Who has read the whole Bible?

[Irving]

So I like reading a lot, and have always wanted to read the Bible.
I'm not really religious, but I hesitate to say that because many people who say that they aren't religious have great disdain for religion and look for ways to contradict or insult it. That's not me. I'm reading the Bible because I want to, not to critique it. I just wanted to get that out of the way.

So, my lady got me a Bible for my birthday in mid June of last year. I've been reading it pretty regularly since then and am about half way through now (I just finished Job tonight and have arrived at Psalms). I knew it'd be difficult and kind of daunting, so I've kept it as my secondary reading. I basically read it between books and when I want something to read on my own (my wife and I have started reading books together, so instead of reading ahead, I read the Bible).

I actually switched Bibles after I spied a box full of books next to the dumpster after the neighborhood garage sale, and rescued a great student Bible. I like this student Bible much better than the first one. It has a bunch of different reading plans, lots of various commentary in little bubbles, full color maps in the back, plenty of footnotes for conversions and alternate translations, and a good index and lists of popular passages. I am more easily able to identify famous passages, for instance, when I was reading the other Bible, I read right through the part about Joseph and the Multicolored Coat without even realizing it.

There are a lot of things about the Bible that I wasn't expecting, mainly the difference in size between the Old and New Testaments, and that Jesus doesn't even come into the picture until the Old Testament. I'm really interested to read about all the angels and demons and stuff. There have been a few angels so far, and Satan showed up for the first time in Job. It's been a tough, but rewarding read so far.

Anyone ever read the whole thing before? I'm also not following any of the reading plans and am just reading it straight through. My favorite parts so far have been Judges, Job, and Samuel.

[sniper7]

I know growing up I read it a ton because of being involved in the church, but once sports got serious and took place on the weekends, church went to maybe twice a year around christmas and easter. Not really sure when the last time I went to church was, probably a couple years.
the bible was definitely something that helped keep me in line a bit and always had good life lessons to follow by that keep people honest, willing to help and try to live their lives really well.

[iamhunter]

I've read it through multiple times, but then again I am a believer.

Either way you look at it, as a piece of divine instruction, or as a piece of intelligent literature, it's a great read, and one I would recommend everyone read at least once.

I can't wait for you to get through psalms and let me know what you think.

To me, it was always one of the most riveting books of the bible.

There you have a man's (David) innermost thoughts and communication from thousands of years ago, spilled out onto a page.

It's fascinating stuff.

And believe it or not, the Old testament is chalk full of action, violence, sex, etc.
Not that it glamorizes those things, but it was about real people with real lives, and real issues.

And no matter how much the modern church often tries to suppress those inevitable facets of life,

they existed back then, and they still exist today.

[cowboykjohnson]

I've read most of it... not really in order but through church. I really enjoy it. It is a set of guidelines to help you get through things, and stories to put things into a good perspective. Very helpful in hard times.... I don't think you need to follow everything word by word to go to heaven or anything like that, but it sets you up to live an honest and decent life with good morals.

[Irving]

I really have enjoyed not having the burden of trying to "understand" anything/everything, or have to try and work it into how I live my life.

[Elhuero]

I've read it several times in two languages.

[MrPrena]

I've read it several times in two languages.

I read verses [almost] every week at church in two languages.

[tmckay2]

the bible is great but if you really want to understand some of the stories its good to have a good old commentary by your side. especially an indepth one as it will give you the background info, cultural information, etc. there are a lot of analogies, especially in the prophecies about jesus in the old testament, that are a little tricky to pick up unless you really think about it.

i agree its worth it for everyone to read once, even if you don't agree with the "religion" behind it. i am of course a christian, but i actually enjoy the history parts of the bible, as im a huge history buff and the bible has been shown time and time again to be historically accurate

[Tim K]

Been through it many times over the years. I'm a Christian, but I have some unusual beliefs about the book that make me a heretic in most believer's eyes.

To sum up very briefly, I think the Bible is a record of God's interaction with man up to about the second century. It is inspired by God in the sense that He gave inspiration to the men who wrote and compiled it. I don't think it's necessarily the word for word utterance of God, nor is it infallible.

I do think it gives insight into the nature and character of God and how He would like us to live better than any other source available. I highly recommend it. However, it's just a book, the instruction manual, if you like. What I really recommend is Jesus. He's the answer.

[roberth]

I have read it and while I was growing up it was read to me and I heard it every Sunday until I moved out when I was 18. I haven't read it since.