Question:

I HEARD THAT THE BEST WAYTO READ THE BIBLE IS TO READ IT BOOK AFTER BOOK .
SO IT ISN’T RECOMMANDED TO READ BEGINING BY GENESIS AFTER READ JOHN AFTER
MATHEW AND EXODUS AND SO FORTH .THE BEST WAYTO READ IS READ GENESESIS
AFTER EXODUS AND LEVITICUS AND SO FORTH. I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY WE MUST
READ BIBLE THAT WAY.

Answer:

There is no correct or best way to read the Bible. Anyone who tells you
there is a correct way probably tends toward legalism. However, there is
some useful advice one can give on reading the Bible. First of all, I
assume that you will eventually read the entire Bible several times over.
This makes the issue of the order you read it in irrelevant!!! Let me
give you some suggestions for the first-time Bible reader:

1. Read whole books, rather that little sections or chapters. The first
time through, it is useful to get the feel for an entire book. Reading
sections out of context is not a good idea, at least in your first read.
Exceptions are with Proverbs and Psalms which are not intended to be read
from beginning to end. One can read a book of the Bible, followed by a
chapter or two of Proverbs, followed by another book of the Bible,
followed by a few of the Psalms, etc.

2. The NT only makes sense in light of the OT. In fact, the gospels were
written (except for Luke) to people whom the writer assumed had read the
Old Testament extensively. On the other hand, the OT is fulfilled in the
NT, so it should be read in the light of the NT. For this reason, there
is no “rule” about which should be read first or second. Probably reading
them together makes sense, but either way there is no rule.

3. I definitely do NOT suggest reading Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus……
The first time Bible reader will almost certainly get lost and not gain as
much from this. The OT was not written to be read in order. In fact, the
Jewish Bibles are in a very different order from ours anyway!!!

4. I suggest doing some NT, some OT, some more NT, some more OT, etc…
I suggest reading Genesis fairly early, as it is so important to
understanding the NT. I suggest putting the book of Acts fairly early on
your list, as it is in a sense the “heart” of the New Testament. I
suggest at least one of the gospels, probably John, to come very early in
your list.

Beyond that, I have no rules, except that you read the Bible with an open
heart and mind. Enjoy.

John Oakes