With the spine to your left, open the front cover and start at the beginning. If you’re reading Hebrew or Aramaic the spine would be on your right… either way, start at the beginning.
This is an elementary instruction that is sound and good. If you want to understand the contents of a book… one that tells some type of story… start at the beginning.
The only challenge to this sound teaching came after my Christian baptism. The preacher handed me a Bible and told me to ‘start at the New Testament’. I was only ten… I didn’t question it.
One might say, ‘Well the Bible is different because it is a collection of individual books’... well, so is a series such as Harry Potter… and they are meant to be read in order. While that may not be the best example, the Bible’s foundation... what I used to call ‘old’ is what was given to man first. First received were the Books of Moses -- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
There is a rule of interpreting Scripture called ‘First Mention’... in that a word, idea, or principle given the first time… how it is defined sets a precedent for every mention thereafter. In the English language this might not appear to always be the case… and why a good concordance for the Hebrew and Greek should be at hand.
The Old Testament as it is called, defines the character of God… the ways of God… you get to know God and how he operates… so that when you read the New Testament proper discernment of the truth will take place.
I am saddened when I see in the Christian churches today yearly reading plans for the New Testament only. Understand, I love the New Testament… but I would be lost without the foundational understanding and constant refreshing of my knowledge of the law, the prophets, and the Psalms.
If you have never seriously studied the Old Testament I would ask you to consider a plan for reading through the books of Moses in a year. Read and study at your own pace… read faster or slower but it will open your eyes… you will become one of ‘those with eyes to see and ears to hear’.
The Jews do this every year together… if interested, search online for ‘Torah Portions’... that should get you started.
This is an elementary instruction that is sound and good. If you want to understand the contents of a book… one that tells some type of story… start at the beginning.
The only challenge to this sound teaching came after my Christian baptism. The preacher handed me a Bible and told me to ‘start at the New Testament’. I was only ten… I didn’t question it.
One might say, ‘Well the Bible is different because it is a collection of individual books’... well, so is a series such as Harry Potter… and they are meant to be read in order. While that may not be the best example, the Bible’s foundation... what I used to call ‘old’ is what was given to man first. First received were the Books of Moses -- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
There is a rule of interpreting Scripture called ‘First Mention’... in that a word, idea, or principle given the first time… how it is defined sets a precedent for every mention thereafter. In the English language this might not appear to always be the case… and why a good concordance for the Hebrew and Greek should be at hand.
The Old Testament as it is called, defines the character of God… the ways of God… you get to know God and how he operates… so that when you read the New Testament proper discernment of the truth will take place.
I am saddened when I see in the Christian churches today yearly reading plans for the New Testament only. Understand, I love the New Testament… but I would be lost without the foundational understanding and constant refreshing of my knowledge of the law, the prophets, and the Psalms.
If you have never seriously studied the Old Testament I would ask you to consider a plan for reading through the books of Moses in a year. Read and study at your own pace… read faster or slower but it will open your eyes… you will become one of ‘those with eyes to see and ears to hear’.
The Jews do this every year together… if interested, search online for ‘Torah Portions’... that should get you started.
