I think that in the next coming week or so, i am going to begin to read the bible. it’s everywhere, but i have never read the thing.
does anyone have any pointer before i start?
is it going to be difficult for me to get through?
i’m not really going for a religious experience, I just think that maybe i should read The BOOK. It seems to be popular, so i want to see what all the hubbub is about bub.
oh yeah, what version do you think would be best for a first time bible reader?
i have heard that the old testament is interesting.
The Old Testament is actually a pretty fun read. Leviticus gets pretty dry with all the laws but overall it’s decent.
The New Testament is more hit and miss. Read the Gospels and then skip to Revelation. After that you can go back and skim what’s in between.
And that’s really all you need…
Or so some would say.
There are a number of books out there that will give you advice on how to break it up over the course of a year so you don’t go mad with trying to digest that thing.
As far as versions go, search for an old thread of mine asking about which version I should read. I got some good answers in that.
When I was studying Catholicism a few years ago (and deciding whether or not to convert), I read a not-to-dumbed-down version of a childrens’ Bible. It wasn’t a picture Bible per se. It had the same message and story as the actual Bible, just written in everyday English. It was a pretty quick read and was a huge help when I tried the real deal later. I guess it was kind of like Bible Clif Notes.
The Bible can be difficult to read, mostly because of language evolution. If you have trouble following the “plot”, you might give a kids’ version a try first or along with the standard Bible. Also, there are several versions of the Bible. If you aren’t affiliated with a particular religion, I suppose it doesn’t matter which you choose, but it might be something to consider at the bookstore.
Oxford Annotated is a good translation and is the standard version used in academics. Avoid the KJV and avoid any version which claims to written in contemporary language.
Some of it will be hard, some pretty easy.
Take it one book at a time, and it doesn’t hurt to read what you can about the background of the book before you start. If you use the OA version, take the time to read the little introductions before each book.
You can safely skip Deuteronomy unless you are fascinated by excruciatingly detailed instructions on how to slaughter and sacifice a sheep.
Don’t try too hard to find narrative continutity from book to book. Remember, the Bible is not a contiguous book. It wasn’t intentionally composed as a unified book, but is really a library of books representing many different genres and intentions. Recognize that you’re pulling individual books off a shelf rather than reading a single, homogenous work.
You should be able to make it through the historical books ok (that is, the books which tell stories as opposed to the books of law, prophesy, sayings or songs) but you may find the Prophets tedious and boring.
The Song of Solomon is dirty. Read it with that in mind and you’ll see what I mean.
When you get to the gospels you should read Mark before you read Matthew. Mark was written first.
“The” Bible is a collection of fairly disparate works, including stories, rules/laws, poetry, rants (lots of good curses and promises of better things among the prophets), and letters exhorting people to do good. Some of it is easy to read. Some of it is confusing. Some of it is as dull as watching paint dry. (It even gets a bit erotic.) So be aware that it will not have the flow of a novel.
Good English translations are the Revised Standard Version, the New International Version, and the Jereusalem Bible.
Due to the assembled nature of the work (and the presumption of the authors that the reader already knows what they are talking about) I would recommend a good “commentary” bible for a first read. Different editions of the three versions noted above, as well as the Anchor Bible and the Oxford Annotated Bible are pretty good for this purpose. They give synopses of what the authors intended before each book and footnotes explaining the odd stuff as you move through the text. (My personal recommendation would be to avoid the Scofield Reference Bible on the grounds that it is written with a view to impose the theology (invented in the 19th century) of all the stuff that the Left Behind books pretend are in the bible.)
My husband’s former roommate had a bible with “Bringing The Light Of The Reformation To Scripture” on the cover. Somehow they’d made a Calvinist translation. So avoid that one if you see it.
Pick up some easy-to-read explanatory books about bible history and the genres of the different books. They’ll give you context, and make it less bewildering.
If you are interested in understanding what you read, go with the Oxford Annotated New Revised Standard Version.
It is as literal as possible translation, in clear modern English, and the annotated version will have textual aids, maps, and so on.
The Jewish Publication Society has an excellent translation of the Hebrew Scriptures(what Christians call the Old Testament). I would highly recommend it.
Take into consideration everything the previous posters have said about the compiled nature of the Bible.
The Reader’s Digest published a book about the Bible titled The Bible Through the Ages. It’s actually quite good, taking a historical view of people’s faith traditions, with sections from how oral traditions were passed down, to the wrangling over canonicity, to how vernacular translations were done, and so on. Well illustrated.
As for where to start:
The Gosple of Mark is a very quick read. Not only is it a short book, it focuses on the action side of Jesus’ 3 1/2 yr ministry.
Acts takes over from there, following first Peter, then Paul. Again, very action oriented.
Proverbs and Ecclisiastes are very fun reads. Most of the ‘points’ it makes are accomplished in one verse, rarely over 10 or more verses.
Starting with the ‘fun’ bits gives you a good overview of the religious thoughts and the people behind the scriptures. After reading the quick reads, you might decide it’s worth your while to continue.
If so, I reccommend the Peter Paul and James letters. Although they are short(ish) too, they contain much information of what made and formed the early Christian church.
To make sure you get the needed background for many of the arguments found in those letters, an examination of Exodus, Joshua, Judges, and the Kings (sometimes listed as I, II, III, IV Kings, sometimes as I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings) and the books of Esther and Ruth which had women in major roles.
By this time, if you’ve stuck to it, you just might be hooked on Bible reading. Whether in appreciation of its literary value or for religious reasons. Then, takle the Prophets. Isaiah, Ezekial, Jerimiah, Daniel, and the Minor prophets are fascinating looks at the history and religion of the Jews. Though filled with geneological records, even the Chronicals have some intersting short stories mixed in.
To complete your reading, finsh the Moses books (Genesis, Job, etc…), the Psalms, and the Revelation.
Why jump all over the place? You don’t have to. But many people who attempt to read it front to back end up giving up after a while. Treating the 66 little books as seperate groups or just completely separate just might enable you to finish one of the greatest works of literature ever penned. And a work of art it is, whether you believe it to be inspired of God or not.
Enjoy!
I forgot to include the other 3 Gosples in the finish. You’ll want to read those, too (if you’re going to do the complete Bible.)
All I really have to add is that the modern Catholic translation is a good one.
Avoid the King James Version. It’s an extremely old translation that is very difficult for modern English speakers to read.
Regardless of the translation you choose, I highly recommend NoClueBoy’s approach, which is very similar to an approach we used when I was in high school. I found that method very helpful in understanding the background of the books.
Personally, I recommend any of the “Study Bibles” by Thomas Nelson Publishing. You probably won’t find these at Hastings, but a well-stocked religious store will have them. These study bibles are available as “The New International Version Study Bible,” “The King James Study Bible,” etc. The New International Version is easier to read. The big advantage of these study bibles is the background they provide throughout the text, not just historically, but from a doctrinal perspective, as well. There is a veritable doctorate in bible in those pages, but it’s still understandable to laypeople. Thumb through one of these at the store, and you very well might decide you like what you find.
I dunno about that. If you can handle Shakespeare, you can handle the KJV. I can’t read any other one…they don’t sing to me. The poetry is missing.
I second DirkGntly’s suggestion about the Study Bibles. Very good!
The problem with the KJV is not so much the archaic language (which can indeed be quite asthetically pleasing) but that’s it’s a woefully inaccurate translation.
This is true. That’s why I seconded the Study Bibles. 
I would not read the Bible straight through if I were a newbie just trying to figure out “huh, what’s the hubbub about?” I think you’d breeze through Genesis and Exodus (fabulous, muscular books with lots of Old Testament adventure), but quickly find yourself bogged down in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. And the verses setting forth lineages in both the OT and the NT (the who “begat” whom) are an absolute snore.
I’ve never read it out of order myself. I was raised on Sunday School stories and read bits and pieces, so I was pretty versed (ha!) in it as a teenager. So when I decided to read the whole thing for the first time, I read it straight through in order. But the order suggested above (you know, the “out of order” order) makes sense. And I recommend the NIV for clarity without bogging you down in language. My $.02.
RE translations-
Great, more literal, accurate & readable-
Revised Standard, New Revised Standard, English Standard, Jerusalem (& New J…, both Catholic), New King James, New American Standard, New American (Catholic), the Tanakh (the Jewish Scriptures), and Everett Fox’s Five Books of Moses.
Good non-literal but mostly accurate & quite readable-
New International Version, Good News Version/Today’s English Version
A totally interesting paraphrase/free translation-
The Message by Edward Petersen
Stay away from at all costs-
New Century Version- technically accurate & readable but bland & dumbed-down.
Edward should be EUGENE! :smack:
Also as bad as NCV is the Contemporary English Version
Has anyone checked out the Holman Christian Standard translation yet?
Once you get the gist of the Bible down, I strongly suggest reading the King James Version or at least sections of it. The Bible, being the center of Christianity, has been a major influence in English literature, particularly the King James Version for no other reason that for many, many years it was the only publicly accessible and trusted translation of the Bible (for Christians).
For general reading, I recommend the Revised English Bible or the New English Bible (the REB is an update to the NEB). Both are British, though. Very well written, in my opinion. If you can get the Oxford Study Bible in REB, that would be just fabulous. Lots of notes and explanations and essays.
For the Hebrew Bible only, I would recommend the New Jewish Publication Society translation (by itself or in conjunction with the REB or NEB).
Also, you should realize that for many the importance of the Bible lies in not what it says but in what it is: the word of God. Some see reading or studying the Bible as a way to connect or communicate with God. And each believer-in-the-Bible reads, studies, and understands the Bible within her or her religious/theological background. One imposes one’s religious beliefs on the Bible rather than the other way around. (This is similar in most religions.) So, your grasp of it would be different from a Jew’s or Christian’s (and similarly, a Missouri Synod Lutheran’s understanding would be different from a Methodist’s or Baptist’s or Latter-day Saint’s).
Hope I have thoroughly confused you by now. 
WRS - Vayomer E’ “Yehi or!” Vayehi or. Vayar E’ et haor, ki tov.