Where to start reading the Bible?

[Anonymous]

As a lukewarm catholic, I have been looking to convert to Christianity, a friend suggested I read through some of psalms, all of Ephesians, what do y’all suggest?

[msmissydc]

So, the New Testament is probably what you should read if you want to stay Christian.
The numerals are for when you want to start becoming a knowing Christian hypocrite.
At the start, when you want to go to war with the church, and at the Apocrypha, when you want the good stuff that's actually fun to read, like a fantasy book, the stuff with dragons and heroes.

[strateguy632]

I disagree about psalms... Set aside ten minutes before bed. Read a few minutes a story about jesus, STARTING from matthew chapter 8, and then a few minutes the main ideas of faith... STARTING in book romans chapter 8 to 12 just read a bit each day, due to complex ideas... If you agree and accept the ideas in romans chapters 8 to 12 you are ready to convert by rereading book romans chapter 10, verses 8 to 13 and that is the "conversion" of faith.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

I found it fascinating to look at the Bible translations and interpretations compared, as it explained why there are Christians, Christians and Christians or C h r i s t i a n s.

https://www.biblegateway.com/

[sean1234]

Start from the beginning and read it literally WITHOUT the traditions and false doctrine of the Catholic church. Oh and by the way, I had a good 7th day Saturday Sabbath and inte. d to work on Sunday as usual.

[sean1234]

Top 10 Catholic Practices Critics Say Contradict the Bible

1. 📖 Scripture + Tradition
Catholics place Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium alongside Scripture. Critics cite Mark 7:13, warning against nullifying God’s Word with tradition.

2. 🙏 Praying to Mary and Saints
Catholicism teaches saintly intercession. Critics point to 1 Timothy 2:5: “One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

3. 🕯️ Use of Statues and Images
Catholics venerate images. Critics argue Exodus 20:4–5 forbids making and bowing to graven images.

4. 🔥 Purgatory
Catholics believe in a post-death purification. Critics say Hebrews 9:27 teaches immediate judgment after death.

5. 🧎‍♂️ Confession to Priests
Catholics confess sins to priests. Critics cite 1 John 1:9, which teaches direct confession to God.

6. 🍞 Transubstantiation
Catholics believe the Eucharist becomes Christ’s body and blood. Critics interpret Luke 22:19 as symbolic: “Do this in remembrance of me.”

7. 👶 Infant Baptism
Catholics baptize infants to cleanse original sin. Critics cite Acts 2:38 and Romans 10:9, emphasizing belief and repentance before baptism.

8. 👑 Papal Infallibility
Catholics claim the Pope is infallible in doctrine. Critics point to Galatians 2:11, where Paul rebukes Peter, and Colossians 1:18, which names Christ as head of the Church.

9. 🧿 Faith + Works for Salvation
Catholics teach salvation involves both. Critics cite Ephesians 2:8–9: “By grace... not of works.”

10. 📿 Repetitive Prayer
Catholics use structured prayers like the Rosary. Critics reference Matthew 6:7, warning against “vain repetitions.”

[docster]

Since the 4 Gospels are somewhat repetitive, I would start in the New Testament with the Gospel of John and just keep going 'til the end.

[BCRanger10]

Just start at the beginning with Genesis. I started several months ago. Getting to the end of 2 Chronicles.

[DryGermanGuy]

As a Catholic, you are already Christian, of the largest Christian denomination.

[Asker]

In your opinion, would you say they differ? I ask this as my ex broke up with me over not converting to Christianity

[DryGermanGuy]

Do you read what I write? Catholics are a subgroup (the largest) of Christians! All Catholics are Christians. Not all Christians are Catholics. If you want to compare denominations, try the Protestants, as far as I know the second largest group after Catholics.

[sean1234]

The Catholic system isn't Christian because they read and translate the Bible through tradition. One might call it the Cathiloc Tradition and not the Catholic church.

[DryGermanGuy]

Wrong, and obviously so. I don't have the time or motivation to compensate for what you have seemed to miss in school.
en.wikipedia.org/.../List_of_Christian_denominations_by_number_of_members

[sean1234]

And how many of them in that graph run from the Holy Bible as if it literally has Ebola on it? Real Christians don't avoid the bible like the plague. ...

Oh and... oh this day Sunday, the 1st day of the work week, time everyone to get up early and go to your desk/farming/construction/retail etc...😃

[sean1234]

... job

[sean1234]

Better yet name all the Catholic traditions and find in the bible where they are. I find these questions funny because I know they are impossible to answer. The Catholic church is all tradition, just like the pharisees and saducees that had Jesus put on the cross.

[sean1234]

Top 10 Catholic Practices Critics Say Contradict the Bible

1. 📖 Scripture + Tradition
Catholics place Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium alongside Scripture. Critics cite Mark 7:13, warning against nullifying God’s Word with tradition.

2. 🙏 Praying to Mary and Saints
Catholicism teaches saintly intercession. Critics point to 1 Timothy 2:5: “One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

3. 🕯️ Use of Statues and Images
Catholics venerate images. Critics argue Exodus 20:4–5 forbids making and bowing to graven images.

4. 🔥 Purgatory
Catholics believe in a post-death purification. Critics say Hebrews 9:27 teaches immediate judgment after death.

5. 🧎‍♂️ Confession to Priests
Catholics confess sins to priests. Critics cite 1 John 1:9, which teaches direct confession to God.

6. 🍞 Transubstantiation
Catholics believe the Eucharist becomes Christ’s body and blood. Critics interpret Luke 22:19 as symbolic: “Do this in remembrance of me.”

7. 👶 Infant Baptism
Catholics baptize infants to cleanse original sin. Critics cite Acts 2:38 and Romans 10:9, emphasizing belief and repentance before baptism.

8. 👑 Papal Infallibility
Catholics claim the Pope is infallible in doctrine. Critics point to Galatians 2:11, where Paul rebukes Peter, and Colossians 1:18, which names Christ as head of the Church.

9. 🧿 Faith + Works for Salvation
Catholics teach salvation involves both. Critics cite Ephesians 2:8–9: “By grace... not of works.”

10. 📿 Repetitive Prayer
Catholics use structured prayers like the Rosary. Critics reference Matthew 6:7, warning against “vain repetitions.”

[DryGermanGuy]

I don’t even know what to say about your deranged idea of Catholics refusing the Bible. That’s not even anecdotal, that’s complete silliness. Here is the pope, head of the Catholic Church, asking everyone to have a Bible with them and reading it:

youtube.com/shorts/z5PkdBb3zSk?si=AFyE8PwtnM5ilxKV

[FunkyMonkee]

The part where Red's mother gives her the basket of goodies and tells her to take it to grandma on the other side of the forest.

[msmissydc]

Thats a different fairytale.

[FunkyMonkee]

@msmissydc Close enough for rock & roll.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

You could just read the whole thing 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Asker]

I think I will! Just wasn’t sure if there was a good starting point, yk?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Genesis 1:1 lol

[Simslover92]

Genesis.

[strateguy632]

It has some nice stories but also brutal stories.

[The-Stud]

John