The Bible - ?, page 1http:/

Originally posted by Dreamz
I may sound ignorant and to the most part I probably am. But I always wanted to read the bible and I have tried several times. I just don't articulate the points they try making in it. For the most part I am ignorant to alot of the teachings in the bible, yet consider myself fairly religious. I guess what I am trying to get at is, are there any good alternatives to read instead of the bible, meaning were translations are easier to comprehend, but still is telling you what the bible is trying to say. Also, what are the differances between old and new testament and king james version? If this doesnt make any sense, let me know. I will try to clarify more.

Merry Christmas Dreamz!

"And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" [3]

A lawyer was a Jew who studied and interpreted the law.
He was not like we understand lawyers to be today. They should have been men of character and high moral standing.
Many of them were, but too many were not. This lawyer was like the people Jesus referred to when He said: "But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." [4]
If you know this passage, from St. Luke's gospel, a sentence or so later, a lawyer told Jesus He was judging them too, and Our Lord said `yes, indeed'.

www.orthodox.net...

To read and understand the Bible on our own is pretty confusing for many....and many beleive that they can themselves interpret the passages in the Bible to how they see fit!
How wrong they must be!
We can understand the Bible if we truly seek to know it.....we have early Ancient Christianity that came from the Apostles themselves!
Jesus Christ chose them to teach us the way of the truth and to understand what is written the the Old and New Testament!

The Bible

The Orthodox believe that the Bible is the recorded history of God's relationship to man in human history, and man's response to God. The Orthodox also believe that the Bible was written by persons inspired by God and that it is the word of God.

The Orthodox recognize the Old Testament, New Testament and the Deuterocanonical books, as a source of her doctrine.
The worship services and prayers are based on the Holy Scriptures. In fact, there is not a worship service in the Church that does not read an excerpt from the Bible. Readings from both/either the Old and New Testament are done in each service.
Orthodox Christians are encouraged to read and study the Bible daily. However, interpreting the Bible is not left to the individual but to the Church.

www.orthodoxphotos.com...

www.orthodoxphotos.com...

www.orthodoxphotos.com...

Reading various books on the early fathers of the early centuries ,their life,prayers, fasting, and dedicating their time to show us what and how one should the Bible....

St Seraphim of Sarove was a great teacher of fath and works!
He lived in the forest dedicating his life to helping others and with prayer, fasting and solitude, gave his spirit away to the Lord.....
I have posted about him here at A.T.S
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Although we cannot be like St Seraphim of Sarov, we can learn many things to what a Christian is about, by reading their lives.....
Another great book is called....The Philokalia
www.digiserve.com...

www.christianity-books.com...

Philokalia means �love of the good� or �love of the beautiful.� It was the name given to a celebrated 18th-century collection of Greek patristic writings on Christian spiritual life, teaching the path to inner sobriety and the fullness of union with God.

The Philokalia is a collection of texts written between the fourth and fifteenth centuries by spiritual masters of the Orthodox Christian tradition.
First published in Greek in 1782, translated into Slavonic and later into Russian, The Philokalia has exercised an influence far greater than that of any book other than the Bible in the recent history of the Orthodox Church.
bellsouthpwp.net...

Later translated into the English language.

www.sainthermanpress.com...

www.pelagia.org...
another great informative site is here

www.rocorcafe.com...

www.onearthasinheaven.com...

take care Dreamz!
helen.....