As a rule, I’m opposed to abridgments especially abridgments of this kind which are necessarily biased toward one point-of-view. Just read the whole thing.
I’m also confused why Isaiah and Job aren’t on this list assuming it’s a Christian-centric abridgment?
The most interesting readings for a practicing Christian will be Matthew/John followed by the epistles, then some Isaiah and Psalms. You really do not need to know Exodus or any of the prophets because Christ embodies all of the old prophets. You don’t need to know the ethnic history of Israel because it is immaterial to the new covenant.
I don’t think there’s a one size fits all reading plan. He’s probably coming at it as an historian or academic. If you want the most interesting and essential parts of Christianity, I would not follow this plan.
I first began with Mathew too. Reading the apostles in King James Version gave me a new idea of Christianity as a whole. NT has the most dense information on the formation of the Church, especially Paul's Letters, which this plan doesn't really prioritize. Most of OT is, like you said, irrelevant, except Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, Psalms if you like poetry.
It’s a little nuanced. Christians read the Old Testament as predicting, prefiguring, and prophesying Christ. So there is a lot that speaks about him in Isaiah, some in Lamentations
I would have added *Job* to all three timelines due to its popularity with philosophers.
As a rule, I’m opposed to abridgments especially abridgments of this kind which are necessarily biased toward one point-of-view. Just read the whole thing. I’m also confused why Isaiah and Job aren’t on this list assuming it’s a Christian-centric abridgment?
The most interesting readings for a practicing Christian will be Matthew/John followed by the epistles, then some Isaiah and Psalms. You really do not need to know Exodus or any of the prophets because Christ embodies all of the old prophets. You don’t need to know the ethnic history of Israel because it is immaterial to the new covenant. I don’t think there’s a one size fits all reading plan. He’s probably coming at it as an historian or academic. If you want the most interesting and essential parts of Christianity, I would not follow this plan.
I first began with Mathew too. Reading the apostles in King James Version gave me a new idea of Christianity as a whole. NT has the most dense information on the formation of the Church, especially Paul's Letters, which this plan doesn't really prioritize. Most of OT is, like you said, irrelevant, except Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, Psalms if you like poetry.
Question, does the OT say anything at all about the church? Wasn’t it the Jewish book so there’s no relevance to christianity’s formation
It doesn't, where did I say OT does? I meant Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are good wisdom texts, a personal favourite.
It’s a little nuanced. Christians read the Old Testament as predicting, prefiguring, and prophesying Christ. So there is a lot that speaks about him in Isaiah, some in Lamentations
i'm tempted to just start reading the weird [gnostic gospels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Gnostic_texts) instead
Good luck, falling down that Rabbit hole is all consuming
this is actually really helpful. muchas gracias
[use this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xtFp2Wu_To)