Daily Bible Reading Plan
Choosing a daily Bible reading plan is a popular New Year's resolution for those who desire a deeper knowledge of God's Word. Many people think of January 1 as the best day to begin reading the entire Bible in a year. Of course, beginning on the first day of the new year isn't necessary. Even those Bible reading plans that have January 1 as a starting point can be adapted so that the reader may begin at any time. There's no time like today for someone to make the decision about what kind of program works best for that person's schedule and other time commitments. By getting too excited about starting a venture like this, a too-ambitious plan may be chosen that, in times, becomes overwhelming and cumbersome. Before long, the reader has gotten so far behind in the schedule that he gives up. Being realistic about one's motivation and time commitment helps ensure that a good choice is made.
The beginning reader needs some background information before considering other aspects of a daily Bible reading plan. But with some basic information about its structure and divisions, the challenge won't seem so daunting. Briefly, the two major divisions are the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament consists of thirty-nine separate books that cover the time period from the creation to 431 B.C. Scholars divide it into four sections: The Law (also known as the Pentateuch), History, Poetry, and Prophecy. The Prophecy books are further divided into the Major and the Minor Prophets. There are only twenty-seven books in the New Testament. These cover the time period from before Jesus' birth to 96 A.D. when the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation. The New Testament's sections are the Gospels, History (the book of Acts), the Epistles, and Prophecy (the book of Revelation). The Epistles are divided between those written by Paul, known as the Pauline epistles or letters, and those written by others, namely, the apostles, Peter and John, and Jesus' half-brothers, James and Jude. Scholars are divided in their opinions on whether Paul, Luke, or Barnabas wrote the book of Hebrews. Added together, there are sixty-six books and these are divided into a total of 1,189 chapters. A daily Bible reading plan of only one chapter a day will take over three years to complete.
Those who want to read all the chapters in one year can find a variety of Bible reading plans from Christian organizations and on various websites. One can even purchase a text that has dates above the passages. However, it isn't necessary to begin with Genesis and read all the way through to Revelation. In fact, this probably isn't the best way to begin. Many people who start out on this plan with enthusiasm find themselves getting bogged down in Leviticus and Numbers. Unfortunately, the difficulty of getting through the numerous laws and lists of strange names means a lot of readers never get to the book of Joshua and the exciting account of the fall of Jericho. A chronological reading also means persevering through long sections of difficult passages. But after reading about Noah and the Flood in Genesis 11, this daily Bible reading plan switches to the book of Job, then back to Genesis 12. Later, the schedule switches back and forth between I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, I and II Chronicles, and Psalms. Once in the Gospels, the schedule puts parallel passages together so that, for example, Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is read from the perspective of each gospel writer. Most of the epistles are interspersed through the passages in Acts. A historical reading schedule presents the books in the order scholars believe they were written. This plan has the same disadvantage of beginning with weeks of passages that many readers find boring.
Even the so-called boring passages, however, contain important information for the serious student. This little gem, which serves as the basis for a best-selling book, is tucked within nine chapters of genealogy: "And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested" (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Even so, it's better to skip the hard parts and read other passages than to stop altogether. Many Bible reading plans allow readers to approach this commitment with more variety so they don't get stuck in any particular place. One popular schedule gives a passage from a different section of the Bible every day, mixing up the Old and New Testaments. Or the reader can decide for herelf the order she will read the books. As long as she reads approximately three to four chapters a day, the goal of finishing the Bible in a year will be met. Weekly and monthly schedules are available for readers who get frustrated trying to follow a strict daily Bible reading plan. These allow readers to easily catch up or, even better, get ahead.
This brings up an important question. How important is it that the Bible be read in one year's time? This is a personal decision, but there is nothing magical or mystical about that time frame. Some websites offer Bible reading plans for reading the entire work in as little as three to six months or as long as three years. The latter is especially geared for those wanting to take their time and do an in-depth study of each passage. Many of these sites also offer two-week or monthly plans on specific issues or topics, such as prayer or the miracles of Jesus. Whatever a person's criteria, Bible reading plans are easily accessible so that resolution can be kept, whether made on New Year's Day or later in the year.
The beginning reader needs some background information before considering other aspects of a daily Bible reading plan. But with some basic information about its structure and divisions, the challenge won't seem so daunting. Briefly, the two major divisions are the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament consists of thirty-nine separate books that cover the time period from the creation to 431 B.C. Scholars divide it into four sections: The Law (also known as the Pentateuch), History, Poetry, and Prophecy. The Prophecy books are further divided into the Major and the Minor Prophets. There are only twenty-seven books in the New Testament. These cover the time period from before Jesus' birth to 96 A.D. when the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation. The New Testament's sections are the Gospels, History (the book of Acts), the Epistles, and Prophecy (the book of Revelation). The Epistles are divided between those written by Paul, known as the Pauline epistles or letters, and those written by others, namely, the apostles, Peter and John, and Jesus' half-brothers, James and Jude. Scholars are divided in their opinions on whether Paul, Luke, or Barnabas wrote the book of Hebrews. Added together, there are sixty-six books and these are divided into a total of 1,189 chapters. A daily Bible reading plan of only one chapter a day will take over three years to complete.
Those who want to read all the chapters in one year can find a variety of Bible reading plans from Christian organizations and on various websites. One can even purchase a text that has dates above the passages. However, it isn't necessary to begin with Genesis and read all the way through to Revelation. In fact, this probably isn't the best way to begin. Many people who start out on this plan with enthusiasm find themselves getting bogged down in Leviticus and Numbers. Unfortunately, the difficulty of getting through the numerous laws and lists of strange names means a lot of readers never get to the book of Joshua and the exciting account of the fall of Jericho. A chronological reading also means persevering through long sections of difficult passages. But after reading about Noah and the Flood in Genesis 11, this daily Bible reading plan switches to the book of Job, then back to Genesis 12. Later, the schedule switches back and forth between I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, I and II Chronicles, and Psalms. Once in the Gospels, the schedule puts parallel passages together so that, for example, Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is read from the perspective of each gospel writer. Most of the epistles are interspersed through the passages in Acts. A historical reading schedule presents the books in the order scholars believe they were written. This plan has the same disadvantage of beginning with weeks of passages that many readers find boring.
Even the so-called boring passages, however, contain important information for the serious student. This little gem, which serves as the basis for a best-selling book, is tucked within nine chapters of genealogy: "And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested" (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Even so, it's better to skip the hard parts and read other passages than to stop altogether. Many Bible reading plans allow readers to approach this commitment with more variety so they don't get stuck in any particular place. One popular schedule gives a passage from a different section of the Bible every day, mixing up the Old and New Testaments. Or the reader can decide for herelf the order she will read the books. As long as she reads approximately three to four chapters a day, the goal of finishing the Bible in a year will be met. Weekly and monthly schedules are available for readers who get frustrated trying to follow a strict daily Bible reading plan. These allow readers to easily catch up or, even better, get ahead.
This brings up an important question. How important is it that the Bible be read in one year's time? This is a personal decision, but there is nothing magical or mystical about that time frame. Some websites offer Bible reading plans for reading the entire work in as little as three to six months or as long as three years. The latter is especially geared for those wanting to take their time and do an in-depth study of each passage. Many of these sites also offer two-week or monthly plans on specific issues or topics, such as prayer or the miracles of Jesus. Whatever a person's criteria, Bible reading plans are easily accessible so that resolution can be kept, whether made on New Year's Day or later in the year.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
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