A few months back, I had asked for the reason for using chapters (or verses) as the reading divisions, rather than logical texts breaks. I had also asked about the propensity to read the books in "Biblical sequence" - a late and unstable element. The best answer I received was simply ease of use.
Well, I have run into some English history that may help explain this (American?) quirk. You know that fellow named Cromwell who replaced the Book of Common Prayer with The Directory for the Publick Worship of God. Listen to what it says:
"All the canonical books of the Old and New Testament (but none of those which are commonly called Apocrypha)
shall be publickly read in the vulgar tongue, out of the best allowed
translation, distinctly, that all may hear and understand.
How large a portion shall be read at once, is left to the wisdom of
the minister; but it is convenient, that ordinarily one chapter of each
Testament be read at every meeting; and sometimes more, where the
chapters be short, or the coherence of matter requireth it.
It is requisite that all the canonical books be read over in order,
that the people may be better acquainted with the whole body of the
scriptures; and ordinarily, where the reading in either Testament
endeth on one Lord’s day, it is to begin the next."
This, at least, takes me 1 step closer to answering my questions. Now don't you think the resources to answer my question should have been in Logos - I'm sure its out of copyright. [Just kidding - Logos is not strong in this sort of resource - I didn't really expect it.]
