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It took me years and Seminary to understand the Old Testament. I'm reading Jeremiah right now, and there are some days I wonder why God had to have so many pages dedicated to condemning Israel.
I know you will enjoy the New Testament. And once you know Christ, even the Old Testament will make a lot more sense.
Happy reading and may God reveal himself to you through the pages of the Bible!
I know you will enjoy the New Testament. And once you know Christ, even the Old Testament will make a lot more sense.
Happy reading and may God reveal himself to you through the pages of the Bible!
Reading the New Testament first will leave you with many questions regarding the Old Testament folks who are referred to in the New Testament. However, I would encourage you to read the New Testament first anyway. Embrace the grace that is written of in the New Testament, then go back and embrace the history and roots of our faith in the Old Testament.
PM anytime, Friend. I'll be happy to help you with any questions or concerns you have. God bless!
PM anytime, Friend. I'll be happy to help you with any questions or concerns you have. God bless!
M
Hi Allan,
Depending on how much time you have and how much you feel you can take in,
you might find it useful to get some sort of daily bible study scheme.
Some of them take you through a few verses a day, with the aim of reading the very
basics over time.
Others take you through several chapters a day with the aim of reading the whole bible in a year.
They usually follow some sort of logical pattern with the readings linking different parts of the
bible so you can see how they fit together.
There are loads to choose from and many such reading schemes can be downloaded as apps.
For example I have an iPad and there is a fantastic app called READING PLAN by James H Price.
It has 100s of different reading plans ranging from plans for lent, Easter, Christmas. To plans
in chronological order, also plans which take you through the bible in varying amounts of
time between 3 months to 5 years.
Not sure if it is on the android store but if not, there will be loads of other such apps.
There are also bible web sites which have reading schemes. As you become more familiar with
the bible you will come to see how it all links together, it is truly fascinating.
Hope this helps.
Depending on how much time you have and how much you feel you can take in,
you might find it useful to get some sort of daily bible study scheme.
Some of them take you through a few verses a day, with the aim of reading the very
basics over time.
Others take you through several chapters a day with the aim of reading the whole bible in a year.
They usually follow some sort of logical pattern with the readings linking different parts of the
bible so you can see how they fit together.
There are loads to choose from and many such reading schemes can be downloaded as apps.
For example I have an iPad and there is a fantastic app called READING PLAN by James H Price.
It has 100s of different reading plans ranging from plans for lent, Easter, Christmas. To plans
in chronological order, also plans which take you through the bible in varying amounts of
time between 3 months to 5 years.
Not sure if it is on the android store but if not, there will be loads of other such apps.
There are also bible web sites which have reading schemes. As you become more familiar with
the bible you will come to see how it all links together, it is truly fascinating.
Hope this helps.
You should give it a try. Of course most "Serious (or 'true') Christians" would turn their haughty noses up at the mere thought of reading that particular book.... but you will understand more about the Bible after you finish it in a week or ten days than they have learned their whole lives.
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J
the bible has more knowledge than any other book on the planet. it also has lessons within lessons so dont think ur a dummy cause you dont get something. i read the Hebrew bible first but i like the ancient stories. its great to come here and get advice but you will have to learn what way works best for you. they have good study bibles with notes which might help you when you get stuck, just make sure to put your faith in the bible and not the notes.
The OT is wonderfully deep and full of awesome truth both literal, symbolic...with an immediate context and future application as well....the best way to study the OT is to look up and study each word found, by prayer and in a historical context.....don't give up for sure as there is a lot of truth to be uncovered and many wonderful gems to be found....
A
Again, just like any other book in the fact that it has a beginning, a middle and an end. Would it make more sense if you start in the gospels? Well, yeah, just like reading the climax of a book would make you understand the beginning more. At least you know where its going. 
My only fear is doing that makes you care less about the beginning. It's a good beginning. Dry as bones in places. (I started at the beginning this time through and I'm already suffering from long-term-exposure to the Laws. It is grueling. It is hard.) It's also necessary to understand God. It also gives a close up on how perfect Jesus was. He broke absolutely no laws. Whoa! Ya know?
My only fear is doing that makes you care less about the beginning. It's a good beginning. Dry as bones in places. (I started at the beginning this time through and I'm already suffering from long-term-exposure to the Laws. It is grueling. It is hard.) It's also necessary to understand God. It also gives a close up on how perfect Jesus was. He broke absolutely no laws. Whoa! Ya know?
It depends on how many times you have read the New Testament and how many times you have tried to read the Old Testament and how much grit and willpower you have. Not trying to be judgemental, I'm only thinking about me.
I remember reading the NT 6-8 times before getting all the way through Genesis. Then I read the NT a few more times and made it into Exodus. I just had a lot harder time digesting the Old Testament and understanding.
So I got a new plan. I decided I would just read the bible all the way through and not worry about understanding every little thing. Not worry about memorizing or remembering what I had read.
I read the whole bible like this twice. I didn't understand a lot of what I had read. But I remembered more than I thought I would the 2nd time through.
To give you an idea it took me about 3 yrs to get through it the first time. The second time it was about a year and a half. The third time a year... Like working out, it gets easier the more you do it... But I suppose you can't just jump in and expect to bench 300 lbs. You may only be able to read a chapter or a page at a time. And maybe later on you will be able to digest and read more.
I think it is important that you eventually read the bible as a whole book. Like a whole body exercise, so you aren't the guy in the gym with huge arms and chicken legs...
I think its awesome that you are being led to read the bible. I think knowing the bible is a critical part of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But I'm kind of a book worm and maybe a nerd that way...
I remember reading the NT 6-8 times before getting all the way through Genesis. Then I read the NT a few more times and made it into Exodus. I just had a lot harder time digesting the Old Testament and understanding.
So I got a new plan. I decided I would just read the bible all the way through and not worry about understanding every little thing. Not worry about memorizing or remembering what I had read.
I read the whole bible like this twice. I didn't understand a lot of what I had read. But I remembered more than I thought I would the 2nd time through.
To give you an idea it took me about 3 yrs to get through it the first time. The second time it was about a year and a half. The third time a year... Like working out, it gets easier the more you do it... But I suppose you can't just jump in and expect to bench 300 lbs. You may only be able to read a chapter or a page at a time. And maybe later on you will be able to digest and read more.
I think it is important that you eventually read the bible as a whole book. Like a whole body exercise, so you aren't the guy in the gym with huge arms and chicken legs...
I think its awesome that you are being led to read the bible. I think knowing the bible is a critical part of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But I'm kind of a book worm and maybe a nerd that way...