Bible reading order

Lord'sWarrior · Mar 19, 2017

Should one read the Bible, specially the OT in a specific order. I read today the book of Job because I felt compelled to do it. Besides this, let us say, will, should or could one read or skip books? Of course I can, but is it appropriate, should I listen, for example to the intuition. It now tells me to read Samuel, but I don't really know why. Input is appretiated.

Albion · Mar 19, 2017

The Bible, especially the Old Testament, was written over a long period of time and traces the history of God's people from Creation through to the coming of Christ. Reading it in order probably is the best approach, therefore. BUT some people think that starting with the payoff--the work of the Savior--makes sense. If you decide to start with the New Testament, I'd favor beginning with the Gospel of Mark because it's the most straightforward. The other three Gospels 'flesh out' the details, you might say.

Lord'sWarrior · Mar 19, 2017

I'm speaking specifically of the OT. Probably I didn't made it clear. I already read the Bible and the Gospels and some letters several times. But I'm asking concerning intuition. If I feel pulled towards reading - in the OT - the books of Samuel or others just by intuition, is this a common approach by some people? Does anybody go about reading them that way, whithout a fixed pattern? It just might be that the message I need is in that book in a chapter or other. Am I being clear? And I'm concerned for now with the OT mainly, but I guess it could be applied to all the Bible.

david.d · Mar 19, 2017

There are different ways to read the Bible. I prefer doing topics, which generally couples OT books with NT books. Daniel with Revelation for instance. Proverbs with 1 John is another coupling I like.

Before I read what you wrote, I was going to say Job is a good first book, followed by the story of David (Samuel, Psalms). I don't think it matters what order you study, as long as there is order to the study itself. If you have a Bible that has references to related verses, I recommend trying to read all of those as well.

My wife read the Bible all the way through from Genesis, but any time I try that I end up getting back on topics and skipping around. All of the books of the Bible have something to gain from them, but unfortunately there are a few in the OT I have only read a few times. Esther is one I enjoy to read, but I rarely read unless a reference takes me there.

Albion · Mar 19, 2017

Guerrier said:
I'm speaking specifically of the OT. Probably I didn't made it clear. I already read the Bible and the Gospels and some letters several times. But I'm asking concerning intuition.

Right. My feeling is that being led in your Bible study by what you call intuition is an unproductive way to read the OT. Because most of the OT is chronological, the best way has to be to read it in order. That wouldn't make reading some book out of order a big deal, but as a basic answer, reading in sequence will provide the best understanding.

reading - in the OT - the books of Samuel or others just by intuition, is this a common approach by some people? Does anybody go about reading them that way, whithout a fixed pattern? It just might be that the message I need is in that book in a chapter or other. Am I being clear? And I'm concerned for now with the OT mainly, but I guess it could be applied to all the Bible.

I suppose there are people who do it that way, but I am sure that the other way (in order) is much more common.

Lord'sWarrior · Mar 19, 2017

david.d said:
There are different ways to read the Bible. I prefer doing topics, which generally couples OT books with NT books. Daniel with Revelation for instance. Proverbs with 1 John is another coupling I like.

Before I read what you wrote, I was going to say Job is a good first book, followed by the story of David (Samuel, Psalms). I don't think it matters what order you study, as long as there is order to the study itself. If you have a Bible that has references to related verses, I recommend trying to read all of those as well.

My wife read the Bible all the way through from Genesis, but any time I try that I end up getting back on topics and skipping around. All of the books of the Bible have something to gain from them, but unfortunately there are a few in the OT I have only read a few times. Esther is one I enjoy to read, but I rarely read unless a reference takes me there.

Unfortunatly the only portuguese Bible I know with references is the Jehova's Witnesses translation, which I son't own a copy and it seems as I read around the web that it is not a good translation. Pairing seems a good way. I don't really enjoy reading Leviticus and Chronicles. My mind starts to ignore what I read. I'll see some more inputs.

Albion · Mar 19, 2017

Just a minute. You asked us if people read books out of order based upon intuition, and if this is a good idea for you.

Now you seem to be talking about reading the OT books IN ORDER but leaving some out. That's a different proposition.

Steve Petersen · Mar 19, 2017

There are Bibles out there where the books are inserted in chronological order.

IMO, the best way to read the Bible is to get a good handle on the history and culture of the people who wrote and who read the books.

Lord'sWarrior · Mar 19, 2017

Albion said:
Just a minute. You asked us if people read books out of order based upon intuition, and if this is a good idea for you.

Now you seem to be talking about reading the OT books IN ORDER but leaving some out. That's a different proposition.

No. I'm just saying that some books are more tiresome to read. Not leaving them out. I maintain my position, intuition. Not excluding books. For example. I read the whole of Job today but probably I cannot read Chronicles the same way. Mind you that I said, probably.

Lord'sWarrior · Mar 19, 2017

Steve Petersen said:
There are Bibles out there where the books are inserted in chronological order.

IMO, the best way to read the Bible is to get a good handle on the history and culture of the people who wrote and who read the books.

There are not that many versions of the Bible in Portuguese.

BeStill&Know · Mar 19, 2017

i find it interesting reading topics. you can do this just in the OT

phelven · Apr 16, 2017

Guerrier said:
Unfortunatly the only portuguese Bible I know with references is the Jehova's Witnesses translation, which I son't own a copy and it seems as I read around the web that it is not a good translation. Pairing seems a good way. I don't really enjoy reading Leviticus and Chronicles. My mind starts to ignore what I read. I'll see some more inputs.

What? Look for Brazilian translations of the Bible. There are so many, with and without references, study bibles etc. Portuguese is only behind English and maybe one or two other languages nowadays regarding Bible stuff. Brazilian portuguese might be a little different but you'll probably get used to it.

GandalfTheWise · Apr 16, 2017

Also note that the order of OT books was different in the Hebrew Bible (aka Tanakh or Mikra) than in the modern Christian Bible. Way back before books, I suppose when you used multiple scrolls, "order" was less regimented than in bound books where order is completely fixed.

Speaking for myself, I've found benefit from reading things in a systematic manner as well as skipping around. I usually read in the usual order though I have done it in the Tanakh order a few times.

Goodbook · Apr 17, 2017

I dont think you need to read them in any particular order as long as you make it so you do read the whole thing.

If you go to a church that does liturgy and reads in a particular order well its wise to follow on with them so you are able to experience the whole story with others but if not you are free to make your own reading plan.

For me I first made the effort to read the whole thing in order (from Genesis to Malachi) it was written but since the bible has many parts to it its not necessairly going to be chroniclogical. Sometimes God will direct you to focus on a particular book He wants you to read and thats ok.

At the moment Im focusing on Proverbs.

Bible reading order

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