/lit/ - Literature

THE BIBLE

>>16153000
read the entire old testament twice, then read the new testament in chronological order (mark, matthew, luke, john)

>>16153025
>>16153036
What version of the bible do i start with? Everyone seems to fight over that.

Novels
>Dostoevsky in general
>Georges Bernanos in general

Non-novel (would say non-fiction but preemptively guarding myself against fedoras going all >non-fiction on me)
>The Bible
>Imitation of Christ (Thomas of Kemphis)
>Philothea (St. Francis of Sales)
>Catechism of St. Pius X
>Confessions (Augustine)
>City of God (Augustine)
>On the Sermon of the Mount (Augustine)

>>16153047
Just read the new revised standard version if you want a no-frills direct translation.

>>16153000
Start with the 4 Gospels, that's the core of the faith. The old testament is still important, but its the broader context for Christianity, Jesus's life is the substance.

Bible first. As an Orthodox I'd recommend you the same books that I've read in the same order:
Chasovnik (I've read it in old slavonic and I couldn't find any translation other than greek but maybe if you dig a little harder you'll find an english version) - it's a compilation of various stuff such as saying how the watch service (I think that's how it's called) should progress, important prayers, how to behave as a Christian, both in a church and in general and so on. It's a good starting point with the basics of Orthodoxism.
Psalter - it contains the Book of Psalms, chants from both testaments and some other stuff, not a necessary read but interesting nonetheless.
Everything else you'll most likely find in the Bible, so that one stands as essential.

Start with the Greeks. I'm not joking.

What's a good commentary? I've thought about buying the word on fire bible so I can read the interpretations of the text as I read

>>16153000
depends on how much knowledge you have about Christ already. give me a quick rundown on how much doctrine you know and i can help.

>>16153000
start going to the church duh

>>16153166
Don't listen to this actual retard, the teachings and life of Jesus (not to mention understanding his resurrection) requires a working knowledge of the OT.
Starting with the gospels is like reading the cliffnotes or skipping to the fight scene.

>>16153227
A Christian is supposed to read the OT in light of the NT though

>>16153227
yeah, thats why the apostles went around preaching the OT... oh wait

>>16153196
Don't tell him that because if he does that then he'll be really disappointed when he continues with the Jews.

>>16153000
/his/ history and humanities

>>16153036
>>>16153000 (OP)
>read the entire old testament twice, then read the new testament in chronological order (mark, matthew, luke, john)

Wrong

>>16153047
read the new testament first anon, and so you will understand the old testament, everything in the old testament pointed to the coming of the messiah who is Jesus. I say this because many end up reading the Old Testament first without having Jesus as their primary reference, and they leave with a wrong view of God. Study the life of Jesus and Paul's letters mainly, Paul explains in detail about the difference between the New Covenant established by Jesus and the old Covenant of the Jews. A thread would be needed for the discussion of these two sides.

>>16153268
>>16153280
The conversion strategies outlined in the letters after the gospels are not the teachings of Jesus, or any prophet for that matter, and do not reflect his intentions or desires.
Read the Bible in the order it was written in.

>>16153227
Basically this
>>16153405
Rereading the NT once you know the OT is beautiful. But OP is new to the faith and we should be trying to help him find Jesus. Everything else comes afterwards. We are not Jews; we may have sprung from their law, but Christ's death changed everything.

>>16153405
>I say this because many end up reading the Old Testament first without having Jesus as their primary reference, and they leave with a wrong view of God.
Reading God's word in the order He provided it cannot possibly give you a wrong view of God.
People who tell you not to do this are simply trying to shelter you from the harsher parts of the OT, which is a dishonest and unfaithful position.

>>16153000
The Pilgrim's Progress

Skim NT
OT
NT in detail
Skim back through OT and look out for how it sets up NT
Reread parts of NT as you see fit

>>16153460
>>>16153405
>Reading God's word in the order He provided it cannot possibly give you a wrong view of God.
>People who tell you not to do this are simply trying to shelter you from the harsher parts of the OT, which is a dishonest and unfaithful position.


Wrong, it can give a wrong view if the Christian does not have a knowledge of the character of Jesus that is the image of God Himself, another evidence that proves that OT alone can give a wrong view about God are the Atheists who constantly claim that God is evil, and they quote only OT verses, which say "God killed", the Jews suffering not because God punished them, but because of their own mistakes in deciding to disobey God, and as it is said in Romans 6: 23 and in Genesis 4: 7. Also, the organization of the Bible was done by men and not by an order from God Himself, this is seen when the validation of Christianity in the Roman empire with the emperor Constantine occurs.
I am not saying that the OP should not read the OT, quite the contrary he should, but he must know the differences between the New and the Old Alliance, so that he does not fall into multiple interpretations and be lost in the differences between the two Alliances.

>>16153000
Based parents

>>16154372
If jews were punished for deciding to disobey God, then it is even more valuable to start with the OT to avoid said punishment. You are approaching the Bible from the perspective of "the most comfortable way for a new convert to read it." That is not how it was intended.

>>16153000
Your parents did well. Church is pure braindead proselitism. You can learn more by yourself. Look for some Biblical Theology manuals and start with that. Different denominations have different ideas, but you can be above all that crap now that you don't attend any "church"

>>16154542
Beware the enemy's tricks. Faith without a church burns with a flickering flame, but a community of the faithful is like a bonfire. You may disagree with your chosen church, but without community OP will find it difficult to follow gods path.

>>16154400
>>16154542
they disavowed all religion though... I had to find god myself

>>16154720
then you didn't

>>16153000
>>claiming it would “brainwash” , “manipulate” , and “radicalize” me

It will thats why all amerimutts are retarded

>>16154520
It is necessary to recognize Jesus' sacrifice for us, which provided us with a closer relationship with God, not by law but by love and grace, we no longer need to sacrifice animals to be forgiven by God, we have the Holy Spirit that Jesus before returning to heaven, left with us so that as we were practicing his teachings we would be further away from sin (John 14:26).
The Jews sinned at times and suffered because of the consequences of their actions, and suffered, because as we sin, we turn away from God, and from his protection.
The Bible is not the rule book that says that if you do something that God told you to do, God will condemn you, God understands our problems and it is through your mercy that we are saved and not through your condemnation (Romans 4: 2 ).
I am saying that for the Christian, it is better to read the NT first, because he will understand about Jesus who is the image of God himself, and knowing the character of God through Jesus he will know the differences between OT and NT without entering in misinterpretations about the doctrine as many lay people end up falling when they start reading the Bible, it is essential to know Jesus so that this does not happen.

>>16153000
they did good for you, I hope that they didn't simply just fill in your head with another set of brainwashing and instead tried to let you have a clutterless mind before letting you venture on your own
you have the great opportunity to find truth without bias, whether you end up christian or not, not many have this opportunity
you're lucky

Sounds dumb, are you a gullible sort anon?

Charles Spurgeon
A. W. Tozer
Watchman Nee
St. Nicholas of Japan
Who is Jesus? Billy Graham Chicago 1971

>>16155786
Cope and Midwit garbage.

You want the hardcore stuff, go straight for the Sunday Sermons of St. Alphonsus Ligouri.

>>16155808
>midwit
>hardcore christianity
God is humble and meek in spirit, dunno why you wanna be so hardcore.

And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Luke 9:48-50

>>16153290
based

>>16155808
based
>>16155850
cringe.

>>16153000
Against the Galileans

>>16153000
If you’re really a complete beginner I’d recommend Mere Christianity by CS Lewis. Actually a lot of CS Lewis stuff is good for this
And of course read the New Testament

>>16153000
Plato and Aristotle, then the Catholic Bible, then the Saints.