I swear

you should not just "man up and do it" the replies that state this are off base.

Listen to good sermons, check the verses people are referencing. I didn't find an interest in reading the Bible until I had been a Christian for years. And even now "busting through the sermon on the mount" is a useless endeavor. Knowing what the meaning behind what the Bible says and why it says it where it does is imperative.

Read a translation you can understand well. Interpret everything you read in the Old and New Testaments through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Use a catechism for guidance. Read at your own pace as well - I find it edifying to read 5 chapters in the morning and 5 in the evening.
Of course, if you have a priest, listen to his sermons and don't hesitate to ask him for guidance, that's what he's there for.

Lot's of different authors, some were great writers, some terrible.

Ok Pelagius, chill out with your misinterpretation of James 2.

Daily reminder Pelagius was orthodox and wasn't himself Pelagian

Don't make me get Augustine out on you.

Based

So he could use his platonist sensibilities to misrepresent us to all history?

Implying orthodox aren't the most influenced by neo Platonism

That explains why you view of salvation is wack and unscriptural. I can actually give kudos to Catholics for having enough common sense to adopt his view on theology.

Darn. I edited and was going to add more.

But seeing that you now jumped the shark and doubt any standing with God on my part, I see that it was a waste of time.

And then you strangely flip the switch and now say Augustine was cool for adopting Neo-Platonism. Weird.

Orthodox here is not referring to the "eastern orthodox" dum dum
It means correct

What do you mean? I just like his writings on free will and grace.

I meant eastern orthodox

It's funny. The people who only depend on revelation from the scriptures are the "unscriptural" ones. But the people who adopted some queer's philosophy is the scriptural based one.

I can't wrap my head around this.

You're accusing Orthodox of being Platonist, while in the same breath, upholding the main Platonist in the Patristic tradition.

I know, that's your mistake
The claim "pelagius was orthodox" does not refer to "eastern orthodoxy"

I don't care much about any of Augustine's other writings. I literally just like his writings on free will and grace. also, I was referring to the Pseudo-Dionysian texts.

You think Cathodox are the most scriptural? I'd like to see you defend your beliefs.

I didn't say anything about Cathodox. I'm defending Orthodox (not Cathodox) from this silly notion that they're Platonists. They're far from it. Condemning Platonism is literally in the pronouncement of Anathemas. And it's everywhere in the Eastern Church Fathers. Just read them sometime, if you can.

St. Augustine is more the father/root of the Roman Catholic church. He's the Neo-Platonist, and barely mentioned in the East. Both RC's and many Reformers held him up high (especially Calvin). I have no interest in any of this. But the Neo-Platonic strain runs through here. It has no place in the East.

Quit reading the KJV, it's just as good as almost any other translation in the sense that it is the word of God. Try taking a look at CEV, NIV, or NCV translations for something that isn't in Shakespearean English.

Pelagious wasn't orthodox by Western or Eastern standards.
Saying he was a good Christian is like our frienfss at the church of East saying Nestorius isn't a nestorian.

This. Also here's a site with audio bibles
mobile.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/

...

just keep trying op

I have never seen anyone with an honest unbiased understanding of the Bible. Idk if it’s that they never actually read it or magical thinking and brainwashing. I hope you have better luck than them.

Attached: 42BD9754-2F90-4CFC-8FD8-942FF98ADA3B.jpeg (108x57, 7.97K)

Expecting lack of bias is the problem. The scriptures are supposed to have bias: It's about one people - those in covenant with God. And since Jesus, that's the Church. And the Church itself have been the stewards of the scriptures since. Assuming anyone else has the right to interpret it is what has produced so much chaos in biblical interpretation. That's the whole fault of Protestantism: That the individual alone is the important thing. Look where that's led the world.

Yep, I can see.
newser.com/story/263325/hundreds-of-pennsylvania-predator-priests-named.html
>A long-awaited grand jury reportexamining clergy sex abuse in Pennsylvania was released Tuesday, and it lists more than 300 "predator priests" accused of abusing more than 1,000 child victims over a period of seven decades. The almost 900-page report also has harsh words for Roman Catholic Church leadership, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer: "Priests were raping little boys and girls and the men of God who were responsible not only did nothing: They hid it all," it says.
>Some of the accounts included in the report are shocking, including one describing four priests who allegedly used whips and forced one victim to pose, naked, as Christ on the cross. Other accusations include a priest accused of raping and impregnating a teen, then helping her get an abortion; a priest accused of sexually abusing five sisters, including one who was abused from the age of 18 months to 12 years; a priest accused of keeping pubic hairs from his alleged victims; a victim who was forced to perform oral sex and then had his mouth washed out with holy water; and a victim who was forced to say confession to his alleged abuser. The grand jury did not recommend any new charges. Many of the offenses are beyond the state's statute of limitations, and grand jurors said they were "sick" over crimes going unpunished, the AP reports.

Attached: serveimage (38).jpeg (240x160, 38.32K)

Aside from listening to audiobooks I find the only way for me to read books is to read to myself semi-aloud not stopping to process each individual sentence unless it seems like something of particular interest. You can always examine individual verses later, and there's plenty of commentary and discussion around to answer a large amount of questions.

As others have asked, what translation are you using OP? I made the mistake of starting off with the KJV, seldom Googling language I didn't understand, and reading for long periods of time (e.g. the book of Genesis in 2 sittings). Naturally, I didn't digest information as well as I should have. I'd recommend you read no more than 2-3 chapters per sitting, meditate on what you just read, and maybe even wait a day before reading any further. Ideally, you'll come to accept that the Bible is not any old book that should be finished in less than a month; you will never cease reading, studying, or learning from it throughout the course of your life.

Attached: 133242.png (443x523, 242.1K)

The notes in Bibles, including Cathodox ones, are notoriously full of magical thinking and weird stuff (but some are SIGNIFICANTLY better than others.) And unfortunately even if you take someone like St. Augustine as an ultimate authority on scripture their works are not all encompassing and leave many questions unanswered. So even though the saints answer a few big things, in some parts you have to choose between magical thinking or personal interpretation. Even different translations lead you to different conclusions. When reading English Bibles my personal interpretation NEVER coincides with popular Christian opinion but when I read the Vulgate I come to conclusions that perfectly match the Catholic catechism. Maybe some languages are just better than others. With Latin being above English and personally guessing what’s mainstream being the worst form of religious interpretation.

This. Language is important. I can’t read Greek but I can read Latin and the Vulgate is vastly superior to English translations.

If you like the Vulgate you should look at the Wycliffe translation at biblegateway.com
biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 1&version=WYC

You can try a bible study. Otherwise there are scores of reading plans you can easily find.
Have some faith, OP.

Attached: feels.jpg (1920x1067, 446.77K)

Find yourself an audiobook. Repeat any bits that slide you by. It has been said that a written word cannot move you as well as a good orator can.

I started reading it from the beginning for at least 30 minutes a day on sunday. The only problem Im having is the old testament is huge and since I know most of the stories i start getting the urge to skip ahead.

As a man created in the image of God it is your duty to read not only the Bible but all good writing. The intellect creates an almost infinite distance between man and beast, make use of it.

Yeah man totally, the hardest thing ever.
That aside, if you are struggling with this that means God wants you to do it. Pray that the Holy spirit will grant you focus when reading Holy scripture. Chances are demons are behind this lack of focus, I've had similar experiences. Just remember that it is God's holy will for you to read and learn about the faith. Don't let yourself get in the way of that, humble yourself and beg for concentration, when you find your mind wandering gently pull it back into you heart. God bless brother.

Attached: 3carry1.jpg (800x1106, 126.73K)