Okay, I’ve been reading the Bible pretty consistently since 1988. But here lately, starting on March 1st, I’ve been reading one chapter per day and then offering some comments, discussing translation choices, etc. I started at Genesis 1. As Julie Andrews said in The Sound of Music “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.”

I decided to read one chapter per day out loud and then offer discussion. There have been a few comments but no lengthy comment threads or debates in the discussion as of yet. The decision to record myself reading and then post online created some issues, however. Any modern translation is still covered by copyright. My translation of choice is the ESV but any modern translation has restrictions from the publisher on how much of the text you can reprint and even greater restrictions on how many verses you can read out loud. The KJV and ASV are in the public domain… but they are so old. Now if you prefer reading the King James that’s fine; the best Bible translation is the one you will actually read and plenty of people not only read King James but in many cases that is the only Bible they read and they feel very strongly about it. My only issue is that is not the language we speak on a daily basis. I believe everyone needs a Bible translation they can read in their first language.

So what I do is start with the KJV text and make adjustments. So far no one has come in with their spikes up and attacked me for creating some sort of biblical abomination or attempting to write Clark’s Bible Paraphrase. I change thee and thine to you and your. Most of the time modern translations are in agreement. For instance, the KJV uses the word firmament a few times in Genesis 1. The ESV, HCSB, NASB and NIV all use the word expanse instead. So I read expanse in place of firmament. The Bible says what the Bible says and translating the original texts into English – or any other language – does not change God’s Word. Feel free to read along in the translation of your choice; for the benefit of those who want to read along as they listen, I include the text I am reading in each post. At any rate, we can still talk about the people, places and events of the Bible narrative.

When I started reading Genesis 1 it was almost like an experiment. I think we have settled into a routine and I don’t anticipate any further changes to the format. You can begin at Genesis 1 or jump in at the beginning of Exodus. I just posted the first chapter this morning. J. Vernon McGee used to say it’s like riding a city bus; you can get on or off anywhere but it you stay on long enough you will get to every stop on the route. After Genesis and Exodus I plan to jump into the New Testament and read Matthew’s Gospel. Otherwise, at the rate we are going, it will be a couple of years before we get to any books in the New Testament. The plan, as of right now, is to alternate back and forth and ultimately finish the Old and New Testaments at about the same time. Oh, and it will take a little over three years to finish. We are not just ripping through it and trying to get done as quickly as possible; we are reading for understanding. We are studying the text, considering different translation choices, looking at the original languages in some cases and having a discussion. I talk about each chapter and what is going on but I would love to get your opinions and take your questions, even if I don’t immediately know the answers. We don’t have to agree on everything either but I think the discussion could be beneficial.

Here is a link to Genesis 1 if you want to start at the beginning. I went back a few days ago and listened to it again, it’s not that bad. But know that it does get better.

Here is a link to Exodus 1 if you want to hop on the bus after we finished building it.

Listen every day or pop in every now and then. You don’t have to listen to me read the Bible but I hope this project encourages people to read the Bible. We have more resources available to us than at any point in history but fewer people, including Christians… including pastors and Bible teachers… are reading the Bible than ever before. God wants to speak to us and hear from us. Don’t waste your days chasing after things that will not matter for all eternity.