Reading the Bible

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Jacob21

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Hello all,
I was wondering where you would recommend I start reading the Bible from. Should I start from Genesis? Are there any passages or sections I should read first to further enrich my faith? I’ve tried reading the Bible before, but I’ve become overwhelmed and unfortunately gave up. Can someone give me some insight? Thanks! God Bless
Jacob :signofcross:
 
There are some different approaches that can be done, not everybody benefits from the same approach.

One way that you can do it is to go through the Bible and read the introductions that tell you who the author is, what the purpose of the book is, who it was written to, etc. But my suggestion is to not do that with the NAB because the introductions are terrible. But a Duoay Rheims Bible usually has good introductions, as well as the Catholic Encyclopedia newadvent.org/bible/ Just click onto the books of the Bible on the left side of the webpage just given.

You can start at Genesis and read from cover to cover, but that did not work for me. Reading the Gospels is a good approach.

But what truly helped me the most was to pick a book of the Bible and do a verse by verse study using a Bible commentary. Below is a link to my website that has tons to choose from, as well as Catholic Bible translations.
 
Jacob21 said:
Hello all,
I was wondering where you would recommend I start reading the Bible from. Should I start from Genesis? Are there any passages or sections I should read first to further enrich my faith? I’ve tried reading the Bible before, but I’ve become overwhelmed and unfortunately gave up. Can someone give me some insight? Thanks! God Bless
Jacob :signofcross:
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jacob,
reading the entire Bible is a struggle at times.
There are many helps out there. check the net.
I would start with chapter one in Gen. then go over to the N.T. The Book of John and so- on.
Skipping back and forth keeps things interesting. This is my opinion, you may like another method. Please don’t give up Find one that suits you 🙂

god bless,
jean8
 
Jacob21 said:
Hello all,
I was wondering where you would recommend I start reading the Bible from. Should I start from Genesis? Are there any passages or sections I should read first to further enrich my faith? I’ve tried reading the Bible before, but I’ve become overwhelmed and unfortunately gave up. Can someone give me some insight? Thanks! God Bless
Jacob :signofcross:
Click to expand...
Hi Jacob – You might want to get in contact with The Coming Home Network. They have an inexpensive reading plan available that you might be interested in using. It’s acutally a plan for reading both the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church in a year. But you may find that it takes you longer than a year. That’s OK because the plan is set up so you can pick up exactly where you left off. Check out this site for yourself:

chnetwork.org/

I hope it helps you.

Kathy
 
If your new to reading the Bible a great place to start is Gospels. My preference is reading the Wisdom Books first then the Gospels and the Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah then with the OT with Genesis through Ruth and go back to the NT. I also read a Psalm or Proverb along with one of the books. But do what you feel comfortable starting out with. Warning Leviticus is wear some people start to lose focus. Don’t let that hinder you
 
I’ve just been reading it cover-to-cover. It can be a challenge at times, particularly the “boring” sections (chapters 1-9 of I Par. come to mind…) Still I think it’s very beneficial: you can’t really understand the context and meaning of later books if you haven’t read the ones preceding them.

The Old Testament has a reputation for being dry but I haven’t found this to be true. You just have to be in the right frame of mind when you’re reading it. Some of the stories even have a “modern” appeal in a way (as in, I could see them being made into successful films with little alteration): I & II Samuel, for example. Even the infamous ritualistic sections of the pentateuch really aren’t too bad. Remember, these were the rites commanded by God at that time: it’s profitable to study them.

And of course leaving aside the historical books, the wisdom books are absolute treasure-troves (at least, judging by what little I’ve read of them so far). Very wise down-to-earth teaching. The prophetical books employ beautiful imagery and aren’t as hard to understand as you’d think if you have a good commentary.

Just stick with it; you’ll be glad you did in the end 🙂
 
Thank you all so very much. I have a few more questions though. I currently own a New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, is that ok? It says its been approvoed by the Catholic Church. However, I cant seem to find the Book of Wisdom? Does it go by another name? Also, this may seem silly, but its ok to write in the margins or underline right? Thanks again! God Bless!
Jacob :signofcross:
 
Jacob21 said:
Thank you all so very much. I have a few more questions though. I currently own a New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, is that ok? It says its been approvoed by the Catholic Church. However, I cant seem to find the Book of Wisdom? Does it go by another name? Also, this may seem silly, but its ok to write in the margins or underline right? Thanks again! God Bless!
Jacob :signofcross:
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Hmm. I have never head that the NRSV removing the book of wisdom. It is approved by the Catholic Church. Not my choice for a Bible but, hope you continue to read it. The book of Wisdom goes by Sapientia in the Latin Vulgate thought. I would say yes on writing in the margins or underlining. I own 2 NABs, JB NT and Douay-Rheims Challoner version for my Catholic Bibles. The one NAB is paperback and I have marked in it several time as well as my Douay-Rheims. The Douay-Rheims isn’t paperback though. In choosing a Bible version you must know what suites you. What may be the best for me, may not be the best for you. I do however encourage you to read as much a possible and share what you have learned.
 
Im currently reading the Gospel according to Mathew. Would you like me to list all the Books contained in the NRSV? Perhaps they have it under a different name? Would it be the “Song of Solomon?”
 
If you want the overall story (historical perspective) from the begining of time until the begining of the Church after Christ ascended into heaven you can read the books in this order:
  1. Genesis
  2. Exodus
  3. Numbers
  4. Joshua
  5. Judges
  6. 1 Samuel
  7. 2 Samuel
  8. 1 Kings
  9. 2 Kings
  10. Ezra
  11. Nehemiah
  12. 1 Maccabees
  13. Luke
  14. Acts
Then you can back track to read their contemporary books in context of what you learned was going on at that time from these mainline books.

If you want to read for spiritual benefit. It is a good idea to read the book of John first. John is a very unique and powerful book. It is the biggest standout among the Gospels. There is a very special feel to it.

John, Luke, Matthew, Mark, Romans, Psalms, are all good books to read for spiritual edification.
 
Jacob21 said:
Im currently reading the Gospel according to Mathew. Would you like me to list all the Books contained in the NRSV? Perhaps they have it under a different name? Would it be the “Song of Solomon?”
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I applaud that you are reading the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Song of Solomon would be also known as Song of Songs or in the Douay-Rheims Canticles of Canticles. It does sometimes be referred as Wisdom of Solomon. I don’t have an NSRV with me to look at. I bet that you find it though.
 
Well ive only read a little into it but im already enthralled! For example, in Matthew 3:12, when John the Baptist says “HIs winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Ive related this to the Holy and righteous going to Heaven, while the wicked will be sent to Hell. Am I correct? Also, what is a winnowing fork, and a threshing floor? I think I already got the meaning of this, I just want to be sure. Thanks!
 
Jacob21 said:
Thank you all so very much. I have a few more questions though. I currently own a New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, is that ok? It says its been approvoed by the Catholic Church. However, I cant seem to find the Book of Wisdom? Does it go by another name? Also, this may seem silly, but its ok to write in the margins or underline right? Thanks again! God Bless!
Jacob :signofcross:
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It is approved for devotional reading but is not considered a good enough translation for use in the liturgy - I think this is primarily due to the fact that the NRSV sometimes translates “brother” to “brothers and sisters”, and other examples of “inclusive” language.

For more readable translations, I recommend the New American Bible, which is the official bible used in the American liturgy. Just ignore the introductions and most of the comments (besides simple explanatory ones: many of the exegetical ones could be considered heretical).

For accuracy to the original texts (as well as being fairly readable), you can’t go wrong with the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (though I do have a problem with a few of the comments, viz. Matthew 1:25, etc.).

If you’re comfortable reading early modern english (with some weird inkhorn terms that require an unabridged dictionary, which can be found online), I’d highly recommend the Douay-Rheims-Challoner with Haydock commentary. Just understand that the texts St. Jerome used to prepare the vulgate were not quite as accurate as the manuscripts more recent translations are based on: this fact mostly manifests itself in the form of minor scribal errors and some minimal additions. It is extremely useful to study because of the excellent commentary and the fact that the Vulgate which the DR translates was the bible of the West for almost 1,000 years.
 
Spend $10 on Jeff Cavins Great Adventure Bible Time Line kit – you can get it at EWTN.com religious catalog. It will take you through the 14 books of Scripture that tell the story. If you read those books FIRST, you will know how the other 59 books fit into the equation.

Read whatever translation you are comfortable with. Later, you can get into figuring out which is the “best” translation for study purposes. But if you are just launching your Bible study career, the “best” translation is the one you will READ.

May the Lord prosper your desire to know Him through His Word.
 
I made the mistake of starting with Genesis and reading straight through as if the bible were a novel. By the time I was finished, I was totally confused.

Now I literaly bounce around but try and focus on the Gospels. I also look up the daily Mass readings and try to read the entire chapter that the reading comes from on that day.
 
Thank you all very much! Now im not discouraged when I have no clue what I should do haha. Thank you, God Bless!
 
Thank you all so very much. I have a few more questions though. I currently own a New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, is that ok? It says its been approvoed by the Catholic Church. However, I cant seem to find the Book of Wisdom? Does it go by another name? Also, this may seem silly, but its ok to write in the margins or underline right? Thanks again! God Bless!
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Sometimes it is called “The Wisdom of Solomon.” Yes, there is nothing wrong at all to underline or write in it.
 
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