Friday, March 29, AD 2024 1:02am

Favorite Books of the Bible

Job and God

 

 

Since my parents purchased a Bible for me, at my request, for Christmas 1970, I have read a chapter from the New Testament and a chapter from the Old each night.  What a magnificent collection of books the Bible is!  Prophecies, histories, court chronicles, songs, gospels, letters, codes of laws and so much more.  The Bible is a boundless sea on which the human mind and soul can glimpse the eternal voyage.  Choosing one’s favorite books of the Bible is rather like picking one’s favorite children, but here goes.

In regard to emotional and intellectual impact nothing in the Old Testament moves me more than the book of Job where Man stands before his creator and realizes that God truly is I AM, the ultimate reality:

Then Job replied to the Lord:

“I know that you can do all things;
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.’
My ears had heard of you
    but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
    and repent in dust and ashes.”

The longer I sojourn in this Vale of Tears the more I understand the truth and wisdom of this passage.

In the New Testament nothing can surpass the beginning of the Gospel of John:

 

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

A lifetime of study could only scratch the surface of this magnificent introduction to the Second Person of the Trinity.

These are my favorite books of the two Testaments.  What are yours?

0 0 votes
Article Rating
12 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Patricia
Patricia
Tuesday, May 5, AD 2015 10:15pm

Your studious faithfulness to reading sheds light on your ability to daily offer these articles with a perspective of balance that must please God.
Alas, since my reading is incomplete and inconsistent, I can only choose the two books that help understand the mind, power, love and presence of God.
The Old Testament book choice of late years is II Samuel. David’s lyrics of thanksgiving tell the story of his amazing rescue with a special powerful verse: Ch. 22:19-20: but the Lord came to my support. He set me free in the open, and rescued me, because He loves me.
The description of God coming to David’s aid is breathtaking.
The New Testament book is Matthew for all the Wisdom and Teaching of Jesus it holds.

WK Aiken
WK Aiken
Wednesday, May 6, AD 2015 5:59am

OT: Sirach. The best advice for any situation, and a perfect blueprint for a Godly life.
.
NT: Revelation. We win.

T. Shaw
T. Shaw
Wednesday, May 6, AD 2015 6:37am

Holy cow, Mac!
.

We agree.
.
I love them all but St. John is my most valuble Gospel. (MVG) Somewhere he teaches the overwhelmig valuable of the virtue charity, specifically forgiving all injuries, to our spriitual well-being. And, throughout is completely priceless.
.

Job is very important to me. Here are some quotes I keep.
.

“But as for me, I know my redeemer lives.”
.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
.

“Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and shall we not receive evil?”
.

“In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”
.

An OT Book that should receive more attention (I think) is Tobit. Some quotes.
.
“Watch yourself, my son, in everything you do, and be disciplined in all your conduct.”
.

“Seek advice from every wise man, and do not despise any useful counsel.”
.

“Bless the Lord God on every occasion.”
.

“Give alms from your possessions to all who live uprightly.”
.

“Place your bread on the grave of the righteous, but give none to sinners.”
.
I know! The peace and justice crowd will howl over the final two quotes.

Philip
Philip
Wednesday, May 6, AD 2015 8:16am

My favorite’s are excerpts from many of the books; The Parables of Christ. ( The unjust steward / The great supper / The talents / The sower and the seed / Pharisee and the publican / and the Prodigal Son. Oh. From Johns Gospel 6:64 sum up the whole of these books; THE WORDS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE.

Old Testament “hymns of praise” mostly by King David. Psalm 96: 10-12 “You that loveth the Lord hate evil, the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints, he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner. 11 Light is risen to the just, and joy to the right of heart. 12 Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord: and give praise to the remembrance of his holiness.

Pinky
Pinky
Wednesday, May 6, AD 2015 10:38am

OT – Genesis, particularly the first dozen or so chapters. The foundation of our understanding of the universe.

NT – I’m going to say Romans, but I feel bad not picking a Gospel. I attended a Traditional Latin Mass this past weekend, the first I’ve been to in a while, and I was marveling at the final Gospel, the passage you presented in this article. I was struck by the beauty of the passage. Yes, the theology, but also the poetry. Its beauty comes from it being the good news, the greatest possible human hope turning out to be true, beyond anything we dreamed of. I guess the perfect bookends would have been to choose the beginning of Genesis and the beginning of John as my favorites.

Anzlyne
Anzlyne
Wednesday, May 6, AD 2015 1:30pm

Nehemiah!
1 and 2 Peter!

TomD (another one, I think ;) )
TomD (another one, I think ;) )
Wednesday, May 6, AD 2015 6:20pm

Since I am currently spending much time in these two, they are currently my favorites: The Wisdom of Solomon and The Letter to the Hebrews. At some point, if I am blessed, all the books of the Bible will become among my two favorites 🙂 .

trackback
Saturday, May 9, AD 2015 11:01pm

[…] of May: Mary, the Foundation, the Noblest after Christ – Rorate Cæli Favorite Books of the Bible – Donald R. McClarey JD, The American Catholic A Charismatic Comes Home: The Conversion Story […]

Don
Don
Sunday, May 10, AD 2015 1:07pm

OT: Psalms
NT: Luke / Acts (considered as one book).

Penguins Fan
Penguins Fan
Sunday, May 10, AD 2015 3:42pm

My favorites-OT Isaiah, who prophesized to Ahaz that “a virgin shall bear a son, and he will be called Emmanuel”. NT- St.Luke 1:26-38.

Felix M
Felix M
Monday, May 11, AD 2015 8:38am
Bob in Maryland
Bob in Maryland
Thursday, May 14, AD 2015 10:47am

Depends on which day of the week you ask me. I can never decide which Gospel I “like the best” (I don’t even care for that wording). Of the Letters, my favorite is probably Second Peter. As for the Old Testament, it’s a toss-up between Genesis, 1 and 2 Samuel, and Wisdom.

Force me to answer and I’ll pick Luke and Genesis, but I’d cry over not having picked something else!

Discover more from The American Catholic

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Scroll to Top