How many Christians read the whole Bible...or is it just mostly the New Testement?

Question

Plus, does that mean the Old Testement is not useful or doesn't apply anymore?

One reason I ask is that I am reading the O.T. now and I have to be honest...there are just some downright wacko parts to it. Parts where you just shake your head.

Answer 1

Thank GOD you asked this! Hopefully we'll get some decent answers :)
But as far as I'm concerned, it seems as though those laws in the OT don't apply anymore because Jesus "fulfilled" them. I don't understand this view because I don't think that fulfilling a law means changing "life for life, eye for eye" to "no killing at ALL no matter what, but turn the other cheek". I mean, I believe in forgiving others, of COURSE, and we should always do that, but I also believe in self-defense: you slap me once, I slap you twice (okay, fine, once so it's still "eye for eye" and not more) just so you don't do it again. But I still will forgive you and laugh at your silliness to slap me so you can learn your lesson. Both have worked for me in the past.
Know what I mean?
Oh, and according to Jesus, Christians ARE supposed to follow the OT because he is known to have said, "Do not think that I [Jesus] have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke or a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" (Matthew 5:17-18).
So... who exactly IS following what's in the Old Testament?

Edit: Umm... I disagree with and can't stand most of what the Old Testament says concerning women. Here are examples:

-- "When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Whoever touches anything she sits on must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, he will be unclean till evening" (Leviticus 15:19-23).
-- "...if a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days...but if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks..." (Leviticus 12:2-5).
-- "And in case men struggle together (in a fight) with one another, and the wife of the one has come near to deliver her husband out of the striking one (to save her husband), and she has thrust out her hand and grabbed hold of his private (the other man's groin), she must then get both her hands cut off, and the eyes of the men must feel no sorrow" (Deuteronomy 25:11-12).
-- "... Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every w om an who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head...If a w om an does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a w om an to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head" (1 Corrinthians 11:3-6).
-- "...Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she c om mits adultery" (Mark 10:11-12).
-- "The birth of a daughter is a loss" (Ecclesiasticus 22:3).
-- "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law, and if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for woman to speak in the church" (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).
-- "Say to the Israelites, 'If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter...' " (Numbers 27:8).
-- "Your daughter is headstrong? Keep a sharp look-out that she does not make you the laughing stock of your enemies, the talk of the town, the object of common gossip, and put you to public shame" (Ecclesiasticus 42:11.)
-- "I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare." "Look," says the Teacher, "this is what I have discovered: "Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things-while I was still searching but not finding- I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all" (Ecclesiastes 7:26-28).
And MUCH more, really.

So I'm like, Jesus (peace be upon him) himself taught FROM the Torah (as Christians say, right?), and he obviously followed it himself. If he's supposed to have been your leader, why don't you Christians follow his teachings from the Torah, then? Or even ALL of the Gospel (for instance, no divorce and then remarrying, or breaking your wife's arms if she jumps in to support you while you're fighting...)?
I'm sure that some of you may be thinking that these things were the norm back then and well accepted by the society then and "come on! This was 1500BC it was written in, you know! Don't compare times!" Welll...Just WHY??!! I mean, was GOD conforming to the silly societal pressures "back then, during 1500BC"?? Why didn't He speak AGAINST such harsh treatments of women, especially in the Bible which He should've known would be existing till the end of times? These verses are supposed to be God's Words, now, come on, people. Isn't it a bit TOO obvious that MEN changed GOD's words in order to please themselves, looking down upon women, conforming to societal laws of that particular time?? God would NEVER say such things against women, you see; how hard is it to see that?
But I'm sure it's just me who's thinking of it like this, I guess. :P

Anyway, peace and blessings of God be upon you all!

Answer 2

The Bible is a difficult read in parts. Some of the Old Testament books are particularly dry. If you every have insomnia, open up the book of Numbers. Parts like those aren't particularly useful to laypeople, in my opinion. They are more for the Theologian or Historian.

Other parts of the Old Testament are very valid, and very beautiful as well.

Answer 3

I have read more the New Testament, but for example today I studied the Old Testament at the Bible study. I do not read the Bible the same way like other books, from beginning to the end. I study subjects and I read it from place to place and underline verses.

The Old Testament is useful, I just concentrate more on the New Testament. : )

Answer 4

Yes I have read the entire Bible. The Old Testament is a shadow of what was to come in the New Testament.
Both books are applicable to today.

Answer 5

I admit that I read bit by bit, whatever my Pastor goes to for a text on Sunday then I read it..lazy I'll admit it. His sermons do vary between the Old Testement and the New.

Answer 6

I have read the entire Scriptures seven times. I am now on a course to complete the NT twice and the OT once in 2007.

Answer 7

I read the whole Bible. There is a lot of good stuff in the Old Testament. One of my favorite books is the Psalms. No matter what mood you are in, there is always a psalm to fit your mood.

The Old Testament is still very useful and relevent. It is full of God's grace and mercy.

Answer 8

I read the OT as well as the NT. The OT was ***the*** Bible of the early church. It comprised the scriptures the Bereans searched daily to confirm the message of the Apostles. It taught the gospel in ages prior, that God's promise to Abraham would be fulfilled in Christ.

Answer 9

I have read to whole bible several times.
and I go by the teaching of both the old and new covenants,
how ever there are portion of the new that supercede the old, if it did not, then there would be no reason for a new covenant.

Answer 10

I read the whole Bible.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works."

2 Timothy 3:16 & 17

Answer 11

I get so tired of people directing their questions to "Christians".
There are those of us who are not Christian who also read Scripture; from cover to cover. Over a dozen times. I'm in Psalms now.
Now; a question for you.
Since Jesus only had the Old Testament; did He apply it to His life?