Your Opinion? How Many Have Read the Entire Bible?

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kinda’ a trick question for Catholics since everyone else who has read the shorter Protestant version has not read it all…

I have read the complete Bible a few times and also the Apocrypha and Pseudopigrapha, the Nag Hammadi Library and the Dead Sea Scrolls and other traditional books. I also have read and own other Holy Books from non-Christian religions-Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Judaism, Islam; and Christian Mysticism and the Early Church Fathers. It is a hobby of mine.

Ravyn
 
A few years ago I bought a Chronological Catholic Bible. Every day I read the “reading for the day” which was a little from the OT, a little from the NT, a little from Psalms, and a little from Proverbs. At the end of a year I completed it all and it took only about 15 minutes a day.
 
Techno2000 said:
I Have 🙂
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Gee, are we supposed to read the whole Bible? Never heard that, not in 12 years of Catholic school or in the rest of my life, so far.

Yeah, it’s an interesting question, but why should we read the entire bible?

What has it done for anyone? I’d hate to know the percentage of priests and bishops who have read the entire bible – wouldn’t think it was that many.

I started reading Sirach a couple months ago, but I got too bored, frankly. Chapter Two is very interesting. But, I was just getting overwhelmed by all the wisdom verses. I think Sirach would be a good book of the Bible to read on the bus or train to work, easy to start and stop at so many points.

My opinion, not many have read the entire Bible. When I worked in a big city, I couldn’t tell if many people were reading it. I couldn’t tell by people’s behavior that they had read it. It seems like its easy to pick out the people who haven’t read it.

Part of my problem in reading it, is that I don’t retain it. I have several Bibles and have underlined a lot. I pick up those copies and I’m wonderstruck that I don’t remember those verses. There’s so many good verses that I’d like to remember!

Maybe the real question is, how to read the Bible and have it stick? Just underlining or highlighting? Actually writing down verses that inspire?

I think it also revolves around the whole idea of being “fed” by the word of God. Particularly by someone who is gifted to preach or teach from scripture. We must be fed every day and allow ourselves to be fed, or we might get to a stage spiritually where we’d be physically if we stopped eating food.
 
When I first came back to church I read the entire Bible over the course of a week…I felt very curious and excited. Since then, I have tried reading a different “passage” each night. I don’t think there is a necessity to read the entire Bible. Between Mass and personal study I get what I find I need for my own journey.
If you can read the entire Book, “do it”,but if you search it and read passages when you can that’s good too.
Peace,
FBernado
 
Allweather said:
I doubt that it is even 5% that have read the entire Bible.

But I think there is a gray area. Many millions have HEARD most of the Bible read many times. Catholics hear huge amounts of Bible readings at Mass. Anyone who goes to Mass every day pretty much hears the entire Bible eventually.

The Bible isn’t material that lends itself to cover-to-cover reading. The story line jumps around. If one starts at “In the beginning” and tries working thru to Revelation, one is probably going to get bogged down in Leviticus, fall asleep, and forget the project. It really helps to understand the layout, read what is important first, and leave the less important details for later study.
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Leviticus and Numbers are the real doozies, aren’t they. I’d say no-one really needs to read Numbers at all.

I’d say as personal reading I’ve been through about 2/3 - through Mass readings I’d have heard a least 4/5 though.
 
I’ve read the New Testament many times and almost all the Old Testament. There are books in the Old Testament that I just can’t get through - Chronicles for instance with all the begats. But there are Books in both the Old and New Testaments that I have read and re-read many, many times.

My mother who is 85, just can’t get into the Bible at all. She says “it’s too hard”. But my father (86) reads it every day.

I began reading it at age 7, and no I didn’t understand it all and it was hard reading. But I persisted and continue to read it to this day. My understanding deepens as the years progress and I often use the Ignatius Study guide which is a wonderful resource.
 
Protestant KJV bible:
OT: 2 times
NT: 4 times

I used The Listeners KJV Bible on my 30 gigabyte iPod, and being 47 years old now, I only just started reading the bible this year. Since I bought myself the iPod this past christmas.

New Testament = 18 hours listening time.

Total bible should be about 83 hours

Edited in:
Forgot to say that before I bought my iPod last Christmas, I never was able to read beyond the first 5 or so books of the OT. I work at night putting up grocery stock, and I can listen to at least 5 or so hours a day. Wether I am putting up Can vegables, breakfast cereal, diapers, or juice, it is very easy to do at least a 3rd of the NT in one night.
 
BibleSteve said:
I’m curious… In your opinion…

Of the 7 Billion people in the world…What percentage have read the entire Bible?

Of the 1 Billion Catholics, what percentage have read the entire Bible?

Thank-you,

Steve
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How could any one person know this. Are you asking us to presume something? Tim
 
Ravyn_Guiliani said:
kinda’ a trick question for Catholics since everyone else who has read the shorter Protestant version has not read it all…

I have read the complete Bible a few times and also the Apocrypha and Pseudopigrapha, the Nag Hammadi Library and the Dead Sea Scrolls and other traditional books. I also have read and own other Holy Books from non-Christian religions-Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Judaism, Islam; and Christian Mysticism and the Early Church Fathers. It is a hobby of mine.

Ravyn
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LOL, yes it was kind of a “trick question”. I too have read much of the Nag Hammadi Library, Dead Sea Scrolls, Book of Mormon, D&C, Tao Te Ching, large portions of the Quran, Journal of George Fox, Isacc Pennington and John Woolman. I have read the “Aprocyphal” New Testament, including the letters of Clement and some of the ECF.

I am amazed at the similarities of the various holy books have to one another…the Light speaks through all.
 
TOP said:
How could any one person know this. Are you asking us to presume something? Tim
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Tim,

I’m just curious your opinions.

If you think about your Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Boss, Workmates, neighbors, friends, etc… do you think 5%, 50%, 95% have read the Bible in it’s entirety?

My opinion is that only about 5% of the current world population has read the Bible in it’s entirety.
 
BibleSteve said:
Tim,

I’m just curious your opinions.

If you think about your Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Boss, Workmates, neighbors, friends, etc… do you think 5%, 50%, 95% have read the Bible in it’s entirety?

My opinion is that only about 5% of the current world population has read the Bible in it’s entirety.
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I would tend to agree with you. I bet that 5%–most of them are ministers/priests and religious scholars.

Here is a zinger. Of those 5% ,or however many it truly is,how many do you think understand ALL of the bible:eek:

I bet you that number is 0. I think it is better to take a book at a time and really study that book and as you go through the books of the bible–it becomes clearer how they all fit together and support each other.😃 👍

This is how I study the bible(not just read it) but study it. I figure if Im going to read it I want to get something out of it–right:thumbsup:

I love it when Im studying the bible and a AHA moment jumps out at me. Those are some of best moments in life.😃

Just my :twocents:

P.S. The ironic part is the bible sells the most copies worldwide every year. I wonder why if noone reads it:shrug: I guess it looks good sitting in the living room.🤷
 
BibleSteve said:
Tim,

I’m just curious your opinions.

If you think about your Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Boss, Workmates, neighbors, friends, etc… do you think 5%, 50%, 95% have read the Bible in it’s entirety?

My opinion is that only about 5% of the current world population has read the Bible in it’s entirety.
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Judge not , lest he be judged.
 
I thought most Catholic high schools requires their students to read and study the whole Bible. Mine did. Perhaps most of the students don’t really pay attention in class or don’t really read it?
 
BibleSteve said:
I’m curious… In your opinion…

Of the 7 Billion people in the world…What percentage have read the entire Bible?

Of the 1 Billion Catholics, what percentage have read the entire Bible?

Thank-you,

Steve
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Who cares? :rotfl:

The statement I think bear saying is that 0% of any of the Jehovah’s Witness have read the ENTIRE bible if their only source of biblical writ has been the New World Translation.

Who cares what percentage of people has or has not read the bible? Did you know that St. James the Apostle never read a single word of the New Testament, AKA Christian Greek Scriptures? Nor did the thief on the cross next to Jesus as he hung on the cross?

Eternal life in the Kingdom of God is not about what or how much you read.
 
I’ve been googling the phrase “never read the entire Bible” and I’m finding various studies that indicate well over 90% of Christians have never read the entire Bible. I’d assume a greater percentage of non-Christians haven’t read the entire Bible.

I find it fascinating that so few place any value on reading the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16, 17)
 
Husbands and wives dont count?

Look guys- hate to say it but are you men spiritual leaders in your household?

I pin it all on the men for this one.😉

(ladies, take this with a grain of salt- I am not making an absolute statement- men- same to you all wonderful guys)

I am asking though- as a man do you feel you are the spiritual head of the house? Do you do Your Best or

Is your wife unequally yolked?

(again let me go with this)

If the burden is put on her-- and she must take the reigns-

How do you co-operate with her?

Are you humble and listen to her if she requests you accompany her to a bible study/Mass/Worship prayer (headcovering or not…LOL)

Curious

Bible Steve may have a view…
BibleSteve said:
Tim,

I’m just curious your opinions.

If you think about your Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Boss, Workmates, neighbors, friends, etc… do you think 5%, 50%, 95% have read the Bible in it’s entirety?

My opinion is that only about 5% of the current world population has read the Bible in it’s entirety.
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I do not know how many people have read the whole Bible. I have several times.
When I was stationed at Fort Sheridan, I learned a simple method of reading the Bible from start to finish. It takes about 15 minutes a day to read 3 chapters a day plus 5 on Sunday. In this way, the Bible can be read in one year. For several years, I would select a different translation and read it in this manner. I began with the NAB and have also read the Living Bible, the Revised Standard Version, and the New Jerusalem.
Today, I read the passages in the Liturgy of the Hours and at times use Lectio Divina for journalling.
 
I would say about ten percent of christians have read through the Bible based on the fact that only ten percent of christians read books on their faith.
 
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