Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
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In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
Question for all you bible scholars and those who know it from years of research. I feel the pull to start reading the Bible for my spiritual growth and to learn the history. I've tried a few times to read from start to finish and get bogged down in the first few books of the Old Testament. Then I jump to the New Testament and feel overwhelmed. See I'm a visual learner and it's hard for me to comprehend anything just reading it. Hence why I didn't do my best in school.
Any suggestions of where to start for both purposes? Learning history and most importantly spiritual growth. I'm the type that has to force myself to do something over and over until it becomes a much needed desire. Probably just my rebellious attitude in general, it was a way of coping as a kid that became a bad habit.
I like a chronological Bible for reading, it's not one I take to church or a Bible study but it helps me stay in the timeline of history since the Bible is not set up in chronological order. It bothers me that Paul's letters are sorted out of order! I have the "Daily Bible with Devotional Insights" (in NIV) that I read thru. The notes are more about how things fit together and history vs. "devotional" really, which are helpful. There are chronological Bibles in different versions.
I also like a "Reader's" Bible, where the chapters and verses (and notes) are left out and the text is formatted into single lines vs. columns. They are available in different versions. One I like changes the book order ("Books of the Bible" now renamed "Immerse"), which I like, for example, break up Matthew, Mark, Luke-Acts, and John in different places so you aren't reading them in all in row.
I find that I can read so much more when I don't have the interruption of verses and chapter breaks and the type face and formatting lessoned eye-fatigue and increased my comprehension. Most books in the Bible can be read in one sitting, I believe, most books (especially the NT ones and the smaller ones in the OT) SHOULD be read in one sitting, to get the general idea. There is time to go back and study and meditate on smaller sections. But who gets a letter from their beloved pastor (like Paul!) and then only read a bit one day, and a little bit more the next? : )
This may be unpopular, but I like to read different versions. I study in a couple versions, read another couple versions, and try not to be in just one too long. For a first time Bible reader, I've heard good things about some of the newer releases, that come with charts and graphs and photos, especially for a visual learner. No shame in that. There's one called the NLT Illustrated Study Bible and another is He Reads. There's time to get into more serious Bible study and more scholarly translations, but to get excited about God's Word, it's alright in my opinion to find a Bible that is easier to read and understand.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are all anyone needs to live a happy and fulfilling life. Members of the correct religion, especially here will tell you, "you need to read all of it or none of it" which is elitist garbage with no basis on Jesus. In fact, the Bible itself is loaded with contradictions that only make sense with specific interpretations. But again, Matthew 23:8 shuts all that down by reminding us that in Jesus' eyes, we're all equals. He is the Massiah, teacher and leader. No man.
So the most important thing to remember, if anyone tries to exert their authority over you and claims to speak the "will of god" ignore them. Jesus gave authority to Himself only. A lot of Christians convienently forget this.
Same here. I have been told to start with John in New Testament by a couple people.
I suggest starting with the Gospel of John. It's relatively short, and Jesus makes no bones about being God. From there I would jump to Galatians. It is a beautiful book where the apostle Paul (who was not one of the original 12 disciples) makes the case for salvation through Christ's gracious sacrifice and faith in Him, alone. (In other words, no 'works.' ) If you read and absorb those two books, it will be well with your soul.
I'm slow with reading stuff, it's labor for me.
I started reading the Bible when I had a spiritual experience while journaling.
A couple of things helped me push on.
I believed the Holy Spirit in me teaches me through scripture.
When a verse popped out to me, I wrote it down and memorized it.
I kept a 3x5 card with just the references and went through the scriptures throughout the day.
I had a bunch of verses and doing them in order seemed to help.
40 years later I'm still slow, reading is still labor, but those verses the Holy Spirit taught me through repetition and contemplation the deep meaning of those verses.
Feel free to start a journaling sight............
This one is mine, you are welcome to journal there.
https://communities.win/c/RevelationOfJesusChrist
I can answer easy questions about bible stuff there too.
Welcome!