Does anyone have information for me about how to read the bible?

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notsmart

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I am not a catholic, so I may not be using a good method here.
I usually skip right over the OT because its scary. I like the basic gospels, even though they dont all agree but, thats not a real big deal to me because the authours may have had a purpose for stressing one thing over another for a reason they will only know.

So how do I get started doing it through a catholic viewpoint?
 
Well… I am sure there are varying opinions on this topic but I have found that reading the 14 narrative books of the Bible as Jeff Cavins suggests was a good starting point. If you can get into a Great Adventure Bible Study class it would be great but here is the website for that series… greatadventureonline.com/
and here is the video that tells you what the narrative books are:
jeffcavins.com/jc/?p=438
 
that is a great bible study and by all means participate if it is offered near you. in the meantime may I suggest if you get only one book to guide you, that it be Mark Shea’s:

Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did (Basilica) Reading the Bible in a way as old as Scripture itself, this book takes the reader on a “fly-over” of the biblical story from Genesis to Revelation and invites us to explore the literal, allegorical, moral and anagogical senses of Scripture. Whether you’ve been studying Scripture for years or are encountering it for the very first time, Making Senses Out of Scripture is an invaluable tool that will help you see biblical revelation afresh—as Christians have done for 2000 years

google Mark Shea or available from most Catholic booksellers
 
Thank you both for the information, I will ask at the library if they can get these for me.
 
There are different ways to do this, it just depends on how deep you want to go. If you are interested in just getting familar with the Bible, then you can get you a study Bible (I recommend a Catholic version:thumbsup: ), one that has introductions beginning at each book that tells you who the author is and the theme of the book. And plus one that has footnotes that will give you insights to the verses. Pray for God’s help to guide you to choose a book to start reading (Gospels are always a good choice).

Plus, take some time to read about the authors of the Bible, become familar with them, it really helps, trust me.

Another way is to read the Daily Mass Readings, it cover most of the Bible in a 3 year span. I provide them on my website and I provide commentary and insights to them. Here is the link litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Daily+Catholic+Scripture+Readings?t=anon
 
a great way to start in slow is at a website such as


which has link to daily Mass readings from OT and NT, and usually a commentator or reflection on those readings, or extended commentary on the Sunday readings–this is free
 
Thanks for the additional information (sorry I just blanked out on the screen names, I think Copeland and Puzzleannie… not sure.)

I read the passage in todays reading in Matthew, and verse 15 was one I cant wrap my mind around.
 
notsmart said:
Isnt that a book detailing the Catholic faith? I think I remember someone saying that its also called the CCC.

Is it an instructional bible aid?
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It is a complete summary of the faith complete with biblical references.

You can find it online here.
 
buffalo said:
It is a complete summary of the faith complete with biblical references.

You can find it online here.
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Okay. But this wont help me understand the bible as much as see a biblical reason for the beliefs of the Catholic Church, right?

I dont mind reading one, thanks for the link.

I guess the library will have that too. I just dont know if thats the best way for me to understand the scary passages in the OT that make me wonder why anyone wants to believe in God, but I dont know how to read it in a christian way, so that could be why.
 
notsmart said:
Okay. But this wont help me understand the bible as much as see a biblical reason for the beliefs of the Catholic Church, right?

I dont mind reading one, thanks for the link.

I guess the library will have that too. I just dont know if thats the best way for me to understand the scary passages in the OT that make me wonder why anyone wants to believe in God, but I dont know how to read it in a christian way, so that could be why.
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This book will help you understand the OT.

God’s Covenant Love in Scripture

The Catechism will also help you understand the Bible.

http://www.aquinasandmore.com/images/items/2546sm.jpg
 
Thank you. I googled Scott Hahn on my other laptop… (dont laugh, I am on a one day vacation to learn about God today)

And, it seems he was a convert if I am correct.

He has some interesting comments I got from googling.

Tomorrow, I will have to sort through all this. I have tons of links to go over.

I dont have cable, so I dont get the catholic channel that I think has a bible segment. I will have to simply wing it with all this information now.
 
There are also some very good study Bibles out there. A study Bible will give you the text, with introductory essays explaining each book and footnotes explaining the passages as you go. It may also contain maps, supplementary essays on important topics, and mini-studies on particularly difficult to translate Greek and Hebrew words.

Here are some of the best:

Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch are working on completing a true study Bible, which includes both the RSV-CE 2nd edition text and a line-by-line analysis, along with selected studies on Greek words, maps, historical background, and the like. The series is OUTSTANDING, but is unfortunately still a work in progress. The good news is that the New Testament is almost complete, and a combined volume should be out by late this year or early next year. Meanwhile, the individual volumes are available. When this is complete, I would venture to say that this could be the new benchmark in Catholic study Bibles.

Here are the links to the 11 currently available volumes of the Ignatius Study Bible by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch:
ignatius.com/index.aspx
Type in the search word “study Bible”.

Scott Hahn’s website has many good links and some resources for free Bible study also.
scotthahn.com/

Now, if you’re looking for a study Bible that’s complete, you won’t do better than the Navarre Study Bible. Its pricey, and its meant more for spiritual enrichment than rigorous study the way that the Ignatius Study Bible is, but it is quite outstanding. It is published by Scepter Press, the publishing outlet for Opus Dei. It comes in three versions:

The complete, 10 volume hardcover edition, which includes the RSV-CE, the Latin Vulgate, commentary, and introductory essays, an abridged hardcover version of the New Testament which also leaves out the Latin Vulgate, and a 12 volume paperback edition of the New Testament:

The hardcover volumes are exquisite and are of heirloom quality.

Another really good option is to use the Douay-Rheims Version of the Bible with Haydock Commentary. Fr. Haydock was a 19th century priest who made a study Bible that used extensive quotes from the Early Church Fathers for the commentary. It has recently been reprinted in a couple of different versions, and is available online (although the site is still working on a few books, its nearly complete).

Here’s a link to the hardcover version:
inhisname.com/product.php?product=42012

Here’s a link to the online version:
haydock1859.tripod.com/index.html

All of the above study Bibles are highly recommended and extremely faithful and orthodox to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
 
notsmart said:
I am not a catholic, so I may not be using a good method here.
I usually skip right over the OT because its scary. I like the basic gospels, even though they dont all agree but, thats not a real big deal to me because the authours may have had a purpose for stressing one thing over another for a reason they will only know.

So how do I get started doing it through a catholic viewpoint?
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A lot of good points are in Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. It’s got a lot of good notation, etc.

If you want specifically Catholic viewpoint, start with The Biblical Basis for the Catholic Faith by John Salza.
Here’s a link: amazon.com/Biblical-Basis-Catholic-Faith/dp/1592761461
 
Roll Tide, and Ignatius thank you for your posts.

It sounds like this is going to be alot easier with the proper aids for study.

I only have a RSV but its not a CE, and I know that is not what Catholics use, because I had a Catholic bible when I was dating my husband. Unfortunately, we lost it on vacation. I left it behind in the hotel room we were staying in. It seemed as if that one had a different way of breaking down the books, and how they classified them.

I will have to get more bibles, and aids.

Or, at least get to understand more about how the bible was put together.
 
notsmart said:
Thank you. I googled Scott Hahn on my other laptop… (dont laugh, I am on a one day vacation to learn about God today)

And, it seems he was a convert if I am correct.

He has some interesting comments I got from googling.

Tomorrow, I will have to sort through all this. I have tons of links to go over.

I dont have cable, so I dont get the catholic channel that I think has a bible segment. I will have to simply wing it with all this information now.
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You can watch EWTN online here.
 
buffalo said:
You can watch EWTN online here.
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Great! Thank you for that. Although, I am in a spot where I need to start a thread, someone is telling me I need to get a declaration of nullity just to take these RCIA classes, and now I am getting mad.
 
Hi, Monica, me again…

There’s a list of interpretation guides here.

I highly recommend Frank Sheed’s “Theology For Beginners,” which isn’t really a guide to the Bible, but will explain a lot and is easy to read. Hopefully you can find it in your library.

Personally, I started with the 4 Gospels, the first 4 books of the New Testament. They are what we have written down of Jesus’ life and teachings. Don’t worry at first about taking it all in. I’ve been reading them for 20 years and still get more out of them every time.

Bring your questions to this forum! And feel free to pm me, any time.

I wish you lived near me - I’d love to be your sponsor for RCIA.

Ruthie
 
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