Favorite Book of the Bible

[Dark Moon 965]

It's time we tried reviving the forum from this drought of nothing to talk about we seem to have entered. So I was randomly thinking of things and this particular idea came to me. Strange, I'm not even a Christian, agnostic deist or something like that, but why the hell not. I'm pretty sure a good number of us have actually read some books of the Bible, regardless of our religious affiliation/ no affiliation. So I've read a few and one book has always stuck out to me: Ecclesiastes. I read it about two months ago and it really resonated with me. The thought process it brings up is actually very interesting, partially because this book originated from Judaism, old testament, back when heaven wasn't really a big topic. Life was just more about helping your fellow man and giving thanks to god back then. The afterlife wasn't considered important/non existent. The message of this book is basically this. Also has probably one of my favorite quotes of all time in it: 

Parts of this book are also kind of odd, to me anyways, like they've been warped a little to serve the Church better, but the general underlying themes are still there.

 

So what is your favorite book out of the Bible?

 

 

Edited September 15, 2013 by Sky Chaser
tags

[Princess Periwinkle 3,775]

I'll have to go with Hebrews.

 

A few verses that stand out to me are:

 

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

 

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

 

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses..." Hebrews 4:15

 

Wow, that second one sure does hit home, but it only makes me more grateful for the third one.

Edited September 15, 2013 by Sky Chaser
I'm so OCD

[Hyper Tumble 1,483]

My favorite book has to be Proverbs. So many good things to live by. Or, it could be Judges, because the stories are so interesting.

[Zygen 6,066]

I dunno honestly, i mean I am a Christian, but i really don't read the bible a ton to be honest, and i'm not sure i've read enough to even begin to try and decide on my favorite book.

 

So i guess i don't have one currently(I know some Christian i am) I guess i'll come back when i get a favorite.

[Misty Shadow 7,940]

Leviticus and Deuteronomy for the win, man. 

 

I kid. Even though I'm not religious, my favorite book of the Old Testament when I was young was 2nd Kings, and my favorite book of the New Testament was Galatians. 

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

Revelations.  Whether taken as divine prophecy or the fevered hallucinations of a banished, lonely old man, its imagery is fascinating.

[Inactive01 5,299]

I remember someone saying that the Psalms really speak to the heart. It truly expresses many of the emotions Christians face as they travel in their walk with God.

 

As such, I find the Psalms to be an amazing source of comfort. I used Psalm 23 for comfort knowing that God is my shepherd even as I walk through the valleys of the shadow of death (*cough* MCAT *cough). 

[Planty 1,053]

I love Colossians at the moment (but all of the books written by Paul are amazing)

 

Fav verse is at the bottom of this post !

 

I love the whole bible though and think you can learn something from everything in it !

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,689]

I have not exactly read the entire books because I am an atheist, but point me to the one with the least amount of killing and most amount of just living life or being kind, there we go. I may not believe in any of the books, but I can still appreciate some of the sayings or stories, as I can with any story or mythology.

 

I really would have no clue on which one that would be though at this point. None of the research I have done has yet to point me to one I would really like even less be a favorite. Again, haven't read them fully but have done quite a bit of research on them.

[The Prime Reaper 180]

Revelations and Genesis. I would love to see how God's wrath destroy the sinners which making uncle Death is busy all the times.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Since I'm not exactly a bible and church kind of believer, I don't exactly have a favorite book, but I have a couple versus I am fond of for one reason or another.

 

 

 

John 3:16: For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

 

This one I like because it sounds cool, and it plays a role in the Highlander TVshow(In that universe the four horsemen were real and were actually ancient evil immortals)

 

Revelations 6:8: 

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

 

I don't know where it is, but David and Goliath as well(my dad used to read it to me all the time)

 

Also, I just found this on a wild hair looking up verses about not judging(I wonder how many times this sermon actually comes)

 

 

 

Luke 6:37: Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  

 

I almost forgot, here's the mother of all bible passages(with a page from one of my favorite web comics to show it off)

 

Edited September 16, 2013 by Shoboni

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

As such, I find the Psalms to be an amazing source of comfort. I used Psalm 23 for comfort knowing that God is my shepherd even as I walk through the valleys of the shadow of death (*cough* MCAT *cough). 

 

Plenty of people score well on the MCAT by studying alone, and no prayer.  Nobody passes by prayer alone, and no studying.

 

 

Revelations and Genesis. I would love to see how God's wrath destroy the sinners which making uncle Death is busy all the times.

 

Ummm....what's that now?  Why would anybody love to see God destroying anyone?  WTF, dude, seriously.  Also, what is "uncle Death"...I'm confused.

 

I almost forgot, here's the mother of all bible passages(with a page from one of my favorite web comics to show it off)

 

Who or what exactly is that guy fighting?  It seems like a lot of violence focused against something that isn't clearly defined.  Please elaborate.

[techno915 408]

sadly, i haven't been able to read much on my own, but i love Revelations. the imagery is what catches me, along with the symbolism. i just love it.

[Inactive01 5,299]

 

 

Plenty of people score well on the MCAT by studying alone, and no prayer.  Nobody passes by prayer alone, and no studying.

So are you implying that I never studied? I was nervous as hell before I started studying 3 months back and I still was when I took it. I needed God throughout the 300+ hours I studied. And you know what? Even more people do poorly even after they studied, so that's why the average score is 6 points below the minimum to get interviewed by medical schools.  :okiedokielokie:  

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

Plenty of people score well on the MCAT by studying alone, and no prayer.  Nobody passes by prayer alone, and no studying.

 

 

 

Ummm....what's that now?  Why would anybody love to see God destroying anyone?  WTF, dude, seriously.  Also, what is "uncle Death"...I'm confused.

 

 

Who or what exactly is that guy fighting?  It seems like a lot of violence focused against something that isn't clearly defined.  Please elaborate.

 

It's a army of evil, shadow, rat, things. It's hard to explain without reading the comic(or at least this story arc). The writer makes up a lot of his own mythology for his world. 

[GreyScholar 1,584]

I don't really have a favorite book of the Bible but I do greatly enjoy reading that of David slayer of Galiath, enemy of Saul, his best friend Saul's son Jonathan, and shepherd turned king (with all his good and bad choices). Then there is Joseph, son of David sold into slavery before rising to be the second most powerful man in Egypt,

Edited September 16, 2013 by EquestrianScholar

[Dusknight Haze 161]

Being a pseudo-Catholic, of which Catholics are known to not personally read the bible as much as other forms of Christianity, and not being a full one at that, I have read very little.

 

Of what I had read, Job was by far the most interesting and valuable of it all. The idea of a monotheistic religion that believed that God was only good to devote a whole book to the idea that the good and authentic of man can still suffer despite the machinations of God is pretty damn genius considering its great age.

Edited September 16, 2013 by Dusknight Haze

[Shanks 10,816]

I don't really have a particular favorite but Just throw in my good man JC and I am good to go. You look to the most positive affirming messages in the bible and quite a few of them were said by Jesus.

[MLPForums Phanact 1,374]

Ephesians 4:2 - With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.

 

John 8:7 - So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

 

1 Corinthians 10:31-32 - Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.

 

These are my favourite bible quotes as they preach nothing but love and tolerance towards ALL people which is what being a Christian should be about.

Edited September 16, 2013 by Ella.Smith

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

Of what I had read, Job was by far the most interesting and valuable of it all. The idea of a monotheistic religion that believed that God was only good to devote a whole book to the idea that the good and authentic of man can still suffer despite the machinations of God is pretty damn genius considering its great age.

 

Job is generally considered to be the oldest book of the Bible.  It's...interesting, for sure.  But the idea of God killing off Job's entire family, destroying everything he owns, and giving him terrible diseases -- just to show off his groveling servant to another super-being -- is petty and repugnant, not loving and wise.

[GreyScholar 1,584]

Job is generally considered to be the oldest book of the Bible. It's...interesting, for sure. But the idea of God killing off Job's entire family, destroying everything he owns, and giving him terrible diseases -- just to show off his groveling servant to another super-being -- is petty and repugnant, not loving and wise.

Actually wasn't God that did all that, it was Satan being allowed to do such by God to prove a point. That point was he trusted Job, and knew that no matter what happened he would not turn away from him.

 

You see Satan confronted God saying the only reason Job was faithful because he gave him everything, Satan felt that if he start taking stuff away from Job he would stop being faithful.

Edited September 16, 2013 by EquestrianScholar

[Dark Moon 965]

 

 

I have not exactly read the entire books because I am an atheist, but point me to the one with the least amount of killing and most amount of just living life or being kind, there we go. I may not believe in any of the books, but I can still appreciate some of the sayings or stories, as I can with any story or mythology. I really would have no clue on which one that would be though at this point. None of the research I have done has yet to point me to one I would really like even less be a favorite. Again, haven't read them fully but have done quite a bit of research on them.

 

Read Ecclesiastes, which if you read my post you'll know why. Very interesting message, even to those that aren't Christian, like myself. 

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

Actually wasn't God that did all that, it was Satan being allowed to do such by God to prove a point. That point was he trusted Job, and knew that no matter what happened he would not turn away from him.

 

You see Satan confronted God saying the only reason Job was faithful because he gave him everything, Satan felt that if he start taking stuff away from Job he would stop being faithful.

 

Right: God was totally fine with letting the guy's entire family get slaughtered...just to show off to Satan how loyal his servant was.  That's just messed up, and is a horrible lesson.  It basically teaches that even if you love God with all your heart, he still might do terrible things to you, just to settle an argument that has nothing to do with you.  Seriously messed up.

[Yellow Diamond 7,574]

I admit to being biased towards New Testament readings over Old Testament ones, simply due to familiarity. There are still a number of stories from the Old Testament which I do enjoy or find especially interesting:

 

- Jacob wrestling with God, earning him the name "Israel" ("he who wrestles/struggles with God") (Genesis 32).

- Many of the stories surrounding David (e.g., David vs. Goliath; the affair with Bathsheba; Solomon named king and brought into the city on a donkey).

- Psalm 22 ("My God, my God, why have your forsaken me"), the lines from which Jesus utters while on the cross in Mark and Matthew. The psalm's sentiments are beautiful, but it has been ripe for misinterpretation when spoken by Jesus, viz. Jesus was declaring God had abandoned him (I'm looking at you, Reimarus).

- The visions from Daniel 7, which put into context Jesus' references about the "Son of Man" as well as much of the Book of Revelation's content.

 

As for the New Testament...

 

A sampling of my favored readings from Mark:

- The rich young man (10:17-31). This is probably one of my favorite excerpts from the whole of the New Testament.

- Teaching on the sabbath (2:27).

- The sick woman who touches Jesus' garments to be healed (5:21-34).

- Jesus' identity and the nature of discipleship (8:27-38).

 

Numerous readings from Matthew and Luke. Suffice it to say that writing all of them down be a time consuming task. I might add them at a later date. They would briefly include the Annunciation, the Beatitudes, the "Lost Parables" (lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son), and Peter receiving the keys to the Kingdom. These are but samples.

 

From the Gospel of John:

- The prologue.

- The Wedding at Cana.

- The bread of life discourse from chapter 8.

- Jesus as the Good Shepherd (10:11-18).

- The Last Supper discourse.

- Jesus and Pilate's conversations.

 

Many of the epistles (I didn't forget Acts! Like Luke and Matthew, however, there are simply too many excerpts to choose in one sitting.):

- How the final judgment shall be allotted (Rom 2:5-11).

- The salvation of creation (Rom 8:18-25).

- Christianity as a stumbling block; God's foolishness vs. human wisdom (1 Cor 1:20-25).

- "Pauline Privilege" on marriage to a non-Christian (1 Cor 7:10-15).

- The Church as the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12).

- Faith, Hope, and Love (1 Cor 13).

- Paul's hymn in Philippians (2:6-11).

- God's desire for the world to be saved, and Christ as the mediator (1 Timothy 2:3-5).

- Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Heb 12:2).

- Faith and works in cooperation (James 2:14-26).

 

Book of Revelation:

- The woman clothed with the sun, with the moon at her feet, and crowned with 12 stars (Rev 12)

- The final judgment, frightening as it is, ending with the defeat of Death and evil (Rev 20:11-15).

- Jesus' promise to return at the end, and John of Patmos' (the believed writer of Revelation) supplication for Christ to return (Rev 22:12-21).

[Dusknight Haze 161]

Job is generally considered to be the oldest book of the Bible.  It's...interesting, for sure.  But the idea of God killing off Job's entire family, destroying everything he owns, and giving him terrible diseases -- just to show off his groveling servant to another super-being -- is petty and repugnant, not loving and wise.

 

Well I would suppose that the depiction has two layers: one of the original story and one of the context we can give it over time.

 

In the first depiction, Job, while a true servant of the God who casts and and invokes misery upon misery, still remains wholly in devotion even if given infinite reasons not to. Of course, he does "grovel", but the point of that is to show that he understands the might of the being that has granted him life and existence, and a pretty damn good one as far as materials go.

 

In the second depiction of Job the book and the person, we have come to both conclusions that A. Being of the old Testament and having no exposure to the mediation and eventual joyousness/splendor of the loving God that those who come later intend to appeal to, the God of old is more violent and "human" than the all-powerful, truly alien God that it becomes later on to those who lived in the days of the gospels, and even further down the line, to a God that to some people loves all beings even if cast in the shadow of God with no remorse, so there's a certain etiology of our understanding of what divinity is that Job can attest to.

 

and of course B. that Job was never really even perfectly righteous and always consumed with his materiality instead of the glory of existence he comes to later realize, and also never had faith in his sons and blood like he did with God, and thus may have "deserved" to have what was granted to him with little cost taken away, costing all that he had, until he learned to truly appreciate his existence and what had been granted him in whole.

 

Of course, I am not really a Christian, so my analysis may be too historical and textual and may not rely enough upon divinity and grace and all that jazz, but I would still allege that my points are at the very least, generally valid.

 

tl;dr God in Job is different than God in Gospels et al., and Job probably wasn't really all that grateful to begin with