We are using the New International Version of the Christian Bible

This can be controversial, because some christians believe that the King James Version is the only valid translation. This page has a very thorough rebuttal. The Evangelical Alliance believe that the NIV is a good translation, so that’s good enough for us. Besides, it’s just too easy to have a go at the bible for being arcane, old fashioned and all the rest by using the King James version.

No Fancy Study Guides!

Once a week, we will post a newsletter to everyone who is taking the challenge, but we will only be discussing the chapters that we have all just read, not what’s coming in the next week - nobody is going to try to poison your mind or tell you how to read a passage before you have seen it. All we are asking for here is honesty - read the book, pray over it or whatever you wish, but make up your own mind.

Cover to Cover, in Order

No jumping around, no flicking back and forward trying to make a convoluted argument. No skipping bits because we don’t like them. 2 Timothy 3:16  says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”, so we are reading it all - every last verse. We start at In the beginning.. and continue on to …Amen.

No “Ah, but in the Greek…” Explanations

What we are trying to do here is find out whether the Christian Bible is a useful guide to live your life by. If you need expert knowledge of Ancient Greek or Aramaic in order to “properly” understand a given verse, then the answer to that question is “No”, before we even start.

We will give the benefit of the doubt, and simply read the verses at face value, just as we find them.

And that’s all. If you think we have missed anything, please pop into the Discussion Forum and let us know - you will have to register on the fourm the first time you post something.