Since English literature, and idioms quote heavily from the bible, it is necessary just to understand the language to read the bible.

Reading it cover to cover will make two huge points:

1. it is mostly boring and very badly written. It is not the great masterwork of literature it is cracked up to be. There are some moments of brilliance, but most of it is appalling, hardly the work of a deity.

2. Jehovah the god is not loving, kind, perfect. He is a peevish, petty, evil little gnome. Christians never quote the vast majority of the bible which talks about his bad behaviour.

I have composed a bible study guide of some of the stranger parts of the bible. It is on my website. Moderators have told me I may not directly link to it.

Only the Jehovah's witnesses take seriously what the bible says, though they find ways to twist the interpretation. It is very rare to find anyone but an atheist who has read the whole thing.

Most Christians have only been exposed to a minute faction of it — the greatest hits. I can't think of a more effective way to disillusion a Christian than to dare him into reading the entire bible.

Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.
~ Isaac Asimov 1920-01-02 1992-03-06