Today, by G-D’s grace, I have finished my seventh time reading completely through the Bible. I’ve read the King James Version once, the NASB twice, and the ESV four times. Each time it surprises me to find new things out about G-D, myself, the family I’ve been adopted into, the ongoing spiritual war, the days to come, the days of old, the grace, the mercy, the wrath, the jealousy, the rebellion, the order, the faithful, the miracles, the journeys, the history, the action, the love, the passion, the zeal, and the list goes on and on.
When I became a believer, I could not find out enough about Jesus and this new family that I’ve been brought into. By G-D’s grace, He gave us His Word to continually to grow in knowing Him and look forward to that day that our L-RD Yeshua will return. O’ what a blessed day that will be!
Each time I read through the Bible I learn something new and interesting to me. After a few times through, even the genealogies and minute details are interesting. It is like a family member that is only mentioned once in a newspaper but it is still cool to see them there. It is cool to see the small characters to the large and how they begin to relate to others throughout the scriptures.
So, I have completed my first cycle of 7 times, for as the below references mention, the number 7 in the Bible is a symbol of completeness. Now, I begin to build anew on top of this foundation of reading with starting on my 8th time through, as the references below point that 8 is a symbol of beginning a new cycle.
After reading a Derek Leman blog, http://www.messianicjudaism.me/musings/2008/01/04/apocryphal-wisdom/, I decided to try a new translation this year. I look forward to reading the NRSV Common Bible with Deuterocanon/Apocrypha this year. It has all 66 books of the Protestant Bible, along with the additional books of the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Greek Orthodox.
I still only take the 66 books of the Protestant Bible as inspired by the Holy Spirit, however, I look forward to diving into more early writings like the Maccabees, the Wisdom of Solomon, Tobit, Baruch, and such. There are 18 Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books, making a total of 84 books.
“The ecumenical NRSV Bible Translation Committee consists of thirty men and women who are among the top scholars in America today. They come from Protestant denominations, the Roman Catholic church, and the Greek Orthodox Church. The committee also includes a Jewish scholar.” (http://www.ncccusa.org/newbtu/aboutnrs.html)
Dr. Bruce Metzger was one of the main translators of the NRSV Common Bible. (http://www.ncccusa.org/newbtu/reader.html)
So, I continue reading each year the L-RD’s special revelation to us until that day that I meet my Sweet Redeemer face to face. Praying that I continue to grow in knowing Him, abounding more and more in faith, hope, and love!
9 For we (U)know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I [d]became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we (V)see in a mirror [e]dimly, but then (W)face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also (X)have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the [f]greatest of these is (Y)love. 1 Corinthians 13: 9-13
Furthermore, it is interesting to me the Biblical meanings ascribed to 7 and 8. After all, I am a numbers guy:) I’ve posted some links that speak more about the symbol of completeness signified by the number 7, the symbol of beginning a new cycle signified by the number 8, and even more the symbol of Resurrection
The first cycle is complete.
http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/7.html
A new layer has begun.
http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/8.html
We travel through life, death, regeneration, and resurrection. 7 symbolizing completeness/fullness and 8 symbolizing resurrection.
http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/8and7.html
Grace and peace be with you all,
In Yeshua Messiah,
Coley
