Of Shakespeare Ben Jonson wrote that he had "little Latin and less Greek." That describes me more or less although my Latin is bit beyond serviceable. A few years ago I took on, as a Lenten exercise, reading the Gospels in Greek. I only managed to get through Mark but this year I am going to tackle John. The best thing about reading the scriptures in another language is that it forces one to slow down and not permit the eye to skim over what one thinks one knows. Sometimes I have done this in the modern languages with my favorite being French because of the wonderful version in the original Bible de Jerusalem. Starting tomorrow It will be John although, as poor as my Greek is, I doubt if I will make it through the whole Gospel. That is ok, however, because I do not see this as a speed reading exercise.Last Advent I stuck with English and read Isaiah in the version edited by Robert Wilekn with commentaries from the fathers of the church. What inspired me to do that was Ambrose's suggestion to the new convert, Augustine, that the book of the bible he should start with is Isaiah. Good advice.Anyone out there in virtual world have other reading plans?
