The Entire Bible and Old Testament

[Faith]

Who here has read the entire Bible, and by entire I mean including Leviticus’ constant talk about slaughtering animals, blood. talk in either Exodus or Leviticus about making tabernacles and priestly clothing etc.?
Or do you skim or skip those parts?
i‘m trying to read the entire Bible and the OT books I’ve read so far are just so boring, violent and gross.
I’ve already read the entire NT with the exception of Revelation, which two pastors advised me not to read due to the difficult times I’ve had, worrying about the end of the world.

So how do you ger through the entire OT?

 

[Lamb]

I've read the entire bible multiple times. Yes, the OT can be slow going. I guess what gets me through the rought parts is to read as quickly as I can. I mean, I'm not going to remember most of the parts of Leviticus or Chronicles anyway.

Since your pastors know you well enough to see that it would bother you, I'd take their advice to skip those parts.

 

[Castle Church]

I have read the entire Bible a few times, not cover to cover, however. I actually really enjoy the detailed historical parts about the Temple and Temple rituals. Understanding those things helps understand the culture of the Hebrews/Jews and where Jesus came into as a human. Judges, Kings, and Samuel are some of my favorite books in the Bible.

 

[Lanman87]

I've read the Bible from cover to cover a few times and read it in different translations. I've read it through in the NIV, ESV, and NLT and am almost finished in the NASB.

I recommend getting a good Study Bible (I recommend the ESV Study Bible just because of the volumes of historical and cultural information included). Reading the introduction to the Books and the notes on the verses really helped me understand the cultural and historical reasons for all the "hard parts", which makes them easier to read/understand. I also recommend the Videos of the Bible Project on Youtube. They do a good job of breaking down the individual books in an informative and even entertaining way.

Having said that, I usually skim over the genealogies and census information.

Reading the Bible is both joyful and tragic. The beauty of God's redemption is weaved throughout the Bible and the tragedy of sin and its results are displayed over and over again, both in the individual characters and the Jewish Nation.

 

[Spindle4]

I’ve already read the entire NT with the exception of Revelation, which two pastors advised me not to read due to the difficult times I’ve had, worrying about the end of the world.

You now have grounds to respectfully challenge this intimidating advice not to read the Book of Revelation, poor advice which I consider is contrary to Scripture.

Rev 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, (2) who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. (3) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

When you do read the Book of Revelation, hear the words of prophecy it transmits, and keep, or guard the things written in it like I am now, it will be a blessing to you.

Don't let anyone manipulate or intimidate you into thinking you shouldn't read any part of the Bible.

Please Note 2Ti 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable

• for doctrine,
• for reproof,
• for correction,
• for instruction in righteousness, (17)
• that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

[Fritz Kobus]

I will skim some parts in Leviticus and Numbers, some of the geneologies, etc. They are good to have in detail if one is studying the genealogies or the sacrifices and there is a lot of good information there

I’ve already read the entire NT with the exception of Revelation, which two pastors advised me not to read due to the difficult times I’ve had, worrying about the end of the world.

Revelation should not be an issue for anyone worried about the end of the world, Correctly understood, Revelation does not give us cause to be worried. Read this short article: Reading Revelation with Biblical Eyes

 

[tango]

I've read the entire Bible except for the Psalms (I've read some of them, just not all of them).

I really wasn't looking forward to Leviticus but actually found it fascinating. If you regard it as a list of "do this, don't do that" it looks like a very long and very tedious book of rules that aren't relevant to us today. If you look at it as an indicator of what's to come it's much more interesting.

As for the Revelation, obviously it's up to you when and whether to read it. A lot of it does contain a lot of worrying imagery, especially if you think we're going to have to live through it all (the reality is that we don't know whether it will happen in our lifetime or not, and if you ask a dozen Christians you'll probably get a dozen different opinions). It's easy to get bogged down in the sections about the mark of the beast, the false prophet, the frogs, the tribulation, the bowls of wrath etc and lose sight of the ending. Spoiler alert - God wins.

 

[Josiah]

Yup.



.

 

[atpollard]

Who here has read the entire Bible, and by entire I mean including Leviticus’ constant talk about slaughtering animals, blood. talk in either Exodus or Leviticus about making tabernacles and priestly clothing etc.?
Or do you skim or skip those parts?
i‘m trying to read the entire Bible and the OT books I’ve read so far are just so boring, violent and gross.
I’ve already read the entire NT with the exception of Revelation, which two pastors advised me not to read due to the difficult times I’ve had, worrying about the end of the world.

So how do you ger through the entire OT?

One thing that helps me is to ask God before I read any chapter (I like to read a chapter at a time) is to show me just one thing in this chapter that is for me today.

It is fascinating what small verse or fact will catch your eye and stick with you.

 

[NathanH83]

I think that the entire Bible

 

[NathanH83]

Who here has read the entire Bible, and by entire I mean including Leviticus’ constant talk about slaughtering animals, blood. talk in either Exodus or Leviticus about making tabernacles and priestly clothing etc.?
Or do you skim or skip those parts?
i‘m trying to read the entire Bible and the OT books I’ve read so far are just so boring, violent and gross.
I’ve already read the entire NT with the exception of Revelation, which two pastors advised me not to read due to the difficult times I’ve had, worrying about the end of the world.

So how do you ger through the entire OT?

I read the whole Bible. I also read the books that belong in the Bible.

 

[NathanH83]

I have read the entire Bible a few times, not cover to cover, however. I actually really enjoy the detailed historical parts about the Temple and Temple rituals. Understanding those things helps understand the culture of the Hebrews/Jews and where Jesus came into as a human. Judges, Kings, and Samuel are some of my favorite books in the Bible.

How did you like the book of Maccabees?

 

[Faith]

One thing that helps me is to ask God before I read any chapter (I like to read a chapter at a time) is to show me just one thing in this chapter that is for me today.

It is fascinating what small verse or fact will catch your eye and stick with you.

im currently reading Numbers and can’t imagine anything that will do anything For me, today.

 

[Spindle4]

im currently reading Numbers and can’t imagine anything that will do anything For me, today.

There's no rule you can only read from one book of the Bible on any given day, so may I suggest a chapter or two of Numbers to start with and then something from the NT to go on with.

I'm in multiple books of the Bible of a day at times.

 

[Faith]

There's no rule you can only read from one book of the Bible on any given day, so may I suggest a chapter or two of Numbers to start with and then something from the NT to go on with.

I'm in multiple books of the Bible of a day at times.

I recently finished the NT and don’t want to reread it again so soon. Maybe Psalms, Proverbs or some other OT book.

 

[NathanH83]

I recently finished the NT and don’t want to reread it again so soon. Maybe Psalms, Proverbs or some other OT book.

Many things in the New Testament can’t be understood without reading the Old Testament

 

[Fritz Kobus]

Many things in the New Testament can’t be understood without reading the Old Testament

Yes, that is very true, especially for the book of Revelation.

 

[Castle Church]

How did you like the book of Maccabees?

I enjoy the historical books a lot, so it is one that I read around Hanukkah annually. That said, I think that some people take parts of it out of context to justify certain things (like prayers to the dead) that it was not meant to do.

 

[Castle Church]

I recently finished the NT and don’t want to reread it again so soon. Maybe Psalms, Proverbs or some other OT book.

Psalms and Proverbs are great to add to daily readings. Personally I don't read the books through in a couple hour sitting, I think it is best served in daily chapters. Meditate on the words and what God was saying. In particular, Meditate on the Psalms and their relationship to Christ and the Gospel. Martin Luther wrote a great daily Psalms reading with prayers and how it relates to the Gospel. You can find it cheap online "Reading the Psalms with Luther".

 

[Spindle4]

I recently finished the NT and don’t want to reread it again so soon. Maybe Psalms, Proverbs or some other OT book.

To me that's like saying I ate breakfast yesterday so I won't have breakfast again for a year or two.

"Give us this day our daily bread"

Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.