What book of the bible would you recommend to a first-time reader?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MH84
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

MH84

Guest
  1. Have you ever recommended someone to read a particular part of the Bible when they have asked you? Whether or not you have, what book would you recommend first?
  2. Also, if someone is new to Christianity/Catholicism or doesn’t know too much about it yet, do you recommend they read the Bible at all (outside of Mass), or would you recommend they see a priest first or read the Catechism?
 
I would probably recommend Matthew or Luke for a “first-time never read the Bible before in his life” person. If they were familiar with the basic story of Jesus’ life, however, I would probably recommend John.
 
For a “first-time never read the Bible before in his life” person, I’d recommend Luke/Acts to be read straight through. After this, though, I recommend the rest of the Bible be read through with some reliable guidance.
 
I like John, for it’s poetry and cadence if nothing else. After that, you’re probably going to be best served by talking with a priest, and perusing the Catechism wouldn’t hurt. Jumping straight into the bible can be confusing and hard, whereas the prep for the bible is pretty easy.
 
MH84 said:
  1. Have you ever recommended someone to read a particular part of the Bible when they have asked you? Whether or not you have, what book would you recommend first?
  2. Also, if someone is new to Christianity/Catholicism or doesn’t know too much about it yet, do you recommend they read the Bible at all (outside of Mass), or would you recommend they see a priest first or read the Catechism?
Click to expand...
evangelism begins with proclamation of the good news about Jesus Christ. I would first suggest they read Mark’s gospel and invite them if they want to ask questions to inquiry sessions in the parish.
 
Didn’t say NT it said bible which Contains OT & NT - so i didn’t check any.OT is very important in ‘getting’ the NT.:confused:
 
juliamajor said:
Didn’t say NT it said bible which Contains OT & NT - so i didn’t check any.OT is very important in ‘getting’ the NT.:confused:
Click to expand...
That’s why I myself think John is a good start, because I think that with a lot of the text in it, you don’t need to be as familiar with the OT (like in Matthew), but you still get everything so to speak: miracles or signs, Jesus’ divinity, his humanity, the declaration of St. Thomas at the end, the high priestly prayers of Jesus etc. I could be wrong of course and could easily change my mind if there was a good argument for another book.

Btw, I remember that I once heard Scott Hahn say he would think the Gospel of John is a good start. I don’t know if he was talking about the whole bible or just in reference to the NT. Anyway, for a new reader I probably would only recommend that Genesis be read first, but from there it can get very complicated and laborious.

Finally to convince a non-believer, wouldnt you recommend John anyway to prove that first of all Jesus is God and the Christ? Because the synoptics are not very clear in expressing the divinity of Jesus. (I find that Matthew does provide strong hints in his Gospel though).
 
Just don’t start with Joshua, as that’s what I started with as it was what they were studying at the time I joined a Bile group, think my first meetings was a passage where they kill loads of Canaanites.

I’d probably say Matthew.Genesis on the one hand is an easy read (albeit long), but it’s not as good an idea as starting in the NT, plus the temptation to then read Exodus and Leviticus is high, the latter not being a recommended third book to read
 
MH84 said:
That’s why I myself think John is a good start, because I think that with a lot of the text in it, you don’t need to be as familiar with the OT (like in Matthew), but you still get everything so to speak: miracles or signs, Jesus’ divinity, his humanity, the declaration of St. Thomas at the end, the high priestly prayers of Jesus etc. I could be wrong of course and could easily change my mind if there was a good argument for another book.

Btw, I remember that I once heard Scott Hahn say he would think the Gospel of John is a good start. I don’t know if he was talking about the whole bible or just in reference to the NT. Anyway, for a new reader I probably would only recommend that Genesis be read first, but from there it can get very complicated and laborious.

Finally to convince a non-believer, wouldnt you recommend John anyway to prove that first of all Jesus is God and the Christ? Because the synoptics are not very clear in expressing the divinity of Jesus. (I find that Matthew does provide strong hints in his Gospel though).
Click to expand...
John is wonderful and very deep and theological - but you can use the OT to prove the validity of the NT.Atonement, Covenant, the 'I am " sayings all OT concepts actualized, and completed in Christ.Except for Luke all the other NT writers were Jewish Christians. Those ideas,precepts, and theology and inculturation are intrinsic to each book of the NT-.I’m saying if you want to get a more intense understanding of the NT the OT is very truly important. Yes, Joshua is a really crumy place to start a bible study. I start with GEnesis-creation theology real importent to John’s Gospel . God Bless
 
I would recommend Acts, as it contains a short summary of the OT histories through the life, death and Resurrction of Christ and has historically verifiable events, as well as telling of great faith and great miracles and expalining how the Church began and spread. I consider Acts sort of the encapsulation of the whole Bible to some extent.
 
Hi,

I oted for John because that is what I have suggested in the past. John is written to Christians and I feel is a great place to start. I would then reccomend Ephesians.👍

I believe Matthew ,Mark and Luke were all written to the Jews so a person would need to keep that in mind while reading.
 
I think it is best to read at least one of the Gospels before going into the Acts of the Apostles, which is, in a sense, a sequel to Luke’s gospel . Any of them will give you the story of Christ. The Catechism relies on scripture and especially heavily on the Gospels, so it is probably best to read the rest of the Gospels after you’re finished with Acts. Then have yourself a good long hard glimpse of the first two books of the Pentateuch (Genesis and Exodus). Then take a good long hard glimpse at the Book of Tobit, because Tobit is freaking awesome. Only then should you begin reading the Catechism.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top