The Bible is not a single document. It is a collection of documents, with a central theme, all and each Inspired by God's Holy Spirit.
In order to Understand and remember/internalize these one must read each as a separate document.
Chapters and verses are artificial bookmarks added to the scriptures 1000 or more years after the origins of the documents. (Psalms is the exception)
Chapter and verse numbers assist our study by providing us a simple way to refer to portions of Scripture, but are otherwise meaningless. In many cases Chapters actually break up concepts in the wrong places; and verses almost always chop up paragraphs, and often even splitting sentences.
I personally prefer a Bible that displays the text in normal paragraphs, adding in the verse numbers in small print.
That being said; I believe daily Bible study should stick to one book at a time (few of them are very long).
Some books need to be read in chronological order: Luke & Acts is a good example.
Some books parallel one another:
In order to Understand and remember/internalize these one must read each as a separate document.
Chapters and verses are artificial bookmarks added to the scriptures 1000 or more years after the origins of the documents. (Psalms is the exception)
Chapter and verse numbers assist our study by providing us a simple way to refer to portions of Scripture, but are otherwise meaningless. In many cases Chapters actually break up concepts in the wrong places; and verses almost always chop up paragraphs, and often even splitting sentences.
I personally prefer a Bible that displays the text in normal paragraphs, adding in the verse numbers in small print.
That being said; I believe daily Bible study should stick to one book at a time (few of them are very long).
Some books need to be read in chronological order: Luke & Acts is a good example.
Some books parallel one another:
the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark Luke & John in the New Testament;
in the Old Testament 1st & 2nd Chronicles (starting in 1st Chronicles 10) parallels: 1st & 2nd Samuel, 1st & 2nd Kings (BTW: The Jewish tradition names these 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Kings).
Each of the Non-Chronological books was written during or about the time frame covered by the Chronological books (2 exceptions). For example; many of Paul's letters to the various Churches were written during his various mission trips recorded in Acts, the rest were written from Rome, after his arrival recorded in Acts Chapter 28. In the Old Testament the various books of the Prophets were mostly written during the time frame of the chronology starting with 1st Kings.
Needless to say, I'm all for reading the entire Bible in One Year, or any other reasonable time frame. This concept offers a certain discipline to the reader.
For Bible in One Year plans that present the scriptures in a rational order look here: BlueLetterBible.org/ (Notice the options on the lower half of the page)
Of course there are other ways to study scripture; Word studies and subject studies are two examples.
I once had a copy of the Old Testament that showed a supposed date for the events and references in every Chapter.
There are also various charts that illustrate these relationships:
BibleStudy.org
BibleLights.com
BibleDiagrams.com
It is possible, using the Genealogies and various scriptural references to the passage of time to place the Fall of Adam and Eve at about 4000 years before the advent of our Lord.
I know there are documents tracing this. If you find one before I post it here, please send me a note: Pastor@MarkElliott.org.
Each of the Non-Chronological books was written during or about the time frame covered by the Chronological books (2 exceptions). For example; many of Paul's letters to the various Churches were written during his various mission trips recorded in Acts, the rest were written from Rome, after his arrival recorded in Acts Chapter 28. In the Old Testament the various books of the Prophets were mostly written during the time frame of the chronology starting with 1st Kings.
Needless to say, I'm all for reading the entire Bible in One Year, or any other reasonable time frame. This concept offers a certain discipline to the reader.
For Bible in One Year plans that present the scriptures in a rational order look here: BlueLetterBible.org/ (Notice the options on the lower half of the page)
Of course there are other ways to study scripture; Word studies and subject studies are two examples.
I once had a copy of the Old Testament that showed a supposed date for the events and references in every Chapter.
There are also various charts that illustrate these relationships:
BibleStudy.org
BibleLights.com
BibleDiagrams.com
It is possible, using the Genealogies and various scriptural references to the passage of time to place the Fall of Adam and Eve at about 4000 years before the advent of our Lord.
I know there are documents tracing this. If you find one before I post it here, please send me a note: Pastor@MarkElliott.org.
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