Iso secular Bible reading plan

[vafoodie]

Life-long goal is to read the Christian Bible. Can anyone recommend a reading plan that will help me understand it as a historical and literary work?

 

[braumeister]

I have enjoyed Bart Ehrman's writing. He's a very well respected Biblical scholar, despite being agnostic himself. Although he focuses on the New Testament, that obviously requires at least some discussion of the Old Testament as well.

https://www.bartdehrman.com/books-published/

 

[OldShooter]

Not books, but these guys may have something for you : https://www.thegreatcourses.com/search/Christianity Be a little careful though. Their list prices are a ripoff and their sale price discounts are huge. eBay is also a good source.

 

[savory]

I have enjoyed Bart Ehrman's writing. He's a very well respected Biblical scholar, despite being agnostic himself. Although he focuses on the New Testament, that obviously requires at least some discussion of the Old Testament as well.

https://www.bartdehrman.com/books-published/

I am also a fan. He help provide clarity for some of my questions.

 

[Involuntary Retiree]

Here is a link to a chronological Bible reading plan that I enjoyed going through a couple of years ago.


https://www.rolcc.net/engministry/images/chronological_bible reading_plan.pdf

 

[MC Rider]

Why not just pick up a copy and start reading?
OK, you need to figure out what version.
But after that I say start with Genesis. Although I used to like Revelations the best.
It was the most exciting.

 

[jimbee]

I agree with the Bart Ehrman recommendations. A few years ago I read his book, Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, and found it interesting.

 

[Involuntary Retiree]

Not sure why there are multiple recommendations to the OP, who requested a Bible reading plan, to instead read the works of an apparent sceptic to explain the unread Biblical text. Why shouldn't the OP actually read the text of the Bible critically (and, in my view, chronologically for the best context) and decide for him/herself? It's a difficult, challenging commitment that is potentially life-changing.

 

[Jerry1]

Why shouldn't the OP actually read the text of the Bible . . . It's a difficult, challenging commitment. . .

I was at my dads a few months ago and in talking with his wife, she said that as a young person (probably early twenties), she read the entire bible to a blind person. He paid her for the time, but could you imagine reading the entire book out loud? That would be a challenge for sure.

 

[travelover]

I didn't read the book but I saw the movie.

 

[MC Rider]

(and, in my view, chronologically for the best context) and decide for him/herself?

There's a few books in there, like after Exodus, that have a lot of "begatting" if you read the King James version. List of family names etc. Boring. You can skim over some of that.


But lots of Bible stories and parables have made there way into popular culture. Or something. There's some good stuff.


Not trying to go too far on religion. I was taken to church a lot when you. Don't go anymore.

 

[Involuntary Retiree]

There's a few books in there, like after Exodus, that have a lot of "begatting" if you read the King James version. List of family names etc. Boring. You can skim over some of that.


But lots of Bible stories and parables have made there way into popular culture. Or something. There's some good stuff.


Not trying to go too far on religion. I was taken to church a lot when you. Don't go anymore.

Well, as boring as they are, the "begats" constitute the Biblical historical record. It's hard to stay engaged while reading some texts, but if one has a plan, just stick to the plan to get to the good stuff.

 

[MC Rider]

Correction. Taken to church when young.



My plan was just skip to the good stuff. It's a long book. Or set of books.

 

[silvor]

Why not just pick up a copy and start reading?
OK, you need to figure out what version.
But after that I say start with Genesis. Although I used to like Revelations the best.
It was the most exciting.

NO.
If you’re new to reading the Bible, you can get lost (and bored) within the first few books.

I would recommend starting with the New Testament and getting the New International version. Reads well. Then go back with some of the Old Testament books.

 

[tfudtuckerpucker]

I've enjoyed some Yale Open Courses, like this one for the old testament (it's free). https://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/rlst-145

There's a thread about this on reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/acvyxv/reading_the_bible_for_literary_nonreligious/

 

[Involuntary Retiree]

I didn't read the book but I saw the movie.

The Book is always better than the movie!

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

Why shouldn't the OP actually read the text of the Bible critically (and, in my view, chronologically for the best context) and decide for him/herself?

Perhaps because the OP requested sources that "will help me understand it as a historical and literary work?" How can the text itself interpret itself as an historical work?

 

[zinger1457]

NO.
If you’re new to reading the Bible, you can get lost (and bored) within the first few books.

I would recommend starting with the New Testament and getting the New International version. Reads well. Then go back with some of the Old Testament books.

Probably not a bad idea, I started from page one (NIV Bible) and after a few hundred pages closed the book and never had any desire to reopen it.

 

[homestead]

I would recommend starting with the New Testament and getting the New International version. Reads well. Then go back with some of the Old Testament books.

+1

 

[Amethyst]

In my 30's, I managed to make it through the whole "modernized King James" version one and a half times (published in the 1950s, was lying around the house).

It was not as rough going as I expected, and eye-opening in terms of understanding the motivations of other Christians (e.g. fundamentalists) than myself.

I also read the Book of Mormon, given to me by somebody (a Mormon) at work. It was a very tough read. I don't think I finished it.

About 15-20 years ago I tackled the Koran. Did not finish it, but found many insights into the disagreements and correspondences between Muslims and Christians.

 

[RetireBy90]

I have read through a few times. Just finished Luke in the latest journey from the beginning. I was raised in the Church and was familiar with many of the stories. I would recommend starting with New Testament as has been suggested then moving to Old Testament. I normally set a number of chapters or a time say 30 minutes each morning. It can take some time in some books that don't flow like a story and I'll admit scanning quickly some of the family history lists. I would also recommend taking your time. I read New American Standard Bible (NASB) version which is easier to read for me. Have a good time reading and learning.

 

[mystang52]

Back in '72 or so I took a fantastic English college class "The Bible as Literature." The book we read, besides the Bible itself, was "The Dartmouth Bible." I don't know if it can still be found, but that would be perfect for the OP. I recall it would describe tales in the Bible along with historical background and alternate explanations for various miracles depicted in the Bible.
(as an aside, the Professor was an older African American woman, raised in Jim Crow South whose father was some sort of "Holy Roller" minister. Her passion made this a fascinating course).

 

[ERD50]

I didn't read the book but I saw the movie.

How's it end? -ERD50

 

[dixonge]

Life-long goal is to read the Christian Bible. Can anyone recommend a reading plan that will help me understand it as a historical and literary work?

As someone who has read the whole thing multiple times, I have to suggest that you adjust your goals and skip this one. I think you would be much better served reading other works which summarize and analyze it. Its historical references are nearly impossible to corroborate and frequently disproven. Its value as a literary work is more difficult to quantify, but again - get a separate book that can guide you to specific passages that you can then selectively read. Just reading it by itself would be painful and of limited value, IMHO.

I have not read it, but it looks like Isaac Asimov wrote a 2-volume guide. This blog post discusses it and another work or two. Might be a good place to start.

https://www.openculture.com/2019/03/isaac-asimovs-guide-to-the-bible.html

 

[Surewhitey]

A plan pdf can be found at https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/bible-study-tools/bible-reading-plan/.

The app allows you to download multiple translations (King James, Byington,
etc.) for clarification and links to other deeper information & visuals. The modern English study translation comes with a listening option.