The Bible- Have you read it?

Question

What did you think of it?

Answer 1

Yes. Essential reading, for believers and wannabe critics alike.

Answer 2

I have read the Douay Rheims Bible many times.

The idea that all revealed truth is to be found in "66 books" is not only not in Scripture, it is contradicted by Scripture (1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Timothy 3:15, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3:16). It is a concept unheard of in the Old Testament, where the authority of those who sat on the Chair of Moses (Matthew 23:2-3) existed. In addition to this, for 400 years, there was no defined canon of "Sacred Scripture" aside from the Old Testament; there was no "New Testament"; there was only Tradition and non-canonical books and letters.




Protestants claim the Bible is the only rule of faith, meaning that it contains all of the material one needs for theology and that this material is sufficiently clear that one does not need apostolic tradition or the Church’s magisterium (teaching authority) to help one understand it. In the Protestant view, the whole of Christian truth is found within the Bible’s pages. Anything extraneous to the Bible is simply non-authoritative, unnecessary, or wrong—and may well hinder one in coming to God.

Catholics, on the other hand, recognize that the Bible does not endorse this view and that, in fact, it is repudiated in Scripture. The true "rule of faith"—as expressed in the Bible itself—is Scripture plus apostolic tradition, as manifested in the living teaching authority of the Catholic Church, to which were entrusted the oral teachings of Jesus and the apostles, along with the authority to interpret Scripture correctly

Answer 3

Hard going, and that's why people don't bother to read it properly - that and because too many people 'think' they know what it's all about so it puts others off from studying it properly. The Bible needs a full lifetime of thought to plumb its depths, but very few people put in the effort.

I've studied the texts of all the major religions, and some obscure ones too (texts/religions) and I've found the depth of illumination from the Bible, NT, and Nag Hammadi are way far and beyond any others.

I'd advise "little and often" - just read very small bits and wait weeks, months, years, before continuing, because it takes time for it to properly sink in and for your consciousness to make sense of what the words (and the whole) really mean.

Answer 4

Yes. Over and over. I have 7 versions loaded on my computer together with 2 commentaries and Hebrew and Greek dictionaries. And I love it.
The Bible is the absolutely infallible word of God. It is God's instruction book for living. According to God, everything we need to know for life and Godliness is in the Bible.
I try to read a few chapters each day, but sometimes I go to favorite scriptures that fit the situation I'm in. The Bible is not without humor, and one of my favorite verses is Job 38:2 Which in King James is "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" Or, in the Contemporary English, "Why do you talk so much when you know so little?"

There is a LOT of that going around; even on Yahoo! Or, should I say especially on Yahoo!?

Answer 5

Incoherent is the first word that pops up, especially the old testament. No wonder since it is a collection of texts from different origins that have gone to a long process of being lost or conserved, translations, and church activities.

The old testament is very demeaning for non jewish people, women and gay people. It sets bad examples and should be kept out of reach for children. It should not be used for moral guiding. The good things we find in the old testament were all copied from texts that are older.

It is an important book about civilisation in the Bronze age.
I can not begin to understand what makes it so special to many people. It is hard to believe people see divine inspiration in it.

Answer 6

Read it many times, first as a catholic, but now as a history book. Fascinating read.
Present version compiled by king james, but many books left out of the bible.
The book of adam and eve, excluded from our version helps us make a lot more sense of the nature of god.
The book of enoch brings us back to a von daniken approach.
Other books not included tell us that man was created by implanting sperm of a earthly primate in the wombs of volunteer female gods, to work as a slave to help the gods off this planet! The old testament does nothing for me spiritually, and i believe it should be read along with the missing books for historical data. The new testament, mainly about the life of jesus provides spiritual guidance.

Answer 7

I haven't read the entire Bible, but from what I've read I can tell you that it's beautiful inspiring- a work that exists outside the flow of time, that as for all nationas and generations. The words of the bible are truely water for those who thrist and food for those who huger. Especially like: Psalms, Esther, Tobit, Job, Proverbs, Wisdom, John, Acts, Romans, James....

Answer 8

I have staked my life on Its sacred contents. Those who say It has errors, or contradictions, or is not real, these are the people who have not read It.

As we move forward in time more and more archeology proves the historical accuracy.

The Bible is fact. The Bible is true. Jesus Christ is the central character of history and it is His story of love towards you.

Answer 9

I have not read the whole bible. But its a good book to read and helps me in my daily life.

Answer 10

I've read a few bits of it, probably more than most so-called "Christians".
I can't believe people live their lives according to what it says in a book! The same goes for any book, not just the bible. Weather it is a religious book or otherwise. It's just words printed on paper.
If more people took a look around them, at the people around them. maybe there would be less suffering in the world.
People are what is important in life, not books.