If you remember back to the first of the year, I told you about my resolutions for the year. One of them was to finish reading the Bible. Well, I did it--I finally did it! I read it cover to cover, just as though it were any other book.
It was a powerful, interesting experience. I also have to say, it was the most challenging book I've ever read. The first five books--Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy--were fairly easy. But then it became a lot less like a "story," and therefore much more difficult to read.
The lists and chronicles were challenging, as were the Psalms. Reading the Bible book to book is very different than purposefully studying it, I discovered. I was relieved when the New Testament rolled around after the long hard climb of the Old Testament. Again, the first four books--the Gospels--were a fairly easy read. Then the "stories" gave way to letters, also not as easy to read as a straightforward story.
Reading it, it becomes quite obvious that it was never meant to be read in this fashion. This is not to say that I don't recommend reading it straight through. I do--and I think anyone who does so will find it an educational experience..
