By Charles Halton on Friday, 1 January 2010 at 3:02 pm

Jan 1 is a time when many people draw up resolutions for the next year.  It is popular for people to commit to reading through the Bible in a year’s time and the M’Cheyne Bible Calendar is one of the most common schemes that are used.  I’m all for reading the Bible, however, the Bible is a contextual document–it was produced by a particular people at a particular time in a particular cultural milieu.  If you do not have an understanding of the culture from which the Bible came you will likely misunderstand much of it.

So, along with your Bible reading plans I have provided my version of a plan to read the Context of Scripture three volume set. I tried to match up more exiting readings with more mundane so you’re not stuck reading a bunch of seal inscriptions for days on end. CoS provides many texts that give background and cognate information that will help you understand the Bible better.  Furthermore, if you are a pastor or student interested in biblical studies then this is a must read.  Context of Scripture is not cheap but if you look around you can sometimes find some deals.

Click here for the COS in 1 Year reading plan

Here are several places you might want to check for purchasing the COS volumes:

Eisenbrauns

Amazon

Electronic version via Logos

Electronic version via Accordance


Comments (20)

Category: All,Hebrew Bible,History of the ANE

20 Comments

Comment by Robert Marineau

Made Saturday, 2 of January , 2010 at 2:44 am

Charles,
Great idea! Thanks for compiling it.

By the way, Accordance also has COS.

Comment by Charles Halton

Made Saturday, 2 of January , 2010 at 8:45 am

Thanks, Robert, I’ll add a link.

Comment by Michael

Made Saturday, 2 of January , 2010 at 9:45 am

Excellent idea!

Comment by Brooke

Made Saturday, 2 of January , 2010 at 12:18 pm

Hey, this is for me a timely idea: I had gotten tired of monopolizing the library copy and picked up my own paperback set at SBL last year.

Nice work!

Comment by Joseph

Made Sunday, 3 of January , 2010 at 9:51 am

What an excellent idea! I will definitely do this! Now if only I could get a reading schedule for Charlesworth!!

Comment by Israel

Made Wednesday, 6 of January , 2010 at 9:23 am

Thanks, Charles, for putting the calendar together. I’ve started following it. Maybe I’ll even complete it.

Pingback by Introducing – This Week in the Context of Scripture « ???????

Made Saturday, 9 of January , 2010 at 12:46 am

[...] by Joseph Kelly on January 8, 2010 For those of you who have not seen, Charles Halton over at Awilum.com has developed a reading schedule for those interested in working their way through the three [...]

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Made Wednesday, 13 of January , 2010 at 10:06 am

[...] on January 13, 2010 by anummabrooke I don’t normally make resolutions for the New Year, but Charles’ suggestion to read Context of Scripture (Brill link) in a year…well, that’s like making a resolution to, [...]

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Made Wednesday, 13 of January , 2010 at 1:37 pm

[...] yes, Brooke called my attention to Charles’ challenge for us to read The Context of Scripture through in a year.  He has provided a helpful [...]

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Made Thursday, 4 of February , 2010 at 8:45 am

[...] you may know, Charles Halton had published a reading schedule for Hallo and Younger’s The Context of Scripture (three volumes; Leiden: Brill, 2003). This week, [...]

Pingback by This Week in COS: It Wasn’t My Fault! « Anumma

Made Friday, 12 of February , 2010 at 10:44 am

[...] recall that Charles Halton has invited folks to read the Context of Scripture in a year. Joseph at ??????? is also reading [...]

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Made Thursday, 18 of February , 2010 at 10:25 am

[...] Hebat of Uda and the Shema Posted on February 18, 2010 by anummabrooke Charles Halton has provided a schedule for reading Hallo and Younger’s The Context of Scripture in a year. Grab a schedule and join in [...]

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Made Monday, 1 of March , 2010 at 6:06 am

[...] At ???????, Joseph has continued to read The Context of Scripture. Here at Anumma, I have tried to do my part. We’re reading CoS in a year at the January 1st invitation of Charles Halton at Awilum. [...]

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Made Thursday, 4 of March , 2010 at 9:22 am

[...] The Context of Scripture (3 vols; Brill, 1997) in a year, and so am I. Charles Halton had come up with the reading schedule at New Year’s, but one could join in any [...]

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Made Friday, 12 of March , 2010 at 7:49 pm

[...] weeks in the Context of Scripture. For those who are unaware, Charles Halton at Awilum.com created a reading schedule to read through the Context of Scripture in a year. It’s never too late to join in on the [...]

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Made Tuesday, 16 of March , 2010 at 8:33 am

[...] I have not posted on the subject recently, I continue to keep up on reading The Context of Scripture in a year. (Joseph’s got the beat covered, as usual.) Among the Egyptian canonical inscriptions, we have [...]

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Made Thursday, 25 of March , 2010 at 12:53 pm

[...] COS in a year, following Charles’ schedule. Join in any [...]

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Made Friday, 26 of March , 2010 at 11:00 am

[...] Studies, Genesis by Joseph Kelly on March 26, 2010 Once again I allowed myself to get behind in the reading schedule (spring break last week, backpacking the Ozarks with my wife and another couple from church), and [...]

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Made Friday, 9 of April , 2010 at 11:33 am

[...] principle shared reading project right now is reading Context of Scripture in a year, mainly with Joseph. But I am also reading The Story with members of my congregation. And of [...]

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Made Monday, 12 of April , 2010 at 9:30 am

[...] a week ago in our continuing reading of COS in a year, we read “The Wrath of Telipinu” (1.57), one of the Hittite “disappearing god texts”: in [...]

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