Suggestions for reading the entire Bible

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HaveFaith8

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Hi all,

As a young man in my 20’s who works full time and has sadly become lapsed in practice of faith since my rediscovering of the Catholic faith a few years back, I want to read the entire Scriptures. However, I have tried several times up to this point to do this by starting at Genesis and going onward, but it becomes such a daunting task that I give up after a few chapters. I will also read sections of the New Testament but not chronologically. Does anyone have any suggestions for reading and understanding Scripture? Thanks.
 
Maybe alternatively purchase a daily reading book that has parts you read daily and reflect on, I’ve seen them at Catholic book shops or online
 
Starting from the beginning and trying to read it straight through never worked for me.

My problem is that the Bible starts with all the historical books at the beginning and reading history has never been my strong suit.

What I did was read through the NT first. Then I started with Genesis and whenever I got bogged down I would change to one of the prophets or the poetical books. Then I’d go back to the historical books. It really helped a lot. Especially when I got to Leviticus, which was a real bear for me to get through.

I still haven’t finished the whole Bible, but I’ve read a good chunk of it this way.

Also, a chronological Bible might help. The Bible doesn’t deal with history in a really linear fashion, which kind of messes me up a bit. A chronological Bible puts it into order so you don’t jump around as much.
 
First things first, you need to pray! and pray constantly, everywhere and in everything you do.
Prayer inspires you and brings you so much love, comfort, and strength to more fervently practice the faith! It increases our desire to know, love and serve God. Part of knowing Him of coarse is through the Bible! I got the site below from another member who was clearly very wise. Its helping me read the Bible!

readthecatholicbibleinayear.wordpress.com

If you keep getting bored reading the Bible, then you’re reading it wrong lol. I felt the same way before too! That is until I started visualizing what was going on in my head. I would play it out, sentence by sentence, and pretend that I was a character in the story or just a bystander. Whenever I didn’t understand something, I just googled it and looked at a catholic source.

When you imagine it, it becomes so interesting. I think thats part of the childlike faith Jesus talked about! But idk.

Remember to devote yourself to God through prayer and God will does the rest! Don’t give up and have faith! God bless! 🙂
 
You might also try this, which I’ve always enjoyed using. It includes brief segments of the Catechism too, if you’re interested in reading that too. All told, three Scriptural readings (Old Testament history/prophecy, OT wisdom literature, and then NT) plus about 8 paragraphs of the CCC will take you around 45 minutes a day or so.

chnetwork.org/2012/08/free-resource-updated-version-of-our-read-the-bible-and-the-catechism-in-a-year-guide/

Know of my prayers for you as you seek to learn more about the faith.

-ACEGC
 
Why not break it up into topics or themes as we do at Mass each Sunday?

For me I like to read bible passages regarding subjects I am currently focused on.For example if I want to read up about sacraments,helping the poor, issues going on in my personal life etc or any other subject I read up on the relevant passages.

At our parish each year we have a dedicated time where we reflect on readings from one of the synoptic gospels, whereby we will read aloud passages…dwell on them and discuss them…our priest usually gives talks with opportunities for us to discuss.

These are just some suggestions good luck and God bless you
 
HaveFaith8 said:
Hi all,

As a young man in my 20’s who works full time and has sadly become lapsed in practice of faith since my rediscovering of the Catholic faith a few years back, I want to read the entire Scriptures. However, I have tried several times up to this point to do this by starting at Genesis and going onward, but it becomes such a daunting task that I give up after a few chapters. I will also read sections of the New Testament but not chronologically. Does anyone have any suggestions for reading and understanding Scripture? Thanks.
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Is it that important that you read the whole Bible? There are many passages in the Old Testament that is insignificant to other passages in the Bible. Isn’t it more important that you get something out of it spiritually by reading passages that will help you? And suppose you read the whole bible, then what? Read books and passages that will help you and skip over those that don’t.

Begin with the four gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. Why? Because it is about Jesus and his message. Everyone should know him and what he taught, and this is a good start. Then read the ACTS, which is the story of the early church.

Anytime you find something that moves you or strikes you, then you might want to pause for a while and just think about it and pray over it. For the Bible is alive with the Word of God and it will lead us deeper into Christ if we use it well. It is important to read it with care and not rush thru it just to get it done.

Before reading the old testament, why not get a book explaining the old testament and the books. I have seen some, and they are quite good. You may also want some maps of those times because it helps make it real.

Then read the Old Testament, and if there are passages that do not make any sense, or that are repetitious, or that are just not that important, then skip over them. Some day you may want to read them but for now read to deepen your understanding of salvation promised and delivered by God.

May God our Father give you grace and peace.
 
I’ve always read whatever bits I wanted to read. Over time that led me to want to read some other bits; then other ones, etc.
 
(1) You don’t have to pressure yourself to have doctoral-level knowledge of Biblical Theology from the very first reading. Simply read, and what you understand is understood; and what you don’t understand, you can come back to later over the next many decades of your life.

(2) Try to develop a general understanding of the layout of the Bible, and which books suit which purposes.

(i) Go here: usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm

(ii) Click on a particular book, and then on its introduction.

If you have a question about Sirach, for example, you may note that *[t]he book contains numerous well-crafted maxims, grouped by affinity, and dealing with a variety of subjects such as the individual, the family, and the community in their relations with one another and with God.

*(iii) Use this information to help you sketch a rough outline of the Bible’s books.

(3) Pick a book to read, and focus on a chapter or three per day. Many people start with the Gospels–especially that of John–and then move on to Acts.

(4) Develop a basic understanding of the outline of each book you read. Don’t sweat this! Just have a rough idea of what is happening or being spoken of in each chapter.

(5) When picking a next book to read, simply pick one which you think sounds interesting!

(6) Try not to focus too much on interpretation or detailed commentary or anything beyond having a good sense of the overall scheme of things. Once you have a rough idea of what St. Paul was talking about in Romans, and who King David was, and what happened to Job, THEN you can worry about the details.

(7) If you should come across something which makes no sense to you, just make a note of it and move on. Again, I can’t stress this enough: your goal is take in the literal sense of the Bible–how the text reads–and not particularly each and every way the literal sense of the Bible is interpreted by scholars. More detailed understandings come later!
 
I have read the bible cover-to-cover four times.

I recommend that it not be read too fast. Most people sit down to read it like a novel but it is not meant to be read that way. Don’t worry about reading the Bible cover-to-cover but make the written word of God part of your life - a little bit each day for the rest of your life and the it will become part of who you are, part of your very being.

I make my breakfast and read while I eat every morning. Maybe it is just a half a page, or three or four pages if it is particularly interesting or moves me. It takes about a year and a half to get through it that way.

If something is difficult to understand then pray about it and move on. Don’t try to force it. If something is interesting or beautiful and you want to linger and reread it then go for it.
Don’t force yourself into a schedule. Don’t force the Holy Spirit into a Schedule. Meet Jesus in the pages a little at a time and make Scripture a part of your life.

-Tim-
 
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