You can do something like Dr. Donald Knuth that appreciates reading the Bible as he stated in the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xArhSdnqTk&t=162s
If you have questions, I can try to help you (although I do not have all the answers, I will be happy to think about and try to find something interesting ). You can write to me by sending an email to marcoscleison.unit ___ gmail . Although I am busy (coding, condign coding, ...) I will be happy to receive your message. Good Luck!
A study bible will help with this. Also, read the Wikipedia page for each book of the Bible before you read that book. It will greatly help your understanding.
I am an atheist but have read the Bible extensively because it’s the foundation of western literature.
A "study Bible" has one purpose --- to sell you on the religion. It's like asking the salesperson about a used car.
The ancient people who wrote the Bible were scientifically illiterate and their writings prove it. As an example, they believed the earth was flat and the sky was a solid dome (the "firmament" per the KJV) that separated the "waters above" from the "waters below". This "sky dome" was held in awe as proof of god's power.
But not only did they believe this, they doubled down on it by trying to build a tower to reach the dome. And of course, god was offended by their ignorance and punished them.
Now check your study Bible for the completely modern, white washed reinterpretation of all this.
Are you, maybe, referring to those bizarre "modern translations" that have been spinning about for the past 20 or so years? Most of them really did manage to create an entirely new text almost completely divorced from their source material.
If you want to read the Bible to better understand your religion, find a study bible that approaches the subject from the perspective of your religion.
If you want to read the Bible as literature, it’s not too hard to filter out the proselytizing.
And yeah, we know that the Bible was written by scientifically illiterate people and modern organized religion isn’t much better. The question isn’t should I read the Bible but how.
Sorry you had a hard time in Christian day school.
Yes. They start with an assumption --- and then work to justify it --- ignoring anything that deviates --- like an unjust god that punishes ignorance and rewards deception.
I'm glad you had a good time in Christian day school.
Thus they why would help inform what are you expecting to get out of it. There’s a lot of room for interpretation in it and thus your presuppositions will show up in it, or the presuppositions of whoever is speaking/writing about it. I studies theology/philosophy for about 8 years and the thing about these fields is that at the end of the day it comes down to your choice. There’s of course “evidence” supporting one idea or another but when it comes to the Bible, and your opinion about it, it’s a choice. Hopefully an informed one but still a choice nonetheless.
The first 5 books of the Old Testament are the epic myths and early Jewish laws of the religion. This was written in ancient Hebrew and the Greeks called it the Pentateuch. Also keep in mind this comes entirely from oral tradition and was written much later after the formation of Hebrew writing.
After that comes the Old Testament books about early Israeli religious history. It was during this time that the early Jewish people conquered the lands of Canaan and took writing from the conquered people. It was also during this time that they were conquered by the Chaldeans (Neo Babylonians) and introduced to Zoroastrianism. The early Jewish faith may have been monotheistic, or moving in that direction, before this, but exposure to an organized monotheistic faith really sealed the deal.
After that are the various books about morality/judgement followed by a lineage of lesser prophets.
The New Testament was largely written in Ancient Greek. The New Testament is the Christian portion following the faith of Jesus Christ. He had 12 apostles that followed him walking around and formulating the early Christian faith. The chief among them would travel to Rome to spread the faith, but the early faith as written comes from the gospel of a few apostles speaking with people and from the travels of Paul.
Paul was a guy that encountered the early faith and wanting nothing to do with it. When Jesus died Paul experienced a spiritual revelation and traveled across Greece telling people about it. More important is that these travels and conversations were written down. Paul’s travels would become the bulk of the New Testament.