Your Opinion? How Many Have Read the Entire Bible?

[lak611]

WHY?

OK, first of all, Catholics DO read their bibles.

S’matter of fact, Catholics that ATTEND MASS read a lot of the bible.

The question was about READING the Bible, not hearing the Bible read to you.

My differences in Catholics and Protestants in how many have read THE BIBLE comes from my belief that most Protestants have ‘choice’ passages that they read over and over again, where many more (in my estimation) Catholics that DO read the bible are more inclined to read more OF the Bible.

Don’t forget, just like their are Catholics that have never had a bible in their home, never made any effort to read their bible, the same may be said of Protestants.

This is true. Of the people I know, Catholic and Protestant, all own a Bible; but most just use it to record family history. They have those huge Bibles that sit on the coffee table or bookshelf. 30% is too high of a figure for reading the entire Bible, whether one is Catholic or Protestant.

 

[Sheeniac]

Don’t forget that there is an indulgence for Scripture reading (is it 30 mins a day perhaps?). I’ve read it, but have started circling commentary books to purchase. As the Ethiopian said, ‘how am I to understand it if no one teaches me?’ (ok - a rough paraphrase…)

 

[Apryl]

The question was about READING the Bible, not hearing the Bible read to you.
.

I still stand on the same thoughts.

I believe that more Catholics have read more of the Bible than non-Catholics have read of the Bible.

We do realize that this is an unscientific opinion, but that’s what was asked for, right?

 

[Teeliumtrozzle]

I’ve read the entire New Testament and am about halfway through the Old Testament.I’m hoping to finish by September.I once read Genesis and Exodus in one day.

 

[paarsurrey]

I’ve read the entire New Testament and am about halfway through the Old Testament.I’m hoping to finish by September.I once read Genesis and Exodus in one day.

Hi

The correct thing would have been that you should have started from Genesis from OTBible (as GodAllahYHWH started) and ended at the last book of NTBible.

I would now suggest you to read OTBible twice.

Thanks

The ultimate truth is that GodAllahYHWH is absolute Truth and other things exist only in relation to Him and created by HIM.

 

[lak611]

Hi

The correct thing would have been that you should have started from Genesis from OTBible (as GodAllahYHWH started) and ended at the last book of NTBible.

I would now suggest you to read OTBible twice.

Thanks

The ultimate truth is that GodAllahYHWH is absolute Truth and other things exist only in relation to Him and created by HIM.

I have read the Bible all the way through in the order that it is compiled. I would not recommend that though. Leviticus and Numbers can really bog someone down if they have not ever read the Bible before. I recommend reading something from the Old Testament and something from the New Testament daily (possibly OT in the morning and NT at night). I also recommend reading Leviticus and Numbers last to avoid getting discouraged and quitting. Those books are tough to get through.

 

[maximus]

I read the Shockel-Mateos (Spanish) translation from cover to cover and have read the entire New Testament in English NAB/KJV.

 

[lak611]

I read the Shockel-Mateos (Spanish) translation from cover to cover and have read the entire New Testament in English NAB/KJV.

Excellent! I studied Spanish in high school, but unfortunately do not know enough of it to read a Spanish Bible.

 

[paarsurrey]

I have read the Bible all the way through in the order that it is compiled. I would not recommend that though. Leviticus and Numbers can really bog someone down if they have not ever read the Bible before. I recommend reading something from the Old Testament and something from the New Testament daily (possibly OT in the morning and NT at night). I also recommend reading Leviticus and Numbers last to avoid getting discouraged and quitting. Those books are tough to get through.

Hi

Thanks for your response and suggestions, but I read from UrduBible, my native language (OT & NT, Catholic and also Protestant Versions) from cover to cover, from start to the end. This had done me no harm, rather things became more clear to me.

Thanks

The ultimate truth about Jesus is:
(Firstly), JesusYeshuaIssa did not leave anything revealed on him from GodAllahYHWH in the form of written stone tablets as was in case of Moses, (Secondly) or anything written by JesusYeshuaIssa himself when he left from Galilee, after the incident of Crucifixion, alongwith his mother Mary in search of the lost ten tribes of the house of Israel, he died natural and peaceful death in Kashmir, India.
Jesus left nothing behind authenticated by him, in possession of the Church.
We do respect the NTGospels which (Thirdly) have account of Jesus life, but it does not have much utility for a non-Catholic, a book of history subject to scrutiny, internal as well as external, for each event for truth on merit.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

** The ultimate truth about Jesus is:**
(Firstly), JesusYeshuaIssa did not leave anything revealed on him from GodAllahYHWH in the form of written stone tablets as was in case of Moses, (Secondly) or anything written by JesusYeshuaIssa himself when he left from Galilee, after the incident of Crucifixion, alongwith his mother Mary in search of the lost ten tribes of the house of Israel, **he died natural and peaceful death in Kashmir, India. **
Jesus left nothing behind authenticated by him, in possession of the Church.
We do respect the NTGospels which (Thirdly) have account of Jesus life, but it does not have much utility for a non-Catholic, a book of history subject to scrutiny, internal as well as external, for each event for truth on merit.

You call this the “ultimate truth”…then step up and provide at least some historical claims of this. Are such claims even in the Koran? If they arent even in that then you need to drop “the ultimate truth” from your claim.

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

Hi

The correct thing would have been that you should have started from Genesis from OTBible (as GodAllahYHWH started) and ended at the last book of NTBible.

I would now suggest you to read OTBible twice.

Thanks

The ultimate truth is that GodAllahYHWH is absolute Truth and other things exist only in relation to Him and created by HIM.

Read the OTBible twice??? You sound like a priest giving out penances from reconciliation; You must say three Hail Marys and three Our Fathers.

I think the Old Testament makes more interesting reading when you can see the parallels from the New Testament. Therefore, I recommend to read the New Testament first. The New Testament (except for Revelations) is also easier to read, and so more appropriate to new readers.

 

[KarenNC]

The correct thing would have been that you should have started from Genesis from OTBible (as GodAllahYHWH started) and ended at the last book of NTBible.

But which order for the Hebrew Scriptures, the Jewish one or the Christian one? They are rather different.

 

[lak611]

But which order for the Hebrew Scriptures, the Jewish one or the Christian one? They are rather different.

I have not had a problem with either order. I just save Leviticus and Numbers for last (those books are the most difficult in the Bible, OT or NT).

 

[Zooey]

BibleSteve,

How many have read the Constitution; the Federalist papers, even the Declaration if Independence? Yet, these people will criticize others for their political beliefs saying they are un-American.
.

I have read the entire Bible through. In several different versions. Yes, several of these readings were through a Protestant 66 book version. Still, I have read the whole thing, including the Deuterocanon, several times, most recently the Douay-Rheims. (I recommend it!!)
My only college credits are 10 hours in Bible (Moody Bible Institute), for which I had to read the entire (66 book) King James version through, as part of the course. I have, therefore studied the Bible, albeit the abridged version.
I am currently working my way (slowly) through the Latin Vulgate, alongside the RSV-CE. (I recommend both).

I have not only read the Constitution, I have studied it in school. I used to be able to quote the Preamble to same, as well as the Declaration of Independence from memory. ( I am old, Father William).
I have not yet read the Federalist Papers, but I have the book, & plan to read them soon. Right now, I am a bit busy, what with reading the memoirs of General John Bell Hood, C.S.A.,( in English), **and **the entire Bible, in Latin…

I have no idea where you are going, or trying to go, with this, but I do know that the devil can quote Scripture (& has).
I also think that saying that “only 5% of people” have read the Bible is presumptuous. You might be very much surprised at how many of us read the Bible on a regular, even a daily basis.
More to the point,:byzsoc: “I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him, against that day”. I really, really, really recommend that.

 

[happygal]

Ironic was , i read the entire bible (King James version) when i was a non believer, yet when i am a practising Christian now i did not

 

[Zooey]

Ironic was , i read the entire bible (King James version) when i was a non believer, yet when i am a practising Christian now i did not

Well, it apparently:thumbsup: worked, since you are a Christian now!!

 

[notself]

I have not only read the Constitution, I have studied it in school. I used to be able to quote the Preamble to same, as well as the Declaration of Independence from memory. ( I am old, Father William).
I have not yet read the Federalist Papers, but I have the book, & plan to read them soon. Right now, I am a bit busy, what with reading the memoirs of General John Bell Hood, C.S.A.,( in English), **and **the entire Bible, in Latin…

I have no idea where you are going, or trying to go, with this, but I do know that the devil can quote Scripture (& has).
I also think that saying that “only 5% of people” have read the Bible is presumptuous. You might be very much surprised at how many of us read the Bible on a regular, even a daily basis.
More to the point,:byzsoc: “I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him, against that day”. I really, really, really recommend that.

It was BibleSteve who said that 95% of Christians had not read the Bible. I think he was exagerating to make a point. I never gave any statistics for Bible reading or the lack there of.

The point I want to make is that people often critisize others based on documents they have not read themselves but only heard about from their friends and teachers. I was encouraging everyone to read the source documents of any philosophy, religion, or political system before they accept the opinions of others. I think you will agree.

As for the devil quoting the scripture, I agree with you. Taking anything out of context can be entertaining and can make a point, but it often distorts the true meaning of the quote. This happens most often in religion and politics.

Then there is the habit of quoting religious texts but not living a moral life. This is what the Buddha had to say about these folks.

Much though he recites the sacred texts, but acts not accordingly, that heedless man is like a cowherd who only counts the cows of others — he does not partake of the blessings of the holy life.

Little though he recites the sacred texts, but puts the Teaching into practice, forsaking lust, hatred, and delusion, with true wisdom and emancipated mind, clinging to nothing of this or any other world — he indeed partakes of the blessings of a holy life.

–Dp 19,20.

 

[Amethyst]

I have not read this entire thread – – so maybe someone else has already addressed this. But I did a bit of searching, and at least one in seven people in the world cannot have read the Bible independently, as they are illiterate.

Of the remaining 6 billion, I do not know how many would have free access to the full canon of Scripture. Some smaller language groups still have no Scriptures, or only portions of the New Testament. The complete canon as ratified in the ecumenical councils would be rarer still.

Which leads me to wonder, with so much of the world still living in an oral / visual culture rather than a literal one, would not God work from a foundation of protected oral tradition and sacred imagery (gestural and representative), rather than from the dry icons of typography?

And so he did – as the first 1400 or so years of the Church shows.

 

[Tig]

I have not read this entire thread – – so maybe someone else has already addressed this. But I did a bit of searching, and at least one in seven people in the world cannot have read the Bible independently, as they are illiterate.

Of the remaining 6 billion, I do not know how many would have free access to the full canon of Scripture. Some smaller language groups still have no Scriptures, or only portions of the New Testament. The complete canon as ratified in the ecumenical councils would be rarer still.

Which leads me to wonder, with so much of the world still living in an oral / visual culture rather than a literal one, would not God work from a foundation of protected oral tradition and sacred imagery (gestural and representative), rather than from the dry icons of typography?

And so he did – as the first 1400 or so years of the Church shows.

Thanks for the info. I have no idea how many have read the
Bible but your post makes it obvious that few have and not through their own fault. I thought, in my reading, that this thread was a question of if we had read it. I had to go back and check. I have read the Bible countless times. Does it make me in some way superior to those who haven’t? No. I do however think that anyone who calls themselves Christian and has access to the Bible ought to read it.

Again, TY for your information as I had no idea. God bless.

-Peace-

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Read the OTBible twice??? You sound like a priest giving out penances from reconciliation; You must say three Hail Marys and three Our Fathers.

I think the Old Testament makes more interesting reading when you can see the parallels from the New Testament. Therefore, I recommend to read the New Testament first. The New Testament (except for Revelations) is also easier to read, and so more appropriate to new readers.

Not only that, but as the OT is nothing but prologue to the Gospels (and the rest of NT epilogue) we can’t understand what the OT is saying except in the light of Christ.

After all, we already know how the story ends.