Wow! It’s hard enough for me to read the whole Bible in a year. This is a lot of reading in one day, and straight through? The Old Testament is three times as long as the New. Hats off to you!
By the way, how long has it been since January? (I assume you’re on your third pass now.)
For everyone’s convenience, the reading plan:
Day 1: Gen 1-13
Day 2: Gen 14-25
Day 3: Gen 26-35
Day 4: Gen 36-50
Day 5: Exod 1-8
Day 6: Exod 9-20
Day 7: Exod 21-30
Day 8: Exod 31-40
Day 9: Lev 1-13
Day 10: Lev 14-27
Day 11: Num 1-5
Day 12: Num 6-14
Day 13: Num 15-25
Day 14: Num 26-36
Day 15: Deut 1-10
Day 16: Deut 11-24
Day 17: Deut 25-34
Day 18: Josh 1-15
Day 19: Josh 16-24
Day 20: Judg 1-14
Day 21: Judg 15-21; Ruth 1-4
Day 22: 1 Sam 1-16
Day 23: 1 Sam 17-31
Day 24: 2 Sam 1-12
Day 25: 2 Sam 13-24
Day 26: 1 Kings 1-7
Day 27: 1 Kings 8-22
Day 28: 2 Kings 1-6
Day 29: 2 Kings 7-18
Day 30: 2 Kings 19-25
Day 31: 1 Chron 1-12
Day 32: 1 Chron 13-29
Day 33: 2 Chron 1-12
Day 34: 2 Chron 13-28
Day 35: 2 Chron 29-36
Day 36: Ezra 1-10; Nehemiah 1-7
Day 37: Nehemiah 8-13; Esther 1-8
Day 38: Job 1-13
Day 39: Job 14-28
Day 40: Job 29-42
Day 41: Ps 1-21
Day 42: Ps 22-39
Day 43: Ps 40-64
Day 44: Ps 65-78
Day 45: Ps 79-101
Day 46: Ps 102-116
Day 47: Ps 117-135
Day 48: Ps 136-150
Day 49: Prov 1-16
Day 50: Prov 17-31
Day 51: Eccl 1-12
Day 52: Song 1-8; Isa 1-13
Day 53: Isa 14-31
Day 54: Isa 32-47
Day 55: Isa 48-66
Day 56: Jer 1-14
Day 57: Jer 15-29
Day 58: Jer 30-42
Day 59: Jer 43-52
Day 60: Lam 1-5; Ezek 1-12
Day 61: Ezek 13-23
Day 62: Ezek 24-36
Day 63: Ezek 37-48
Day 64: Dan 1-12
Day 65: Hos 1-14; Joel 1-3
Day 66: Amos 1-9; Obadiah 1; Jonah 1-4; Micah 1-7; Nah 1-3; Hab 1-3
Day 67: Zeph 1-3; Haggai 1-2; Zech 1-14; Mal 1-4
Day 68: Matt 1-10
Day 69: Matt 11-20
Day 70: Matt 21-28
Day 71: Mark 1-7
Day 72: Mark 8-16
Day 73: Luke 1-6
Day 74: Luke 7-13
Day 75: Luke 14-24
Day 76: John 1-5
Day 77: John 6-11
Day 78: John 12-21
Day 79: Acts 1-10
Day 80: Acts 11-19
Day 81: Acts 20-28
Day 82: Rom 1-16
Day 83: 1 Cor 1-16
Day 84: 2 Cor 1-13
Day 85: Gal 1-6; Eph 1-6
Day 86: Phil 1-4; Col 1-4; 1 Thes 1-5; 2 Thes 1-3
Day 87: 1 Tim 1-6; 2 Tim 1-4; Titus 1-3; Philemon 1
Day 88: Heb 1-13; James 1-5
Day 89: 1 Pet 1-5; 2 Pet 1-3; 1 John 1-5; 2 John 1; 3 John 1; Jude 1
Day 90: Rev 1-22
It doesn’t matter which version or which website or how long it takes. Just keep reading and when you’re done, you’re not done, read it again. I read it through several times and now I pick and choose depending on what pops into my head but I’ll probably start reading it through again in January.
Here’s the website I use and I listen to Max McLean.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/
It does not matter how fast you read it. It matters far more how much comprehend and understand what it is telling you.
To me, that would be like eating all vegetables for one month, all potatoes, rice, pasta and bread the next, followed by all cake and ice cream days 61-90.
Let me explain: the Bible presents entirely different genres of truth, depending on how far one is into it. If this is a one-time study-style, fine; but it should not be one’s lifelong method, IMHO.
Rather, since the Word of God is spiritual food, a balanced daily diet seems preferable.
Personally, I read some from the beginning (today, First Samuel), some from the middle (today, Jeremiah), and some from the end (NT, today, Matthew) — each and every day, in such a way as to finish the Bible (plus some extra NT) every year. Plus I recite the entire epistle to the Ephesians every single day.
The beauty of scripture is that, if you read and meditate on it in a prayerful way, you will get something new out of it every time. That is because the Word is alive, imbued with the Spirit of God.
I did the 90-Day Challenge earlier this year. While I think it was an accomplishment, I didn’t comprehend anything. It was too much like a task and I didn’t have time to absorb what I was reading.
From a strictly personal viewpoint, I think reading the Bible chronologically is the most exciting way to read it.
First, books like Ezekiel and even Isaiah jump around without real reason, and are disjointed. Putting a book like Ezekiel or Jeremiah in order and reading it with the proper historical context of the Kings, Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah will make it come alive.
Understanding the history and background of the Jewish Feasts and observations brings light to passages such as John 7, where Jesus uses the metaphor “Living Water”. Why water? Because He was in the Temple observing the Feast of Tabernacles, which refers back to Moses striking the rock at Meriba to provide water to the Israelites. John assumed that anyone reading his gospel would understand that.
I have been taught (and agree) that the bible is not meant to be read sequentially like a novel, but is more of a reference.
I’d get a lot more by studying what the best scholars (generally of my faith) have written to help understand the important facts of certain key books.
I know that many scholars and priests have never read the bible sequentially.
Sounds like a cool challenge.
I often read thru the bible in a year, and have taken to reading different versions. I got thru ‘the message’ last year (really interesting and presented different readings for some passages, but not for theological foundations). And the year before that was something like the leadership bible with John Maxwell comments - that was very interesting. I am actually forcing myself to skip a year - just so it doesn’t become a religious exercise or an accomplishment in and of itself. My next pass will be a bible with american history comments in it - about the founding of the nation, how the bible impacted different american historical leaders and other figures. I know there is a ‘worship leaders bible’ or some such - would like to get thru it (even though my musical abilities are limited to playing an iPod)...
As someone said:
"It does not matter how fast you read it. It matters far more how much comprehend and understand what God is telling you."
I have read the Bible cover to cover in 30 days, 90 days and a year. All are good. I read it cover to cover every year and have done so for many years now. It is my daily devotion in that I read each day’s reading every morning first thing with my coffee. However one does it I think it is absolutely necessary that everyone should read their Bible cover to cover at least once. It gives you the big picture “story of salvation” that you can’t get with individual book studies or sermons.
I picked up a version that includes plenty of footnotes and essays, which help provide understanding of the symbology and history including problems w/sources and translations.
Online version available.
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/index.shtml
We did this last summer for Sunday School in my church (read during the week and a video/discussion on Sunday). It works out to 14 pages a day. I would spend the first hour of my day reading. It helped to have the Bible on DVD for Leviticus. You actually see themes running through the Bible when you read at this break neck speed. Check out www.biblein90days.org (also at.com) Our worship leader referred to it as a spiritual exercise program - B90X!)
The Bible is the living word of God and is meant to be absorbed into the very depths of your inner self. As such, it is not meant to be the subject of a speed reading exercise. It is best to be read at a speed where every word can be assimilated, and where there is also time for constructive pauses to look up a cross-referenced passage or material from a study aid.
One key to understanding is to acquire several different translations/versions (King James, International, New International, Revised Standard), and read them through in alternation.
The Word is not merely as it appears on the page. By experiencing it in various written forms one can begin to look beyond words and see the meaning.
As far as Greek and Hebrew go, I know neither, but I can read Latin and have read sections of NT in Vulgate. Don’t get caught up in a “technical” understanding of the Word through study of languages, however. The Word will speak just as fluently in English.
I found this link to this reading guide and thought it an interesting challenge. Have any other Freepers completed a Through the Bible in 90 days reading plan?
Not like that. My way is straight through, OT, Psalms, and NT in parallel. As much as I feel like reading at a time. It usually takes less than a year before I'm starting over (starting over defined as hitting Genesis again. I'm usually halfway through the NT again by then.)
What are your thoughts?
The figure I hear is the Bible amounts to about 90 hours of audio. So, figure an hour of reading the Bible each day. Narrative sections will go easily. Psalms will tend to all run together. Ditto Proverbs. And you'll think the prophets hit you over the head with a sledge hammer. Job is a hard pull to get through (at least for me).