How to Read the Bible in a Year
The Bible consists of 66 books. About 40 authors wrote it for about 1600 years. The Bible is a storehouse of knowledge for Christians, and they believe it contains the words of God and guidance on how to apply God’s word in life. However, although Christians use the Bible as a source of knowledge and inspiration, many of them have never read the Bible from beginning to end.
Since the Bible contains 1189 chapters, it may seem like too much to read the entire book. By dividing the Bible into passages that you read systematically every day, you can complete it in one year.
It is quite possible to read the Bible in a year or even less, if you stick to a certain plan. But which plan to choose, is it right for you? There are several important points that will actually help you master the Bible in 1 year (or less).
There are several options for reading the Bible in a year. The choice of one or the other depends on the goal. For example, beginners are advised to read all of Scripture in a row to get a general idea. This approach is called canonical. At this stage, the main thing is to keep the rhythm.
It will be easier for you to understand the historical and cultural background of the events of the Bible if you read the Scriptures in chronological order. For example, the book of Job is read after the 11th chapter of Genesis, that is, before the story of Abraham, because Job lived before Abraham. The Psalms of David are intertwined with 2 Samuel, and the Gospels in the New Testament are read in parallel.
To read the books of Scripture in historical order means to consider the order in which they were written. In this regard, the order of the Old Testament books is very similar to the Israelite Hebrew Bible, from the Law to the Prophets. The sequence of the books of the New Testament is compiled on the basis of recent historical research and shows the order in which they were written.
Make your schedule to read the Bible for the year, and we will give you some recommendations.
39 Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; but they testify of me.
(John 5:39)
Canonical order
Consider the canonical order of the Bible before you start reading. The Bible is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The first book in the Bible is Genesis and the last is Revelation. When you read the Bible in order, from Genesis to Revelation, you will read it in canonical order, the order inspired by God.
In canonical order, the books are arranged by literary style. For example, the Old Testament contains books of law, historical, prophetic, and poetic books grouped together. The New Testament, on the other hand, consists of gospel books, historical books, and letters grouped together.
Reading schedule to read the Bible in a year
The chart below distributes the Bible reading step by step so that you can use it to master the Bible in a year. In this plan, reading begins on January 1st, but you can start reading the Bible again any day of the year and adjust the schedule accordingly.
Read Genesis and Exodus in January. Genesis and Exodus are part of the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible), known as the books of the law because they contain laws and instructions for the people of Israel.
Read 3 chapters every day. At this rate, you will finish Genesis on January 17th and Exodus on January 31st.
