Five Reasons to Read The Bible

Many people read from The Bible.  Many Bible Study Classes and teachers spend an entire hour discussing just one passage.  Serveral organizations publish weekly or quarterly bible Study manuals.  Howerver, reading from The Bible is not the same as reading the entire Bible.  And that's important, because reading the entire Bible provides a perspective that reading passages can never accomplish.

Here are five reasons to read the entire Bible from front to back:

1. Get your questions answered:  OK.  Reading the Bible might not answer every question you have.  However, biblical issues you do have - no matter how deep in the subconscious - will be expressed in some way during your reading.  Is money the root of all evil?  You'll find that answer in the Bible.  Hint:  money is not the root of all evil.
2. General Biblical Knowledge:  Are you confused when you look at The Bible's table of contents?  There seems to be no coherent organization to the list of books.  As you read The Bible - especially a good Study Version - The organization will begin to flow and you will be able to discuss different books in The Bible with greater confidence.
3. Specific Biblical Knowledge:  The Bible is constantly part of public discourse.  Getting your facts straight will allow you to challenge idiots and keep from being fooled by con artists.  And you'll become a better Theologian.  C. I. Scolfield commented that, "Everyone is a theologian because everyone has an opinion about God."  Having specific knowledge will improve your theological skill.
4. Come closer to understanding God:  Sure, no one ever knows completely what God is planning or thinking.  But you will begin to see storylines and recurring themes played out over generations - even hundreds of years.  Viewing history on this scale will change your views on some topics and help you understand your place in God's universe.
5. Chellenge your faith:  This is where your friends might try to stop you.  Strange as it seems, atheists are afraid you'll convert and church-goers are afraid you'll run away.  Why?  Most people's view of The Bible is really very shallow.  If you are an atheist, you will be confronted with moments of unbelievable compassion that will only be explained by the existence of a loving, active God.  If you are a believer, you'll be confronted by serveral shocking incidences where it appears that God could not possibly exist.

Reading the entire Bible is not so daunting a task.  It can be done in one year.  Any Christian bookstore (or the internet) should have a reading schedule so that you can pace yourself.  My personal note is, once you get past Leviticus, Numbers, and Deutoronomy, it's all downhill from there.

Please let me know if you decide to read the entire Bible.  I'd be interested to hear your thoughts regarding issues as you meet them.

Sincerely,
Russell