Where do i start with the bible?

Question

hi guys, i want to lead a religious path in my life yet i am very new to this and have had no previous religious experiences, or family members that are strongly religious, when i open the bible all i see is a vast amount of words. could anybody help me and tell me where to start,(no sarcastic comments). which will help me understand the bible much more than right now.

Answer 1

Start with the last 3 chapters of the Gospel of John. Beautiful stuff in there, that reads like spiritual poetry. Plus it holds the Great Command Jesus gave us, the one that supplanted all the other rules and regulations in the Bible: Love one another as I have loved you.

Do NOT start with page 1 in Genesis and try to plow your way through. You'll just get frustrated.

After the last 3 chapters of John, read all of the Gospel of John. Then go to his epistles: 1 John, 2 John and 3 John, which are the 5th to last, 4th to last, and 3rd to last books in the New Testament.. They're short and loaded with inspirational stuff.

Then I'd suggest the other 3 gospels: Mark, Matthew and Luke in that order. (Mark is the shortest, oldest and most easy to follow.

A couple of caveats: remember: the Bible is not a history book. The people who say absurd things like "everything in the Bible must be read literally," and "Either the whole Bible is literally true or none of it is true," -- these people should be avoided and ignored.

The Bible IS the word of God, but you don't have to read every small detail (or even some big details) literally for it to hold God's truth.

Good luck!

PS Oh, yeah, I almost forgot: get a clear, readable translation. There is nothing magic about the King James Version. Some people think all that ancient English is pretty, but I get lost in all the goeths and comeths and begats and believeths.

My favorite, and the one generally conceded to be most accurate, is the Jerusalem Bible. Nice clear English and not a "doth" in sight. :)

Answer 2

You're probably more familiar already with the Gospels. Start there, but read them in this order: Mark, Matthew & Luke, then John.

That was the actual order in which they were written. Mark, around 70 CE, Matthew and Luke around 90 CE, and John at about 100 CE.

By the way, they were not written by the persons named for them. It was common in ancient times for writers to give the credit to someone else. There were no copyright laws.

Try some SECULAR biblical archaeology and literature. A good source is the "Biblical Archaeology Review." Very informative.
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Addendum: I ALMOST FORGOT! For actual facts about Jesus, check out the "Gnostic Gospels." It includes all the gospels that the founding fathers at the Nicean Council rejected!

One in particular is the Gospel of Thomas, thought by some schollars to be an eye witness account. All it has is a list of sayings. Every line starts with "Jesus said." It's also very informative as are the other "forbidden gospels." They will give you a more rounded look at Jesus' ministry.

Try to make up your OWN mind about what is in the bible. Just because somebody on this board tells you to read such and such, doesn't mean those events actually happened. Think for yourself. Don't get sucked into all the dogma and events that defy the laws of physics.

Try to be a free thinker while you explore your spiritual side.

Answer 3

Luke. I find this book easiest to understand. This is the only book that tells anything about Jesus' childhood. Being a physician ,I suppose, made Luke more conscious of details and so easier to understand.

The Old Testament on the other hand can be difficult to fathom. There are many references in the New Testament to the Old. If you get a good study Bible it will help a lot and you can look them up.

There are also many books that you can read that may help.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to-
The Life Of Jesus (1)
Biblical Mysteries (2)
World Of The Bible (3)

Answer 4

Connor,
I personally would begin reading in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). I suggest that you find a non-denominational Church near you that has Bible Studies weekly and let them know that you are interested in learning about the Bible. I would assist you in finding such a group if you would like. My Church uses no man-made doctrines or creeds only using the BIBLE as it's guide for religious practices and living. Have a great weekend and a wonderful New Years.
Thank You,
Eds


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Answer 5

The books of the Bible are all filled with great truths, histories, poetry, and guidance.

It is always a good thing to start at the beginning and read through the entire book... and there are Bibles that are broken down - relatively easily - in order to read through the Bible in a year...

But if you are looking for excellent guidance toward a righteous life - I would suggest the Book of John... then Matthew... then Romans to Jude as a fresh start toward "remolding" your life... Try to look at each thing you learn - and one day at a time, try applying those things to your daily life.

I love a good study Bible - the Open Bible Expanded Edition has wonderful guidance for when you are trying to seek guidance for specific issues.

The free-to-download Bible program e-sword is also an excellent search engine that can be right on your own computer, helping you search for topics as issues occur in your life.

http://www.e-sword.net

Peace.

Answer 6

Before you start you need to remember that the Bible has a theme. That theme is God's Kingdom and what it will do for mankind. Everything in the Bible needs to be in harmony with everything else. If it sounds like it is contradicting itself then you need to look at it from a new point of view. But, as you gain understanding you begin to see God's personally and wisdom. Try to read approximately 6 chapters a night and within a year you will have read the entire Bible.

Answer 7

1. There is a difference between a religious life and relational. Religious life is a life that's purpose is going to church, reading the Bible, doing good deeds just because you believe you should. Relational is having a growing relationship with God because you love Him. I don't know if that was a misunderstanding in your question or not but I just wanted to address that first.

2. I recomend reading the NIV or NAS version if you want to it's easier worded than other versions.

3. I would sugest starting with John, the book of John talks about who Jesus is. Also read the Psalms it talks about all the feelings you could ever have and helps you grow. Work your way through the New Testament then go to the Old Testament.

4. Pray! God knows exactly what is best for you. Good luck and congradulations!!!

Answer 8

Very basic Bible teachings can be learned from examining the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. This is the simplest way. If, however, you are prejudiced against them, I suggest reading 3-5 chapters a day, every day and taking the time to consider what God is trying to tell you in what you read. Praying first and asking God for Holy Spirit to help you understand will also help. May God bless you in your quest to learn about him.

Answer 9

First of all good for you for agreeing to live a religious life. Just don't impose your beliefs on other people and look at the big evils in this world, not just the little ones. Also take the Bible with a grain of salt.

I'm planning to start from the front when I eventually get around to reading the Bible but if it's easier for you, just jump around. Another alternative would be to go to church where they obviously read the Bible.

You have made a good decision and the best of luck with everything.

Answer 10

You could start at Genesis, but I would suggest you study the Bible in topic form. Get to understand the theme of the Bible first, then study how the old testament is a prelude to the new testament. Knowing the 332 prophecies about Jesus will help you to understand his life and his purpose of preaching about a kingdom that will rule over this earth forever. Find the publication "What does the Bible Really Teach." That will help you out the best.