Thank you for your question about reading the Bible, Torah, and the Quran.
May I suggest before one decides to read of the three world’s religions that one considers one’s purpose in one’s reading program. Is it for general information? Is it to understand the beliefs and practices of each religion? Is it a comparative religion? Why this “spiritual” journey and what one hopes to gain at the end of one’s reading.
I would also suggest that one reads a summary of each of the religions. This will provide some framework in one’s reading. And then one can decide which literature to read.
Personally, reading the Torah would give me a broad based to understand the foundation for the world’s three religion. Since the Bible includes the Jewish Scriptures, few individuals are able to read through the Old Testament. It’s more than reading the words but what those words are saying. It will become an interpretation and application pursuit. If one makes it through the Old Testament, the hope of Israel’s deliverer or Messiah to restore the Promised Land.
As one reads the New Testament especially the Gospels, the question will be who is this person Jesus and whether he is the fulfillment of the Jewish Messiah or not. The rest of the New Testament books are an expansion of how the followers of Jesus Christ are to live in anticipation of his return g the for them. The word, Jesus, means Savior and Christ means Messiah. Thus the Jewish people are looking for their Messiah to come while Christian believes that he has come already to redeem God’s people from sin and look forward to his reign over the earth.
My general understanding of the Quran is the belief that the Muslim believe that both Judaism and Christianity have “lost” their roots and that Mohammed is the restorer of the true faith with his teachings.
Thus in my perspective is Mohammed correct or incorrect in his analysis. Is Jesus a great prophet or is Mohammed the final and greatest prophet? From the Christian’s perspective, is Jesus declaration that he is The Way and The Truth and The Life that no one can come to the Father except through him is true or false? Either Jesus is declaring the truth or is he lying? Thus at the end, one would have conclude at the reading of the Quran, that a comparative religion is needed beyond Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to include Buddhism and Hinduism.
Summary: Reading the Bible can help one decide whether one can obtain salvation by one’s good deeds or is by faith alone in the person of Jesus Christ. That to me is the central question in reading religious literature.
For further insight and discussion: