I vote for your first suggestion "In Defense of Reading the Boring Parts" because those parts are truly boring, ie Leviticus - Deuteronomy. It is a slog to get through. Does it count as reading it if you skim?
I too am also a huge fan of the Chronological Bible. I re-started it last year and finally made it past the Torah and am now in April (lol) and now it's the story of David and I appreciate how the repeated stories across 1/2 Samuel and 1/2 Chronicles are condensed in one narrative. The most amazing thing about the chronological format is how David's psalms are interspersed throughout the narrative. Reading about him trying to escape from Saul killing him, and then reading the exact psalm he wrote in the stressful moment and his relentless trust in God is just way more inspiring and epic.
Rooting for us all to make Bible reading a consistent daily habit in our lives! Thanks for inspiring us, Nicole <3
Yes!! The whole Psalms + David stories Mashup is the main reason I purchased my first chronological Bible years ago (c. 2007??).
And yeah, I love when there's like 2 whole pgs of a boring lineage from Genesis, followed by a line or two from Chronicles summing it up 😄 Chronicles had a better editor. It's like the Cliffs Notes for some of these passages.
Nicole, I love this idea. I'd like to add a suggestion of "in defense of..." for reading the whole Bible like a Complete Story. Contrasted with seeing the Bible as a collection of essays from different authors. This would be helpful as we see how our own lives (aka small story) fit into this "Larger Story." I look forward to reading your thoughts.
This is a great idea! I also think it's important to read each book as a whole story or book. Reading (or listening to) a whole book in one sitting is a different experience than reading a chapter or two at a time. This is one reason I prefer a chronological reading plan as opposed to plans that have you read a book from the OT, wisdom literature, Gospels and Epistles all on the same day. It makes it really hard to experience scripture as narrative that way.
Just starting a course on the OT and looking forward to it. Like you, after converting a little over 11 years ago, up until a couple years ago, my dedicated reading of Scripture really dropped off. I think a large part of it was the discovery of this huge, unbeknownst to me, treasure trove of Patristic writings (which I've still barely scratched the surface of!) as a convert from Protestantism. But a couple of years ago I returned to reading through the NT, which I've now done a few times. However, I've largely neglected the OT so I'm excited to dive back in, particularly now from an Orthodox perspective.
Nicole!! I am so here for this--this post, this topic, the "In Defense of..." series. YES!
I have been wrestling with this very issue, or rather a similar one--trying to settle on a good reading plan (or general approach?) for this year. I have benefited in the past from the Optina Elders Reading Plan, which involves a section from one of the Gospels alongside a section from Acts-Revelation each day, taking the reader through the entire New Testament four times over the course of a year. I love it... and I tried to start it this year... but then I got behind by January 3 (how embarrassing!). Realistically, though, I've got to figure out a rhythm that works for the toddler-mom life... so much of what would be my solo-devotional/study time gets completely eaten away by my two-year-old's requests to read Bible stories (!) (so, it's not like I'm not engaging with Scripture at all!?). But also... I miss the Old Testament, so maybe the Optina plan just isn't the one for me right now for that reason alone.
I studied both Greek and Hebrew a long long time ago, so I have the pleasure/torture/obligation/joy of trying to keep those up as best I can... Two years ago I read through the Greek NT over the course of a year. I have to admit I plowed through some sections of Paul's epistles without understanding much at all, but I was also pleasantly surprised at how well I could read some other sections. Last year I got reeeally ambitious and tried reading through the Psalms in both Hebrew AND Greek... It was fun, frustrating, humbling, and rewarding, but I ultimately crashed and burned sometime around October (after getting behind, getting okay with getting behind, and even allowing myself to skip around for a while...). So, that was probably a little too much!
I've started reading Daniel... just reading it, as much as I can any time I can, no schedule... an English translation of the Septuagint. Enjoying that so far. Not sure what I'll do next!
An oddly specific resource I have enjoyed & benefited from in recent years has been Wilda Gafney's Womanist Midrash. (Vol. 2 was a Christmas gift this year!) While I often find myself disagreeing with her, I deeply respect her approach and her robust, transparent scholarship. I learn a lot from her! I also LOVE The Hebrew Bible and Environmental Ethics by Mari Joerstad--another incredible scholar.
Wow, thank you for these wonderful resource recommendations! And your enthusiasm and encouragement 🥰 it's always a blessing!
So amazing that you are able to read Scripture in the biblical languages. Even though it takes time and energy you don't have currently, what an experience!
Speaking of time and energy constraints... Do you do audio at all? In previous years, when I've had commutes and in general less time in the mornings, I've benefitted from Fr. Alexis Kouri's podcast Daily Orthodox Scriptures. They restart it every year, and he goes through the whole Orthodox Bible (using the Orthodox Study Bible one-year reading plan, Google it), everyday with a mini devotional or thought from the Fathers. I didn't mention it in my post because it's not a chronological plan--it's like 1-2 chapters each from the OT, NT, and wisdom books. Which is great for some ppl, but atm it's not my preferred way to read (I do read Psalms and Proverbs multiple times throughout the year along with whatever else I'm doing for prayer times). Alternatively I think the Tyndale chronological Bible is available in audio form? Personally I have an audio Bible (The Listeners Bible, NIV) and I like having it there as an option for the busy days, or just to listen to passages throughout my day that I may have read in the morning. It's a diff way of reading and helps me process things in a different way than traditional reading.
All of this presupposes you do audio 🙃😄 which not everyone likes or enjoys. Maybe in a future post I'll float the question of how people with Littles and/or busier lives than I currently have manage to fit disciplines like this into their daily rhythms in a meaningful way.
Thanks for the recommendation! I can do audio these days, usually! I've started listening to Daily Orthodox Scriptures starting at January 1, even though that meant I was starting behind and am still "behind"--oh, well! I think just continuing is going to work better for me right now than trying to strictly follow a schedule. Thanks again! :)
Thank you. I grew up reading all of it. Such an incredible discipline. We have such great teaching on Scripture to put it all in perspective. How blessed we are. Keep reading… I mostly read the hours daily but often refer to the daily Scripture readings. That covers it all for me. Keep reading…
Because I am stuck in maccabees, I suggest, In Defense of the Maccabees, which should not have three books dedicated to the same accounting of these events 😅
Had to look up imprecatory. I love that there's a word for that specific thing! (And will leave it at that to pique the curiosity of any one who reads these comments 😆) I will add these to my list of possibilities, thanks!!
I giggled more than once reading this. But yes. I would love an "In Defense Of" series. I think it's a wonderful idea.
I've been listening to the Daily Orthodox Scriptures podcast for a few years, but i confess I'm not always attentive when it's playing. Part of me hopes if I'm close enough to the sound it'll just soak in.
I vote for your first suggestion "In Defense of Reading the Boring Parts" because those parts are truly boring, ie Leviticus - Deuteronomy. It is a slog to get through. Does it count as reading it if you skim?
I too am also a huge fan of the Chronological Bible. I re-started it last year and finally made it past the Torah and am now in April (lol) and now it's the story of David and I appreciate how the repeated stories across 1/2 Samuel and 1/2 Chronicles are condensed in one narrative. The most amazing thing about the chronological format is how David's psalms are interspersed throughout the narrative. Reading about him trying to escape from Saul killing him, and then reading the exact psalm he wrote in the stressful moment and his relentless trust in God is just way more inspiring and epic.
Rooting for us all to make Bible reading a consistent daily habit in our lives! Thanks for inspiring us, Nicole <3
Yes!! The whole Psalms + David stories Mashup is the main reason I purchased my first chronological Bible years ago (c. 2007??).
And yeah, I love when there's like 2 whole pgs of a boring lineage from Genesis, followed by a line or two from Chronicles summing it up 😄 Chronicles had a better editor. It's like the Cliffs Notes for some of these passages.
Nicole, I love this idea. I'd like to add a suggestion of "in defense of..." for reading the whole Bible like a Complete Story. Contrasted with seeing the Bible as a collection of essays from different authors. This would be helpful as we see how our own lives (aka small story) fit into this "Larger Story." I look forward to reading your thoughts.
This is a great idea! I also think it's important to read each book as a whole story or book. Reading (or listening to) a whole book in one sitting is a different experience than reading a chapter or two at a time. This is one reason I prefer a chronological reading plan as opposed to plans that have you read a book from the OT, wisdom literature, Gospels and Epistles all on the same day. It makes it really hard to experience scripture as narrative that way.
Just starting a course on the OT and looking forward to it. Like you, after converting a little over 11 years ago, up until a couple years ago, my dedicated reading of Scripture really dropped off. I think a large part of it was the discovery of this huge, unbeknownst to me, treasure trove of Patristic writings (which I've still barely scratched the surface of!) as a convert from Protestantism. But a couple of years ago I returned to reading through the NT, which I've now done a few times. However, I've largely neglected the OT so I'm excited to dive back in, particularly now from an Orthodox perspective.
Nicole!! I am so here for this--this post, this topic, the "In Defense of..." series. YES!
I have been wrestling with this very issue, or rather a similar one--trying to settle on a good reading plan (or general approach?) for this year. I have benefited in the past from the Optina Elders Reading Plan, which involves a section from one of the Gospels alongside a section from Acts-Revelation each day, taking the reader through the entire New Testament four times over the course of a year. I love it... and I tried to start it this year... but then I got behind by January 3 (how embarrassing!). Realistically, though, I've got to figure out a rhythm that works for the toddler-mom life... so much of what would be my solo-devotional/study time gets completely eaten away by my two-year-old's requests to read Bible stories (!) (so, it's not like I'm not engaging with Scripture at all!?). But also... I miss the Old Testament, so maybe the Optina plan just isn't the one for me right now for that reason alone.
I studied both Greek and Hebrew a long long time ago, so I have the pleasure/torture/obligation/joy of trying to keep those up as best I can... Two years ago I read through the Greek NT over the course of a year. I have to admit I plowed through some sections of Paul's epistles without understanding much at all, but I was also pleasantly surprised at how well I could read some other sections. Last year I got reeeally ambitious and tried reading through the Psalms in both Hebrew AND Greek... It was fun, frustrating, humbling, and rewarding, but I ultimately crashed and burned sometime around October (after getting behind, getting okay with getting behind, and even allowing myself to skip around for a while...). So, that was probably a little too much!
I've started reading Daniel... just reading it, as much as I can any time I can, no schedule... an English translation of the Septuagint. Enjoying that so far. Not sure what I'll do next!
An oddly specific resource I have enjoyed & benefited from in recent years has been Wilda Gafney's Womanist Midrash. (Vol. 2 was a Christmas gift this year!) While I often find myself disagreeing with her, I deeply respect her approach and her robust, transparent scholarship. I learn a lot from her! I also LOVE The Hebrew Bible and Environmental Ethics by Mari Joerstad--another incredible scholar.
Wow, thank you for these wonderful resource recommendations! And your enthusiasm and encouragement 🥰 it's always a blessing!
So amazing that you are able to read Scripture in the biblical languages. Even though it takes time and energy you don't have currently, what an experience!
Speaking of time and energy constraints... Do you do audio at all? In previous years, when I've had commutes and in general less time in the mornings, I've benefitted from Fr. Alexis Kouri's podcast Daily Orthodox Scriptures. They restart it every year, and he goes through the whole Orthodox Bible (using the Orthodox Study Bible one-year reading plan, Google it), everyday with a mini devotional or thought from the Fathers. I didn't mention it in my post because it's not a chronological plan--it's like 1-2 chapters each from the OT, NT, and wisdom books. Which is great for some ppl, but atm it's not my preferred way to read (I do read Psalms and Proverbs multiple times throughout the year along with whatever else I'm doing for prayer times). Alternatively I think the Tyndale chronological Bible is available in audio form? Personally I have an audio Bible (The Listeners Bible, NIV) and I like having it there as an option for the busy days, or just to listen to passages throughout my day that I may have read in the morning. It's a diff way of reading and helps me process things in a different way than traditional reading.
All of this presupposes you do audio 🙃😄 which not everyone likes or enjoys. Maybe in a future post I'll float the question of how people with Littles and/or busier lives than I currently have manage to fit disciplines like this into their daily rhythms in a meaningful way.
Thanks for the recommendation! I can do audio these days, usually! I've started listening to Daily Orthodox Scriptures starting at January 1, even though that meant I was starting behind and am still "behind"--oh, well! I think just continuing is going to work better for me right now than trying to strictly follow a schedule. Thanks again! :)
Thank you. I grew up reading all of it. Such an incredible discipline. We have such great teaching on Scripture to put it all in perspective. How blessed we are. Keep reading… I mostly read the hours daily but often refer to the daily Scripture readings. That covers it all for me. Keep reading…
Because I am stuck in maccabees, I suggest, In Defense of the Maccabees, which should not have three books dedicated to the same accounting of these events 😅
Do it, to help us pick up our Bibles too!!
I'd read any of those adjectives. Maybe also "confusing" and "contradictory" parts?
Yes! Confusing was on my list, bit contradictory wasn't! That's a good one.
Thank you for this post. You've inspired me to pick mine back up. Here's to making it past Deuteronomy for me this year :)
Let's do it, for the Israelites ❤️😆
For me:
In defense of reading the imprecatory parts
In defense of reading the scandalous parts (eg Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba - all who are in Matthew’s ’ genealogy of Jesus)
Had to look up imprecatory. I love that there's a word for that specific thing! (And will leave it at that to pique the curiosity of any one who reads these comments 😆) I will add these to my list of possibilities, thanks!!
I giggled more than once reading this. But yes. I would love an "In Defense Of" series. I think it's a wonderful idea.
I've been listening to the Daily Orthodox Scriptures podcast for a few years, but i confess I'm not always attentive when it's playing. Part of me hopes if I'm close enough to the sound it'll just soak in.