By following the schedules on this site, you can read the entire Bible in a year, or, if you prefer, you can read the New Testament in a year. Many people wait until January 1 to begin their reading schedule, but why wait? Just choose the schedule you prefer and start with the first reading. Be diligent, and in a year, you will have accomplished your goal and completed your schedule!
If you don't think you will have time to do the reading or that it is too difficult to read the Bible in a year, consider the following...
The facts are these: The Bible contains 3,586,489 letters; 773,692 words; 31,173 verses; 1,189 chapters; and sixty-six books.
Considering this book from a perspective of sheer size, it is a massive library bound into one large volume - a volume which many consider overwhelming, and thus impossible of being read and studied fully.
Have you ever thought about following a plan whereby the entire Bible could be read, only to dismiss the idea as being impractical and too difficult?
Let's do a little simple arithmetic. The Bible consists of 1,189 chapters. An average year is made up of 365 days. 365 divided into 1,189 gives us a figure of just over three (3.2575342 to be more exact). Roughly speaking, then, if we just read a little over three chapters a day, every day, we will have read the entire Bible, from cover to cover, in the space of one short year.
Another scenario: The Bible has 31,173 verses. Again, a year has 365 days. 365 into 31,173 gives us in the neighborhood of 85 1/2. So if we commit ourselves to reading just a bit more than eighty-five verses each day, we will complete our reading of the whole Bible in one year.
Do you still see the Bible as too large? Your schedule as too hectic and inflexible? Consider this. The average Bible book contains eighteen chapters; the average chapter, twenty-six verses. How long does it take to read less than one-fifth of one book - just a little over three chapters made up of just twenty-six verses each? For a fairly rapid reader, the entire book of Philippians can be read in eight minutes, and Philippians has four chapters!
How much time each day do you spend watching television? fiddling with the computer? reading the newspaper? playing with the dog?
And so you say you just can't find eight to ten minutes a day for Bible reading?
I don't believe it.
Reprinted from the March 1997 issue of Old Paths.