How many have actually READ the Bible for themselves?

Question

I mean actually sat down with a copy and read it to themselves.

People who have actually read it and made their own interpretation of it, not what some man preaches to you.

You may say yea you this question, but really think about it, have you? HAVE YOU?

I doubt you actually have.

Answer 1

I have. t took way too long, but afterwards I felt dumber than when I started. I'm serious.

Answer 2

Raised in the JWs, read it through at least once, but it took years to do, because of the vast size of it. This is why all JWs are encouraged to read it for the last 100+ years. As they did so, they each offered opinions on things. This is how their beliefs developed, through the eyes and minds of thousands of people working together. And that was before the NWT was developed. Many used the fifth revision of the KJV or Authorized Version, while others used other Bibles. There are dozens of them, just like the time of the KJV. It took 150 years to come up with the Authorized Version was the one approved by the Church of England.

Answer 3

Huh? Yeah, I've been through the interpretation mill, got the piece of paper. Found out all the ways they were wrong. Been studying the Bible personally for oh, 20 years now. Read the original languages. Yeah. Read some commentaries (don't care much for those). Still study it on nearly a daily basis with various language tools and online reference works. And yes, I have just sat down and read it too (I enjoy it)! Still learning new things all the time. It's amazing.

Answer 4

I have. I am a Christian. The Bible says to study to show ourselves approved, a workman that doesnt need to be ashamed, rightly deviding the word of truth...so you are correct that we shouldn't just take someone else's interpretation for fact, we should dig deep and figure out for ourselves. After all, preachers are human, the same as everyone else, and they can mess up, and obviously have, we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So, we should go through the Bible and study it, and see what it says to us, especially those who claim to be Christians.
Oh, and I actually stopped at this question to apologize...I know I cant speak for others...but I am just soooo sorry about the things said to you by (I cant remember the whole name...) something "athiest scumbags" that was just so rude and inappropriate...I want you to know not all Christians are like that...Im not

just so Im being entirely honest...back to the original question...I still have one or two books in the old testiment that im not positive I have read completely through. I and II Chronicles and Numbers...

Answer 5

Yes. When I was 8 years old, from front to back. Since then, over the years, I've been reading it--but, never front to back. I've also read the Qu'ran and the Book of Mormon front to back--once--and since then, I've been reading them--but, never, again, front to back. I've read the holy books of all the religions. That's why I'm a Baha'i. I find they were all written by the same Author--God. If you read them in the order in which they were given--they are the succeeding chapters of the One Holy Book of God.

Progressive Revelation

A great stumbling block to many, in the way of religious unity, is the difference between the Revelations given by the different Prophets. What is commanded by one is forbidden by another; how then can both be right, how can both be proclaiming the Will of God? Surely the truth is One, and cannot change. Yes, the Absolute Truth is One and cannot change, but the Absolute Truth is infinitely beyond the present range of human understanding, and our conceptions of it must constantly change. Our earlier, imperfect ideas will be by the Grace of God replaced, as time goes on, by more and more adequate conceptions. Bahá’u’lláh says, in a Tablet to some Bahá’ís of Persia:—
O people! Words are revealed according to capacity so that the beginners may make progress. The milk must be given according to measure so that the babe of the world may enter into the Realm of Grandeur and be established in the Court of Unity.
It is milk that strengthens the babe so that it can digest more solid food later on. To say that because one Prophet is right in giving a certain teaching at a certain time, therefore another Prophet must be wrong Who gives a different teaching at a different time, is like saying that because milk is the best food 123 for the newborn babe, therefore, milk and nothing but milk should be the food of the grown man also, and to give any other diet would be wrong! ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says:—
Each divine revelation is divided into two parts. The first part is essential and belongs to the eternal world. It is the exposition of Divine truths and essential principles. It is the expression of the Love of God. This is one in all the religions, unchangeable and immutable. The second part is not eternal; it deals with practical life, transactions and business, and changes according to the evolution of man and the requirements of the time of each Prophet. For example. … During the Mosaic period the hand of a person was cut off in punishment of a small theft; there was a law of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but as these laws were not expedient in the time of Christ, they were abrogated. Likewise divorce had become so universal that there remained no fixed laws of marriage, therefore His Holiness Christ forbade divorce.

According to the exigencies of the time, His Holiness Moses revealed ten laws for capital punishment. It was impossible at that time to protect the community and to preserve social security without these severe measures, for the children of Israel lived in the wilderness of Tah, where there were no established courts of justice and no penitentiaries. But this code of conduct was not needed in the time of Christ. The history of the second part of religion is unimportant, because it relates to the customs of this life only; but the foundation of the religion of God is one, and His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh has renewed that foundation.
The religion of God is the One Religion, and all the Prophets have taught it, but it is a living and a growing thing, not lifeless and unchanging. In the teaching of Moses we see the Bud; in that of Christ the Flower; in that of Bahá’u’lláh the Fruit. The flower does not destroy the bud, nor does the fruit destroy the flower. It destroys not, but fulfills. The bud scales must fall in order that the flower may bloom, and the petals must fall that 124 the fruit may grow and ripen. Were the bud scales and the petals wrong or useless, then, that they had to be discarded? Nay, both in their time were right and necessary; without them there could have been no fruit. So it is with the various prophetic teachings; their externals change from age to age, but each revelation is the fulfillment of its predecessors; they are not separate or incongruous, but different stages in the life history of the One Religion, which has in turn been revealed as seed, as bud and as flower, and now enters on the stage of fruition.

Answer 6

I have read it. I have also studied it. I went to a Christian school where Bible class was taught. It's an awesome book. I never really understood why it was called the "living word of God" until I re-read some passages that were confusing to me previously and they suddenly made sense. I think God allows us to "get it" in small doses. Even if we read it all in one sitting it's impossible to digest it all. It's amazing how God reveals exactly what you need at the time it's applicable in your life. It's amazing to me that He cares so much for me to make sure I understand when I need it. It's not enough to read it just once. Read it again and again. You will find something new each time.

Answer 7

I have often wondered the same thing! Judging from the nature of the questions which appear here I seems apparent that only a very few people have taken the time to search out the scriptures for themselves and have their eternal welfare settled. I find it a pity as the most important thing in any ones life is their eternal welfare and yet SO many disregard this important aspect of their lives.

Answer 8

Sorry, but yes I have.I love the word of God.My old Pastor said never trust your soul to man.Trust in God only,seek out His Holy Truth.I teach Sunday School now, I teach this to my children.I give them verses and tell them to tell me what it means.You would be amazed at what a group of 10-12 years old, know about the Bible.The Holy Ghost is my teacher.Just as the Bible teaches us He will be.
In the word I have found Jesus and have a relationship with him.
I pray this for all people.
Why do you think most people ,don't read the Bible and study it on their own?<><

Answer 9

Yea i have, i started when i was 16 i think and ended sometime early this year, i went chapter by chapter, and started again in Ocober but got distracted a little, and so now I've found this plan where you can read it in a year so I will read it again starting January 1st 2007. I love the Bible, its my favorite book :)

Answer 10

Yes. I did read the entire bible during my 11th and 12th year of Sunday school. Years later, I read a book called "The X-rated Bible: An Irreverant Survey of Sex in the Scriptures" which REALLY opened my eyes!

Answer 11

many people read it and still believe exactly what the priest preaches, but im different. i read it once in school and i found some really wierd parts. i still believe in many of the parts in the bible, but there are some wierd - not right parts. also only some gospels are choosen to put in the bible. so why cant we choose to follow other gospels that are not in the bible?