I'm slogging my way through the Bible just to see what all the hoo-ra is about and I'm about half-way through 1Chronicles. Is 1Chronicles and 2Chronicles just a retelling of stuff that already happened? Can I skip through them and go on, or will I miss stuff?
2007-07-29 12:42:13 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
well its alot of records .. it can have relevence in understanding other stories but i think it would be safe to skip it for now if ur too bored and go back later if ur still interested in getting a bigger picture ..
2007-07-29 12:45:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Chronicles is actually a pious retelling of prevous events, mostly out of Samuel and Kings, but from the priestly point of view. This means it's cleaned up a bit. God doesn't change his mind, God doesn't inspire men to do evil things, kings are better behaved, etc. (For example, you won't see David's Bathsheba and Absalom incidents in there.) So there are some differences worth noting if you're a Bible scholar, but the casual reader won't miss much by skipping on to Ezra.
In the Hebrew Bible, Chronicles is among the Writings rather than among the Former Prophets. They always knew it was an edit job.
2007-07-29 19:51:19 · answer #2 · answered by skepsis 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1 & 2 Chronicles do retell much of the narrative of 1 & 2 Kings, but from quite a different perspective. You really *could* skip them and not miss much, but at some point it's useful to compare the two different perspectives. You'll find that Kings is really ambivalent or hostile towards the idea of the monarchy. (Should God's people really be governed by a king, just like all the other nations? Or should they be different, dependent on judges/prophets and on divine intervention?) Chronicles is very pro-monarchy. So in the one you see a give-and-take between God/the Prophets and the Kings, presented with all their faults. Chronicles on the other hand tends to whitewash what it considers the "good kings" (David especially). It reads more like a government P.R. piece.
Peace to you.
2007-07-29 19:55:14 · answer #3 · answered by dreamed1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible is written to discourage any not-so-diligent readers.
But there are critical little details to be found scattered throughout the books. Also, some of the funniest, most absurd stories can be found in the Old Testament...stick with it, and try to spot the humor...it's really there, if you look.
Finding the humor in the New Testament is a more difficult challenge, but it's there, where you least expect to find it.
You may have to do some extrabiblical research to find it, though. Some of those guys may not have been the 'saints' people claim them to have been.
2007-07-29 19:55:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is not in chronological order so there is some repetition....BUT the good news is that when it retells something there are a few more details and so it makes the picture clearer. When you read the Bible you should always ask for the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you are reading as He will guide you into truth. I'm glad you are checking it out...you won't be sorry!
2007-07-29 19:50:52 · answer #5 · answered by bethybug 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible shouldn't be read cover to cover as a regular book. I believe you should go to the New Testament and start with the Book of John. Then read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and then Acts. Questions in one book will be answered or clarified in another. And you will find some repeats in the Bible...just a different writer giving a slightly different perspective. But all is God inspired.
2007-07-29 19:48:56 · answer #6 · answered by RB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible repeats events and concepts. Its to our advantage.
Remember that "on the testimony of two witnesses" this relates to the bible itself also. Its Gods way of helping us ensure that we wont take anything out of context. If something is repeated it Will usually expand on the other verses.
The way to study the bible is to take everything written on a subject and compare everything."comparing scripture with scripture" asking the Holy spirit to guide you and this helps
to guard against false interpretation.
Just look at the state of the dead to see how much confusion there is, because people dont tend to study the bible in the correct way.
2007-07-29 19:51:27 · answer #7 · answered by shovelead 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello and studying is much better than just reading try a free bible course www.amazingfacts.org but to answer your question 1 Chronicles is a genealogy thing who is related to who if your interested in that stuff fine, 2 Chronicles is better not as much of that don't forget to pray before you start and do not take verses out of context, God bless you.
2007-07-29 19:49:02 · answer #8 · answered by wgr88 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1&2Chronicles are books of history. So where 1&2 Samuel and 1&2 Kings.
Better to read them and get the whole picture than to miss something.
2007-07-29 19:45:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't start in the Old Testament. Nobody said you had to read it in order. Or if you feel you have to start in the OT, then start with a kind of fun one, like Job or Tobit.
Start in the New Testament with the gospel of John, then go on to the epistles John I and John II.
They'll hold your interest more than just the boring old genealogies and reruns in the Chronicles.
(No, I don't think you'd miss much if you skipped Chronicles altogether. If you get curious later, just google it later and check out Wikipedia.)
2007-07-29 19:50:27 · answer #10 · answered by Acorn 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Chronicles tells much the same stories as Kings but from the point of view of Israel rather than Judah (or the other way round, I forget which). So it is interesting to read both. If you have trouble slugging through it, read The Living Bible. It is much easier to read.
2007-07-29 19:48:16 · answer #11 · answered by william a 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋