A common reason for not reading the Bible is that it is too long. Particularly the Old Testament. 66 books that talk about Creation, the history of the People of God, songs of praise and much much more. It is easy to see it as a series of different stories, by different authors about different things. The New Testament then takes through the life of Jesus, the growth of the early Church and takes us to Judgement Day.
Author Chris Bruno has attempted to "piece the jigsaw together" and put the OT and NT into just 16 verses... 11 of the Old Testament and 5 of the New Testament. Can this really do the Bible justice? (See his book
<here>).
His selections for the OT rely heavily on Genesis...
1. Genesis 1:31
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
2. Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
3. Genesis 3:6-7
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
4. Genesis 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
5. Genesis 12:2-3
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
6. Genesis 49:10
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
7. Exodus 12:23
For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.
8. 2 Samuel 7:12-13
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
9. Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned — every one — to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
10. Ezekiel 37:3-5
And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.”
11. Isaiah 65:17
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
Read his justification
<here>
The NT article is
<here>
Do you agree with his selection? Is it possible to reduce the whole Old Testament to just 11 verses? Is this a useful starting point? What else would you have included?
