Where would it be wise for me to start out when reading the bible? Which book would you recommend? New Testament before Old Testament, right? Thanks for any help. 
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Where to start out in the bible?
- Thread starter CameHome
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Asar'el
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My advice - 'start' in three places! begin reading the old testament, the psalms and proverbs, and the new testament.
Genesis; Psalms; Matthew. Read at least one chapter in each; if you are patient and can read more at once, feel free to read more.
I will also say it is important also where you end - read it all!
I find it effective to read from the old testament (Genesis - Job, Ecclesiastes - Malachi), the Psalms and Proverbs, and the new testament (Matthew - Revelation); as much or as little as you can bear. Try old testament and psalms/proverbs in the morning, new testament and psalms/proverbs in the evening
Genesis; Psalms; Matthew. Read at least one chapter in each; if you are patient and can read more at once, feel free to read more.
I will also say it is important also where you end - read it all!
I find it effective to read from the old testament (Genesis - Job, Ecclesiastes - Malachi), the Psalms and Proverbs, and the new testament (Matthew - Revelation); as much or as little as you can bear. Try old testament and psalms/proverbs in the morning, new testament and psalms/proverbs in the evening
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My reccomendation is to read the synoptic gospels first (Matthew, Mark, Luke), then the first five books of the bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deutoronmy)-- don't worry if your eyes glaze over a bit during the sections of Leviticus that deal with "clean and unclean", it happens to most of us.
Then, try one of those "bible in a year" bibles, or computer programs-- stick with it! Get a translation you can read (this is key, at least for me), and a good study bible will help you get more out of it-- I use a Zondervan NIV Study bible, which I find excellent, but if you belong to a specific denomination, ask your pastor/priest if there are any your church specifically reccomends.
Then, try one of those "bible in a year" bibles, or computer programs-- stick with it! Get a translation you can read (this is key, at least for me), and a good study bible will help you get more out of it-- I use a Zondervan NIV Study bible, which I find excellent, but if you belong to a specific denomination, ask your pastor/priest if there are any your church specifically reccomends.
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I don't think any book is a "bad choice" . But John is a bit less accessable than the other three gospels for a first time reader of the Word (at least, in my opinion). The other three Gospels are a bit easier to follow, especially Luke, which reads fairly closely to a conventional narrative story. John is one of the books where it seems necessary to stop after every verse to deeply contemplate-- which is something that is certainly valuable, but may be difficult to do if you're starting out.
. But John is a bit less accessable than the other three gospels for a first time reader of the Word (at least, in my opinion). The other three Gospels are a bit easier to follow, especially Luke, which reads fairly closely to a conventional narrative story. John is one of the books where it seems necessary to stop after every verse to deeply contemplate-- which is something that is certainly valuable, but may be difficult to do if you're starting out.
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† Soldier Of Christ †
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Hi there!CameHome said:Where would it be wise for me to start out when reading the bible? Which book would you recommend? New Testament before Old Testament, right? Thanks for any help.
I recommend the Gospel of John first so that you may learn about the deity of Christ... a good foundation to build upon.
~serapha~
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Thanks for all the replies. I'm not sure which one I'll read first though. Decisions, decisions. Diety of Christ sounds good.
Diety of Christ sounds good.
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Well, so far, everyone has suggested a different book so I'll go ahead and add to the confusion and suggest 1 John and Galatians.
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tndrwarrior
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Ha ha 12 volt, Revelations! Naw just kidding. I have also heard that John is a good place to start. Of course I didn't ask anybody, including God (not the brightest idea) where to start so I ended up starting at the beginning and now I'm almost done with Exodus. Phew get out your good old cubit measuring devices and learn how to build altars. No wonder Jesus was a master of the Old Testament and a carpenter!
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payt01
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Start by forgetting any interpretations of anything biblical you've heard from anyone. Then get in the here and now and experience without intervention of the mind. The bible is a spiritual book, so wherever you go in the bible, remember that it's aimed at the spirit.
What i'm trying to say is that literal interpretations are just that. If you want to believe that some thousands of years ago there was a talking snake tempting a woman to eat a certain literal fruit from a literal tree, you're free to do so. I'd almost say: welcome to the club.
Your spirit may tell you otherwise though. Meditate on it.
Finally, i would like to point out the following:
We must remember that religion is a medicine designed to heal one from the superstition that God is not Present, and that "I" am a miserable little worm who is alien to this universe and seperate from its Source. The Truth is, God IS Present ...in and around YOU ~ Right NOW! "...behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (KJV) or "...look! the kingdom of God is in your midst." (NWT) ~ Luke, 17:21 Also, "...the kingdom is inside you and it is outside you." ~ The Gospel of Thomas, 3 ...or... "...the fathers kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it." ~ The Gospel of Thomas, 113"See! I am God; see! I am in all thing; see! I do all thing; see! I never lift mine hands off my works, nor ever shall, without end; see! I lead all thing to the end I ordained it to from without beginnig, by the same Might, Wisdom, and Love whereby I made it. How should anything be amiss?" ~ Revelations of the Divine LoveAll we need to do is calm down, become more sensitive, and realize it. "Be still, and know that I am God." (KJV) or "Give in, you people, and know that I am God." (NWT) ~ Psalms 46:10Hanging on to religion once the Truth is realized is like being addicted to medicine. There comes a time when you are healed and it is no longer necessary to visit the doctor. You are then 'knowing and being', rather than 'seeking and becoming'. Once one has the experience of God, there is nothing left to seek! A free person does not wish to be free...As to the question, "What religion did Jesus teach?"..."By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (KJV) ...or... "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." (NWT) ~ John 13:35Seems to me the religion of Jesus was Love...
What i'm trying to say is that literal interpretations are just that. If you want to believe that some thousands of years ago there was a talking snake tempting a woman to eat a certain literal fruit from a literal tree, you're free to do so. I'd almost say: welcome to the club.
Your spirit may tell you otherwise though. Meditate on it.
Finally, i would like to point out the following:
We must remember that religion is a medicine designed to heal one from the superstition that God is not Present, and that "I" am a miserable little worm who is alien to this universe and seperate from its Source. The Truth is, God IS Present ...in and around YOU ~ Right NOW! "...behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (KJV) or "...look! the kingdom of God is in your midst." (NWT) ~ Luke, 17:21 Also, "...the kingdom is inside you and it is outside you." ~ The Gospel of Thomas, 3 ...or... "...the fathers kingdom is spread out upon the earth, and people do not see it." ~ The Gospel of Thomas, 113"See! I am God; see! I am in all thing; see! I do all thing; see! I never lift mine hands off my works, nor ever shall, without end; see! I lead all thing to the end I ordained it to from without beginnig, by the same Might, Wisdom, and Love whereby I made it. How should anything be amiss?" ~ Revelations of the Divine LoveAll we need to do is calm down, become more sensitive, and realize it. "Be still, and know that I am God." (KJV) or "Give in, you people, and know that I am God." (NWT) ~ Psalms 46:10Hanging on to religion once the Truth is realized is like being addicted to medicine. There comes a time when you are healed and it is no longer necessary to visit the doctor. You are then 'knowing and being', rather than 'seeking and becoming'. Once one has the experience of God, there is nothing left to seek! A free person does not wish to be free...As to the question, "What religion did Jesus teach?"..."By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (KJV) ...or... "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves." (NWT) ~ John 13:35Seems to me the religion of Jesus was Love...
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PRMan
Part-Time Bible Scholar
While it is true that John is very deep, it is a great place to start because it uses only 500 words in Greek. That's right, one of the deepest theological treatises of all time is written at about a 3rd grade level.
I think John is a great place to start because you can see a great picture of Jesus and what he was trying to accomplish and then read about the early church in Acts next. Then you can read Paul's letters and see how we are to live as Christians. Romans is particularly good for new Christians, and I would say that 1 Corinthians is second best. So starting in John and reading through the New Testament is a great thing for someone unfamiliar with the Bible.
I think John is a great place to start because you can see a great picture of Jesus and what he was trying to accomplish and then read about the early church in Acts next. Then you can read Paul's letters and see how we are to live as Christians. Romans is particularly good for new Christians, and I would say that 1 Corinthians is second best. So starting in John and reading through the New Testament is a great thing for someone unfamiliar with the Bible.
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The church should take its teachings from only those epistles that are specifically for the church. And so assuming that you are already a Christian you should read these: Romans; First and Second Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; First and Second Thessalonians; First and Second Timothy; Titus; First, Second and Third John and First and Second Peter. The order is not that important but start with Romans!!CameHome said:Where would it be wise for me to start out when reading the bible? Which book would you recommend? New Testament before Old Testament, right? Thanks for any help.
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TheMainException
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I suggest that you start in one of the books such as Phillipeans, Ephesians, Colossians, or 1 or 2 Corinthians, some of those smaller books in the New Testament...they are some awesome letters jam packed with great stuff.
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