Old Testament Books

[Multi67]

Hello all, I'm reading the New Testament right now and have studied it quite a bit.

I'm going to start reading the OT next and I'm a little concerned that I will read it incorrectly and not be able to understand some of the harder subjects, slaves, killing, etc.

With this in mind can anyone recommend some good books to read alongside the OT?

Thanks

 

[keith99]

I would suggest not reading anythnig else alongside it. Let the Bible speak for itself. That said my copy of the NIV translation has a significant number of footnotes. Those usually give what one needs to understand context and words that were difficult to translate. (Or for that matter poetic aspects. One OT book is a kind of poem where the first letter of each line works through the Hebrew alphabet. Like the a is for... but with normal sentance structure).

If you hit hard parts, places where in reading you are unsure of the meaning I would suggest checking several sources, no tjust one or two. Many comentators sound like their view is the generally accepted one, when it is not.

As to misunderstanding, if yuo have a decent translation why sould you misunderstand? I thnik it far more likely that you will understand quite well, it is just that the passage is something many do not want to see. Decide what you think any passage means and stick to that unless you find a convincing argument.

Many early protestant martyrs when pressed by the Catholic Church made the statement that they would gladly recant their 'heresy' if they could be shown their error from Scripture and plain logic.