (Apocalypse), the last book. The third stop would be Samuel I, II and Kings I which talks about David and Solomon.
The translation you read is not critical, but you will likely miss the points and the controversies without commentaries from various perspectives.
For Genesis, an excellent Protestant evangelical commentary is the one by Kent Hughes, Genesis Beginning & Blessing. That will give you, in the most positive light, the Christian perspective. And I find that perspective awe-inspiring and not one you will likely catch by just reading Genesis alone.
An alternate perspective comes from Harold Bloom in his introduction to The Book of J. What is amazing here is Bloom's perspective that Genesis was written by a female, specifically Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. You will not be able to read the adultery of Sarah with Pharoah or the other female activities described in Genesis in the same way again.
A general account of Jewish and Christian apocalyptic beliefs would help with Revelation. Specifically, Albert Schweitzer's discussions of early Christianity are helpful. Schweitzer seems to have claimed that Jesus expected to return very soon. When that didn't happen a crisis occurred in early Christianity.
To read Kings and Samuel, Baruch Halpern provides a scholarly commentary in David's Secret Demons that describes these documents as early pieces of propaganda by Solomon's court to prove that he actually was David's son when in fact he was not.
If you add the Gospels, especially John, there is the controversy over their anti-Semitism, but I hope I have motivated you to read the Bible enough already and to explore other commentaries as well.