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Did you sit on a tack?

I tried to read the Bible all the way through and managed to get through Leviticus but lost it in Numbers. Dry stuff!

I totally agree with you, that a literate person should have at least a familiarity with the Bible, at the very least with Genesis and Exodus, since practically 90% of literary allusions come from those two books.

I'm looking forward to more on this!

andrea

Many years ago I received some advice about reading the Bible. It was from the Bishop of the Galveston-Houston Diocese. He said to start at the beginning and read a chapter a day. In fours years you'll have finished and then just start again. It was a very easy discipline but I decided that two chapters a day would speed things up. What I found was that during interesting sections I'd read several passages and during the Numbers and Leviticus type sections one chapter was plenty.

It surprised me that the discipline was so easy to do. I kept at it until I'd read through the Bible four times before I started reading other devotional material. I've never shared this information before but I thought it appropriate after seeing your video.

yeah, i think there is a person at google video who goes through each frame and chooses the most embarassing one to use as the still shot.

there is no way i look that foolish most of the time.

"We are told by the Holy Fathers that we are supposed to see in everything something for our salvation. If you can do this, you can be saved." Father Seraphim Rose, His Life and Works

Great idea, and thanks to whoever suggested it! I'm very much looking forward to this.

Sounds very interesting, I can't wait to hear what you have to say. Looking forward to it!

Personally, I have read the Bible all of the way through, but I certainly can't say it was easy (especially in Leviticus through Kings). My original plan was to read one or two chapters a day and some days it happened and some days it didn't. I think it took me about 2-3 years as well.

As for easiest/most interesting/most entertaining books in the Old Testament, I would say:
Genesis
Exodus
Ruth (probably my favorite!)
Song of Songs
Proverbs (reading just a few a day - they're fun)
Job
Jonah

Ruth, Song of Songs, and Jonah are all very short and narrative.

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in there.

The problem I had with the chapter-a-day approach is that the chapter divisions tend to be fairly arbitrary, and there are some books of the bible that benefit from more coherent attention. Mark, for example, is short enough to read aloud in a single sitting. If you get a chance to have someone read it to you straight through, take it.

Gordon, I'm looking forward to your advice.

bigbrotherinlaw

I'm also looking forward to these discussions. I've never read the bible at all. As a kid, I had a huge Picture Bible that was basically a 1,000 page comic book (or graphic novel) that summarised the major books, and I devoured that thing cover to cover so much that I had to get it rebound. Wish I knew where it was now.

Gordon, I'd also be interested in hearing what your recommendation is on which version of the bible to read.

It took me two months of reading each night from the time I started until I couldn't stay awake. Leviticus and Numbers were very, very dry. But Proverbs more than made up for them.

Excellent idea! I'll look forward to joining along and seeing the Bible through your eyes too...

Christen

Getting to know the Bible is something that I've been interested in doing for a while now, but I've been hesitant about it. What I'm really looking forward to is learning about it from you. You are someone that I feel like I can trust with this, if that makes sense. And I think it will seem less scary coming from you. So, thanks for wanting to take the time to do this.

I can't help it -- I keep thinking about belly button lint. I wonder what color it will be today?

I appreciate that you are willing to share your thoughts and troubles with us about the Bible. It can be disheartening to hear from ministers and churches that we need to read this book for answers to life and not hear them admit that this book is not easy. Thank you for stating that the Bible is important and also difficult in many places. These “Bible videos” sound like a great idea and I anticipate you can share with us some helpful and interesting insights.

I've been reading your blog for a while. I'd like to think that during this time, when I am working through my "dark night of the soul”, God must have led me to this place- a place where you discuss your honest heart's reactions to life and what you find in the Bible. I have found it encouraging to see those that have had many of the same struggles with the Bible and Christianity and yet still strive to be faithful to God and follow Jesus.

Thank you again for experimenting with this idea.

Jason Boyett's Pocket Guide to the Bible is a great resource! Fun & interesting is always a good combo.

great idea RLP.

now ... to go enjoy _the shepherd's story_.

-s.o

Cool :) I grew up in a completely non-religious household, so had absolutely no contact with the Bible while growing up. I've thought it would be good to try to read it but there's just so MUCH of it, I felt discouraged before I even started. I love to read, but I dislike books that never seem to end.

So anyway.. thanks. I'm looking forward to your mini-lectures. I can't think of anybody else I'd rather have teach me about the Bible.

Looking forward to this Gordon. But I must confess--that belly button lint thing just ain't fading away.

Lissa

Gordon you are a gem!

I am looking forward to the series on the Bible.

Al

"Read the bible the way you eat fish: Carefully. Don't choke on a bone. Pick the food that serves you well." - Reverend Robert Schiller

In Robertson Davies's wonderful book,

The Papers of Samuel Marchbanks

, someone discusses whether or not to start the furnace for the winter, knowing that if he does, the weather will warm up and he will stifle, and if he does not, it will become miserably cold.

He decides to postpone the event, on the grounds that it is better to tarry than to burn.

Needless to say, it was only years later, after my conversion, that I got the joke.

Just discovered your blog. I enjoyed the video and the honesty about approaching the Bible. I belong to a religious tradition that has placed great emphasis on scripture reading and study ... probably, no certainly, more on that than prayer.

I have read the Bible from cover to cover and used to do that on a yearly basis. I think you are right that there is plenty in scripture that is "hard" if you are not used to or learn the "lingo." But as a collection of "books" the Bible also has some very accessible areas in my view. I think Luke-Acts is very easy to read and even "entertaining." I often introduce the Bible to new comers through Luke/Acts.

After some growth I recommend Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuarts How to Read the Bible for all its Worth and Robert Alter's material on narrative.

Look forward to the videos and I have book marked this blog.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine
http://stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com/

I think this is a great idea. For me, it's not so much the spiritual aspect, but more of the academic aspect of reading the bible. I've read through most of the other major spiritual works... the Vedas, Upanishads, Zenda-Avestas, the Dhammapadas, Diamond Sutras, Kojiki (loooong read), even the English translation of the Koran. But, I've never read the bible. I just never figured there'd be any academic reason for me to read it. So, I'm looking forward to seeing the videos.

I guess I should probably go buy a bible, though. RLP, which version would you recommend?

 *** This is not a signature...***
http://www.projectlucidity.com 

I did read the Bible through. I started on Ash Wednesday and finished by the ed of August. I was surprised by what's not in there. I didn't find much that was pro-life or even pro-family, for instance, two subjects that Bible thumpers seem to think are there. Or that men had to be faithful to their wives. Of course, I didn't study it, I just read it through. I look forward to your series.

yeah, it's amazing when you read it what people have read INTO it, rather than lived OUT OF what it says.

Or something to that effect.

Oh my Gosh... at 4:37... TOO FUNNY.

I'm really looking forward to this series, thanks so much for doing it!

~ Mary Jo

I think that this is a great idea. If anyone is looking for something along these lines but that is designed to help you get through the whole book in 90 days, there is an excellent canned curriculum, that uses a combination of DVD lecture and small groups for encouragement and accountability, that is designed to get people to read the Bible straight through in 90 days. It has a surprisingly high completion rate. My church is getting ready to start it. We have over 300 signed up so far. If anyone else is interested check out www.biblein90days.org. The curriculum was developed at First Presbyterian Houston and is being marketed by Zondervan.

Elaine
Norman, OK
www.dowlinglawoffice.com

I've read the Bible cover to cover, I think 3 different translations, at different times.

The only time I really got much out of Job was when I had a stomach bug. I think I should read Job only when I've got my own tribulations.

That's the only part that seemed to matter with what going on with me at the time.

- Julia

I tried on my own starting in Genesis, I tried a "read it in 6 months" program, then finally found a fit: BSF.
After six years, I'm almost finished reading and studying the Bible with great group called Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) http://www.bsfinternational.org/ Each year (32 weeks), we focus on a certain selection from New International Version of the Bible, studying on our own, then in small group, applying what we've studied to our lives. I started with Matthew and now am in Romans. What an eye, heart, mind opener....life changing, esp. through the hard times. I'll be watching for your posts and forwarding to my friends I'm encouraging to study, too.

i have actually (shock!) read the whole bible. now you make me want to read it again. gideon should put them for free in more places than hotel rooms.

i love when you leave at the end and there in just "the bible" sitting on the desk. like it's saying "go on. fuck with me. i dare you".

Really the best way to read the Bible straight through is to start with the First book of the New Testament (John). Reed throught the new testament then go the the Old testament. don't have a set amount of chapters, just read until your ready to put it down. But read it every day.