Read the Bible...where to start?

[StrawberryJam]

Is there a rule about reading Protestant Bible translations, especially when reading the NT?

Today, or from times past?

Edit to add:

While the question may be interesting to us today, it is a very huge leap to imagine that in the days before the so called reformation that the average person had access to any version of a bible.
They may have had access to the Mass or Divine Liturgy.
What else would have been there for anyone?

 

[SalesianSDB]

I mean for today.

 

[StrawberryJam]

I mean for today.

I am not finding anything that bars anyone from reading a protestant bible today.
So, it is no longer forbidden fruit.
Today, we can and do know that the protestant bible is edited by men who chose to remove parts of it.

 

[Zooey]

Is there a rule about reading Protestant Bible translations, especially when reading the NT?

Now I am Methodist, so I may be wrong, but I think that you can read from a Protestant translation. You might want to have a Catholic one at hand to check on things that you have questions about.
The problems would be more likely, IMO, in the Old Testament, where there would be several books (and parts of others) missing. (Which is why I like my Catholic & Eastern Orthodox Bibles so much:thumbsup:).

 

[Matt_CL]

As a Catholic I had also felt that reading the Bible from start to finish was too daunting a task, one that most people start in earnest but then give up when they reach books like Leviticus, or Numbers.

I just completed a 24 week Bible Study course offered in my parish based on Jeff Cavins’ Catholic Bible Timeline Series known as THE GREAT ADVENTURE , A JOURNEY THRU THE BIBLE. It was wonderful. I can now connect alot of the OT readings I heard at Mass, and actually feel that I have some knowledge of where they are coming from.

Jeff’s system is to read the 14 narrative books of the Bible first, skipping the others. Then you go back and fill in the cracks with the other books. I heartily recommend it.

 

[GerardMajella]

Jeff’s system is to read the 14 narrative books of the Bible first, skipping the others. Then you go back and fill in the cracks with the other books. I heartily recommend it.

What exactly are the “14 narrative books” in the Bible?

 

[JRRTFAN]

Maybe you could simply trust the simple order of the Gospels and Epistles as they are arranged, rather than be complicated. No doubt the Church had her reasons for arranging these writings as they are. The main thing is to read them quietly and reflectively,
invoking, and trusting in the Holy Spirit.

If you go to daily mass, the readings are essentially one after the other. Same for Sundays, this year from Luke, they’re not out of order. The problem is with the OT, it is not chronological at all.

 

[JRRTFAN]

What exactly are the “14 narrative books” in the Bible?

Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 Maccabees, Luke, Acts.

Read these and you will have read through the Bible chronologically. The other books are written during the time of these books. For instance, Psalms was written during 2 Sam. The minor prophets tie into 2 Kings.

These books are called “narrative” by Cavins, not by the Church. He so calls them to illustrate that they contain the timeline of creation, fall and redemption.

An example would be the Catholic notion that the Gospels set the base line for salvation. The epistles apply the gospels in given situations at various times and place an situations. The epistles are not the Gospels but are adjucts to them.

 

[JRRTFAN]

Is there a rule about reading Protestant Bible translations, especially when reading the NT?

No, in fact the highly vaunted RSV-CE is a primarily Protestant work. The number of differences between the Protestnt version and Catholic version are listed in the version and they are really nominal. I find the New King James pretty good, as have more learned Catholics than me. The NIV is a great reading version but it has an evangelical bias (teachings for traditions when traditions is good, and traditions for traditions when traditions are bad), so it’s biased. But there are a number of them, NIV Study Bible, NIV Life application Bible are quite good if you know where to draw the line.

The New American Standard is very close to the RSV-CE in its translation. Most of the problems surround the fact that the Protestants have excised 7 books and parts of 2 more (O.T.) (We heard from the book of WIsdom last Sunday, no can do with a Protestant version). Probably 85% of their notes, in a good version, will be spot on, but many will be problematic vis a vis sacraments, grace and salvation. Stay away from Ryrie and Dispensational Hoo Har. There ain’t gonna be no rapture.

 

[SalesianSDB]

I find the New King James pretty good, as have more learned Catholics than me.

A year or two ago my friend, who is a Baptist, lent me a NJKV and I found it to be a pretty good translation (apart from the whole 7 books thing). So I bought one (but without study notes) after I returned hers. And then today I ordered a NKJV NT study Bible with notes by pastor Greg Laurie (It’s called Start!) because it was very cheap.

So I’m wondering how good this translation is. From what I’ve read of it, I like it.

 

[JRRTFAN]

A year or two ago my friend, who is a Baptist, lent me a NJKV and I found it to be a pretty good translation (apart from the whole 7 books thing). So I bought one (but without study notes) after I returned hers. And then today I ordered a NKJV NT study Bible with notes by pastor Greg Laurie (It’s called Start!) because it was very cheap.

So I’m wondering how good this translation is. From what I’ve read of it, I like it.

I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have such a volume for reference as to how Evangelicals interpret things but for real use you might look at an Ignatius RSC-CE.

 

[Zooey]

Thank you for the explanation!

You are very welcome. I have been that person going at Leviticus, and so found out for myslef that what I had been told, is absolutely true…
My mother told me once, that she had read the entire Bible…except for the genealogies. She said, “there are so many better parts, it seems a shame to bother with all those unpronounceable names”.

Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 Maccabees, Luke, Acts.

Read these and you will have read through the Bible chronologically. The other books are written during the time of these books. For instance, Psalms was written during 2 Sam. The minor prophets tie into 2 Kings.

These books are called “narrative” by Cavins, not by the Church. He so calls them to illustrate that they contain the timeline of creation, fall and redemption.

An example would be the Catholic notion that the Gospels set the base line for salvation. The epistles apply the gospels in given situations at various times and place an situations. The epistles are not the Gospels but are adjucts to them.

What happened to the other Gospels??

 

[Holly3278]

I have tried reading the Bible from cover to cover before but I always get bogged down in those long genealogies. Those are so boring and they really don’t seem to have much of a meaning to me.

 

[Zooey]

I have tried reading the Bible from cover to cover before but I always get bogged down in those long genealogies. Those are so boring and they really don’t seem to have much of a meaning to me.

There you are!! This is precisely the problem with tryint to do that; it frustrates so many people.
My personal advice is to skip 'em…The Bible is a big, big,book with all kinds of wonderful things in it. And if the genealogies are the thing that are holding you back, I say read another part.
I once had a friend who simply loved reading te descriptions of the laws, gifts to the temple, etc…All the kind of thing that makes me cross my eyes, and go pick up an Agatha Christie.
Reading part of the Bible has to be better than not reading it at all, in ordeer to avoid some few parts of it.

 

[Vixit]

A while back I tried to do the whole “Read the Bible in Two Years” but it didn’t really work out and I gave up.

Now I find this urge to pick up my Bible and read! But where to start? I’ve heard a Christian pastor, Greg Laurie, suggest to start with the Gospel of John then read the other Gospels, Acts, and the rest of the NT and learn the NT before going onto the OT. I like this idea, because I really would love to gain insight and knowledge on the NT, especially the Epistles.

So where should I start? I was thinking, read one chapter of a Gospel and one Chapter of an Epistle daily. What do you think? Which ones should I start with?

Thanks! God bless!

(I will be using a NRSV-CE Youth Bible with notes, if that makes any difference)

I personally have never had much use for the Old Testament. The Jews, it seemed, worshipped Satan, not God. Because the God of the OT is so much different than the God of the NT. He was jealous, angry, vindictive, sadistic, murderous. He was Satan. Then Jesus came and told the Jews and everyone else what was really up, and what God was really like. He said, “You are of your father the devil.” Proves it. The OT predicts Christ’s salvation, but don’t ever believe what it says about God, because it’s a lie.

 

[Izdaari]

My first time through I used a One Year Bible, in the New Living Translation. The books weren’t in the traditional order, but in the order of the reading plan. Each day there was a little from the OT, a little from Psalms and Proverbs, and a little from the NT. Of course, one doesn’t need to buy a special Bible to follow that sort of plan, but it made it very convenient and the NLT is easy reading. I’m on my second time through now, using the ESV, and going from beginning to end… but I wouldn’t recommend that for the first time.

 

[roselily]

A while back I tried to do the whole “Read the Bible in Two Years” but it didn’t really work out and I gave up.

Now I find this urge to pick up my Bible and read! But where to start? I’ve heard a Christian pastor, Greg Laurie, suggest to start with the Gospel of John then read the other Gospels, Acts, and the rest of the NT and learn the NT before going onto the OT. I like this idea, because I really would love to gain insight and knowledge on the NT, especially the Epistles.

So where should I start? I was thinking, read one chapter of a Gospel and one Chapter of an Epistle daily. What do you think? Which ones should I start with?

Thanks! God bless!

(I will be using a NRSV-CE Youth Bible with notes, if that makes any difference)

I have been reading my beautiful NRSV-CE Holy Bible from New testament word by word. I have almost finished reading Luke now, it’s been almost a year every night before sleep. How slow I am reading,

I am very happy to read God words. I have been reading Holy Bible for years, but not really from beginning to end word by word.

Read your Holy Bible; read it every day,
Oh, Words from God, Truth, Wisdom, instruction of Life.
Thank God! All wisdom is from God!

 

[roselily]

I do hope I can read New testament and Old testament word by word; and that will make all the difference.:angel1:

I believe so,

 

[bluelake]

A while back I tried to do the whole “Read the Bible in Two Years” but it didn’t really work out and I gave up.

Now I find this urge to pick up my Bible and read! But where to start? I’ve heard a Christian pastor, Greg Laurie, suggest to start with the Gospel of John then read the other Gospels, Acts, and the rest of the NT and learn the NT before going onto the OT. I like this idea, because I really would love to gain insight and knowledge on the NT, especially the Epistles.

So where should I start? I was thinking, read one chapter of a Gospel and one Chapter of an Epistle daily. What do you think? Which ones should I start with?

Thanks! God bless!

(I will be using a NRSV-CE Youth Bible with notes, if that makes any difference)

I agree. I was going to suggest the Book of John.
I don’t like reading the Bible from Genesis to Rev. I would rather study the Bible with scriptures as a point of reference. For example, the scripture you have heard in church on Sunday. Or passages found here during a discussion.
I had notes everywhere, then I had to buy folders to put them in. Then I had to identify what
they contained. I have used them over and over again .
I also read the Bible everyday.
At times when I have a problem about something, the same day during my scripture reading the answer is there.
Isn’t God great!)

God bless,
Bluelake

 

[chosen_people]

I personally have never had much use for the Old Testament. The Jews, it seemed, worshipped Satan, not God. Because the God of the OT is so much different than the God of the NT. He was jealous, angry, vindictive, sadistic, murderous. He was Satan. Then Jesus came and told the Jews and everyone else what was really up, and what God was really like. He said, “You are of your father the devil.” Proves it. The OT predicts Christ’s salvation, but don’t ever believe what it says about God, because it’s a lie.

Well actually God has always existed, He is merciful and just, and the pagan concept of Satan as a contrary and uncontrollable force to God, does not exist in Judaism or in the Jewish scriptures.

However as you are only interested in Christian scriptures perhaps the following passages (frequently used to support centuries of European anti-Semitism and violence against Jews) may be pertinent:

“Take my enemies, who would not have me rule over them, bring them here, and kill them before me.” (Luke 19:27).

“He who does not abide in me is thrown away like a withered branch. Such withered branches are gathered together, cast into the fire and burned.” (John 15:6)

“…and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.” (Luke 23:36)

“Think not that I have come to send peace to the world. I come not to send peace, but the sword.” (Matthew 10:34)

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)

“For judgment I have come into this world, that those that do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” (John 9:39)

“He who believes in the son has everlasting life. But he who does not believe in the son shall not see life, but shall suffer the everlasting wrath of God.” (John 3:36)

In contrast, the God of the Jewish scriptures, the one and only everlasting God, is the God of all, all are equal and precious in His eyes. The world to come is open to all, Jew and Gentile (in fact it is easier for the Gentile than for the Jew to get to the world to come as they are exempt from the commandments dealing with holiness-such as keeping kosher). Gentiles, be they Christian or Moslem or Hindu or whatever, are judged by God by their ethical behaviour (the seven categories of the Noahide commandments). In the book of Yonah (Jonah) it is a Gentile city that repents and which is spared by God.