Starting the Bible

[heartbrokenandhoping]

So, I'm pretty new to being what I consider a devout Christian. I've always believed in God, but it's just been in the last few months that I've been truly saved. The next step I want to take in continuing my faith is reading God's word! I was just wondering what you guys' opinions were on where the best place to start is? I've been told to start with the New Testament, but I wasn't sure where exactly would be the best and where to go from there! Any feedback/opinions would be extremely helpful and appreciated

 

[crossnote]

Genesis then John then Acts then go for it.
Genesis first because it is the foundation.

 

[tpcinpvb]

Many say the new testament, the reading of the 1st 4 gospels Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. Take your time have pen in hand write notes . You may have a question or a concern, or even a revelation record these jewels you will look at them later in life and they will help you as you discuss your faith with a new Christian. Many believe getting in a good bible teaching church is next key step. I agree fellow believer who are more spiritual mature to share your new life with. Being young Christian has challenges everything is not perfect . Seek out the understanding the power the holy spirit it will help you develop the character of a disciple of Christ. Get good Godly counsel never alone with the opposite sex. may Gods bless you and those you love, may they see in you the light of Gods love and compassion as you embrace his purpose for a holy life.

 

[tpcinpvb]

no one right way. Ask God what he wants, listen with a calm heart. If you know what to do then do it. Take any steps that has the bible reading and praying as the key steps and worry not about the order you will get to it all in Gods time.

 

[Tintin]

Genesis then John then Acts then go for it.
Genesis first because it is the foundation.

This is an excellent idea. You could even do: Genesis, the four gospels, then Acts and so on.

 

[kennethcadwell]

The new testament is the best place to start. It is the gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Then the rest of the new testament is the letters ( epistles ) that show how one should walk as a Christian. Romans is the best one to read about this walk, but by Paul's wording can be a little tricky for some one to understand with out help.
Then I suggest the old testament books of Leviticus, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Isaiah.
Leviticus for God's laws so one can compare to see how our Lord made changes to how they should be followed now.
Ezekiel, Daniel, and Isaiah to go along with Matthew 24 and Revelations in the new testament to understand end time prophecies.

 

[Tintin]

I'm not sure why you left out Genesis but included Leviticus, that seems backward. As for Leviticus, it's a very difficult and rather dull book. The last half of Exodus gives some understanding of the Mosaic Law. Leviticus can wait until later.

 

[Kaycie]

You should read it cover to cover just like a book. The best way to understand the new testament is to know the old testament. If you want to start in the new testament I would read Matthew and then skip to acts, then continue on to Revelation from there. If you read 5 chapters a day you can read the whole bible in a year.

 

[RedTent]

The way I did it was to consider the NT as the way God explained our todays world, so I thought why bother with the way God had it before Christ. Besides, I couldn't understand the Old Testament with all the killing and Solomon with all the wives.

This approach to the bible gave me many misunderstandings of the words God gave us.

We are separated by 6,000 years of changes in human understanding and culture from scripture of eternal truths, but using people of those times to explain it. We need help with it that many scholars of ancient history can give us now. I found someone who could give that help without changing any of God's words. God taught us, starting at his creation and going through the thousands of years until Christ lived as a man. It takes the foundation of the world to understand Christ. The help from scholars I found was free on the net at torahclass.com. There are colleges you can go to for this help.

Now, if I would study, from what I know now, I would start with the gospel of John. It gives an overview of how our world is to run today. Then, using study helps such as torahclass.com I would study how God prepared the world and how Christ completed it. Then on to the epistles to see how Christ changed the world after Christ.

Remember, 78% of the word is in the Old Testament, and 12% of the rest in the New Testament is referring to the Old Testament. So before I realized this, I was depending on only 10% of scripture to tell me of God.

 

[ChosenbyHim]

You could begin with the Gospel of John, then afterward, go on to Romans, and once you finish Romans, then you can start at the beginning of the Holy Bible (the book of Genesis) and seek to read on through the Bible (Genesis to Revelation).

And be sure to get a King James Bible. Do not get a new version, the modern versions are watered down and they attack important fundamental Doctrines that are core to the Christian faith.

 

[RedTent]

You could begin with the Gospel of John, then afterward, go on to Romans, and once you finish Romans, then you can start at the beginning of the Holy Bible (the book of Genesis) and seek to read on through the Bible (Genesis to Revelation).

And be sure to get a King James Bible. Do not get a new version, the modern versions are watered down and they attack important fundamental Doctrines that are core to the Christian faith.

Also, be aware that the KJV was written 1,500 years after Christ, even, and at a time when Jews were murdered as if gentiles had a right to do this. Torah is a name for the first five books of the bible, for instance, and the KJV translators carefully avoided using that word when other translations use it. So know that all translations are just that: translations. Often the original language expresses something different in all translations. Translators do the best they can, but it is very difficult to translate from one language to another.

 

[Tintin]

You should read it cover to cover just like a book. The best way to understand the new testament is to know the old testament. If you want to start in the new testament I would read Matthew and then skip to acts, then continue on to Revelation from there. If you read 5 chapters a day you can read the whole bible in a year.

Why? I must ask why do this? Certainly, you can read the Bible from cover to cover like any other book and it's possible but generally that's a sure-fire way for a new Christian to stop reading the Bible or reading it regularly. Genesis - we're all good, Exodus - a little tough and dry towards the end. Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy - these are difficult and rather dull books that tend to put off most Bible readers. Once you're past those books of Law, it's pretty smooth sailing. I'm not saying they don't have some good stuff, they're God's Word, after all, but yeah, I've said my bit. Finally, there's no point reading Revelation, until you've first read the rest of the Bible.

 

[ChosenbyHim]

Also, be aware that the KJV was written 1,500 years after Christ, even, and at a time when Jews were murdered as if gentiles had a right to do this. Torah is a name for the first five books of the bible, for instance, and the KJV translators carefully avoided using that word when other translations use it. So know that all translations are just that: translations. Often the original language expresses something different in all translations. Translators do the best they can, but it is very difficult to translate from one language to another.

The proper word Is Law. The Hebrew word for Law is Torah.

Also, the modern translations are based on a totally different Greek text than the King James Bible is based upon.

The modern translations are based on the corrupt and vile Vaticanus and Siniaticus.

While the King James Bible is based upon the pure line of preserved manuscripts (Received text, Byzantine text type).

 

[posthuman]

So, I'm pretty new to being what I consider a devout Christian. I've always believed in God, but it's just been in the last few months that I've been truly saved. The next step I want to take in continuing my faith is reading God's word!
...

there is a lot of good advice already;

i just commented to say HOORAY!
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, SISTER!


and whenever you read, pray for the Lord to help you understand what you read, and trust Him, and He will!
you're going to love what you read (yay!)

 

[ChosenbyHim]

One other thing Redtent. While the King James Bible is an English Translation, it should also be noted that it is still the perfect, pure, preserved, inerrant and infallible word of God. A translation can be inspired.

 

[Agricola]

heartbrokenandhoping, I am sorry to see your thread being derailed already by the King James Only Cult Member chosenbyhim.

This King James Only cult somehow seem to think that the 1611 English Bible commissioned by King James is the perfect final version of the Bible. Of course this is ludicris and thankfully most people can see how crazy and ridiculous this claim is. The Cult cherry pick a couple of verses to "prove" this, but of course I could cherry pick a few verses to claim the moon is made of cheese or whatever.

You are perfectly safe to read NIV, New King James and all the others. Read what you are most comfortable with.

 

[Last]

The proper word Is Law. The Hebrew word for Law is Torah.

Torah is more accurately translated as teaching.

Also, the modern translations are based on a totally different Greek text than the King James Bible is based upon.

The KJV is based on the TR which is compilation of various sources.

The modern translations are based on the corrupt and vile Vaticanus and Siniaticus.

No, they aren't based on those manuscripts. Also, I'd be curious why you believe in your studies of the Greek why the two are 'corrupt'?

While the King James Bible is based upon the pure line of preserved manuscripts (Received text, Byzantine text type).

I don't think you get how translation works. The KJV is based on the TR which was compiled by taking various manuscripts available at the time by Erasmus. The majority were from the Byzantines which were the most removed from the early manuscripts. The Byzantines were Greek speakers that updated their texts as their language changed. Parts of the TR from which the KJV came was based on taking the Latin Vulgate and reverse translating it into Greek.

 

[Last]

One other thing Redtent. While the King James Bible is an English Translation, it should also be noted that it is still the perfect, pure, preserved, inerrant and infallible word of God. A translation can be inspired.

It's a translation, like many others out there.

 

[john832]

So, I'm pretty new to being what I consider a devout Christian. I've always believed in God, but it's just been in the last few months that I've been truly saved. The next step I want to take in continuing my faith is reading God's word! I was just wondering what you guys' opinions were on where the best place to start is? I've been told to start with the New Testament, but I wasn't sure where exactly would be the best and where to go from there! Any feedback/opinions would be extremely helpful and appreciated

Where to Start Reading the Bible - Life, Hope & Truth

 

[RedTent]

We are giving advice and different things to think about when you begin to try to understand this book that gives a whole outline of how God works in our world, it is a start on something that can absorb people for a lifetime. Every other book can be read and understood in a very short time. You can go to college using one text book. This book is written so that every verse has many depts. of meaning. It is written by a God of the spirit, with a mind so complete He can create the universe. It is written using literal actual happenings, yet those happenings have great depths of meaning.

You could even study the number 40 as the bible uses that number. Sounds trite, and a silly study. Yet as God uses that number it is a complex spiritual learning. That is just one tiny bit of what the bible teaches.

God has a spirit that is so universal that God knows you personally, and if you listen quietly letting Him fill you, there will come understanding of Him that is just for you and your life, no one else. Now that you have the Holy Spirit within you, you are a changed person. That spirit can lead you in your personal way to read the bible.

The only pitfall is not to let your learning be without humble seeking. Sometimes Christians get so sure they know all of God because they understand one of God's concepts after they have studied for a long time. They forget to be humble before the Lord when they do that, God is complex and has many sides. Our human mind can think one idea God gives us is contrary to another, but all of what God says works together if we humble ask Him to help us with that understanding.

So what bible plan other Christians tell you about may not be the best plan for you, as you explore in a way that appeals to you, it could be the best plan for you.