Reading the Bible - One year plan

[sandandfoam]

I got a new Bible recently because I've a mind to read it in full.
One of the things that attracted me to the bible I bought is a 12 month reading plan inside the cover.
12 months seems like a nice pace to digest it. Nice small bites.
Anyone here done this before?

 

[Wandered Off]

I followed that about 5 times. It's not a hard pace to keep until you get to the Begats...

 

[Thesavorofpan]

You'll have the most trouble with Exodus through Deuteronomy. Thou shall build this wall....Make it stop!!!!

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

12 months seems like a nice pace to digest it. Nice small bites. Anyone here done this before?

See Weekly Torah portion.

 

[Kathryn]

Yes, I've done it before and it was easy to keep up. I did it with a little twist, too - with a personal journal. The challenge was - to find something that I could apply personally to my life each day in the readings. This seems easy, till you get off into some random sections of the bible.

It really made me think, and be on the lookout while I was reading - for some nugget or interesting little application (or big application).

The only parts I didn't much care for were the "begats" and some of the minor prophets in the Old Testament.

The plan I had gave a section of the OT and a section of the NT to read each day. What's your plan like?

 

[Just_me_Mike]

The begats are wholly important when we are looking to study time lines and genealogy within the bible. They are utterly important to understanding the deepest secrets to the bible. Not for everyone, but there is a reason they are there.

It is mentioned in the bible there are depths to the wisdom, and how most of it is past finding out. That kind of reference is not just lip service.

At any rate, I can read the bible in about 4 or 5 months, but find little value in doing that, as I end up getting absorbed in a particular area and then must study that for a while. The more you read the bible, the more cross references you begin to see from the Old and New Testament, and opportunities to explore these areas.

Hope you enjoy...

 

[freeindeed78]

I've recently found a renewed vigor in reading the 'begats', but the plan often helps me to stay disciplined in my reading, especially on the long days at work.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I did that when I was about 11, when I read the whole Bible the first time. Usually I read it in my own way now.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Also thought I'd mention, sometimes reading the scriptures can be a good discipline. You can do a prayer or liturgy from a prayer book while you read. It helps calm your mind, and hence, helps you get the carnal man under subjection.

 

[Levite]

Reading the whole thing is good. To my mind, it wasn't actually late Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers that were the hard part, it was Job, Ezra, Nehemiah, parts of Daniel, and parts of Proverbs.

That said, there are really some overlooked treasures in there. I have always found Lamentations very moving, and (depending on your translation) also some of the Psalms are spectacularly written. From a purely literary perspective, much of Judges and Samuel are fascinating and gripping. Also, don't neglect the minor prophets. I have a great fondness especially for Amos. Good stuff!

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

The begats are wholly important when we are looking to study time lines and genealogy within the bible. They are utterly important to understanding the deepest secrets to the bible.

Deepest secrets? Sounds a bit like the bible as inkblot ...

... on the other hand, genealogy provides some lovely bookends. So, for example, Tamar, victim of a failed levirate marriage, gives birth to a line that leads to Boaz who, through the famous levirate marriage of Ruth, produces a line that leads, not only to David, but to Tamar.

Speaking of which ...

From a purely literary perspective, much of Judges and Samuel are fascinating and gripping.

Samuel is an altogether intriguing and remarkable text.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Deepest secrets? Sounds a bit like the bible as inkblot ...

... on the other hand, genealogy provides some lovely bookends. So, for example, Tamar, victim of a failed levirate marriage, gives birth to a line that leads to Boaz who, through the famous levirate marriage of Ruth, produces a line that leads, not only to David, but to Tamar.

Oh, just leave me to my drivel please

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

... on the other hand, genealogy provides some lovely bookends. So, for example, Tamar, victim of a failed levirate marriage, gives birth to a line that leads to Boaz who, through the famous levirate marriage of Ruth, produces a line that leads, not only to David, but to Tamar.

Oh, just leave me to my drivel please

I'm not quite sure what to make of your response.

The fact remains that the Tanakh is best appreciated as a rich tapestry: threads of discourse studded with allusion and woven around repeated motives. So, for example, not only do we see Tamar(2) reminding us of Tamar(1), but the rape of Tamar reminds us of the attempted seduction of Joseph, a link made all the more explicit by the reference to Tamar's ornamental tunic - the Hebrew for which is found (and poorly translated) in only one other place: Joseph's famous "coat of many colors."

And the Madam Potiphar-Joseph story is found where? Immediately following the story of Tamar(1).

Oh, and by the way, the Tamar(1) story begins with Judah marrying the daughter of Shua (bat Shua) - a variant Bat Sheva ...

... it's all fun. :yes:

 

[dawny0826]

I got a new Bible recently because I've a mind to read it in full.
One of the things that attracted me to the bible I bought is a 12 month reading plan inside the cover.
12 months seems like a nice pace to digest it. Nice small bites.
Anyone here done this before?

I'm doing this now, actually, but I think it's going to take me longer.