Our church is encouraging us all to read through the Bible this year. Here's their schedule for the reading (2008 - I hope to update with 2009 soon. Perhaps you can adapt from this schedule till the new one is posted). I thought I'd try to capture some summaries of the daily passages, to highlight what seemed to me to be significant that day in the section. These aren't paraphrases, just quick summaries, almost like commentaries with not much comment. I really tried to just summarize and not comment - but sometimes I couldn't resist. My comments should always be in double parantheses ((like this)). Hope you think the summaries are helpful.
I've also taken the non-standard approach of putting direct quotations from the text (usually NIV) in regular quotation marks, ("). Quotations of speakers that are paraphrased are in single quotes ('). Often though, I've summarized sections with the exact wording of the original included. Sometimes the original language, at least of the NIV and sometimes the NASB, is just too hard to summarize, never mind improve. I hope this isn't confusing.
Don't use these to replace reading the Bible itself. That would be ridiculous. These are just helps, reminders, etc.
Update January 2009: Praise God. This task is finished. I am very, very amazed at the way it's turned out. I wonder very much what anyone will be able to do with it. Perhaps it will be useful to some. It was certainly helpful to me as a discipline in studying the Bible.
I was surprised that when I got to the sections of prophecy in the Old Testament (starting with Isaiah) and the New Testament (Revelation), I felt the need to change the way I was paraphrasing, switching instead to a more "summarizing" approach.
I am very sensitive to the concern that I have taken something away from the Scriptures. I therefore repeat, this is meant as a study guide, a supplement to a "through-the-Bible" reading plan to help catch up from time to time.
Read the Bible itself!
Perhaps this paraphrase-of-translations-of-the-originals will be helpful. That is my prayer.
P.S. I also hope to add comments from commentaries, sermons, etc. from time to time. If you'd like to add a respectful comment, those will be welcome also. Thanks.
See Passages for actual lists of summaries.
