<Albert> So it is your contention that in order to understand the first chapter
I
have to first read other these other chapters? Do I have to read other
chapters before I can understand these ones?
That seems like a strange way to organize a book. Perhaps someone can tell
me the right sequence to read it in. </Albert>
How do you read an encyclopedia? Even Cozzi's excellent RPG books aren't exactly a front-to-back tutorial. You know it's not meant to be, and after your impressive reference to an actual passage, that's disappointing. If you really want to know how the Bible is topically organized, just say so. It is partially organized as you might expect a logical ordering of light books, history here, poetry here, prophecy books next, then (NT) the gospels, the NT history (Acts), the letters, then the main NT prophecy book. Plenty of cross-referencing is available backward and forward.
Even in most history books you get a better understanding of the author's references and text in the first parts after you get to the latter parts.
</Albert> However, your examples: </Albert>
Picky, picky, Albert. Don't be so persnickety...
<quote> And: Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
But the serpent in the Garden of Eden didn't deceive the whole world. He
only deceived Eve. Adam never even talked to him. So it must have been a
different serpent. Do you think it's fair to generalize that all bad
serpents are the devil? </quote>
You're grasping at straws, Albert. Like the Pharisees.. Suit yourself.. "^ 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:^ 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.^ 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may
cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not
hear.^ 13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon
precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a
little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and"
be broken, and snared, and taken.^ 14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem."
- Alan
