A Proposed Thematic Bible Reading Arrangement

[David T]

While I've seen Chronological Bibles that arrange the biblical texts according to 'in text history', so to say, I've never seen a Bible (Old Testament) arranged according to Scholastic or thematic chronology, one that would allow one, to the best of scholastic ability, to read through the Bible as a history of developing theology, nationalism and Israelite identity.

I made a list, which I'm sure will be contested by, well, many - and for many good and legitimate reasons.

But I also think there's some validity and interest in reading the text somewhat in this order. While in no ways definitive, I think it would be a fascinating exploration, and perhaps a way to see the texts in a new light, and new context than the 'normal' reading order that comes along with many of the presuppositions that come to reading the texts when we try to place them in the context of the details and assertions stated in the extant and current Genesis - 2 Kings narrative. I think there's a great power in reading Genesis - 2 Kings through the lens of recognizing it as an Exilic Edition (think 'History of the Church' as compiled and edited and redacted in Utah), that not only explains with keen hindsight how they got to where they are, and what they understand is necessary to get back to where it all began.

I've included 2 non-canonical books to add to the history and experience, and help with the developmental lead-up to the New Testament. They are marked with a *.

So here's my proposed Old Testament organization:

THE BOOK OF WARNINGS (The Pre-Exilic Prophets)

Amos

Hosea

1 Isaiah (Isaiah 1-39)

Micah

Zephaniah

Nahum

THE BOOK OF THE END OF THE WORLD (Prophetic Witness to the Exile)

Jeremiah

Habakkuk

THE BOOK OF SORROW AND HOPE (Prophets in Exile)

Ezekiel

2 Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55)

Lamentations

THE BOOK OF NEW BEGINNINGS (A New Edition of History)

Genesis – Joshua

1&2 Samuel | 1-2 Kings

THE BOOK OF RESTORATION AND RECONSTRUCTION (Post-Exilic Prophets)

Obadiah

3 Isaiah (Isaiah 56-66)

1 Zechariah (Zech 1-8 )

Malachi

Joel

2 Zechariah (Zech 9-14)

Haggai

THE BOOK OF HERITAGE (Post-Exilic Perspectives on History)

Ruth

1 & 2 Chronicles | Ezra-Nehemiah

Jonah

Esther

THE BOOK OF PERSPECTIVES (Literature and Philosophy)

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

THE BOOK OF REVOLUTION

*1 Maccabees

THE BOOK OF VISIONS

Daniel

*1 Enoch

Edited September 24, 2011 by nackhadlow