what book should i read first?

ceh85 · #1 23rd October 2009, 06:42 PM

Hi everyone,

I have been a Christian in name all my life but I have not spent much time reading the Bible. I want to change this now and I was wondering whether it is best to just read it through from Genesis to Revelations or whether there is a different order I could read it in to help me 'ease into' it. For example I have heard some people say it is better to read the Gospels first.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Bucs1 · #2 24th October 2009, 12:39 AM

I would get in a Bible study group, or perhaps, get one of the many self-study Bible books out there, If you read it from beggining to end, you will miss out on a lot of stuff/interpretations. Also, it may get a bit boring as there are some parts you may want to skip thru to keep your interest up. Not saying that its not important, but I remember reading several (long) chapters of wars and who gave birth to who that could of been skipped over. Goodluck and Godbless!

ceh85 · #3 24th October 2009, 04:45 PM

Thanks for the advice! I think I will look into getting a book. God bless you too!

ebia · #4 24th October 2009, 08:18 PM

I wouldn't take the 'start at Genesis and keep going' approach unless you are really determined - one tends to get bogged down that way.

I think you do need to read Genesis to get the back ground, and preferably the first half of Exodus as well.

Ideally then read Joshua, Samuel and Kings. Then Isaiah. That will give you an idea of the broad outline of the Old Testament story.

Then one of the gospels - I would suggest Luke, then Acts, then Ephesians & Philippians, then fill in the rest of the New Testament, then the Old bit by bit. I wouldn't read two gospels in a row unless one is deliberately wanting to compare them.

Don't read the psalms, but pray them as you read through the rest.

cyberlizard · #5 24th October 2009, 09:10 PM

allow me to recommend a web site to you... it is called Torah portions. The reason I recommend it is that it works through the Torah in one year which is good for laying all the theological groundwork required to understand the gospels, whilst at the same time it studies the gospels showing how they relate back to the Torah.

all in all, a very useful site.

here's the link.

Steve

wayseer · #6 25th October 2009, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by ceh85

Hi everyone,

I have been a Christian in name all my life but I have not spent much time reading the Bible. I want to change this now and I was wondering whether it is best to just read it through from Genesis to Revelations or whether there is a different order I could read it in to help me 'ease into' it. For example I have heard some people say it is better to read the Gospels first.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Hi

Whatever you choose might I suggest that you purchase The Message version of the Bible. It uses today's vernacular language.

Hobopotato · #7 27th October 2009, 10:50 PM

I have four suggestions

1. Start with the basics: Luke, John, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians. Read them quickly (Luke and John in 3-4 days each, Romans in 1 or 2 days, Galatians and Ephesians in 1 day each)

2. Read the entire New Testament, quickly (about 30 days)

3. Read the entire Bible, quickly (about 100 days)

4. Continue reading through the entire Bible every year. I have four one-year reading plans I put together I can send you if you email me. They each take a different approach so each year is different (one is cover to cover, one is different genres each day of the week, etc). I can't give you my email here, but I can tell you that I go by hobopotato779 when I'm on yahoo, so if you can add those facts together...

The good thing about this plan is that you can very quickly get an overview of the bible before you start in on the slower, more serious study. That will help to put things in context.

That is my suggestion, like it or lump it :-P

seriously though, email me and I'll send you my Bible reading plans...I have a ton of them. I also have NT in 52 weeks of five days each, Gospels in a year, and several other "minor" plans in the appendix. I think you'd enjoy looking at it.

Edit: Oh, and God bless you as you read his word!!

Here's an outline of the lectionary I mentioned:

Contents
Part One
Bible Study Plan, Year A
Bible Study Plan, Year B
Bible Study Plan, Year C
Bible Study Plan, Year D
Part Two
Bible Reading Plan, Year A
Bible Reading Plan, Year B
Bible Reading Plan, Year C
Bible Reading Plan, Year D, First Reading
Bible Reading Plan, Year D, Second Reading
Bible Reading Plan, Year D, Third Reading
Bible Reading Plan, Year D, Fourth Reading
Bible Reading Plan, Year D, Fifth Reading
Bible Reading Plan, Year D, Sixth Reading
Appendices
Fifty-Two Week New Testament Reading Plan
One Year Gospel Reading Plan
Weekly Torah Portions
Thirty Day Scriptural Prayer Cycle
Thirty Sayings Of The Wise, Various Monthly Cycles

Jaws13 · #8 28th October 2009, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by ceh85

Hi everyone,

I have been a Christian in name all my life but I have not spent much time reading the Bible. I want to change this now and I was wondering whether it is best to just read it through from Genesis to Revelations or whether there is a different order I could read it in to help me 'ease into' it. For example I have heard some people say it is better to read the Gospels first.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Matthew, Mark, Luke, then Romans-Revelation. I'd suggest an NRSV- New Revised Standard Version. It's one of the most versions that is most literal to the original language. If not an NRSV, then perhaps a NIV study Bible.

DaLeKo · #9 28th October 2009, 05:27 AM

Originally Posted by ceh85

Hi everyone,

I have been a Christian in name all my life but I have not spent much time reading the Bible. I want to change this now and I was wondering whether it is best to just read it through from Genesis to Revelations or whether there is a different order I could read it in to help me 'ease into' it. For example I have heard some people say it is better to read the Gospels first.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

The Gospel of John would get my vote as the place to begin, and the NIV as your translation choice (if you haven't made one already). The reason for choosing the Gospel of John is that its emphasis is on perhaps the most important truth that the Bible reveals to us, the deity of Christ. As far as the NIV goes, I like the fact that it seems like a literal translation as you read it (because it is very close to one) and yet is easier to comprehend at first glance than a literal translation, especially if you are reading through fairly quickly rather than studying the text.

Another excellent way to help you get through the Bible for the first time (and many times after that), especially if you are aurally attuned, is by picking up the Bible on CD. I personally prefer the dramatized versions with multiple voices reading the text, music, even sounds like ox cart wheels going by to give one a sense that you are there. You can get them in a number of different translations and they are also easy to use in the car, or while you walk or work out, etc.

Finally, there are a number of Study Bibles that have 'read through the Bible in a year' plans in the back of them. The best Study Bible ever produced (IMHO) is the "MacArthur Study Bible", but I believe it only comes in NASB and NKJV, so the NIV Study Bible (that I believe someone else also recommended to you in another post) is probably your best choice if you want to use the NIV translation.

--David

ceh85 · #10 28th October 2009, 02:02 PM

Hi, just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who has posted, some really great suggestions and links here! Thanks for taking the time to help me. I'm excited about getting started now!