5th complete reading of the Bible
(Started 08/26/05 - Finished 10/30/05)
I'm attempting a 20 chapter a day pace. That would put it at 60 days to complete the reading (there being 1,189 chapters in all). That requires a dedicated approach. This is my aim. (The AV1611 is being read.)
Completed in 66 days.
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth ISamuel IISamuel IKings IIKings IChronicles IIChronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans ICorinthians IICorinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians IThessalonians IIThessalonians ITimothy IITimothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James IPeter IIPeter IJohn IIJohn IIIJohn Jude Revelation
63 Comments:
Yes, and I tend to think in terms of chapters too. 1,189.
I just read Thackeray's Vanity Fair, in my edition almost 900 pages, in 18 days. (A theological text, that Vanity Fair. It is, afterall, an extensive field study of the human nature and phenomena of Bunyan's Vanity Fair...) So I am feeling my reading prowess currently.
I've read the Bible in 90 days or so, and I've taken a full year. It can, theoretically, be read in 70 hours (that's quite a CD narrator pace though; they don't get mental fatigue)...
But, in the spirit of my recent Vanity Fair reading I'm going to attempt a fast reading this time...
I am currently starting my 4th time through the Bible. It has taken me 29 years to get here.
Another tip I received from a friend is to read the Proverbs through in 30 days. Take a chapter a day for 30 days. Do this for a few months and you will be amazed at how God's wisdom starts popping up in your unconscious thoughts.
Have a blessed day!
That's an excellent suggestion.
I've thought of Proverbs as being so much like the most foundational knowledge and wisdom that they are almost similar to a simple traffic sign. Stop, go, danger. So primary and foundational that they are deceptive in what they are delivering.
(And of course the above can be said about any part of Holy Writ.)
Then I pondered (yes, pondered) that if you absorb them in all their deceptive simplicity and truly make them a part of you then they just 'may' become something much bigger than you think in spiritual 'realms' (afterall, when we die in Christ we are already in heaven, in the spirit; plus we are often confronted by the forces of darkness in temptation and what not while in the flesh) and even in the afterlife.
Imagine being in the spiritual realm in any sense and being confronted by the forces of darkness, yet you have inside you, in your essence, the proverbs (and actually ALL of Scripture) and it is your sword and armor and shield, and not only that, but it is how you navigate and discern the 'Way' in the confusion and chaos of the darkness...then you can see how having the Word of God in you is big and valuable...much better than gold and rubies and worldly kindgoms...
And the Book of Proverbs seems to contain many of these primary 'road signs'. Many of the proverbs seems sort of like "duh" to us now when we read them, yet in another context, in a spiritual context, their foundational meaning is the foundation of our real wisdom we carry with us and do battle with in the spiritual realms...
"Read the Bible complete, Genesis through Revelation, 7 times (or die in the effort). All other kinds of Bible reading and study will follow naturally (and more profitably) in the wake of those complete readings. It's a sound, practical, doable, foundational goal for all Christians."
From here.
You just have to see that complete readings are not the same as all the different kinds of Bible reading and study you can do.
I don't know how many times that needs to be written before it gets through. It's a rather basic point.
There is obviously a contrast in scale between much of the O.T. books (broad narrative, for instance) and the more closely composed doctrinal epistles (etc.)
But what complete readings gives you is foundational to any potential understanding of, for instance, Romans, in ways you just can't see or know until you get there.
This is about getting the whole of the Word of God into you. Also, the Bible delivers via a complete reading in ways that it can't via single book study. (These should be obvious points...)
As for speed reading: it requires a dedicated approach in time and effort for me to cover 20 chapters or more in a day.
Pyromaniac has a great post about the crybabies over at the BHT today. What an accurate characterization of fat boy Spencer and his little dildo crew. May the truth set you free Mr. Bar Tender. Can't handle the truth? Get out of the bar! Get's a little too hot when the focus is turned on your stupidity, doesn't it? This is great. We are laughing and you are crying. You poor little victim.
As I said before, whatever I've done to offend you, write me at michael@internetmonk.com and tell me specifically.
oh! look at the last comment. Steve Gentry ...I mean, Michael Spencer is back. Hmmmmmm! Who would waste any time sending you a personal e-mail when you don't take anything seriously Christian, serious! You mock God Michael, face the facts. Your sins are obvious before you.
Check out the Pyromaniac site. Did you notice that Michael Spencer and "Steve Gentry" are posting within minutes of each other on various websites. Nice try fat guy....we know your tricks. Hey, how's the diet going? Did you even get started with it yet. Should a person who calls himself a "pastor" (pretend pastor) be gluttonous and so overweight? Can you answer that one, clockweights?
Mr. Monk,
I don't care to comment at your website since it is really your fan site and it is believed that you remove most posts that disagree with you so to sway the reading audience (kind of like you did when you shut down comments at the BHT). Anyway, your recent piece at iMonk attempting to defend yourself in light of a large amount of criticism that you receive really misses the mark. It is good that you confess that your heart is not right toward James White and now Phil Johnson but that is just the deeper issue manifesting itself. You seem to be a very bitter person because you somehow were not successful in Reformed circles. It kind of reminds of a kid I knew in high school who hated jocks after he couldn't get on the football team. He became bitter and took it out on others. Your justifications for your behavior and attitudes toward those that Christ loves is no justification at all, you are simply wrong. The problem, I think, that most people have with you is that you have a very negative influence upon Christendom in general, not just Reformed Christianity. I may be wrong but it seems that you have much jealousy towards others who have been a little more successful than you have been. In reading you over the years I have noticed an unrest in your writing my recently depicted by your confessions of depression. I do not mean this rudely but it does seem that you are on a downward spiral and that is sad because you are a talented writer. It seems that you are somewhat antagonistic in your writing and this seems to be born out of your bitterness. Bitterness equals bondage and I would encourage you to do whatever it takes to free yourself from it. Grant forgiveness even when it is hard to do. Be honest with others and yourself especially about yourself. I feel sad for you because it seems as if you have so much potential but waste it and I do not mean that harshly. You do not necessarily have to call yourself "reformed" to satisfy me, "Christian" is just fine. But, you must bear the fruit of a true believer just like we all must. I do not believe that Phil Johnson or James White hate you or even dislike you. I think they dismiss you and that may always be the case, and you will just have to accept that. I think that they see your weaknesses because you reveal your weaknesses, even unintentionally. Both those mean seem to do well in not exposing theirs but I am sure that they have them. You have somehow chosen to allow the underlying theme of your blog to take shots at those men as well as others in Christianity even after you vowed to stop and do it again. I don't think any of this can be resolved and will only worsen if you do not resolve your feelings of bitterness and dislike for PJ and JW. I think that you will come out on the short end of the stick. I do not want to tell you how to run your blog but I think your Boar's Head Tavern needs some shaping up and some reforming (not in the "reformed" sense). I think the idea of a tavern is great but it would seem that so much more productive Christ like talk could come out of you guys and gals. I will tell you as a long time follower of you, I have grown disappointed in you but I still love you and hope to meet you personally someday when we call Heaven our home. I respectfully ask you to think about some of the things that I have written and try not to be hard hearted. You are a good man and have much to offer and I think great things are in store for you should you decide to resolve some of your underlying anxieties. If not, I believe the anxieties will only get worse.
The worst thing about an environment like the Boar's Head Tavern is the People's Republic of Berkeley inspired enforced thought-conformity, usually put forward as a call to civility. The enforcers are usually of the ironic "Mean people suck!" saint typology. (They miss the irony.)
This is a problem with Christian forums that is not isolated to the BHT only.
What is the glue that holds such environments together? The fear of man. ("Did I say the correct thing?" "Oh no, I fear I'm going to be accused of hate speech." "Or insensitivy. Incorrect insensitivity." "The moderator won't approve of this." Etc., etc.)
Here's an interesting proposal: iMonk, give James White, (or somebody of similar typology) posting status; they will be able to write whatever they are moved to write, and see how it effects your tavern.
Oh, wait a minute, I can see how that would go... 25 on 1 pack attacks with each of the 25 thinking they're being a lone warrior...
I gave Phil Johnson posting status two months ago. Ask him.
Josh was, for months, the only Lutheran in the Bar.
Tom is the only Campbellite in the bar.
PWinn was for many months the only Episcopalian in the bar.
JS is the only defender of the EO in the bar.
Michael,
I wrote the anonymous post right above C.T. regarding your most recent iMonk piece. I believe you when you say that you have given Phil Johnson posting status. I think that it would not be a terrible idea to extend that olive branch to James White although you may not be ready to do that immediatley.
I really do believe that bitterness places us all in bondage. My grandmother used to say that bitterness was "crueler than the grave". Only you know if a spirit of bitterness has set in your heart toward these and many other many (i.e. the "Truly Reformed"). Whatever you do, if it has indeed set in, forgive and free yourself from it. You are far too intelligent to allow it to hold you captive. Freely forgive and embrace these men as brothers.
"Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning,that we should love one another." I John 3:10,11
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love....Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another....If someone says, 'I love God,' yet hates is brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God, whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God MUST love his brother also." I John 4.
I encourage you today Monk. It is not about "being the bigger man" or "taking the high road". It is about being the better Christian and following the narrow road with Christ. Forgive and it shall be forgiven of you.
From a review of Dan Allender's book, "Bold Love."
"Forgiveness of others is a process worked in us by the Holy Spirit, not a once-and-for-all occurrence. Forgiving another does not mean forgetting the offense. When we forgive someone it should not be unconditional or one-sided: “Forgiveness is an invitation to reconciliation, not the blind, cheap granting of it.” The authors go so far as to say that without true repentance on the part of the offender, we should not grant forgiveness. So what is repentance? “Deep, heart-changing acknowledgment of sin and a radical redirection of life.” Glossing over sin and acting as if it never happened is not forgiveness, and is actually a refusal to love the one who has hurt you."
This is all pop-level, vain nonsense.
See in yourself what you find 'unforgivable' in others. Take the attitude that everything that happens to you is your fault, and is an opportunity to see in yourself something you are currently blind to. See all perceived insults or bad treatment or whatever - real or not - as a gift because it's an opportunity for awakening and developing.
Demanding others repent before you 'grant' them forgiveness is a recipe for staying intellectually, emotionally, and willfuly in the prison of the devil's kingdom.
Don't find ways to justify indulging resentment. Glorify God by manifesting God's-will gratitude over self-will resentment.
The burden of repentence is on the insulted and 'ill-treated'... Don't busy-body yourself about other people's need to repent.
One of the great, commanding attitudes in God's elect is:
God's will gratitude over self-will resentment.
So Michael... are you saying that that is the route you are choosing to take just because Dan Allender and co-authors suggest? I respectfully disagree. Their assessment does not seem to completely coincide with the commands of scripture. It seems that you are stubbornly refusing to recognize your own fault(s) in the matter. I don't mean this in a nasty way but you seem to be a little too sensitive to criticsm. I can say that as I recognize it because I am the same way. I have to choose to first forgive others and understand that I desire God's greater good for them. That sets me free and allows me to live joyfully. I have come to realize that I cannot change others, only God can. I do, however, have to work daily in allowing God to transform ME through His Word and prayer. It is me, it is me, it is me oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer.
...............isn't it funny how Mr. Spencer would rather follow the advice of a worldly psychologist than the God of the Bible. Show's his priorities. Spencer, get a clue.........Bold Love is not the bible.......hint.......hint!
I ran into a family emergency type of event that took up my time during much of the last several days and have gotten behind in my 20 chapter a day pace. Though I'm not behind due to having been ahead of my pace by 30-some chapters early on, though I've lost that margin now. This is why I've been on Deuteronomy forever now. A little example of how the world can pull one away from spiritual goals and activities. Yet, as stated, I'm not behind on my stated pace. I still have to read 20 chapters today, so... I have to now read...
From now on I won't make a book of the Bible crimson until it's been completely read. When I started this reading project I was reading alot and anticipating finishing books and making them crimson before hand, but interruptions of a worldly sort have me now scrambling to read only the stated pace of 20 chapters a day (I lost all my early extra chapters I had in the bank). So, when Judges turns crimson it means it has been read, not that I'm currently reading it but that it has been read.
Yes, I take my reading projects (especially when they are stated goals, and especially when they involve the Bible) seriously.
With the Bible it's actually not even merely 'reading'. It's engaging the very Word of God itself...
Alot of people - as we're seeing from all the carping post-Katrina - don't understand logistics...
Once you kill the population of a city you have to burn the bodies, for instance...
The Canaanites were people deserving of God's wrath. (We all are, but God gives pre-showings of second coming eventualities.) Just as the people of New Orleans and those gambling havens throughout that area. I mean, when your mayor gives a radio interview and sounds like an hysterical Snoop Doggy Dog whose ho's has just been stolen by a rival pimp you know an American city has been taken over fully by the Kingdom of the Devil.
And God bless Louis Armstrong, but I don't want to fly in or out of an airport named after Louis Armstrong. Name airports after engineers or generals or something. LaSalle International. That sounds right.
It's like naming an aircraft carrier after a movie star. There's a subverting of 'rightful place' (or something like that). There's no difference between Louis Armstrong and Bob Marley, when it comes down to it. Bob Marley International Airport? Jamaica would do that. We're not Jamaica.
???
This is day 11. 20 chapters a day equals 220 chapters. 220 chapters is through Judges 9.
You should adopt a more respectful approach when referring to the Word of God. There's not a book, not a chapter, not a verse, not a single word that doesn't carry meaning and understanding for a person who values that understanding and humbly meets the Word at its level. Not to mention there's not a person, place, thing, or event that occurs in Scripture that doesn't deliver meaning from God.
Having said that, I'm close to the end of ISamuel.
There's a virtue to reading Scripture in an intensive way (I don't say fast because I'm not really reading any faster than I'd normally read). 20 chapters a day requires a dedicated approach, and it keeps you in the Book without long breaks between reading sessions. The virtue in this is keeping the whole of Scripture in memory as you move along, among other things. Really, Scripture rewards zeal, any kind of practical zeal, in your approach to engaging it...
Not to mention there's not a person, place, thing, or event that occurs in Scripture that doesn't deliver meaning from God.
In what way does God deliver meaning from Scripture?
I mean to say, what is happening between God, the written word, and the reader?
The same way any written word delivers meaning to the reader. Only in the case of the Bible the written word is the actual Word of God. Living language. The Holy Spirit also plays a role in illumination of the Word. You read, you hear, God reveals, God instructs.
As to every person, place, thing, and event that occurs in Scripture having meaning, this should be obvious to any discerning reader of the Word of God...
You read, you hear, God reveals, God instructs.
What is God revealing? Is it subjective or objective or both?
As to every person, place, thing, and event that occurs in Scripture having meaning, this should be obvious to any discerning reader of the Word of God...
Please elaborate.
Why don't you spell out what you are getting at. I suspect you may want a more philosophical defense of something or other than I'm not willing nor have the patience to type out. I tend to not have a desire to complicate Scripture and the engaging of Scripture and what Scripture communicates and how it communicates.
It may be because I came to Scripture from a good time spent with the greatest, most inspired works the world has to offer. I tend not to care too much for the various meta philosophising that is engaged in by certain types because it's emptiness poured into a void. They are people who couldn't get anything from the Iliad or any of the classical historians anyway. They place a dense filter of their own inane vanity and intellectual pride (which usually consists of a two-digit I.Q. fueled by various modes of juvenile resentment and victimology) over any and every influence they get their worthless little hands on.
One thing God reveals - pounds into you, if you read His Word - is the fact of the existence of false idols. Read the history books of the Bible and see how perverse man is in chasing after and worshiping false idols. Then see how this language you find in the Word of God gives you a language to see the world about you and to see yourself. Enables you to see through the illusions and vanity of the Kingdom of Satan. This is one example. Not everybody catches on...
One thing God reveals - pounds into you, if you read His Word - is the fact of the existence of false idols. Read the history books of the Bible and see how perverse man is in chasing after and worshiping false idols. Then see how this language you find in the Word of God gives you a language to see the world about you and to see yourself. Enables you to see through the illusions and vanity of the Kingdom of Satan.
Yes, I believe that's right.
The history books concern the nation of Isreal which, of course, was the chosen people of God whom had received special revelation that other peoples had not received. In that context then, those people had a promise for something to be fulfilled and their idolatry was especially heinous.
Then as far as your application, the example of the Isrealites allows us to see idolatry in the world? Hmmm... that may be but I wonder if the partial fulfilment of those promises and the self-revelation of the Word tells us something greater?
How does the self-revealing Word divide history?
So your point is my one example doesn't cover all that Scripture communicates?
Listen, teacher. Your questions are a little too elliptic. State your point, or questions, clearly.
I guess I'm wondering what I should bring to the text. Should I observe it as neutral and observe it with an "objective" purpose.
Or should I bring some presuppositions along with me that will help "color" the text?
What should I expect from the text? Should I try and discern the great metaphysical attributes of God or should I be mainly concern with the ethical and moral implications?
Forgive me, but what you write is a case of 'overthinking' it.
Just read it. Every word. The first time a person reads the Bible complete not alot will be understood - or be clear - simply because the genres are too unique and foreign to anything we encounter in any other literature. The language as well.
Then the more time and effort one puts in the more becomes clear by degree. Things starts to come into focus.
Take a simple approach of just reading it. Like you would read a long novel. Even one you just want to 'get through' for the accomplishment of it.
Prior to reading the Bible I had pretty much memorized the Iliad and the Odyssey, so I had an advantage (there are similarities regarding aspects of sacred language and structure). Also the classical historians are close to Biblical genres in many ways. Even Greek and other ancient philosophy. Even the Greek dramatists. The first time you encounter the Greek dramatists you usually don't know what you are getting into. You have very little if any recognizable landmarks (I mean if you just pick one up and start reading). It's a strange genre. Choruses, &c. Initiating yourself by climbing the mountain of inspired world literature is obviously a rather good foundation for then going on to conquer the Bible.
But just read the Bible. Seeing things in it like you describe is really more the play between studying biblical and systematic theology and actually reading the Bible itself. It's best not to filter the Word of God to much if at all while you're reading it. You want to understand what you're reading, but you want to understand it at its level, or on its terms. Just take it in. Absorb it.
New Fall colors of this blog...
I feel like I'm a mile behind my schedule, yet I'm directly on schedule. I was going to read many more than twenty psalms a day to get some chapters in the bank prior to the ascent of the prophetical books, but maybe it was better to give the eyes a rest.
I keep having to check to see if I am on schedule because it feels like I havn't been reading for weeks. The intensiveness of reading 20 chapters a day for 20+ days to get through the history books make it seem like that...
Let me see... This is the 22nd. I started on the 26 of last month... Through today is 28 days. 28 X 20 = 560. The 560th chapter in the Bible is Psalm 82. (I guess I figured after getting through Chronicles at a 20 chapter a day pace I was going to read the wisdom books in about two minutes...
I'm not reading fast, by the way. I reading as I normally would, and I'm reading with attention to understand and maintain the whole in mind as I go along. So it's intensive, time-consuming reading, but not necessarily fast reading.
Of all the major divisions of the Bible the prophetic books are the last that I've read in a way where I've understood every passage as I read it. I may read them this time on e-sword so I can quickly reference obscure passages or deceptive shifts in narrative or speaker or the meaning of the various place names and so on used symbolically, &c.
I've put up a quote by the Geneva translators in the right hand margin of this blog. It's beautifully composed and worth memorizing...
[quote]Though I'm not behind due to having been ahead of my pace by 30-some chapters early on,[/quote]
So you cheated.
How did I 'cheat' if I read more than 20 chapters a day in the beginning?
You little goats with your accusing and your shaming; you just can't help yourselves, can you?
(This commentor came from a Roman Catholic site I've been posting on recently...)
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
geez, can't take a joke?
BTW, you're still ahead by ten chapters, so why the whining?
Why don't you read it and keep it to yourself. Unless you want to share some of that awe inspiring wisdom you've been spreading around the net lately. Who's gonna clean that up any way?
[i](when you come to the truth of biblical doctrine that makes no concessions to your vanity, worldly pride, and self-will or the demands of the world and the devil)[/i]
And this excludes your tremendous 5th bible reading how? Who is your god today?
The five solas and Doctrines of Grace make no concessions to vanity, worldly pride, and self-will; or to the demands of the world and the devil.
RC doctrine, Arminian doctrine, doctrine that is man-centered rather than God-centered, doctrine that refuses to accept God and His Word on God's terms, demand to, in effect, worship their own 'god'.
You're currently in the nebulous mush intellectually and emotionally regarding the Bible people live in who don't yet know on-the-mark, apostolic biblical doctrine, and who can't yet see it or accept it.
Mocking the effort to read the Bible is also a trait of one who is still in the darkness, a prisoner to the devil and his kingdom...
I'm not mocking your effort. I actually admire it. I just think you should take it off your sleeve. You're acting like a person who fasts and walks around with torn clothes moaning that you're hungry.
Nebulous mush...hmmm...I'm rubber, you're glue etc...
As I've written, when you post a project publically it creates incentive to make the effort to carry out the project to its finish. I've done this in other internet environments, and it's just practically useful to do. I've done it with difficult reads (Wealth of Nations, for instance) with other complete works type reads (Shakespeare), more recently I did it with Thackeray's Vanity Fair. It is being serious - and not the usual desultory and scattered - with your effort when you know what you have to do each day to meet your goal.
There obviously is an aspect as well where it is a challenge, just by default, to anyone who comes across it. Any Christian. So be it. People get defensive, but so be it. There's a reason when you get defensive about something.
On nebulous mush, a challenge: read the Bible and read a good Reformed systematic theology. Then consciously set your vanity, worldly pride, and self-will to the side, and recognize when they are demanding to take center stage again and influence what you are reading and learning, then consciously set them aside again. You'll find that apostlic biblical doctrine assaults one's vanity, worldly pride, and self-will, and it can only assault them. When you realize this and you take yourself out from under the control of those things then pure, apostolic biblical doctrine will potentially come into focus for you...
In what way is reading such a massive chunk of Scripture beneficial? Twenty chapters in one day, it seems to me, is simply too many to read prayerfully or thoughtfully enough to be efficacious.
I do 2 Bible-reading programs. One takes a year & consists of 2 chapters from the OT, one Psalm or a section of Proverbs or the Wisdom books, & 2 (or sometimes 3) chapters from the NT. The other uses only 14 of the "narrative" books of Scripture that lead one chronologically through Salvation History. Takes 3 month just to do those at about 4 chapters a day, at first. Then one can add the other books in & read them at the apporpriate time (eg, David's Psalms while reading about David, etc) for a better understanding of those works. As I read, I pray & meditate on passages. I'll even re-read sections, sometimes aloud, & take more time to think about them. I see no benefit in reading 20+ chapters a day.
Reading the Bible is not a race & one will earn a special place in Heaven if one has read it yea-many dozen times. We are called to be imitators of Christ, Who is the Word of God incarnate. We are to live the Gospels, not store up as many readings as we can.
My last complete reading took a full year. I don't put an absolute value on a fast reading...
Having said that: a fast reading (which is not really a 'fast' but a more time-intensive reading, i.e. I read just as fast but I read for more hours in a day) has its virtues.
For instance, in this current reading I am in the major prophets, while at the same time the books of Samuel and Kings are very fresh in my mind, and the interplay between those books and the prophets is of course organic (I guess I'll use that word); so my understanding of what I'm reading of the prophets is increased as I go along because it wasn't two weeks ago, if that, that I was in the midst of all the history of Samuel and Kings and Chronicles.
I don't call it a fast reading what I'm doing now, I call it a dedicated approach, where I dedicate most of my day to reading the Word of God. There are practical limitations (eye strain for one, but I'm intentionally reading a very large print edition and making sure I have optimal light on the page).
Basically, any complete reading of the Bible, whatever manner or speed or whatever, is potentially profitable.
One VERY profitable type of reading is the kind where you read a verse or passage and then turn away from the book and draw what you've just read into mind. And then even meditate upon the passage. But as I state over and over there are many kinds of Bible reading one has to do. It's just that people kick against the pricks when you bring up complete type reading.
The complete readings, though, are the necessary foundation for understanding. Understanding is: seeing the parts in relation to the whole. The only way you can get the 'whole', though, is to do complete readings, Genesis through Revelation.
Everybody always want to pit study of the 'parts' against 'taking in of the whole'. They compliment each other, but the fact is: the necessary complete readings require more discipline and dedication and time and, in a real way, effort. It's possible to study the 'parts' while still being desultory and scattered and 'on your own schedule' in your approach.
The complete readings make the single book studies more profitable in their wake in many, many ways. Ways you can't define. Obvious ways and not-so-obvious ways.
In this current complete reading I'm doing, with the stated aim I've given myself, I'm definitely not allowing myself to be on my own, usual, comfortable schedule.
I read 20 chapters (and often more to catch up now and again) and then the next day it's another 20 staring me in the face.
Some stretches of the Bible (like what I've been going through lately) require literally twice as much reading to complete the same amount of chapters. I got 20 chapters behind a few days ago, and had to read 30 two days in a row, in Isaiah and Jeremiah, where 30 chapters is like reading 50 in the other previous books.
I still read at the same pace and with attention and understanding. I just didn't do anything else.
But I'm reading with understanding. It's my fifth time through. That pays off. That's my whole point with the goal to read the Bible complete 7 times. You simply can't do it without understanding of it all developing. Nothing's automatic; a hardened fool can read the Bible a thousand times and never get real understanding of it, but if you have potential to begin with...
You don't believe everyone has "potential?"
No.
Reprobates manifest.
And there's nobody in hell who doesn't want to be there.
I'm behind, I'm behind, I'm behind... I'm in the homestretch, and I'm getting behind...
(The chapters are long in the Gospels...)
So when I get behind I remember that this aim requires a dedicated approach. I have to think of reading the Bible before I think of doing other things...
It's the same syndrome I got into with the Wisdom Books. After finishing the history books I assumed the wisdom books would take two minutes to read (not that I'm rushing through this, mind you, but reading the Bible complete in 60 days is reading the Bible complete in 60 days). Similarly once I'd gotten through the Himmalayan books of the prophets I assumed once I hit the terrain of the New Testament I'd be skating over the ice to the finish line... But... The chapters are l-o-n-g in the Gospels. For instance, to read 32 chapters (which is what I have to read today to get even) it equals 75 pages in my edition. 75 pages of the Bible in one day is ALOT, pilgrims. (Yes, I call you pilgrims. Yes, that's slightly belittling... No, I don't care.)
So... To the page I go...
I have to admit that sometime between Malachi and Matthew I lost my 20 chapter a day discipline.
I got behind, and now am hit with the incredibly long (compared to other books) chapters of the Gospels. Plus after 50+ days of reading so much day after day I obviously met my limit. I lost dedication and concentration on the aim and what it needed to be completed.
So... I'm actually still in Luke, but I'll finish it today. If I can finish in...70 days that at least will something. There's still a chance I can make up time in the epistles ("Oh, what's the point of rushing through the Bible!" Again, I'm not rushing, I'm just reading alot each day - or was - and this is called a 'complete reading', not a focused-study-on-a-single-book reading)...
It doesn't help that I got drawn into the lunatic world of victimized Jews and Star Trek video game NRO political pundits. (Look for a documentary to be made on PBS based on my hate crime email to Mr. 'JPod'. I won't be surprised if he rides it into a book contract as well. In fact, I may just have single-handedly lubed the Holocaust market for the next decade...
So, my sickness is now known to national proportions... Next step: the world...
ps- They're right, I'm not an 'evangelical' as that word is used by the people who rush to feed the victim till. I'm actually - aside from being an obvious nobody which is what the vast majority of God's elect are - just simply a real Christian. The devil's - and Jews and RC's and mainstream 'evangelicals' - nightmare.
I'm going to miss my 60-day mark for reading the Bible complete. You can't write on the internet as much as I have been and read what I had to read at the same time.
Yet, I only came up with the 60 day mark due to choosing the number 20 for number of chapters to read in a day. 20 divides into 1189 60 times. But if I were intentionally choosing a number I would never have chosen 60. It doesn't have a feel of a good number to it. For the 60ish range of days I'd have chosen 70. 7 is a number of completeness, it's the number of notes in an octave, etc. It's a good number for an aim. Obviously I fell off the 20 chapter a day pace back in Matthew.
Today is the 60th day, and I'm only through IICorinthians. (Not a bad pace as it goes! But not the pace of my aim.) My reformulated aim (or, my failed and limping to the finish line wounded aim) is to finish the Bible in 70 or less days.
What did me in was coming out of the books of the prophets (which took alot of discipline to read 20 a day in them) and then being hit with the long chapters of the Gospels (long in terms of numbers of verses and also in terms of length of verses). I literally just - ran - do...w.....n. (And felt bad because I was just then in the direct words of Jesus Himself yet I was counting pages and saying "these are d*** long chapters...what's going on with this?")
A serious aim would be a 40 day aim for reading the Bible complete.
70 is good too though.
I'll probably finish on day 63 or 64...
I'm just curious. When did you become a regenerate Christian?
Also- have you ever been to Washington, D.C.? It's a lovely town.
I'm just curious. When did you become a regenerate Christian?
To me this obviously happens in linear time (the birth to death linear time of your life), yet it has the feel of happening above time.
When it does happen and when you look back on it.
It was not a moment in time for me, but more a stage that I could see after I'd gone through it and could look back on it and see the difference between what was before it and what was now.
I was around 24 when it started.
Also- have you ever been to Washington, D.C.? It's a lovely town.
Probably, but I was too young at the time. My father graduated from two universities in the Washington, DC area.
But...so what. What is most important, pilgrims? Regeneration. Getting out of the Kingdom of Satan and into the Kingdom of God. Assaulting heaven. With zeal. Effectively, practically, assaulting heaven itself. Nothing else is more important.
It starts with getting the Living Word of God into you complete. It's a higher, living, visual language (and every other kind of language) that once you have it inside you (like a computer that has downloaded a complete program) you are able to see things in your yourself and in the world and above you that you couldn't see without the Living Language of the Bible being inside you.
Learn to count your days, pilgrims...starting now...
And the KJV is the pure program.
All others have bugs and missing components in them.
I see. Thanks a lot.
"I see."
If that's true it's a very big thing for you...
OK, any reading of Scripture is BIG. May I suggest also that Romans is called the cathedral of Holy Writ, and to see that you have to see it in relation to all of Scripture (seeing the parts in relation to the whole is a definition of understanding), and, beyond the complete readings Classical Covenant Theology, which is Calvinism, or, Reformed Theology, in its 'whole cosmos' presentation, gives you the foundation from eternity, and pillars which reach to celestial heights, and the deep, oceanic background of the complete, epic arc of the plan of redemption.
Classical Covenant Theology is not easy to get the measure of in a quick way, but once you do - assuming one has the ability to 'see' that the Spirit of Truth gives one - you begin to see the whole of redemption. This is the vision the magisterial reformers had in them, and indeed is the vision all of God's elect eventually acquire as the Spirit of Truth enables them and guides them in developing understanding of God's Word and biblical doctrine and themselves and the world and the devil and God Himself and all His Creation...
Here's the problem with recommending books having to do with hardcore, biblical doctrine and especially Covenant Theology.
Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little...
It requires real valuation for the subject matter and for the influences, and it requires real diligence to get at understanding of it all...to see it. A constant effort to keep zeroing in and also to see from a higher perspective.
The goal to see the parts in relation to the whole goes for doctrine as well as the Bible itself.
The Bible, though, doesn't give up understanding of it promiscuously, and it's the same with doctrine.
And in theology topics usually aren't separated out (or sifted) by weight, so you have to get a sense of it all and do that yourself.
Having said the above, if I were to recommend a book that covered - for anybody, an RC or Buddhist or atheist or whatever - Reformed (Covenant) Theology (which is Calvinism) a good, short, direct, well-written one of Grace Unknown by R. C. Sproul. This is a book that covers the basics of the five solas, the doctrines of grace, and the very basics of covenant theology. Grace Unknown is its old title (and the title you might more likely find in a library). It has been released in a new edition just this year though with a new title:
What Is Reformed Theology?: Understanding The Basics by R. C. Sproul.
It's the same book.
monergism.com is the be-all and end-all of Reformed Theology websites (a link site really).
Learning about Calvin and the reformers from a work of history (non-biased work of history) is a good way to go about it too, to begin with. The History and Character of Calvinism by John T. McNeill is one that is highly regarded, written by a non-Calvinist (and I've read some Calvinists quibble with him on his last chapter, but not the book overall).
Remember, I'm not trying to convert anyone. I can't convert anyone. Only God can regenerate and convert souls. Only the Spirit of Truth in a person can enable a person to see the truth...
The wealth of Covenant Theology is found in 17th century works. I mean, it's not a subject you can just get a quick take on. There are some 20th century works too, but if you don't have the basics they are advanced.
With pure biblical theology you are fighting your vanity, worldly pride, and self-will. I.e. those three things keep you from seeing the truth. Because pure theology is God centered. All other theology is, to varying degrees, man-centered. RC doctrine is man-centered.
Move in the direction of what assaults your vanity, worldly pride, and self-will. It's not just subjecting yourself to 'anything'. It's subjecting yourself to what is truly above you and is real, and only God - and the Word of God - is truly above you and is real. What created you is above you.
God and His Word is the only real Authority. Everything else is comfortable to vanity and pride and self-will.
Men - alive or dead - aren't above you and are not a threat to vanity, worldly pride, and self-will. Neither are the words of men.
The only real, practical, recommendation one can make along the lines of my last two comments above is this: read the Bible complete. The fact is you need the Spirit of Truth in you to be able to know the truth.
And you mention you see something in the subject of vanity, worldly pride, and self-will. The Word of God is the preeminent assaulter of vanity, worldly pride, and self-will. Just the act of reading the Bible complete is a continual challenge to your vanity, worldly pride, and self-will.
The time and effort it takes to read the Bible complete forces you to confront the myriad objections your carnal self (your vanity, worldly pride, and self-will) will make every step of the way.
The carnal self wars with the Spirit. The Spirit is in the Word of God.
Reading the Bible complete, just once even, is the foundation. There are no short cuts...
I ended up finishing my 5th complete reading of the Bible in 64 days. (I had written 62 thinking I'd zoom through Revelation that day, but I crashed.) So, it's official: 64 days.
The highlight this time was my understanding of the books of the prophets. This is because during my 4th complete reading I had a breakthrough in having the history books (Samuel, Kings) come into focus. (I am referring to 'whole' focus rather than getting understanding of this that or another part.) The key to understanding the prophets is having the history books in understanding and focus. Then you know what the heck the prophets are talking about, and you can then discern the meaning from the vehicle of the meaning, so to speak.
I've said it before: I'm talking about the kind of understanding that only comes from time and effort engaging actual Word of God. Reference works are useful, but they don't give this kind of understanding. They don't get the Word of God in your heart...
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