Considering that the Bible is actually a collection of books by different authors...?

Question

with differing perspectives written over perhaps as much as 1000 years, why do people keep saying you have to read the whole thing to understand parts of it?

Is that just a cop out, or is there merit to it. If there's merit, then why?

No, the Bible is exactly what I described it to be. If you wish to claim god wrote through all those writers, you're free to do so, but it doesn't change the basic facts.

I've read the entire Bible twice, so please don't tell me to read it!

Answer 1

Those writers were just copying the previous writers and adding some of their own stuff to make it more interesting. It's not "unbelievably consistent", it's copycatism.

Answer 2

You ask a question but in the body of your statement it appears that your mind is already made up. Anyway..Ever read or heard the description of the same event by two or more, different people? They will usually all have a different take and description of what took place. The end result may well be the same but some will relay information that another doesn't. Some will offer what they heard someone say, but the other witness didn't hear the same thing. One could have noticed something the other didn't. That is one reason it's wise to read the whole story from all that give an account of the event. If a prediction of a future event is given in one of the older books of the Bible, the completion of the prediction would come into being in a later, newer, more recent book of the Bible. Should a writer of a given Biblical book have omitted some information just to make the book shorter? I don't think that would be a good idea. The Bible covers a long period of time. That's true. That would stand to mean that more history, acts of faith, and forms of information is relayed. If the Gospels were omitted, much information concerning Jesus would not be known. I think the Bible is fine just as it is written.

Answer 3

I don't know. I don't say that and it doesn't make any sense. It's like saying you have to read the whole encyclopedia to understand parts of it. It is good to read through an entire book of the Bible. However, neither the Hebrew scriptures or the New Testament are ordered chronologically. The only merit I could see to reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is as an act of discipline.

Answer 4

it's an imaginary author so after the first reading I started using my imaginary eyes and it makes the same imaginary sense . the only merit is what you apply to it so take it for what it's worth just anything else it requires scrutiny and some editing and perspectivenot to mention many outside sources as it gives a limited narrow view sometimes eithout research into it's greater context otherwise . I go through it an delete all the gods just to see what's actually there . I replace it with the powers that be or the opinion of the author.

Answer 5

I prefer to look at the Bible as a reference book to what to do and what not to do, given certain circumstances. Also, it reads like a good novel with action and adventure to keep the reader interested.

Every book ever written, whether it be the Bible, War and Peace, or Othello, was inspired by God. The basic foundation of our intellect is God's own inspiration guiding us to the questions that we ask and the findings that we achieve. Differing perspectives have made us grow and question to the point of arrogance. The Bible tends to remind some that once we needed guidance through some other means rather than our own pleasures.

Answer 6

There is merit to that thinking. You will find the answers in the middle or end of the Bible to questions you had in the beginning of the Bible. The Bible is a big jigsaw puzzle that doesn't paint the picture until the whole book is read.

Answer 7

Think about it this way:

You are on a business trip for your Dad.

Before you leave on your trip, your Dad tells you that He will send you Instructions thru the email of what he wants you to do and how he wants you to get it done, and they will be waiting for you when you get to the country you are going to.

So after a couple of days you get to where you are going and you are able to set down at the computer and check your email.

You find that your dad has sent to you 15 emails, each one containing a little information, some adding to what was said in another and some talking about something totally new that you had never heard before.

It is a little confussing for you when you have read the first two or three because He is talking about stuff you don't know about. And you are saying to yourself "WHAT?" What is he talking about? That doesn't make since!

Then the more of them you read, the more you understand what He is talking about and wants you to do.

And by the time you have read the last email, You understand How he wants you to do it and What you must do in order to get the job done. and you say "OK! NOW I UNDERSTAND"

DOES THAT HELP.

Answer 8

There is merit to reading all of it. Some books of the bible can answer questions you have about others, or explain/fill in apparent gaps in different authors understanding of God/Jesus. Also, reading the Old testament prophets will explain why Christians consider Jesus the Messiah, but the Jews don't.(which is interesting even from an academic standpoint).

Answer 9

It has an Author,( Holy Spirit) You can"t know the
Bible without His help;If You are reading with Your
on intellect; You will be One Totaly frustraded Person;That book is like a 44 Magnun handle it with Caution:It can change a Man or Woman"s
Focus;

Answer 10

Scripture has to be interpreted with Scripture. One cannot take a single verse out of the Bible and build a doctrine around it.
If you want to study a particular subject in the Bible, you have to read what every author has to say about it. The best Bible for this I have found is the Strong's Chain Reference Bible.

Answer 11

I don't think you have to read the whole thing just the NEW TESTAMENT.Even though I have read most of it,I don't think you do.When I first got saved people said read the NEW TESTAMENT first then read the whole BIBLE. Every time I'd finished the NEW TESTAMENT.GOD would tell me to read it again so I still haven't got to read all the OLD.I am not saying not to .Its good to read it all.The NEW TESTAMENT is the covenant in which we should live by these days.Picture the cross OLD TESTAMENT before the cross of CHRIST the NEW after. OLD TESTAMENT prophecy is talking and leading up to Christ the NEW is that He has came to die for our sins and will return again.