Reading the Bible

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knttnkitty

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I am hoping someone will be able to help me. In church Sunday the priest was talking about reading the bible. He says there are different ways/order to read. I usually start with Genisis and get about half way through and jump to the New Testament. Sometimes I let the bible fall open and read that part of the bible.

What order should the bible be read?

Thank you,

Bonnie
 
There are 14 Historical Books that would benefit you. Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Judges, 1st & 2nd Samuel, 1st & 2nd Kings, and 1st & 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1st and 2nd Maccabees. These books give you a good picture of the Salvation History of the Old Testament people. This background is beneficial when reading the New Testament. After that, I’d read through the New Testament. Then you might want to read from the Wisdom and the Prophet books.
 
The first time I ever read the entire Bible I did so in chronological order. I don’t have that order in front of me, but I’m sure you’d be able to find it on line. It helped me to keep things in order and also broke things up so that I didn’t get bogged down. For instance, if you follow that order you’ll find yourself reading Job somewhere in the middle of Genesis, and many of the Psalms scattered throughout the Old Testament.
 
One book at a time, and one page at a time.

😃

Seriously, my opinion is that the order does not matter to me. However, if you are thinking of reading through the entire Bible in a year or three, pick a book and read through to the end, even if it takes several days. Keep your place with a book mark. When you finish a book, put a check mark next to it in the table of contents, or mark it off your list. After reading one that you find a bit to long and uninteresting, reward yourself by reading one you like, or think you will like. Having a good commentary that covers each chapter you read is also helpful. The most important thing, I think, is to ask God to show you something helpful and new that you had not seen before. The discovery is part of keeping it interesting and real.

👍

I’ve read through the Bible a few times, and this method worked best for me. My favorite books are still Psalms and the gospel of John.

🙂
 
There are many, many ways to read the Bible! You could read the readings that go along with Mass each day, or concentrate on a particular book or section, or a theme that you want to learn more about. (The Catechism or another good study guide would help with that.) I know people who just read straight through once a year. If I remember right, St. Augustine sort of let the Bible just fall open in a similar manner one time, when he heard God telling him to “Take and read.” That might not always be the most beneficial, but couldn’t hurt every once and while, I think. 🙂 The order is far less important that the spiritual practice itself.
 
If you’re going to read Leviticus, at least save it for Lent! 😉
 
You might want to take a look at an article I wrote on the topic of getting started in reading the Bible. You can find it on my website here.

I also blogged about it here.
 
NotWorthy said:
If you’re going to read Leviticus, at least save it for Lent! 😉
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Some us us (wacky, I admit) *like *the Torah laws. 😃 Much better would be to save for Lent the endless list of kings, “Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord…”

Bonnie,

How about trying a story kind of book, like Ruth? That kind isn’t too long and is easy to follow. Or try Jonah, which is an unusual minor prophet book. It isn’t all about the whale (big fish). There is much more in there. Those types of books are nice to read in one sitting, or at least in two big chunks. Others, like the Psalms, are easier for me to read just one psalm each evening, instead of as a big reading project.

The thing is, the bible is quite varied, so you can find something for each person and mood. If you don’t feel like one type of thing, read a different type that day.
 
Pug said:
Some us us (wacky, I admit) *like *the Torah laws. 😃 Much better would be to save for Lent the endless list of kings, “Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord…”
Click to expand...
Oh my goodness! I really have trouble getting inspired by founding out what to do if my ox gores my neighbor’s slave! 😉
Pug said:
Bonnie,

How about trying a story kind of book, like Ruth? That kind isn’t too long and is easy to follow. Or try Jonah, which is an unusual minor prophet book. It isn’t all about the whale (big fish). There is much more in there. Those types of books are nice to read in one sitting, or at least in two big chunks. Others, like the Psalms, are easier for me to read just one psalm each evening, instead of as a big reading project.
Click to expand...
My favorite story of all time is Tobit! You’ve got to read Tobit!
 
NotWorthy said:
Oh my goodness! I really have trouble getting inspired by founding out what to do if my ox gores my neighbor’s slave! 😉

My favorite story of all time is Tobit! You’ve got to read Tobit!
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But isn’t so cool to wonder about the Red Cow that they make ashes from? I mean, why a red cow? And a cow. It is female. So many sacrifices are these unblemished males. And, is it a sacrifice? After all, slaughtering the cow appears to make people unclean. So much to ponder.

With the passage you mentioned, one can consider both the bizarre behavior of stoning an animal and the compassionate laws that teach one to be responsible for how your livestock affect other people.

And then there is the heifer that the elders take to a valley with running water and break its neck and wash their hands over it…blah, blah, blah…

<>

Okay, maybe reading Tobit is a better idea. 🙂
 
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