Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Choose how you want to read the Bible
• Method 2 of 3: Choose a reading order
• Method 3 of 3: Read the Bible from start to finish
• Necessities

Whether you read for religious, cultural, or personal reasons, a year is a reasonable amount of time to read the Bible. Before you start, take the time to think about how you want to go about your task. You can read alone or in a group. You can read one translation of the Bible or several. You can read the Bible with or without commentary or context. Take your time and keep track of your progress.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Choose how you want to read the Bible

1. Set an alarm. To get through a long text without losing focus, it is best to read the Bible for a fixed period each day. You can read for twenty minutes to an hour, depending on your reading speed and attention span. If there is a moment of your day that you can count on for a certain amount of quiet time, read.
   • Keep a calendar and record your progress. Check a box every day you read.
   • If you have an average reading speed and you read about ten minutes a day for a year, this should be enough, with even some time left. To spend a few days on more difficult passages, you can read at least twenty minutes at a time.
2. Count your pages. Take the number of pages in your Bible and divide it 365. Then read that number of pages every day. For example, suppose your version of the Bible has 1,760 pages, that's 4.8 pages per day. Complete this and read five pages a day. Check your progress every month to make sure you've had your monthly page count.
   • If spreading your reading across the day doesn't work, for example because you have a changeable schedule, try setting weekly or monthly reading goals.
3. Read with others. You may find it easier to achieve your reading goals and increase your understanding when you have company. Join a reading group or form your own reading group. If you are attending a church, an interfaith organization, or a secular organization such as a folk university, propose a reading group and set a pace, sequence, and meeting schedule that is appropriate for your group. Members of your group can read together or separately and gather for monthly gatherings.
   • Alternatively, you can ask a friend or family member to read along. Even a long distance friend can be a great reading buddy - set reading goals and a weekly discussion date together online, in person, or over the phone.
   • Follow Bijbelles. Search online, at the community center, church, or community college, for Bible study classes. Taking a course that requires you to read the entire Bible will motivate you to read, while at the same time providing you with valuable historical context.
4. Read in a way that keeps your attention. Taking in a text is very different from skipping it through. Choose to read the Bible in a way that allows you to really absorb the words in front of you. Reading aloud can help you remember what you read. Rereading can also be helpful.
   • If you are a morning person, read in the morning. If you can concentrate better at night, read at night.
   • If you find yourself drifting, try reading sections. For example, read for twenty minutes, get up for a moment and have a glass of water, then read for another twenty minutes.
5. Listen to an audio bible. If you have trouble reading comprehension, or just want to hear the Bible while doing your daily chores or exercises, download a recording of someone reading the Bible. If you search online, you can even find audiobooks designed to be listened to for an entire year.
   • Even if you are already reading the Bible, you might want to consider listening too. If you read one translation, you can, for example, choose to listen to another translation.
6. Sign up for an online Bible verse email service. You can sign up for a subscription where you receive Bible texts via e-mail every day. If you have trouble reaching out to a book regularly, but are very prompt in reading your emails, you can motivate yourself by "reading" your Bible mail every day.
7. Read with a prayer. If you read with devotion in mind, incorporate your reading into your daily statement of faith. Pray before or after reading. Read purposefully, as if you were praying. Ask for guidance on reading. Read with a question in mind, or read blindly and let your thoughts absorb the meaning of the words.

Method 2 of 3: Choose a reading order

1. Read the Bible from start to finish. Pick up your Bible as if it were a novel and read it from Genesis to Revelation. This choice may be good for you if you believe in a "canonical order," or a God-inspired order. It can also be a good choice if looking up verses or chapters slows down your reading. In that case, ignore the numbers and start reading from the first page.
   • You can even purchase versions of the Bible without numbering the verses if you wish.
2. Read in chronological order. You can read the Bible in the order in which the events occurred. Look online for plans to read that follow the sequence of events in the Bible. If you read chronologically, you will break up the different Bible books. For example, you will find yourself switching to the Book of Job in the middle of reading Genesis, because Job lived during the time covered in Genesis.
3. Read in historical order. Read the books of the Bible according to estimates of the time in which they were written. If you are interested in following how different Bible writers have responded to and revised each other's thinking, you can choose to read in this order. Search lists of estimated dates online.

Method 3 of 3: Read the Bible from start to finish

1. Read every day, from January. One method of reading the Bible is to do this every day starting in January. If you want to start in another month, adjust your schedule accordingly.
2. Read Genesis and Exodus in January. Genesis and Exodus are part of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) and are known as law books because they provide laws and instructions for the people of Israel.
   • Read three chapters a day. At this rate, you have read the book of Genesis on January 17 and the book of Exodus on January 31.
   • If you want to use this schedule but don't plan to start in January, adjust your monthly plan.
3. Read Leviticus and Numbers in February and start with the book of Deuteronomy. The lectures this month focus on the law books. Continue to read an average of three chapters a day. The length of the chapters varies.
   • Read four chapters on February 1; three chapters a day from February 2-4; two chapters on February 5; three chapters a day from February 6-7; two chapters a day from February 8-13; and one chapter from February 14th.
   • Read three chapters a day from February 15-16; two chapters a day from February 17-18; three chapters of February 19; two chapters from February 20; three chapters of February 21; two chapters from February 22; three chapters of February 23; and two chapters a day from February 24-28.
   • Using this reading plan, you will complete Leviticus on February 10th and Numbers on February 26th. By the last day of February, you will have completed 4 Deuteronomy (the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy).
4. Read the rest of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and part of 1 Samuel in March. The book of Deuteronomy will close the law books. The other books for this month are considered historical books, telling the history of God's people in the Old Testament.
   • Begin with Chapter 5 of Deuteronomy. Read three chapters a day from March 1-4. Read four chapters on March 5; three chapters on March 6; four chapters on March 7; two chapters a day from March 8-9 and three chapters from March 10.
   • Read four chapters a day from March 11-12; three chapters on March 13 and four chapters on March 14; three chapters a day from March 15-17; two chapters on March 18; three chapters on March 19; two chapters a day from March 20-21.
   • Read three chapters a day from March 22-25; four chapters on March 26; three chapters on March 27; five chapters on March 28; four chapters on March 29; two chapters on March 30; and three chapters on March 31.
   • If you follow this plan, you will complete Deuteronomy on March 10, Joshua on March 17, Judges on March 25, and Ruth on March 26. You will also complete the first 17 chapters of 1 Samuel, which is more than halfway through the Bible book.
5. Complete 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 2 Kings in April. These books are classified as Old Testament historical books.
   • Read three chapters on April 1, starting with 1 Samuel 18. Read four chapters on April 2; three chapters on April 3; four chapters on April 4; three chapters on April 5; four chapters on April 6; five chapters on April 7 and three chapters a day from April 8-11.
   • Read two chapters on April 12; three chapters on April 13; two chapters a day from April 14-16; three chapters a day from April 17-19 and two chapters on April 20.
   • Read three chapters on April 21; two chapters on April 22; three chapters a day from April 23-26; two chapters on April 27; three chapters a day from April 28-29; and two chapters on April 30.
   • Following this plan, you will complete 1 Samuel on April 4, 2 Samuel on April 11, 1 Kings on April 20, and 2 Kings on April 29. On the last day of the month you start with the book of 1 Chronicles.
6. Read 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther in May. These books close the historical books of the Old Testament.
   • Begin the reading in May with the third chapter of 1 Chronicles. Read three chapters on May 1; 1 chapter on May 2; two chapters on May 3; three chapters a day from May 4-6; four chapters on May 7 and three chapters a day from May 8-10.
   • Read four chapters on May 11; three chapters on May 12; four chapters on May 13; five chapters on May 14; three chapters on May 15; four chapters on May 16; three chapters on May 17; four chapters on May 18; three chapters on May 19 and two chapters on May 20.
   • Read three chapters on May 21; four chapters on May 22; three chapters a day from May 23-25; 1 chapter on May 26; two chapters a day from May 27-29; and five chapters a day from May 30-31.
   • With this reading plan, you can complete 1 Chronicles on May 10, 2 Chronicles on May 20, Ezra on May 23, Nehemiah on May 29, and Esther on May 31.
7. Read Job and part of Psalms in June. These books are classified as the poetic books of the Old Testament.
   • Begin with chapter 1 of the book of Job. Read four chapters on June 1; three chapters a day from June 2-5; four chapters on June 6; three chapters on June 7; five chapters on June 8 and three chapters a day from June 9-11.
   • Read two chapters on June 12; three chapters on June 13; 8 chapters a day from June 14-15; four chapters on June 16; five chapters on June 17; 6 chapters on June 18 and four chapters per day from June 19-20.
   • Read six chapters on June 21; five chapters on June 22; seven chapters on June 23; eight chapters on June 24; four chapters a day from June 25-27; two chapters on June 28; six chapters on June 29; and four chapters on June 30.
   • With this reading plan, you will complete the book of Job on June 13 and you will be more than halfway through the book of Psalms.
8. Read Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and part of Isaiah in July. Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs are considered to be poetic books of the Old Testament.
   • Begin with Psalm 90. Read six chapters on July 1; seven chapters on July 2; three chapters on July 3; two chapters on July 4; seven chapters on July 5; four chapters on July 6; 1 chapter divided between July 7 and 8 (this is Psalm 119, which is a long chapter); 13 chapters on 9th and seven chapters on July 10th.
   • Read six chapters on July 11; five chapters on July 12; three chapters a day from July 13-19 and two chapters on July 20.
   • Read three chapters a day from July 21-22; two chapters on July 23; four chapters a day from July 24-26; eight chapters on July 27; and four chapters a day from July 28-31.
   • According to this schedule, you will complete Psalms on July 12, Proverbs on July 23, Ecclesiastes on July 26, and Song of Songs on July 27. The last four days of the month will be spent reading the first 17 chapters of Isaiah.
9. Complete the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Lamentations in the month of August. These are the books of the Great Prophets, and are about stories and warnings from the prophets of Israel.
   • Begin August with Isaiah 18. Read five chapters every day from August 1-2; three chapters on August 3; five chapters on August 4; six chapters on August 5; three chapters on 6 and five chapters every day from August 7-10.
   • Read three chapters every day from August 11-14; four chapters each day from August 15-16; five chapters on August 17; three chapters on August 18; four chapters on August 19 and two chapters on August 20.
   • Read three chapters every day from August 21-22; four chapters every day from August 23-24; three chapters on August 25; two chapters every day from August 26-27; three chapters on August 28; two chapters on August 29; and four chapters every day from August 30-31.
   • With this reading plan, you will complete Isaiah on August 11, Jeremiah on August 27, and Lamentations on August 29. During the last two days of the month, you will then begin the book of Ezekiel.
10. Read Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, and Zechariah in September. The books of Ezekiel and Daniel are considered the writings of the Great Prophets, while the rest of the books for this month are classified as the writings of the Minor Prophets. The reading plan may seem like a lot of material for a month, but many of the books are short, with just a few chapters each.
    • Begin with chapter 9 in the book of Ezekiel. Read four chapters on September 1; three chapters on September 2; two chapters on September 3; three chapters on September 4; two chapters a day from September 5-6 and three chapters a day from September 7-18.
    • Read seven chapters on September 19-20; three chapters on September 21; five chapters on September 22; four chapters on September 23; five chapters on September 24; seven chapters on September 25; three chapters on September 26; six chapters on September 27; two chapters on September 28; and seven chapters a day from September 29-30.
    • This reading plan allows you to finish Ezekiel on September 14, Daniel on September 18, Hosea on September 20, Joel on September 21, Amos on September 23, Obadiah and Jonah on September 24, Micah on September 25, Nahum on September 26 September, Habakkuk and Zephaniah on September 27.
11. Read Malachi, Matthew, Mark and most of Luke in October. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, so you can complete the Old Testament and begin the New Testament if you follow the reading plan this month. You will also begin with the chapters known as the Gospels in the New Testament.
    • Begin with Malachi 1. Read four chapters a day from October 1-2; two chapters a day from October 3-7; three chapters on October 8; two chapters a day from October 9-12; 1 chapter on October 13; two chapters on 14th and three chapters on October 15th.
    • Read two chapters a day from October 16-20; 1 chapter on October 21; two chapters on October 22; 1 chapter on October 23; two chapters a day from October 24-29; three chapters on October 30; and two chapters on October 31.
    • If you stick to this plan, you will complete Malachi on October 1, Matthew on October 14, and Mark on October 22.
12. Complete Luke, John, Acts and Romans and begin 1 Corinthians in November. During this month you will have read the Gospels and learn more about the history of the New Testament through the book of Acts. You will also start with the letters (letters written to specific municipalities).
    • Begin this month by reading Luke 19. Read two chapters a day from November 1-9; three chapters a day from November 10-15.
    • Read two chapters on November 16; three chapters on November 17; two chapters every day from November 18-19; three chapters every day from November 20-24; four chapters on November 25; three chapters each day from November 26-28; and four chapters every day from November 29-30.
    • With this reading plan, you will finish Luke on November 3, John on November 12, Acts on November 23, and Romans on November 28.
13. Finish reading the Bible in December. The books for this month include 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude and Revelations. These books are categorized as letters, with the exception of Revelation, which is usually considered a prophetic book. This month's reading assignment may seem long based on the number of books, but many of the books are short and some only contain one chapter.
    • Start with 1 Corinthians 9.Read three chapters a day from December 1-2; two chapters on December 3; four chapters on December 4; five chapters on December 5; four chapters on December 6 and three chapters a day from December 7-10.
    • Read four chapters on December 11; four chapters on December 12; five chapters on December 13; three chapters on December 14; six chapters on December 15; four chapters a day from December 16-17; six chapters on December 18; four chapters on December 19 and three chapters on December 20.
    • Read five chapters on December 21; five chapters on December 22; three chapters on December 23; five chapters on December 24; three chapters on December 25; three chapters on December 26; five chapters on December 27; four chapters a day from December 28-29; and three chapters a day from December 30-31.
    • Using this reading plan, you will read 1 Corinthians on December 3, 2 Corinthians on December 6, Galatians on December 8, Ephesians on December 10, Philippines on December 11, Colossians on December 12, 1 Thessalonians on December 13, 2 Thessalonians on 14 December, 1 Timothy on December 15, 2 Timothy on December 16, Titus and Philemon on December 17, Hebrews on December 20, James on December 21, 1 Peter on December 22, 2 Peter on December 23, 1 John on December 24, 2 John, 3 John and Jude on December 25 and Revelation on December 31.
    • Most importantly, you have completed the entire Bible from start to finish in one year.

Necessities

• The Bible translation and layout of your preferred Bible.