In my early teens, I tried to read the letters of Paul in the New Testament. It was an embarrassing experience. I lacked the skills to follow his arguments, had no context for the letter, and didn’t understand the vocabulary. My reading interests at the time topped out at Sunday Comics and Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, which I forced my little brother to let me read to him. He never did thank me.
So, I am the last person to act like “Read your Bible!” is an easy ask. Many portions of Scripture are understandable to the average reader, but even Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, referred to some of the writings of “our beloved brother Paul” as “hard to understand.”[1] Thanks, Saint Pete, my 13 year old self feels better.
Even so, it is important for followers of Jesus to become students of Scripture. If you attend the right kind of church, you will learn some Bible. If you attend Sunday School, you will learn yet more. Nothing, however, replaces reading the Bible again and again.
Before you rush for a Bible to start your journey, I’d like to at least prepare you a little bit for what you’ll find there. It’s good to have your head on straight when starting.
The Bible breaks into two major pieces. The Old Testament and the New Testament. I hope I don’t have to say which comes first. Some of the material, though powerful to those who understand it, may freak you out a bit, or bore you to tears. Some needs informed discussion. I’ll post warnings.
The Old Testament has collections of creation stories, history, law, worship, wisdom, and Prophetic sermons, some of which predict the fulfillment of God’s salvation plan and tell people how they should think and act as they wait.
First we have “The Pentateuch,” which is a hoity-toity word for the first five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Genesis tells stories about creation (needs informed discussion, but reads fine), mankind’s sin, the flood, the tower of Babel, and the call of Abraham into covenant relationship with God… this sets the stage for God’s salvation plan. Genesis follows Abraham’s son Isaac, his son Jacob/Israel, and his 12 sons, especially Joseph, from the land promised to them by God into Egypt to escape a famine.
Exodus tells how Moses brings this group, called Hebrews and Israel, out of Egypt years later to prepare them for that Promised Land. It also details the new covenant that God makes with them which includes laws to live by (need informed discussion) and the construction of a place of worship (May bore to tears).
Their worship was a type of symbolic preaching. It revealed their need for salvation and God’s special provision for it. Thus, the book of Leviticus gives many details about how these sinful people could live in the presence of a Holy God (All warnings at once).
Numbers tells stories about the Israelites before they enter into the Promise Land (The first 10 chapters are challenging). Deuteronomy gives a second version of the Covenant and its laws just before they enter the Promised Land (needs informed discussion).
Then we have a series of history books. Joshua tells about Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land. Judges details the consequences of their struggle to keep their covenant with God. In the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, we find the stories of Israel under Kings from the rise of the first to the devastation under the last. In between, we meet great characters like David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and Josiah. The Book of Ruth, tells the wonderful story of David’s godly grandmother. (The first 9 chapters of Chronicles will bore to tears… all genealogy.)
Because of Israel’s disobedience God allows them to be conquered and carried to faraway places. But He brings some of them back to the Promised Land. The books of Esther (You will love it), Ezra & Nehemiah tell these stories.
Now, God sends the People of Israel many prophets to warn them about the consequences of their sin. Some prophets wrote books containing their messages and predictions. These are found in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentation, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. (If you read that out loud, breathe will you?!) Again, many of their predictions concern God’s future salvation through David’s son, and His judgment against sinful humanity. (Powerful, but hard on occasion)
In addition to these books, we have Psalms (a favorite for many) that records inspired worship and prayer. Many Psalms were written by Israel’s great Prophet king, David.
Some books, like Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, & Song of Solomon, are wisdom discussions that teaches how to live well. (Feel free to argue, you’re supposed to wrestle, but in the end, their right and your wrong)
Then we turn to the New Testament, where the promises of salvation are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell about Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and Church establishment. Luke goes on in Acts to tell the story of the early Church, focusing on specific men like Peter, Stephen, Philip, and Paul.
During those days, many issues forced Christian leaders to write letters. These letters, from Paul, Peter, James and Jude, both Jesus’ brothers, contain inspired messages to struggling people.
Finally, we find the Book of Revelation (Needs informed discussion). It’s written in a style called apocalyptic, which was common then, weird now. It uses symbols to preach powerful promises to a suffering and scared Church waiting for the return of Jesus Christ.
My advice, Read the Gospels and Acts. Read Psalms and wrestle through Proverbs. Make a plan to read cover to cover thereafter. Three chapters a day will finish the whole Bible in one year. If something puzzles you, or freaks you out, write down questions for your pastor.
~Andrew D. Sargent, PhD
[1] 2 Peter 3:16 in the New Testament.
