I’ve read the Bible more than any other book.
Strictly speaking, The Bible has 66 books, but when I think of a book, I think of something that looks like a single book. And I probably read the Bible online (e.g. Bible Gateway) or listen to it nowadays more than reading a physical book. But I can’t think of any other book that has stayed with me for my whole life.
Even if I try to consider other books, I’d probably have read Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem more than any other, since I purchased it in 1995. And again, nowadays, I probably listen to it more. I’m a big fan of Audible.
What about fiction? Well, I don’t ever remember re-reading any novels. But we certainly rewatch TV series or movies that are based on novels. And I can’t single any out as the one that I watched most. But I’ll make a list of contenders:
- Room With a View
- Enchanted April
- Middlemarch
- Little Dorrit
- The Pallissers
- Bleak House
- Jeeves and Wooster
- Strumpet City
- Sharpe
- Inspector Morse
- Rumpole at the Bailey
- Jane Eyre
- Pride and Prejudice
- War and Peace
- Emma
- Sense and Sensibility
- Our Mutual Friend
- The Barchester Chronicles
- Cadfael
- Little House on the Praire
I’m sure that there are many more. And maybe I spent much time in some academic books too. But The Bible is the best – God’s Word. And it always feels fresh, particularly the New Testament. I have read the Old Testament, but different Bible books have different purposes. Some, such as Levitucus, are more use as reference books about Jewish civil and ceremonial laws.
And I would think that we should focus mainly on the New Testament and Psalms. I have read through the Old Testament, but a good approach nowadays would be to watch videos giving an overview of the individual books, such as BibleProject. Then scan or read the book itself as you see fit. It’s always my fear that someone will start reading the Bible with the Old Testament, find it tedious and abandon reading the Bible completely. So, I would suggest reading one of the gospels, and then reading through the rest of the New Testament to start with.
I would think that the majority of Jews and Christians down through the ages didn’t have direct access to the Bible. Many wouldn’t even have been able to read. But they were aware of the broad message – love God, love your neighbour, accept that you fall short and that you need a Saviour. The Old Testament predicted the coming of the Saviour, and it all happened in the New Testament.
Here is one of the verses where Jesus clearly endorsed the Bible, which was only the Old Testament at that stage:
Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
And here’s something that the Apostle Paul said about God’s word:
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
And I always like to close with a few hymns – these are about God’s word:
Hibernia Gospel 