Read the Bible Through -- Can we? Finally?

[NoNameMcgee]

a lot of the people already made the points i was going to make when i read your questions....


in order to fill myself with whats in the bible i have got cordless headphones that synch with my phone


there are days where i listen to scripture for maybe 10 hours
and other days maybe only 1
and i read when i am home and feeling lively
its hard to say how many times..

the NT upwards of 20 times at this point

and the OT some books or chapters maybe 5 times
while others maybe 10?
and this method i use works for me very well
i never even started reading the bible until 4 years ago
but its already changing me in ways i didnt expect
(for the better)


also i never really went in order
i just pray for God to show me what He wants me to see
then kinda just pick a chapter then repeat the process

 

[Beez]

4 chapters per day, and you'll have read your Bible through in one year! This would only take you less than 15 minutes per day. Just think how much you read on here? Read Scripture too, and have an open mind.

I think it is good that after 53 years you again desire to do so. One thing, please remain teachable, and correctible; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-5. Please read the passages and accept them.

Do not take this as harsh, please consider what I say:

First, you have attempted to do away with all criticism from others by asking for no one to use criticism. Sister, such is not healthy! You must accept this. Please understand. We must all accept criticism.

Well, Hon, I've read through your post, and I fear that either you don't understand what I am writing or your imagination is a bit overactive today.

I have taken much criticism since coming to CC; no problem. I was hoping people would consider the feelings of those who, like me, have not read the Bible through. They (and I) need encouragement, not criticism.

​

Don't put so much weight on the teachings of your sect which appears to be law keeping in focus (or something) a sect that only ministers to its members, none outside may view teachings online unless members (according to you and what you said to me).

See my answer in this post above.

​

Please dear sister, think that through! If they are preaching the true Gospel, then why does this need to be so secretive, and hidden away from non members? It is apparent to me as to why. I pray God to open your eyes to this, dear sister! Yes, I am concerned and it is a valid concern! Note Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15ff. I want this to come true with you.

Again, see my answer above. Seriously, your imagination is working overtime!!

 

[MarcR]

4 chapters per day, and you'll have read your Bible through in one year! This would only take you less than 15 minutes per day. Just think how much you read on here? Read Scripture too, and have an open mind.

I think it is good that after 53 years you again desire to do so. One thing, please remain teachable, and correctible; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-5. Please read the passages and accept them.

Do not take this as harsh, please consider what I say:

First, you have attempted to do away with all criticism from others by asking for no one to use criticism. Sister, such is not healthy! You must accept this. Please understand. We must all accept criticism.

Criticism is good, not bad, and critical thinking is good, not bad.

Don't put so much weight on the teachings of your sect which appears to be law keeping in focus (or something) a sect that only ministers to its members, none outside may view teachings online unless members (according to you and what you said to me).

Please dear sister, think that through! If they are preaching the true Gospel, then why does this need to be so secretive, and hidden away from non members? It is apparent to me as to why. I pray God to open your eyes to this, dear sister! Yes, I am concerned and it is a valid concern! Note Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15ff. I want this to come true with you.

Sister, you cannot have and hold to 2 Timothy 2:15 (read it and understand it and how important this is) until you've grasped and read the balance of Scripture, time and again. Think about this: You are secluded to a sect that does not want its teachings exposed to others outside, again, you've told me this, that no one can view their teachings unless they are members. Tell me of any true Christian group that does not want its true teachings out in the open. Some who do this secret thing are JW's, Mormons, Hebrew Roots, Black Hebrew Israelites, some Christadelphians and others. No orthodox true Gospel preaching church has ever hidden their teachings to only its members. Think about that. We are to proclaim our teachings to all unashamedly and without secrecy! The Gospel ministry is not a covert operation!

Also, please accept and listen to what others outside your group share with you that may and will go against your doctrine. Angela53510, Laish, dcontroversal, SovereignGrace, Iconoclast, Depleted, phil36, sparkman, TruthTalk, eternally_gratefull, Grandpa, trofimus, BillG and some others here can help you understand and learn.

Sister, I am saying this in love. And please do read your Bible. Drop what you are doing, read 4 chapters per day.

Here is what I do: I put a bookmark in Genesis, then one in Psalms, then another one in Matthew. I read a little of Genesis, then some of Psalms, then some Matthew and move each bookmark along as I read. When my bookmark in Genesis ends up in Psalms, and when the one in Psalms ends up in Matthew, and the one in Matthew ends up at the end of Revelation you'll have read through the Bible! Then repeat it, do it again. Also, you can add ribbons to your Bible to do this, for a total of 3 ribbons.

And yes, I have read the Bible many times through, and still do now, twice per year at least. I only say this because you have asked.

Please dear sister, consider and do what I am pleading with you here on. It is out of love and concern, and it is a valid concern!

Beez,

If you have a reading problem, Hizikyah's suggestion of an audio Bible can really help.

Also you are not a train that needs to keep on schedule. If you read 1 chapter a day, and read your bible through in four years, that is far better than not reading it through at all. When you encounter short chapters nothing keeps you from reading more than one.

 

[Beez]

Beez,

If you have a reading problem, Hizikyah's suggestion of an audio Bible can really help.

Also you are not a train that needs to keep on schedule. If you read 1 chapter a day, and read your bible through in four years, that is far better than not reading it through at all. When you encounter short chapters nothing keeps you from reading more than one.

I am thinking that, too -- that it doesn't matter how long, if I can just read it. The beginning of the year is a great reminder, but getting through it in the year is not so important. But even while writing that, my head says, "One Year, Beez!" Maybe I can start breaking the cycle by started today instead of waiting for the first.

Part of the problem is that I want to read it for meaning, without getting distracted by study. Too may times, trying to read, I can't get through even a single verse with understanding. Simple words, not a biblical dilemma, yet it just doesn't sink in. After several times of reading, I must put it aside at those times. Oh, I don't want to make excuses.

 

[tanakh]

The question is if it is even a good idea.

I do not think I should spend the same time in every book of the bible. The New Testament is much more important for us than most of the Old Testament.

What will happen if somebody does not know all prophets or all psalms, Ester, Song of Songs etc? Actually, nothing.

What will happen if somebody does not know the New Testament properly? Many heresies, mistakes and even sins.

I agree that a slavish reading of the whole Bible book by book is not for everyone. Most people get stuck at Numbers, Leviticus and parts of Chronicles 1 and 2.

What I strongly disagree with is that most of the OT is not as important as the NT. To understand the NT knowing the OT is vital. All the writers of the NT had a very sound knowledge of the Bible which for them was the OT. Revelation for example has hundreds of OT references in it. The Heresies, mistakes and sins you mention are often caused through ignorance of the OT

 

[Joidevivre]

I never could quite understand why for years I was immersed in the bible. Could not get enough of it. I would hear others say they had problems staying with it. I was compelled to go through it over and over, but never had a time-line as a goal.

I read it through for different reasons. First was to understand the things that God could bring into a life - how He worked. Then it was to look for descriptions about Him. Then I prayed my way through it - doing a lot of praising on how certain things affected me - or repenting for what I saw was sinful - or receiving what He had promised for us.

Later in life, I understood that I was called to be a teacher, and that it was the Holy Spirit pouring His word into me. He was compelling me. Yes, there is a lot of the OT that is not for us today, but it still describes God, how He talks, what He values. And I saw myself in many of the OT behaviors. It described human nature very well.

I wrote down everything (coped it from the bible) that had meaning for me. (Many little books). And in the writing out of scripture, it added even another dimension. You write slower than you read, and it was good for meditation. And a lot of it was from the OT. Not the many laws, but the way God told or expressed His love. And what He could be for people. Because of the Psalms, I learned to become more personal in my prayers. Instead of just "You are a high tower", I would say "You are MY high tower".

Then I began to want to visualize the scripture in art form with watercolors. Most of it is from the OT. I also began my own short concordance with different subjects.

I might be in the minority, but the bible has had such a fascination for me for at least 50 years of my life. More than any other book.

But because it is for me, I don't expect this to be for everyone. Most of my friends have trouble wanting to read it. And I think my being drawn to it was by the Holy Spirit. He knew that I am a visual learner - not an audio one. And knew that in the process of doing what I did, I would be healed in so many ways. It was like my soul was restored.

 

[Willie-T]

I am thinking that, too -- that it doesn't matter how long, if I can just read it. The beginning of the year is a great reminder, but getting through it in the year is not so important. But even while writing that, my head says, "One Year, Beez!" Maybe I can start breaking the cycle by started today instead of waiting for the first.

Part of the problem is that I want to read it for meaning, without getting distracted by study. Too may times, trying to read, I can't get through even a single verse with understanding. Simple words, not a biblical dilemma, yet it just doesn't sink in. After several times of reading, I must put it aside at those times. Oh, I don't want to make excuses.

This is one of the reasons I liked The Story so much. It tells the actual story of the Bible without getting all bogged down in all the verbosity that often seems to make trying to grind through a "read" of a given section, a work of labor. I have probably a dozen different Bibles on my shelves, and access to 70-some online. But, none of those (except maybe the GOD's WORD Translation) was written by someone I would call an accomplished author who can make the message interesting, and something I almost cannot put down till I read another chapter.

I have probably gone through the whole thing thirty times, and have yet, to be able to tell you even half of the list of who begat whom.... or the exact years of certain reigns..... or the order of stones on a priest's vestment.... or a hundred other boring details. But, none of that is necessary to memorize. It is right at my finger tips to look up if the need arises.

BUT, reading an interesting and flowing narrative such as The Story, encapsulated all sorts of meaningless Thee's and Thou's into an interesting story that fitted together and connected dozens of formerly discordant and almost disassociated phases of history into a smooth telling of what it was all about.

 

[trofimus]

I agree that a slavish reading of the whole Bible book by book is not for everyone. Most people get stuck at Numbers, Leviticus and parts of Chronicles 1 and 2.

What I strongly disagree with is that most of the OT is not as important as the NT. To understand the NT knowing the OT is vital. All the writers of the NT had a very sound knowledge of the Bible which for them was the OT. Revelation for example has hundreds of OT references in it. The Heresies, mistakes and sins you mention are often caused through ignorance of the OT

Can you give me some specific examples what I will lack in my Christian life and faith?

a) When I will not be reading 150 psalms or Ester or the Song of Songs or 60 chapters of Jeremiah, Paralipomenon, Lamentations, Obadiah...
b) and when I will be reading only the New Testament and lets say 10 main books of the Old Testament, most known psalms and prophecies quoted in the New Testament

I do not want to argue, its a sincere question.

 

[MarcR]

I am thinking that, too -- that it doesn't matter how long, if I can just read it. The beginning of the year is a great reminder, but getting through it in the year is not so important. But even while writing that, my head says, "One Year, Beez!" Maybe I can start breaking the cycle by started today instead of waiting for the first.

Part of the problem is that I want to read it for meaning, without getting distracted by study. Too may times, trying to read, I can't get through even a single verse with understanding. Simple words, not a biblical dilemma, yet it just doesn't sink in. After several times of reading, I must put it aside at those times. Oh, I don't want to make excuses.

To read the Bible through in 1 year you need to average 4 chapters a day. You can start out at that pace if you like; but if it gets to be too much for you; it is far better to scale back than to stop.

 

[Beez]

I never could quite understand why for years I was immersed in the bible. Could not get enough of it. I would hear others say they had problems staying with it. I was compelled to go through it over and over, but never had a time-line as a goal.

I read it through for different reasons. First was to understand the things that God could bring into a life - how He worked. Then it was to look for descriptions about Him. Then I prayed my way through it - doing a lot of praising on how certain things affected me - or repenting for what I saw was sinful - or receiving what He had promised for us.

Later in life, I understood that I was called to be a teacher, and that it was the Holy Spirit pouring His word into me. He was compelling me. Yes, there is a lot of the OT that is not for us today, but it still describes God, how He talks, what He values. And I saw myself in many of the OT behaviors. It described human nature very well.

I wrote down everything (coped it from the bible) that had meaning for me. (Many little books). And in the writing out of scripture, it added even another dimension. You write slower than you read, and it was good for meditation. And a lot of it was from the OT. Not the many laws, but the way God told or expressed His love. And what He could be for people. Because of the Psalms, I learned to become more personal in my prayers. Instead of just "You are a high tower", I would say "You are MY high tower".

Then I began to want to visualize the scripture in art form with watercolors. Most of it is from the OT. I also began my own short concordance with different subjects.

I might be in the minority, but the bible has had such a fascination for me for at least 50 years of my life. More than any other book.

But because it is for me, I don't expect this to be for everyone. Most of my friends have trouble wanting to read it. And I think my being drawn to it was by the Holy Spirit. He knew that I am a visual learner - not an audio one. And knew that in the process of doing what I did, I would be healed in so many ways. It was like my soul was restored.

Oh, good night, we are twins in many ways! The tons of little bitty books with the very neatly-written teensy writing, the getting into it for hours, etc. I was a Sunday school teacher but not anymore. My desire is for very selfish reasons.

 

[Willie-T]

I agree that a slavish reading of the whole Bible book by book is not for everyone. Most people get stuck at Numbers, Leviticus and parts of Chronicles 1 and 2.

What I strongly disagree with is that most of the OT is not as important as the NT. To understand the NT knowing the OT is vital. All the writers of the NT had a very sound knowledge of the Bible which for them was the OT. Revelation for example has hundreds of OT references in it. The Heresies, mistakes and sins you mention are often caused through ignorance of the OT

You are right here. Revelation is a totally flight of fantasy, straight out of Alice's Wonderland without a VERY thorough understanding of almost all the OT prophesies. I think that is why all these wild theories about it being a Crystal Ball have sprung up in the past few hundred years.

 

[Beez]

This is one of the reasons I liked The Story so much. . . .

I don't do the thees and thous, but they wouldn't bother me so much. I do keep a KJV for its poetic value. I was reared on it but prefer the NASB mainly. I just want to be able to relate to it as I read.

 

[Beez]

To read the Bible through in 1 year you need to average 4 chapters a day. You can start out at that pace if you like; but if it gets to be too much for you; it is far better to scale back than to stop.

Indeed. Thank you.

 

[Willie-T]

I don't do the thees and thous, but they wouldn't bother me so much. I do keep a KJV for its poetic value. I was reared on it but prefer the NASB mainly. I just want to be able to relate to it as I read.

I foolishly hoped against hope when I typed those two words as an example, that no one would see that as my specific meaning. But, I guess I was wrong.

 

[Joidevivre]

Can you give me some specific examples what I will lack in my Christian life and faith?

a) When I will not be reading 150 psalms or Ester or the Song of Songs or 60 chapters of Jeremiah, Paralipomenon, Lamentations, Obadiah...
b) and when I will be reading only the New Testament and lets say 10 main books of the Old Testament, most known psalms and prophecies quoted in the New Testament

I do not want to argue, its a sincere question.

You probably will not be lacking anything in your Christian faith and life because that is born out of an intimacy with Christ. His presence in your life is everything.

But you will just not have as much knowledge about God. Especially in the Psalms where you are told many things that God can be for you, do for you and provide for you. It all just adds to your faith.

 

[trofimus]

You probably will not be lacking anything in your Christian faith and life because that is born out of an intimacy with Christ. His presence in your life is everything.

But you will just not have as much knowledge about God. Especially in the Psalms where you are told many things that God can be for you, do for you and provide for you. It all just adds to your faith.

I understand that if I will not read Ester, I will lack some information present in the book of Ester.
If I will not read Kings1, Kings2, Paralipomenon1, Paralipomenon2, I will lack some information from these books, etc.

But specifically, what is there what is needed to know? For me, in the 21st century.

 

[Willie-T]

I understand that if I will not read Ester, I will lack some information present in the book of Ester.
If I will not read Kings1, Kings2, Paralipomenon1, Paralipomenon2, I will lack some information from these books, etc.

But specifically, what is there what is needed to know? For me, in the 21st century.

That Esther was really Hadassah?

 

[Magenta]

I might be in the minority, but the bible has had such a fascination
for me for at least 50 years of my life. More than any other book.

It was in my fiftieth year of life that I became a Christian

 

[Beez]

But specifically, what is there what is needed to know? For me, in the 21st century.

Just for some important starters:
The beauty of G-D Himself, His might, and His love, His careful attention to every detail.
The wonders of Messiah's appearances to different ones before His reappearing in vitro.
The festivals, set up like a well-planned wedding that is yet to take place for the Son and the Bride.
Interesting characters, what they did, and how others responded to them, like Melchizedek.

Knowledge of these is not necessary for salvation, but these are the concepts the Almighty had many writers write down, the people He chose to tell His story! As your Maker, your Supreme Being, The Sovereign Almighty Planner of life and eternity, Whom you serve, He must hold your interest, I think.

 

[preacher4truth]

Just a thought: if we can spend "all day" on here reading posts, and responding, we can definitely spend time reading the Word, and in prayer.

It all comes down to want to...I don't think we'll get any reward points for the amount of time spent on a forum.