Resolved, To Read the Bible in the New Year
Encouragement to read through the Scriptures as the New Year approaches.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. —Hebrews 4:12
I don’t do very well with annual Bible Reading plans. I’ve tried many of them, some successfully and some unsuccessfully. Most unsuccessfully. I thrive with rigidity and routine but always fail when it comes to Bible reading plans.
I have legitimate excuses. Life is busy. Family time is important. I get tired. I need more sleep than I used to. I’m ADHD, and my brain wonders aimlessly. In my teaching ministry, I’m usually studying at least 4 different books of the Bible at a single time, so keeping up with a reading plan can be difficult. Currently, I’m studying Acts, Psalms, Mark, James, Colossians, and the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith for teaching purposes. My teaching responsibilities are shared with other men, so I’m not teaching out of each of these books every week, but I still must keep up with my studies.
And there are other books to read. I read books with individuals in discipleship meetings. There are books that I need and want to read for theological study and personal growth. Then, there are the books that are assigned for school. Each of my classes requires at least 2,000 pages of reading. My brain can only take in so much information in a given day before it turns to mush and ceases to function properly.
Then there is the reality of just being me. I’m not a fast reader, and I’m not very good at reading. I don’t know how to determine reading skills; I just know that I’m not good at it. I find it laborious, and I don’t enjoy reading. I’ve never once sought out a book to cure my boredom. I read out of necessity and the desire for knowledge. I read and study the Bible out of obedience and pastoral responsibility. I have to know what it says; to know what it says, I have to read it.
That being said, when I was converted to Christ, the Holy Spirit of God placed within me an insatiable desire to intimately know the God who looked upon my wretched estate and sent his only begotten Son to accomplish my salvation. Above all else, I read because I want to know God. I want to know him better and more intimately, and I want to know how to live for his glory. And the way that God has determined for me to know him is through his Word. Therefore, I read it, and I cherish it.
God has chosen to reveal himself to us in a special way through his inspired Word. It is only through the Bible that we come to know God. Sure, the Book of Creation reveals to us that there is a God, and nature reveals things about this God, but the light of nature is not a sufficient means for us to truly know our God. We need the Bible, and by God’s grace, he has given us the Bible so that we can know him and his will.
Chapter 1, Paragraph 1 of the 2nd LBCF beautifully and succinctly confesses this truth:
The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience, although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His church; and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.
I have had some limited success with Bible reading plans.
Several years ago, I profited immensely by following a chronological Bible reading plan. This plan helped me to get a better grasp of the meta-narrative of the Bible. It was helpful to read David’s Psalms alongside the events of his life that served as the impetus for writing. For example, reading Psalm 51 alongside 2 Samuel 11-12 gives the proper context for the Psalm and helps us to feel the weight and emotion of the Psalm. It was beneficial for me to read the prophets alongside Kings and Chronicles. This plan gave me a better handle on the Scriptures. For example, reading Isaiah 7 alongside 2 Kings 16 is helpful. When reading 1 and 2 Kings, the prophetic focus is primarily on Elijah and Elisha. It’s helpful for us to see God’s grace, mercy, and patience during the downfall of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms in the sending of prophets to call them to repentance. God didn’t just passively allow them to fall into idolatry and apostasy. Rather, he pursued after them, sending prophets who served as covenant enforcers, and they pleaded with the people of Israel to turn back to God. During the time period that is covered in 1 and 2 Kings—the pre-exilic writing prophets Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel (carried into Babylonian exile) carried out their ministry. A good chronological bible reading plan will place these prophecies alongside their historical context in 1 and 2 Kings. Here is a good chronological year-long reading plan.
I also truly enjoyed following Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Bible reading plan. This plan is well thought out and will guide you through reading the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice in a single year. It’s also designed with a family reading and secret reading, so it will help in guiding family worship times. Daily, you will have readings from 4 different books of the Bible. It’s a wonderful plan that will nourish your soul. You can access his plan here.
My favorite plan is really no plan at all. I simply like to start at Genesis 1:1 and read through Revelation 22:21. And then do it again and again. There are 1,189 chapters in the Bible. If you average reading 4 chapters per day you will easily read through the Bible in a single year.
Just considering the numbers, reading the Bible seems like a daunting task.
2 Testaments
66 Books (39 OT and 27 NT)
1,189 Chapters
31, 103 Verses
783, 137 Words (KJV)
As the new year approaches, if you desire to read the Bible in its entirety in the next 12 months, and if you are resolved to read the Bible in its entirety this year, let me encourage you to do so. Let me encourage you to know that it’s possible. And let me encourage you to know that you are not a failure if you don’t complete it. Just keep reading until you finish it. Don’t keep starting over. Finish the course even if your 1-year plan turns into a 2-year plan. My assumption is that the vast majority of Christians have never read the entire Bible. However long it takes you—just read it.
Personally, I don’t follow a plan. I don’t have a goal to read X number of chapters per day. I don’t start on January 1st. In my reading through the Bible, I’m currently in 1 Samuel. I finished and started over a couple of months ago. I simply start in Genesis, and I read through Revelation. Then I start back over again in Genesis. I usually read through the Bible more than once in a year. But I don’t really keep track of it. I just keep reading, keep plodding, and keep enjoying the unsearchable riches of this book.
Here is some encouragement/advice for reading through the Bible this year.
1.) Enjoy Reading the Bible
The Creator of heaven and earth, the seas and skies, and everything in them has condescended to you and given you his Word to reveal himself to you. God speaks to us through his Word. When we read the Bible, we are reading the very words of God. Be amazed! It has been said, “If you want to hear the audible voice of God, then read the Bible out loud.” Enjoy reading such a wonderful and gracious gift. Treasure it.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
—Psalm 19:7-11
2.) Read the Bible Every Day
Don’t panic if you miss a day. You won’t lose your salvation for missing a day of Bible reading. In fact, if you could lose your salvation, you would definitely lose it before you made it 24 hours without reading the Bible. You’d probably lose it before you left the house in the morning. But be resolved to read the Scripture every day, even if it’s just 15 minutes. Carve out time daily to read. If it helps establish a routine. Read in the morning, at lunch, in the evening—whenever is conveniently consistent for you. Read it on paper, your phone, a tablet, or a computer. Just strive to read it daily.
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
— Psalm 119:9-16
3.) Be Prepared to Feel Overwhelmed at Times
The Bible is a unique book. It contains 66 books written by approximately 40 different authors in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek) over a time period of approximately 1,500 years. It’s also unique in that the Bible contains many different literary genres. There is law, historical narrative, wisdom literature, poetry, biographical narratives, epistles, prophecy, and apocalyptic literature. We will not all enjoy each of these genres with the same enthusiasm. For some, reading books of law-code like Leviticus and Deuteronomy is overwhelming. I love reading those books and reflecting on the holiness of God and the superiority of Christ in the new covenant. For others, reading long historical narratives is burdensome. Again, I love the rich history found in books like Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. For me, reading through the Psalter is difficult. I love the Psalms; I love reading them, singing them, and preaching them. But I find reading through long sections of the Psalter for days on end to be challenging. When you get bogged down and feel overwhelmed, just keep reading.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
— 2 Timothy 3:14-17
4.) Mix Up the Pace
Don’t feel that you have to read a prescribed number of chapters every day. We’re not legalists. Mix it up. Preferably, on days when you have time, read long portions of Scripture. Sit and read an entire book in one sitting. Take 2 hours and read all of 1 Samuel or Leviticus in one sitting. Take an hour and read through Revelation in one sitting. Take a few hours and read a larger portion of Scripture. Two days ago, I read through Joshua, Judges, and Ruth in one sitting. Those books go together, they transition the narrative from Moses and the wilderness to the promised land, and they serve to prepare us for what follows in Samuel and Kings. Reading large portions of the Bible helps us to better understand the story and teaching of the Scripture.
Consider this Infographic:
5.) Mark it Up (if you’re a book vandal like me)
Use pens, pencils, highlighters, etc., to mark up the Bible as you read it. Create a color-coded system that helps you trace themes and phrases through books of the Bible. For example, in Leviticus, I use a pink highlighter to highlight the word atonement and the language associated with atonement. As I trace this theme in my reading, it helps me to look forward to Christ who, through a once and for the all-time sacrifice of himself, atoned for my sins. Reading Leviticus is not boring or burdensome if you know the book of Hebrews and are able to see Christ in Leviticus. I use blue to highlight verses that speak of the glory and sovereignty of God, and I use orange to highlight verses concerning wrath and judgment against sin. I use yellow for general highlights and green for unique things that really stand out to me and that I need to revisit. I also use a wide-margin Bible where I pen and pencil notes and my own cross references. The copy of the Bible you’re holding in your hand isn’t the original autograph. You’re not sinning or harming humanity by writing in it. If it helps you to read and retain—mark it up.
6.) Understand that the Bible is Telling One Cohesive Story
The Bible is not 66 distinct unconnected books. Its 66 books all serve to tell one ultimate story. That story is the story of the redemption of the elect of God through the Son of God. God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden, where He had consistent and constant communion with them. There was no sin to separate them from God. There was no enmity between them. There was communion and peace between man and God. And God gave them his Law, “Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surly die.” Deceived by the serpent, our first parents, Adam and Eve, willfully transgressed the Law of God, and they ate of the forbidden tree. In doing so, they sinned against God and plunged the entirety of humanity into depravity and separation from God. When this happened, God cursed the serpent, the Woman, and Adam. When he cursed the serpent, God said in Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heal.” This is what is known as the protoevangelium—the First Gospel—as it is the first promise of the Gospel. It is the promise of redemption and the plan of securing it. The entirety of the Bible from Genesis 3:15 onward is the unfolding of the mystery and promise of Genesis 3:15. As you read the Bible, you are reading the story of redemption; you are reading the story of God sovereignly and providentially bringing forth the seed of the woman in the fullness of time, you are reading the story of the glory of God in salvation through the Christ. Keep this in mind as you read through each book of the Bible. Ask, search, and see how each book fits into the grand narrative of the whole Bible and points us to Christ.
On the Road to Emmaus after the Resurrection of Christ, we read Jesus conversing with his disciples…
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. —Luke 24:25-27
Read all of the Bible searching for Christ. John Calvin, in his commentary on John 5:39 writes,
"We ought to read the Scriptures with the express design of finding Christ in them. Whoever shall turn aside from this object, though he may weary himself throughout his whole life in learning, will never attain the knowledge of the truth; for what wisdom can we have without the wisdom of God?"
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me —John 5:39
7.) Know that You Have the Time to Read the Bible
Even if you’re slow at reading and struggle with reading comprehension, you have plenty of time to read the Bible. We’re not legalists, but we’re also not antinomians. Bible reading is a necessity. It is as necessary for the Christian as eating food, for ‘man shall not live by bread alone but every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.’ There are 8,760 hours in a year. On average, it will take you just under 75 hours to read the Bible. Just know you have plenty of time.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. — Ephesians 5:15-17
Consider these infographics:
8.) Meditate and Pray on What You’ve Read
After you read, don’t just walk away from the Word, having merely accomplished the task for the day. Think deeply about what you’ve read. Take a word, a verse, or a passage from your reading and meditate on it throughout the day. As you fill your mind with the Scriptures, pray the Scriptures. Allow God’s Word to saturate your thoughts, prayers, and all of life.
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
—Psalm 1:1-2
9.) Be Humble
The most intelligent men of history have spent their entire lives plumbing the depths of this book and never reached the bottom. It is unlikely that you will understand absolutely everything you read, especially your first time reading through it. Our infinite God is beyond our finite comprehension. There are portions of the Bible that are incredibly difficult to understand. Even the Apostle Peter writes of the Apostle Paul’s writings, “there are some things in them that are hard to understand.” (2 Peter 3:16) Don’t get overwhelmed and feel inadequate if you don’t immediately comprehend everything. Just keep reading and praying.
And know that even though there are complexities and deep theological truths in the Bible, the central message of the Bible is clear and understandable. We call this the doctrine of the perspicuity of the Scriptures.
The 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith confesses this doctrine in this way:
All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them. (1.7)
Be humble enough to approach the Scriptures with an open mind, acknowledge that you will not understand absolutely everything, and be willing to submit yourself to all that you read.
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. —Deuteronomy 29:29
10.) Choose a Translation that You Can Understand
When reading through the Bible, it is important that we are able to understand, comprehend, and retain the information that we are reading. An accurate and modern translation helps in this regard. While most will acknowledge the beauty of the King James Version, the English is dated and difficult to follow for most modern readers. I suggest reading the English Standard Version (ESV). It is an accurate word-for-word translation written in modern English with helpful editorial headings and footnotes. Whichever translation you decide to use, make sure it is one you will actually read and understand.
A.W. Pink opens his introduction of “The Divine Inspiration of the Bible” with these words, “Christianity is the religion of a Book. Christianity is based upon the impregnable rock of Holy Scripture. The starting point of all doctrinal discussion must be the Bible. Upon the foundation of the Divine inspiration of the Bible stands or falls the entire edifice of Christian truth.--"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)”
Our entire faith is built upon this book and the truth contained in it—Read it!
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. —Philippians 4:8
Grace to you,
Chase
Chase, I hear you say you are not good at reading but I suspect your reading skills are actually above average. There's no way your could read and study as much as you do on top of all of your other activities without being a pretty competent reader. I'm pretty sure you read quite a bit more than I do. It may be hard work, and maybe you expected by now it would seem easier to focus, but that doesn't mean you lack skill. You are determined to pay whatever price is necessary to get all of God's Word that you can get, and get all of the other knowledge that you can get from reading. And that, brother, is a wonderful attitude. May God bless your holy determination!