How Do You Read The...?

[TCGreek]

How do you read the Bible from cover to cover without losing focus and quitting? Does the version you use help? Is skipping over those difficult names, still considered reading the Bible through? Do you read through familiar stories quickly, without paying much attention to what you're reading?

 

[Amy.G]

How do you read the Bible from cover to cover without losing focus and quitting? Does the version you use help? Is skipping over those difficult names, still considered reading the Bible through? Do you read through familiar stories quickly, without paying much attention to what you're reading?

Well, I usually read the Bible with my glasses on. Oh, that's not what you meant, is it? :laugh:

I will admit that when I come across geneologies and the like, that I skip over them. I used to read each and every name, but it seems to just distract me and I can't possibly remember them.

I think reading the version that you like best helps to keep your attention. I do not like the NIV, so for me it would be a chore to read from it. I also don't like study Bibles with a ton of notes because I tend to read them as much or more than the text itself. Plus, I want to understand without the aid of commentaries as much as possible.

 

[tinytim]

Good question...

I would like to know how to do it too....

I get distracted with doctrine.

 

[TCGreek]

Well, I usually read the Bible with my glasses on. Oh, that's not what you meant, is it? :laugh:

I will admit that when I come across geneologies and the like, that I skip over them. I used to read each and every name, but it seems to just distract me and I can't possibly remember them.

I think reading the version that you like best helps to keep your attention. I do not like the NIV, so for me it would be a chore to read from it. I also don't like study Bibles with a ton of notes because I tend to read them as much or more than the text itself. Plus, I want to understand without the aid of commentaries as much as possible.

Does skipping the names count as reading it through? I guess a plain text is best for that purpose.

 

[Helen]

When my children were at home, I read it out loud to them, about three chapters a day. Took about two years, then we would start over again. I skipped three things: the description of what was going on in Sodom, the driving of the tent peg through Sisera's temple, and the Song of Solomon. We did everything else and talked about it.

After they had left, Barry and I read out loud and discuss as well as the Bible Study he runs here on Wednesday nights. Took us about 1.5 years to get through Genesis in the Wednesday night studies. I think we are doing Exodus a little faster....:laugh:

Me alone -- The one time I read the Bible cover to cover by myself was not as good as when I read it for the kids or with Barry. Yes, I tended to 'skip' things -- or just read fast over them because I 'knew' it.

Having someone else to read to or to read with is a great help.

I do remember getting the Bible on tape once and doing housework while I listened. That was fascinating because I found myself thinking -- does it really say THAT? And, of course, it did.

You pick up something new, or something deeper, every time around.

 

[Amy.G]

Does skipping the names count as reading it through? I guess a plain text is best for that purpose.

Since the names are not part of doctrine, to me it's ok. Although, the geneology of Jesus is different. I like to read those names. I was really referring to OT geneologies and names of military personnel and the like.

 

[TCGreek]

When my children were at home, I read it out loud to them, about three chapters a day. Took about two years, then we would start over again. I skipped three things: the description of what was going on in Sodom, the driving of the tent peg through Sisera's temple, and the Song of Solomon. We did everything else and talked about it.

After they had left, Barry and I read out loud and discuss as well as the Bible Study he runs here on Wednesday nights. Took us about 1.5 years to get through Genesis in the Wednesday night studies. I think we are doing Exodus a little faster....:laugh:

Me alone -- The one time I read the Bible cover to cover by myself was not as good as when I read it for the kids or with Barry. Yes, I tended to 'skip' things -- or just read fast over them because I 'knew' it.

Having someone else to read to or to read with is a great help.

I do remember getting the Bible on tape once and doing housework while I listened. That was fascinating because I found myself thinking -- does it really say THAT? And, of course, it did.

You pick up something new, or something deeper, every time around.

I like that! Does skipping count as reading the whole Bible? I asked Amy this too. Well, she thinks it's ok. A sister is always right; I got that from my wife. raying:

 

[Amy.G]

I'll just add one more thing about skipping names. I think that what's most important is realizing why the names are there. They give validity to the stories because they are about real people and real history. IOW, they're not stories, but actual accounts of actual events. Geneologies and lists were very important to the Jewish people and were a part of their history.
I'm not trying to defend my position, just explaining why I skip the names.

 

[TCGreek]

I'll just add one more thing about skipping names. I think that what's most important is realizing why the names are there. They give validity to the stories because they are about real people and real history. IOW, they're not stories, but actual accounts of actual events. Geneologies and lists were very important to the Jewish people and were a part of their history.
I'm not trying to defend my position, just explaining why I skip the names.

But you must admit, That it's fun trying to pronounce those names.

 

[npetreley]

I used to read the New Testament from beginning to end. I used to read OT books individually, not in any special order. Now I read the whole Bible piecemeal, a few chapters here, a few chapters there, sometimes to look up or study something, sometimes just to read it.

 

[JamieinNH]

How do you read the Bible from cover to cover without losing focus and quitting? Does the version you use help? Is skipping over those difficult names, still considered reading the Bible through? Do you read through familiar stories quickly, without paying much attention to what you're reading?

Our church held a small group called The Bible in 90 days. You read about 12 pages per day, and then each week we meet and watched a 30-45 minute DVD that had a professor on it going over what we read. After that, we talked about what each of us got out of it and then starting again. In 88 days you will have read the whole Bible (they allow for skip days) and it was great!

One thing that it mentions and some people didn't pay attention for the first two weeks, and then changed and saw the difference. Either use the Bible they sell with the program (about $14 and it has the stop start pages marked already) or use a cheap Bible with no titles, no notes, nothing but the Bible. It makes you read it verse study it.

It's amazing what I saw as you read it like a book. The stories leaped out and seemed to really by tied together in ways I had never noticed before.

Get together a small group from the church and Give it a try!

Jamie

 

[JamieinNH]

I will admit that when I come across geneologies and the like, that I skip over them. I used to read each and every name, but it seems to just distract me and I can't possibly remember them.

While I was in the program The Bible in 90 days, I also have a audio verse of the the bible that is NIV and when I got to this type of verse/chapter I would listen to the Bible while reading along and that helped me understand the names and keep my focus on the story and the Bible itself.

Try it! It works great! Plus there are free audio Bibles online so you don't even have to buy one.

Jamie

 

[Gwyneth]

Until about 5=6 years ago I had never read the whole Bible through, since then I have done it every year with the help of Baptist Board. There is a Bible reading forum on here that has 4 readings per day for 25 days of every month, (this gives `catching up time` and `revision time`)in the remaining few days, and I follow that. There is a facility to ask questions , there is commentary and studies on the thread. I do, however still have problems stayin with the l-i-s-t-s. especially the very long ones in OT. But I seem to be getting better at going through them than I used to be. I need order in my reading or I will flit about and loose my way, this kind of `daily dosage` works wonders for me. And yes.....I do get something new to me each time I read through.
Gwyneth

 

[Tom Bryant]

I read through yearly with a new Bible (new translation also), underline, write notes and then give it to my daughters, nephews, sister and mother. As I read it helps to know who I am giving it to so I can read thinking of them, underlining verses that they might need or want to think about.

Recently, I have been using a harmony of the Gospels put together by Thomas and Gundry to reads through the Biblical biographies of Jesus chronologically.

I tend to be ADD so variety is a help for me.

 

[Plain Old Bill]

5 chapters a day takes about 30 minutes. It's like eating an elephant one bite at a time. Once I went on a tear to read the Bible through 100 times. It took less than 3 years and I read a lot.:godisgood:

 

[Aaron]

How do you read the Bible from cover to cover without losing focus and quitting?

It's just discipline.

Does the version you use help?

No. It doesn't matter how it's worded, a lot of it can be very boring.

Is skipping over those difficult names, still considered reading the Bible through?

Yes, since unless you pay special attention to the geneaologies, you forget them in five minuste.

Do you read through familiar stories quickly, without paying much attention to what you're reading?

I catch myself doing that often.

 

[pops]

reading the bible

I think if you are just starting out that it is important to read the bible completely through maybe the first two times. Afterward I generally skip over (skim) the genealogies in the OT. I can tell you one thing for sure don't bother trying to absorb much when you are under pain medication. I was on my back for a whole year and even though I 'read the bible' my retention left a LOT to be desired! So yes I read it completely how much I got out of it is questionable except you know you can not miss reading GODS word.
My normal reading pattern is: Three daily devotionals (The Daily Bread, Today in the Word, and Pathways to His Presence by Charles Stanley) Then I read a Expository commentary by my favorite author James Montgomery Boice, He is very detailed so I only read a half a chapter per day - currently on book two of Romans. When I get convicted to 'read through the Bible' I would start at the beginning and read one or two chapters per day in addition to the above. This is in addition to my 'casual' reading. All this takes time so that is one reason I normally get up at 5:00 and get started and am done be 7:00 - 7:30.
I know this is more than asked but ......

 

[TCGreek]

Getting up at 5 every morning to begin reading would be a dream come through for me.

 

[Servent]

On my computer I have the bible on line It reads it for you and you follow along, It helps a lot , I don't read that well anyway, thank goodness for spell check also.

 

[corndogggy]

I want to understand without the aid of commentaries as much as possible.

I'm not sure that is possible in this day in age. Too much meaning behind certain language has been lost to time.