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Books: Favorite book of the Bible
This year as part of our daily devotions, my husband and I are striving to read the Bible in a year. (I’ve done so before, but that was many years ago, prior to college, marriage, and motherhood.) The undertaking is forcing me to read and ponder books that I otherwise tended to overlook in favor of my “favorites”–ones like Ruth, Philippians, and James. Now, though, I’m reading Old Testament books with new eyes and finding awesome nuggets in passages I don’t remember ever reading before. It’s quite possible I may have some new favorite Bible books by the end of the year.
How about you: What’s your favorite book of the Bible, and why?
Topic: Books, WorldMagBlog
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back to top45 Comments to “Books: Favorite book of the Bible”
Hebrews! It’s loaded with nuggets and it’s challenging, too.
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Gospel of Matthew.
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I have been studying Isaiah for several months now. It sheds a lot of light on how we should relate to God and our neighbors.
What got me started on it was my obtaining a copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls Bible, an English translation of those scrolls. I learned that the book of Isaiah was apparently the favorite and most studied book of Scripture of the people who compiled those scrolls. By then Israel was in a time of crisis with the Romans and the Jews were fervently looking for their Messiah, yet they did not recognize Him when He came. There seemed to be a lot of similarities between then and now.
So, I started studying Isaiah and it has been very profitable.
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I was also thinking of the Gospel of Matthew
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OT – Psalms and Proverbs and yes, Ruth & Isaiah
NT – Ephesians, Phillipians, Colossians
Our adult SS is going through the book of Hebrews. It is EXCELLENT.
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Revelation – In my opinion, it more clearly shows the divinity of Jesus and the character of God (patient, holy, righteous, merciful) than any other book.
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Hebrews. It’s tough going at spots, but so rich and so full of certainty that Christ has done it all. And convicting–the author of one of the hardest books in the Bible rebukes his readers because he can’t go into as much depth as he would like because they won’t understand it!
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Believe it or not, I like Ruth in the OT and Philemon in the NT.
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But, to quote Rev. Lovejoy on “The Simpsons” (though not for the same reasons/motivations), “It’s all good.”
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I wonder what Jesus’favorite book of the Bible is? I wonder if the trinity takes a poll?
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For me, it’s been Ecclesiastes for about as long as I can remember. There’s so much wisdom in that book, and it’s so often misunderstood.
My biggest frustration is finding someone willing to do a study/lesson/sermon on it that can actually do the book justice.
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This is difficult.
Of the gospels, I like John.
My favorite Pauline letter is Philippians, though I know Romans has more “substance” (for lack of a better word).
YOSHIYAHU, When I first attempted to become a Christian, I was a in the Air Force and knew nothing about the Bible, except that I ought to read it. I remember now, sitting on my bunk and reading “All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. …” And wondering what this was all about. It didn’t help much. I don’t blame Ecclesiastes for it, but I backslid pretty far. I have since taught the book, though it isn’t my favorite. Please don’t ask me about the “Song of Solomon”.
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I like Romans–it was the first book of Scripture I read from a Reformed view, and it deepened my faith and assurance.
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Chas, I think you and I are on the same page when it comes to Song of Solomon… I remember one of the first times I read any of it at a church camp and thinking, “That’s in the Bible?!”
Though I would agree that Ecclesiastes is difficult for new (and prospective) believers. And even some mature ones, for that matter.
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Genesis-Exodus, the Jahwist and Elohist Torah.
Why? Because of His mighty works and the words of His mouth!
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What is your favorite part of your body? Don’t the parts work together?
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Or how about this one? What part of the Bible have you neglected the most?
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Michael Martin – 3
I too love Isaiah. Have you been able to view the ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’ yet? We saw them in San Francisco at the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. When I viewed the ancient Scrolls I felt great joy as they had been preserved by GOD for us to see. We took my mother, it was a day I will never forget.
I love the books of John, Matthew, Hebrews, Revelation, and Psalms. It’s hard to give a favorite because the entire Bible is so rich. Paul’s letters are very important.
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Ecclesiastes. Makes you humble when you read it.
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De Young Museum? Donald De Young?
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Reg,
Since you ask, I like my eyes best so I can see the world around me and read and be amazed by the things of God. But then I like my ears best so I can hear the beauty of creation and listen to people talk. And then it is my fingers so I can pull weeds and paint outbuildings. Or my arms so I can hug my children. The list goes on and they do, indeed, all have a part. But there are times when one is more obviously useful than another and I believe that is the point of this exercise. How do the various parts of Scripture speak to you in the moment. That should change over a lifetime. It is all valueable and with your constant emphasis on the Psalms, I am delighted to hear that you do not just linger there but see value in the whole.
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REG, Good points. The books isolated don’t make a lot of sense. Same with needing both the Old and New Testaments together. Just for a wonderful story with much drama, I like Esther. For the bible in a nutshell, I like Romans. For comfort and ease of memorization, I like Psalms. I have more and more come to appreciate more sections of the bible than ever before. No matter how many times I read it, I find things I had never noticed before.
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In the Old Testament I like Daniel. But I like the historical part (chapters 1-6) best. I just amazes me that 4 boys so young had such a strong faith in such a heathen land. Must have been a very good upbringing and the friendship of these men as they got older must have been such a comfort to them so far from home.
In the new testament, like the Gospel of John, and in the epistles, I like Romans – so much meat there, and also Hebrews – more meat.
when I was crippled and in so much pain for 4 months with a herniated disc while my husband was deployed to the first Gulf War, I lived in the book of Job.
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REG – 20
M.H. DE YOUNG MUSEUM TIME LINE – San Francisco
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Klasco
I love the book of Job too.
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REG – 16
Good point!
Thanks
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I must say it is really hard to list a single favorite. I have found that my least favorites are Deuteronomy (2nd giving of the law) and I&II Chronicles (a repeat of the lists of the kings). And those are only in least favorite position because I read in consecutive book order. But I still find lots of nuggets in them.
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Revelation – it ties all the threads from all of the other books together, and marks the final triumph of the Lord.
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KRM – You know, when I studied The Revelation, I was apprehensive about the end times. I began a 2 year study on 9/11. (I arrived at church in time to hear that the first tower had been hit. I live in the DC area so that was a very interesting way to begin that particular study. Some of the ladies in the study had husbands who work at the Pentagon, nobody was injured from my church, Thank God.) What studying that book did for me was to give me a great peace that God is in charge of it all no matter what comes or when it comes. I think one of the belssings of studying it is the peace and absence of fear and apprehension. And there is so much to look forward to. It is the flesh on the bones of Daniel’s visions.
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Klasko
The peace GOD Almighty gives us when we are so needy is unforgettable. The fact you were in church, to study Revelation must have had a real impact on your life.
How did the women react as the news spread of the attack? What happened during that time in church between you and the others, did you pray constantly, I bet you did?
Have you ever though of writing about this experience, as it was in church on 9-11 with women who’s husbands were in the Pentagon, and the study of Revelation.
I think you have at the very least a real story to tell, and perhaps a short book –
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It is impossible for me to select one favorite. I like the Psalms for the depth of honest emotion and the exaltation of God. Revelation does sum up the Bible well. It is the revelation of Christ and is more than 90% allusion, reference and or citations of the the preceding Scriptures. It is also a rich source of praise worship.
Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and Proverbs are the books most quoted by Jesus and NT writers. Hebrews and Leviticus provide mutual clarification.
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John’s 1st epistle stands out for me because of its loving warmth, from its invitation to “have fellowship with us” in chapter 1, to “Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the sons of God.” in chapter 3, to “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” in chapter 4.
He addresses us as family (My little children), and dispenses lots of fatherly encouragement and wisdom.
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I read the Psalms to find out what is really happening in the world. The WOW news is interpretted through the Psalms.
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After I posted a NT favorite (Hebrews) I thought I really should have posted Old Testament as well:
Genesis because it tells us how it all started and makes sense of everything else.
Ecclesiastes because it’s beautiful and oh so relevant to lost souls today.
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I like Ruth, Esther, and Jonah for their plot structures. They are brilliant as literature.
I like the Gospel of John for its deeply spiritual and symbolic view of Jesus.
I like Proverbs and James for their wisdom.
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I suppose I’d have to say Ecclesiastes or Job. I have favorite passages in other books (Psalm 90 from the OT and John 11:25-26 from the NT), and if I had to be stuck with only a portion of the Bible for an extended period of time I’d pick one of the Gospels, probably Mark.
But in terms of enjoying a whole book for how it’s written as well as what it says, Job and Ecclesiastes top the list for me.
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I’m partial to Habakkuk in the O.T. and 2 Macabbees.
All kidding aside, Exodus in the O.T. and Ephesians in the new. Although I have found that when I do an in-depth study in any book it immediately becomes my favorite for the period I am studying it.
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I’ve got a friend whose favorite book in the Bible is the book they made into the movie, “Clash of the Titans.” This is not a joke. He confided this in all seriousness and I didn’t have the heart to correct him. Since then, I’ve learned that this cultural error is not uncommon.
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Victoria – I think my 9/11 experience might make a good short article, but I don’t know if there’s enought there for a book. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
I remember thinking, “What a horrible accident,” when I heard about the first tower. And then came the second tower and I immediately thought, “This was no accident.”
By the time the Pentagon was hit, we were about ready to start, and those whose husbands were in the Pentagon tried calling on cell phones. They couldn’t get through. One woman’s husband is a VA State policeman and she had to leave, because although he was off and taking care of their kids, he was called in to work. Some of the Pentagon wives left and went home too.
The rest of us decided to stay and pray and begin the study – it was the introductory lesson. So we left when we were through. We prayed afterwards as well I have to say, 9/11 was the lense through which we did that study. It gave us all a lot of food for thought.
My husband was at work at Ft. Belvoir. I tried calling him and couldn’t get through. All of the phone circuits were busy (cell and landlines too). I took a less congested roundabout way home because traffic on the major arteries was a nightmare. I also stopped by the nearest grocery store to pick up some supplies on the way home because I figured we’d be in crisis mode for a few days.
My husband made it through traffic and got home before I did, and since he couldn’t call me, he was pretty upset with me that I didn’t come straight home and he didn’t know where I was. (I thought staying and praying was a pretty good plan.) He was worried.
Our son was in high school locked down. He didn’t get home until very late in the day. Our daughter was in college , about 2 hours away. We could not manke calls in or out of the metro DC area. It was about 2PM before my aunt and uncle got thorugh and I passed information through them to the rest of the family. One of the family members was able to get through to her. It was the next day before we could call out.
We pretty much holed up at home for a couple of days, glued to the TV.
One of our neighbors who was a colleague of my husband’s came over and the two of them just cried together. These are a couple of cold, steely eyed retired SF guys. That was quite moving.
After the stories started coming out, I can’t tell you how many “I wasn’t there because…” stories came from friends, colleagues and brothers and sisters in Christ who should have been there but weren’t. I saw so much of God’s grace. Things could have been so much worse than they were.
I cried the first time I saw the Pentagon afterwards.
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Klasko
You my dear friend have something to write about, its not a story, its REAL LIFE. That’s what makes it different, and that’s what I read reading your discription from the beginning.
I hope you pray about this, and ask GOD how HE might use this time until now, how this has affected you and those around you.
I don’t think you realize the talent you have been given, you are gifted as a writer.
My husband just read your post, and he agree’s you are gifted —– his comment after I said, “she’s gifted?” —– answer, “very much so” -
God bless you
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Victoria – will you email me at kmlask@verizon.net ? I want to tell you something that I don’t want to put on the blog.
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KLasko, I used to live in Annandale and have a sister in Bethesda (but I was already living in Hendersonville). Soon after the 9/11 event, she called in a panic. I had to remind her that Bethesda, Annandale and Hendersonville are not terrorist targets.
Scroop Moth: A woman once asked me, “In which book of the Bible is the story of Spartica told?”
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My favorite misconception story is the little boy who said his favorite Bible story is the one about the guy that loafs and fishes.
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James, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter.
Short and sweet.
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Galatians is perhaps the most important book of the Bible. It launched the Reformation. It was Martin Luther’s favorite book. He called it “My Katarina” after his wife, his love.
Galatians is a mini-Romans which turns the law on its head and explains grace. That is the key to understanding the gospels.
Galatians provides the key for understanding the Old Testament in Gal 3:24,25, that the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. In other words, the law was temporary and every one of its precepts and peculiarities are illustrations about the Messiah, the Messiah to come.
Galatians changed my life, from being a miserable self-righteous follower of rules to a lover of Christ. The gospel is not about me and what I have done or need to do, it is about Christ and what he has done for us all. All glory and honor are his.
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