How many people have read the bible the whole way through & how many times

I am just interested in how many people have read the bible all the way through and if you haven't and why not and what struggles did you deal with
What version did you read ?

I personally I have read through multiple versions of the bible when working in the Christian bookshop

The reason I am asking this is because I read it through without a reading plan going through one book at a time

It also helps as it means you are grounded in it as if someone refers to a passage , you can understand the context from memory and what time period

If are bibles were taken away or deleted from the app store would you know enough in prison even I would fail with this

I normally get people to refer to an audio bible so that if they struggle with the names in scripture or to someone who can't read such as the gypsies.

It is embarrassing as sometimes when someone who can barely read know more of the bible that a literate person

I always remember handing out a Bible and he was homeless and the lady in the church she was not reading her bible and the homeless person was

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

I do not understand people who say they love Jesus but do not love the bible

It is like loving someone but not reading any of there texts or phone calls

The joyful news is if we read God's Word daily being born again. When our Bibles are took from us The Holy Spirit will bring to our minds scripture we need for each instance.

Even deeper then this is our personal relationship with Jesus, and our growing inward relationship with His Holy Spirit. So our Bibles can be took but they cannot take our personal relationship with Christ, because He lives within us.

Yes though, while we have Bible's to read we need to dive into them deeply. Praying the Holy Spirit would teach us. Listening to what He wants us to heed and obey. We can be so stubborn and blind. In His mercy may He bury His truths deep within us! Even the crumbs are a great blessing to the needy, such as we are.

billy1980

Have you read the bible the whole way through ?

I have, how many times only God knows. Of course as you know this in itself matters not if one does not listen, and instead closes their heart to what the Spirit seeks to reveal concerning sin and Christ Jesus.

Then to the born again ones. Those who have been transformed if we read only and do not put it into practice. The very Word will be agianszt us on that day.

I have read it through each year for at least 10 years. The plan is a passage from Psalms or Proverbs, about 3 OT chapters and about 1 NT chapter per day. I have read through it in a chronological plan twice I believe- which was interesting.

I try not to fall into the trap of reading just to read- but even that is better than not reading at all.

The pandemic has helped in allowing me to read more slowly and deliberately and make notes etc because I don’t have to commute to work everyday.

While you obviously are not memorizing when you read, if you read enough then passages become very familiar. In our Bible study class I find I am able to reference many passages, some of them rather arcane, by memory even if I can’t reference the exact chapter and verse.

Iv never read it through from cover to cover, iv never seen a verse that tells me to do that , and the prophetic spirit has never told me or led me to that, besides that, i feel in love with the new covenant. Mabey god leads others in his own way , in my view, i hear men teaching that rather than Jesus, the apostle's doctrine never taught that, but iv spent years meditating on the scripture some days at work would get up to Mabey 6 to eight hours of audio that on went on for 3 or four years, from two or three hours up to 8 hours of new covenant blessing some times more than 8 hours because i worked as a plasterer some days were 10,11 hour days that's where I got my energy from, id be smiling with little tears in my eyes many days at work, His word his worth more then any gold or anything really , there no words to describe how much the word of god means to me because its life itself and it is sprit, and it saved my life soul and body .

I believe we would have a different church completely if we read the letters of pauls over and over again till we receive the deep revelations that he had received. Then that the veil would be completely lifted, so the shadows of the old covenant become less hidden to us.

brothagary you should :)
TMK welldone TMK
billy1980

I wish I could urge you more to get deeper into Gods word

If everyone in the church read the bible the whole way through we would have a different church

You're funny Dominic, I didn't say i don't read the old testament. it may even be a possibility I read it much more then you brother , are you judging me with righteous judgment

Brother dom be gentle, you asked a question surely you didn't think you would get answers from everyone that agrees with your views and theology. It's ok to disagree you know, would seem strange if we all answered biblical questions with just no or yes. My point is where in the bible does it says we must read it from cover to cover, if you give one verse, i will read it like that because then I would know I'm commanded to do that, I'm more concerned with the commands of our Lord rather then what other people do, each to their own ok brother. don't be offended I'm not telling any one not to read bible ok. love you brother, be blessed in my name of Jesus for ever ..

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Luke 4:4
But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’

3. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow, as it judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Hebrews 5:13
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

12. 1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

How can you even know the Lord without knowing the bible ?

Matt 7
Build on the Rock(AB)

24 "Therefore (AC)whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that (AD)the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 (AE)for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Have you built your house on the sand rather than one the rock

Matthew 13
New King James Version
The Parable of the Sower(A)

13 On the same day Jesus went out of the house (B)and sat by the sea. 2 (C)And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that (D)He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: (E)"Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some (F)a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 (G)He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Purpose of Parables(H)

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, "Because (I)it has been given to you to know the [a]mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 (J)For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

(K)‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not (L)perceive;
15
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears (M)are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have (N)closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I [b]should (O)heal them.’

16 But (P)blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you (Q)that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Parable of the Sower Explained(R)

18 (S)"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word (T)of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately (U)receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when (V)tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately (W)he stumbles. 22 Now (X)he who received seed (Y)among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears (Z)fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Which seed are you ?

Psalm 119:11
Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

If you are a christian you must have a love of the bible else you will get blown around by every wind of doctrine

Hebrews 13:9
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

Ephesians 4:14
New King James Version

14 that we should no longer be (A)children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of (B)deceitful plotting,

Revelation 22:14
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

The bible commands us to read it

I was asking because it is important to read and know the bible from back to front

Amen fully agree never ever would say that it's not important to know whole the bible, i think you may miss understood what I meant , ill be clearer next time sorry brother !

God bless 😃

Grace and truth
John 1:17
New King James Version
17 For (A)the law was given through Moses, but (B)grace and (C)truth came through Jesus Chris

The reason that I am asking is that people can be deceived so easily if they do not know there bible

Some pastors use the greek and Hebrew languages to decieve you as well

This is why I was asking it was to encourage those that haven't read the bible the whole way and to encourage those that have to go deeper into the original languages

I would love to do a poll is it maybe 10 percent of people on sermon index have read the whole bible the whole way through

There are certain things that you understand if you have read the bible the whole way through

I am not criticising you if you haven't

I would like to know what version you have used and how far have you got ? If you haven't got all the way through ?
If you have I want to know what version you read all the way through ?

I agree Gary- There is no actual command to read the whole Bible. I read it because I got into the habit and it’s a habit I happen to like. Certainly no one has to read the Bible through every year just for the sake of doing it. I know lots of great Christians who don’t read through the Bible in a year. Of course they do read their Bible.

I've lost track. Cover to cover? At least 5 times, but I read it every day in the morning and before I go to bed (I shoot for an hour a day).

I agree with Todd, I try to not read just for the sake of reading; I really try to pray through the Bible and let God speak to me (although I do find that my mind wanders sometimes).

What version ?
People dont have an excuse if they are in a lockdown
It depends how hungry they are for god's word
People can read the bible really quickly if they love Jesus

Sorry, brother I didn't mean that I just meant the idea of systematically reading it from the beginning to the end like we do a normal book that iv never done, I might spend 3 days re-reading the first 3 chapters of genesis until I feel I got something from there that I didn't understand, going back over while at the same time I might be reading a letter of paul in a similar way simultaneously. And then i might read a whole letter of the new testament like Ephesians about say three or four times in a row, then other times a verse will pop up in my mind ill go to that verse and read the preceding and following around it a few times, then another verse will pop in my mind in another letter that is related then I go there and do I similar thing, I just blow with the wind so to speak, I'm also a big believer in prophecy rather than a prepared sermon, most of the time, don't want to quench the spirit, because he seems to no know what he's doing a verse comes to mind now. Mark 13:11
But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit, the holy spirit himself leads me into all truth and what he wants me to do and say and read, that might be because of the gift of prophecy, I think if someone never received that gift for whatever reason then this would bestrange to think like this, also if one misunderstands what the gift of prophecy is ,its seems that dont receive the full benefits of that gift, some people believe the gift of prophecy is just for teaching , but for me it contains much more , it's literally the voice of the holy spirit for direct guidance in all things pertaining to ministry and godliness. and can be completely relied upon, being the greatest gift of all and works in a complimentry way with other gifts and even enhances the gifts we receive, according to your faith let it be done unto you when understanding what it is and then desire it as paul said we receive only by faith and then it grows and matures because it is literally part of the person of the holy spirit of God which precedes from the father, it is god himself in us, Christ in us, its part of the christ being formed in us, and us growing and maturing in Christ, so it is so important to me. Because it is no longer i who live but Christ who lives in me, and I want him to be fully formed in my soul seeing that we are already one spirit together, prophecy is how he receive the mind of christ.

I read the good old King James Version. I do reference other versions sometimes and use a Hebrew/ Greek concordance for better understanding. Leonard Ravenhill said "I still think the King James Version is nearest to the best".

Well-done drifter
What does the word Christ mean ?
Where does the word Christian even come from ?
The Muslims have a Qur'an , the Hindus have the bhavari Gita and other writings , Jesus is mentioned in many other books but he is not the Jesus we worship
It is not of little relevance it is of prime importance
How are you suopose to know the Jesus of the bible as Jesus is in the Qur'an but he is a prophet who didn't die on the cross and who turned wood pigeons into real pigeons.
If you do not read the scriptures , you do not know where he is born , you do not know why he died for our sin
You do not know about the men of faith in history
You do not know about Passover and that Jesus is the Passover lamb or the many prophecies regarding his first coming or the history of Israel and the church
And the many prophecies regarding his second coming

You do not know the pain that job and David and others went through
How can you not love Jesus and not love his word as that what he says
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. note

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

I know Muslims that know the bible than most Christians they do not know Jesus and are not saved

God has given us a book , Chinese Christians long for a Bible , many the blood of martyrs have been shed so we can read the bible from people like William Tyndale, John wycliff
There are people in the world who long for one page of the bible and have waited for years for it to be translated into there language
People are dying now in concentration camps in North korea because they have read the bible
Why is it we have gold dust in the word of God yet it lays unread gathering dust and apps are unused

There are so many Christians who haven't got the bible in there language who would long to read the bible from cover to cover

The answer is do you love Jesus enough to read his word

I like the King James Version but use others helps as needed.

TorontoDan I support a deliverance ministry and they use the same logic that the early christians had no bible.

Here is the answer to that:
2 Timothy 3:14-17 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Paul is telling Timothy that from a child he knew the holy scriptures. That means he had the old testament part of it. The new testament was being written but keep in mind the early christians had the actual apostles themselves. Once the apostles were gone the church was forced to collect the new testament writings and compile them together.

Basically the old testament = the prophets (also priests, kings, and other leaders but mainly the prophets).

The new testament = the apostles (and their associates).

See below verses:
2 Peter 3:1-2 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

Peter is saying being mindful of the old testament and the new testament. We don't have the old testament prophets and the new testament apostles with us physically but we have their words which is the same.

When you hear the argument that such and such didn't have a bible its because they had the actual messengers themselves with them. We don't so we need the bible.

Its through the bible you know God. We cannot separate the written word from the Spirit.

John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

I hope I used that verse in its right context.

I agree bible reading itself is not the answer. You have to meditate on it. Moreover you have to read it coupled with faith.

I agree with you spiritual things can end up becoming a routine and dead.

Here is an encouraging article:

How To Read The Bible

This booklet is written by a dear saint, Philip Green, who visited Singapore in 1980. He was an elderly man probably in his sixties then. According to my pastor, his life was so transformed by the words of the living God through the many years he spent reading the precious words of God that he was truly a very humble man, unassuming in his ways and his life truly manifested the grace of God in meekness and humility. When most speakers engaged to speak in conferences were put up in hotels, he was housed in an old school building instead. Apparently, even Christendom does not appreciate true godliness and piety. Should the Lord Jesus Christ returns, we should not expect the vast majority of the Christian world to welcome Him with warm embrace. As such like the Scriptures say, "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Here is an email sent to me from the daughter of Brother Green.

God took him to his eternal reward October 4, 2001. I had wished I could somehow get this information on the internet and here it is. Thank you so much for your work.

Daddy read the Bible through daily almost until his death. I have his calendar where he marked it each time he finished…. He read it through….every day…for many years. Believing that as you read it over and over again…your reading speed increases..making it easy to read the Bible through many…many times.

I appreciate you giving the credit of the booklet and much of his information to Philip Green. There have been people through the years to print much of this material…almost word for word…and put their own name on the article. I thank you for your honesty.

Nevetheless, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Any child of God endeavoring to acquire more faith must spend time in the words of the living God. For we are commanded to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:13) Brother Green has some very good points on how to read through the Holy Bible. May your faith be strengthened as you seek to read the Scriptures to know God’s will for your life!

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH

By Philip Green, M.A.

READ IT THROUGH
by Amos Wells

I supposed I knew the Bible,
reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis;
Certain chapters of Isaiah
certain Psalms (the twenty-third),
Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs,
yet I thought I knew the word.
But I found a thorough reading
was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
when I read the Bible through

You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble here and there
Just before you kneel a-weary,
and yawn out a hurried prayer;
You who treat the (crown of writing)
as you treat no other book ”“
Just a paragraph disjointed,
Just a crude, impatient look ”“
Try a worthier procedure,
try a broad and steady view,
You will kneel in very rapture
When You Read The Bible Through.

Habit changing facts about Bible reading come to light in the following pages.

By questions and answers over a time of 28 years and over 10,000 days, reading 30 pages every single day and some days many more, 4 words form the basis of a new, rich habit reading the Bible through.

It is my only wish in this publication to give you the essentials to begin and maintain a daily reading habit through the Bible.

Keep this publication in your reading Bible, not only for your own reference, but to help the many hungry men and women, boys and girls, to share the joy of reading the Bible through several times every year.

A Handy Reference Sheet For Your Convenience

1. What are the 4 THINGS required for successful Bible Reading through?
2. Should a definite time be set for daily reading? You set the time.
3. What is the real problem with Bible reading? A poor reading habit.
4. Why have over 90% of Bible believers failed to read the Bible through?
5. What is considered good reading? How many words per minute?
6. Why should your reading volume be with you always? Extra time to read!
7. Is it best for each believer to have at least two Bibles? Why
8. How did Jesus feel and what did He ask about Bible reading?
9. Can the Bible be read successfully in just a few days? See 5.
10. How do YOU read?
11. If I read through the Bible once or twice, is that enough?
12. How does the Bible get into me? Only 2 ways! Both very important!
13. How should one start a Bible reading through habit? Read books 5 times!
14. Is it really hard work to establish a Bible reading through habit? Yes!
15. Why is daily schedule of pages best? Other plans have failed!
16. How long does it take to establish a new reading habit? At least 30 days!
17. Will I understand and remember what I read every day? Spirit, our Helper!
18. What about the long lists of names?
19. How often should I read the Bible through?
20. What 10 things are listed by a reading expert for me to follow?
21. What will continuous Bible reading through the Bible do for me?
22. Will I be successful reading and knowing the Bible?
23. Will you give some details of your own reading schedule for 28 years?
24. When will the "Bible Reader’s Handbook” be available to us?
25. Can we write for more facts and will our questions be answered?

HOW TO READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH

1. 10,000 days reading through the Bible began 28 years ago and has continued every day since 1950. Successful Bible reading requires 4 things: PURPOSE ”“ to know God and His Word better. PLAN ”“ to read the entire Bible through in a set number of pages. SCHEDULE ”“ reading a set number of pages (not chapters) each day to finish on a set day. RECORD ”“ keeping records of times read through the Bible, goals in Bible reading through, and marking a calendar each day when the set number of pages are read.

2. Arising at 5:00 A.M. every day of the year, I read a set of number of pages in a minimum time limit of one hour. In 1950 during 3 days of fasting and prayer, God told me to read the Bible through over and over. Information was scarce, so constant research all over the world in the Bible reading field has been a major part of my life ever since.14 extended trips overseas, reaching 60 nations on all continents, covering over 200,000 miles, and spending over four years abroad have given time to research libraries, confer with leaders in the Bible field, to ask thousands of people about their Bible reading habits, how it was done, when it was done, how much of the Bible was read daily, and did they read straight through the Bible? What problems did they meet along the way and what was done to solve them? Discussions were held with missionaries and teachers of various denominations, colleges and universities, Bible distribution centers, businessmen, men in the medical and mental fields, and anywhere that Bible reading could be brought into the conversation. Reactions were carefully noted and the following paragraphs are written for the benefit of Bible believers who deeply yearn to become avid readers of the whole Bible, and to live in the light of the eternal Word of God.

3. What is the reading problem? 57% of American adults never read a book through according to the Gallop poll. Television reports 90% of Americans are in trouble with reading and over 90% of the Bible believers are in trouble with their Bible reading. Have you heard this statement- "This BOOK will KEEP YOU from sin, or SIN WILL keep YOU from THIS BOOK!” I am convinced that a lack of the Word of God in personal life is responsible for the confusion, frustrations, and bitterness that fills the average personality, and this is the cause for much illness and suffering. My Christian Counseling broadcasts emphasizing the Bible as GOD’S ANSWER BOOK for all human problems brings letters filled with hate, envy, sorrow, resentment and fear ”“ Dr. McMillen says these five emotions cause at least 60% of all illness. Three times the Bible warns "Man SHALL NOT LIVE…but by EVERY WORD OF GOD!” Personal counseling with thousands around the world confirms that so little is known about the "sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God” that it is not being used as God intended ”“ to defeat sin and the devil now in our daily living on earth. The Word of God is the believer’s weapon against the devil ”“ a sword. Read it ”“ Know it ”“ Use it ”“ continue in it reading through it ”“ to be FREE!

4. It is reported that Americans read 1-1/4 hours a day: newspapers ”“ 30 minutes; magazines ”“ 25 minutes; reports ”“ 20 minutes; NO BIBLE READING listed. A book has been on the market for years containing several pages of good suggestions for Bible reading. Later in the same book, the author admits he never read the Bible through in his life! When two questions were asked in a convention of 3,000, "Do you read the Bible 20 minutes a day? And "Do you pray 20 minutes a day?” 80%, or 2,400, did not! Several hundred ministers discussed a motion to recommend a Bible reading program to their people. After several hours of discussion, the motion was `tabled’ (not voted on) because no specific reading plan was found! Patrick Henry on his deathbed said, "Here is a Book, worth more than all others that were ever printed, yet it is my misfortune NEVER TO HAVE FOUND TIME TO READ IT.” Consider that most of the suggestions for Bible reading in the past did not produce Bible readers, and I am keeping this failure-factor in mind as I continue to write for a Bible hungry, world wide audience.

5. What is considered good reading? The National Reading Institute reports 200 words a minute poor reading. 250 words a minute is good. 400 words a minute is excellent. If you read less than 200 words a minute the mind wanders off to other things. The mind is a computer that picks up ideas ”“ not words. As long as you get the idea from what you read, a better rate of reading is yours from practice, practice and more practice, reading from a set number of pages an hour, then a few more pages the next day, and gradually move your reading rate up and when you go back a bit in your words per minute, you will still be doing better than when you get started.

For all considerations we will use the slowest rate ”“ 200 words a minute in following paragraphs. This 200 words per minute is not reading, but a suggestion to help you discontinue dragging your reading through the Bible. You can read too fast and you can read too slow ”“ by far the greater percentage of Bible readers read much too slow. This is a bad habit. You will lose interest. You will quit reading your Bible through. Slow reading is why so many people do not and have not read the Bible through in the past.

When you read the Bible at 200 words a minute (about 10 verses), for one hour a day, you WILL read the Bible through in 2 MONTHS or 6 times a year. Are you surprised? Thousands of people are surprised about this.

When you read the Bible at 200 words a minute (and that is slow reading), for only ½ hour or 30 minutes daily, you will read the Bible through in 4 MONTHS or 3 times a year! Are you still surprised?

Someone has written that 2/3 of all Bible books (44 of 66) are small books, AND CAN BE READ THROUGH, each one of the 44, in 30 MINUTES OR LESS! IF two small books are read in 1 hour each day, TWO THIRDS OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE IS READ THROUGH IN ONLY 22 DAYS! IF the remaining 22 longer books are read through, one a day, THE ENTIRE BIBLE CAN BE READ THROUGH IN 44 DAYS or 6 weeks and 2 DAYS! THAT’S 8 TIMES THROUGH YEARLY!

If you READ THE Bible through only once a year ”“ 5 pages daily ”“ you will not remember what you read because your thoughts will not hold together because other thoughts will crowd into the mind, and you are not taking enough of the Word into your mind and heart to do much good.

6. Be sure to use a Giant print reading Bible, and when it is cut into 7 volumes of 260 pages each, it is not heavy, you can keep your volume with you and you should at all times. You can then read in spare moment or while waiting. Hundreds of otherwise lost hours can be redeemed by reading the Word continually. I have done this for years with great profits in my life.

Be sure to have a good study Bible. Do not read from your study Bible, and do not study from your reading Bible. One of the things you must stop is trying to mix reading and study. Reading through the Bible is on a schedule (reading a set number of pages each day to finish at a set date); but study can be slow, you can mull over Scriptures as much as you like, mark verses, BUT NOT WHILE READING YOUR HOUR A DAY!

Moody puts it straight for all of us:
"When I READ the Bible ””””GOD TALKS TO ME.”
"When I STUDY ””””-I prepare myself to TALK TO OTHERS.”

7. This distinction and order must not be forgotten. Daily Bible reading a set number of pages daily should be done while you are alone ”“ GOD TALKS TO YOU as you read His Word. Do not share your reading time with anyone but God. You are not having devotions ”“ you are reading the Bible through! We all easily understand the second ”“ I look up and TALK TO GOD. The third "study” is another thing separate from the first two. I have read articles and books on Bible reading only to find that the author falls into the old trap ”“ he talks five sentences on reading the Bible and twenty five on study. This is wrong ”“ he said he was talking about reading the Bible ”“ he was not! You must not run reading and study together because they do not mix. You will go overboard on "study” and neglect reading. All three should and must be done without neglecting the others if you want a balanced life in God. As a college teacher, I was told you were not prepared to teach any text book until you have read it several times through. How are you going to study or teach any book you have not read? Let us read the Bible through ”“ start today!

8. Wilbur M. Smite wrote "HAVE YOU NOT READ?” in "Christianity Today” and stated that "Jesus rebuked the Pharisees twice, the Sadducees twice and the scribes once FOR NOT READING THE BIBLE.” Jesus repeats the question 11 times "HAVE YOU NOT READ?” in the first 3 Gospels.
"Have you NOT read?” Matt. 12:3.
"Have YOU not READ in the law?” Matt. 12:5.
"Have you NOT read?” Matt.19:4.
"Have YOU NEVER read?” Matt. 21:16.
"Did YOU NEVER read?” Matt. 21:42.
"Have YOU NOT READ that which was SPOKEN unto you by God?” Matt. 22:31.
"Have you NEVER read?” Mark 2:25.
"Have YOU NOT READ THIS SCRIPTURE?” Mark 12:10.
"Have you NOT READ in the BOOK of Moses?” Mark 12:26.
"Have you NOT READ so much as this?” Luke 6:3.

10. "HOW READEST thou?” Luke 10:26

How Do You Read? Spurgeon picked up a Bible with a hole made all the way through by a worm, and he cried out, "Make me a Book worm for Jesus.”

Campbell Morgan told an audience the entire Bible could be read through in 80 hours at the SLOW READING RATE pastors use in the pulpit. A lawyer challenged him, admitting that he had never read the Bible through. Morgan told him to read the Bible through before presenting a public challenge. The lawyer read the Bible through IN LESS THAN 80 HOURS!

George Muller read the bible through every 90 days (3 months) or 4 times a year for 25 years, and said, "I am a happy, happy, happy man.” In his writings he tells of some problems that came up in early morning prayer hours. He decided TO READ THE BIBLE FIRST each day ”“ his regular prayer time followed and the problems vanished!

Alvy Ford, blinded in World War 2, says, "I have the Bible on records, but in reading I turn it up (faster) because I find the thought easier to follow and keep the thought fresh in my mind. In reading the Bible one must exercise SELF DISCIPLINE. If I skip several days, I HAVE TO START OVER AND FORCE MYSELF TO READ. I have set a DEFINITE SCHEDULE ”“ through every 3 months or 4 times a year. I DECIDED TO SEE HOW QUICKLY I COULD READ THE BIBLE THROUGH ”“ 4-1/2 days! QUICK READING GAVE ME A MUCH CLEARER CONCEPT of God’s dealing with people and how God would like to deal with me. I RECOMMEND THIS RAPID READING, AND PLAN TO DO IT AGAIN SOON.”

Ravenhill, in his book "Meat For Men” tells of Dr. Sung who was placed in the state hospital in White Plaines, New York. He requested a Bible AND READ IT THROUGH 40 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS, and received a working knowledge of all 1189 chapters in the Bible ”“ EVERY 4-1/2 DAYS FOR HALF A YEAR. He was dismissed, completely recovered, from the hospital!

A blind man heard the Bible read through every 90 days (3 months or 4 times a year) and once in 4-1/2 days. A mentally ill man read the Bible through every 4-1/2 days or 40 times in 6 months. Every blind person and all persons not able to read SHOULD LISTEN TO THE BIBLE ON RECORDS OR TAPE at least an hour a day. 21 MILLION AMERICANS OVER twenty-one years of age CANNOT READ ”“ they MUST listen by records of tapes as the entire Bible is read to them. We all NEED God’s Word and will be without excuse on the day of Judgment!

Will you present a challenge like the lawyer did to Morgan having never read it through? Or will you accept these factual experiences of men who have read the Bible through repeatedly over and over, accept the facts of reading in the right spirit, READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH FOR YOURSELF SEVERAL TIMES OVER and you will be talking from a blessed experience of several reading trips through the Bible, instead of opposing what most believers since the days of the apostles have failed to do ”“ READ THEIR BIBLES THROUGH!

How do you read? Once in awhile? Hit or miss, wherever the Bibles falls open? Only when in trouble or during a storm or the death of a loved one? Just morning devotions with the family and a few verses from the Bible? Reading only the Sunday School lesson? Reading a devotional guide instead of the Bible with its tiny "text” from the Bible? Struggle through the Bible once a year? Read a short Psalm? Or part of a favorite chapter?

Please understand that every time Jesus referred to "Reading” it was only in relation to reading the Scriptures ”“ Christ never made reference to any other reading in His ministry!

11. H. Mears wrote, "Don’t suppose you can read the Bible through once and get its meaning. START OVER AGAIN WHILE THE FIRST TIME THROUGH THE BIBLE IS FRESH IN YOUR MIND, and read the Bible over and over again until the Bible becomes part of your personality. "HEREIN, I say, is the SOLUTION to every problem under the sun ”“ the Bible! Mears warns, "Don’t suppose that reading "LITTLE SCRAPS” will ever give you a knowledge of the Bible.”

12. How does the Bible get into me?

Only 2 ways. The EAR gate ”“ HEARING the Bible preached and proclaimed. The EYE gate ”“ READING the Bible for yourself. Dr. Stalker spoke for the National Bible Society of Scotland and said, "I was in France with no Protestant church, SO I SPENT SUNDAY READING THE BIBLE HERE AND THERE. But when I came to Romans READ IT THROUGH and discovered the theme of the book. It was revolutionary! I FELT THE FORCE of the book AS A WHOLE, and EVERY BOOK IN THE BIBLE WILL DO THE SAME for you.”

Moody testifies, "One week I read Ephesians 93 TIMES THROUGH (13 times daily for a week) and on Sunday preached without notes under the strongest anointing I ever felt in a single service in my life.”

Dr. Gray longed for many years to be filled with the Word of God, but failed to see the way. One day at a conference he met a layman overflowing in the power of the Word and asked him, "How did this happen to you?” The layman answered "BY READING BOOKS OF THE BIBLE OVER AND OVER.” The great preacher was humbled by learning a lesson from a layman he had never discovered in his own ministry. Note the power in reading a whole book of the Bible!

13. FOR YEARS when people have sincerely asked "How should I start a Bible reading schedule in my own life?” I have answered thus ”“ If you have never read the Bible through, PLAN NOW TO START READING EACH BOOK OF THE BIBLE THROUGH AT LEAST FIVE TIMES before going on to the next book in the Bible. Remember if you ever come into a knowledge of the Bible, it must be first a knowledge of Bible books ”“ every book in the Bible ”“ because the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible by books, and the Bible is a Divine Library of 66 books for all of us to READ and KNOW and OBEY to be FREE!

These trips through the Bible books and eventually the entire Bible book by book give you a Broad view of the whole Word of God and without this over-all view of the Bible, you will never quite know where you are in separate books. The quickest and soundest and most enjoyable foundation in the total Bible is to go over each book at least five times and Dr. Gray makes the following suggestions that makes very clear what has been written in the last two paragraphs.

Dr. Gray suggests, (1) Read the book continually WITHOUT REFERENCE TO CHAPTERS AND VERSES. (2) Read it REPEATEDLY until you possess an outline. (3) Read it only at first, without reference to commentaries or helps. (4) Read it relying on the Holy Spirit who wrote it through inspired men, and will enlighten its pages to your understanding. (5) Read it until your spirit bows in adoration and worship before God. LET ITS MESSAGE SEARCH YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH until YOU BECOME ONE WITH ITS PRECEPTS. This requires DISCIPLINE and HARD WORK, but the rewards are beyond measure.”

14. You ask how to have a Bible reading schedule in your own life? You have been told ”“ it is actually so simple ”“ yet the average believer lives and dies never knowing the comfort of the Scriptures, simply because he never read them enough to find out!

Never read the Bible hop, skip and jump. Never limit your reading to familiar passages. Do not read a few chapters in the Old Testament and a few chapters in the New Testament. Dr. Scroggie says, "If you read the Bible, a bit from the Old Testament and a bit from the New Testament, you will REMAIN IGNORANT OF THE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF GOD IN THE BIBLE.”

Dr. Sidlow Baxtor pleads, "Leave the books of the Bible alone where God has seen fit to put them.” Remember also the chapters and verses are not actually a part of the Bible. "They should not be allowed to interrupt the connect READING OF THE SCRIPTURES…The chapter divisions are usually attributed to Stephan Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury in England. The verse divisions of the Old Testament by Rabbi Nathan in 1148, and the New Testament verse by a printer of Paris, Robert Staphanus.”

15. Reading the Bible through by a SCHEDULE OF PAGES has worked well for me all these years, and thousands of people in many lands testify that the page reading makes it easier to read the same amount of Bible each day. Chapters and verse serve a purpose in finding references when you need them and that is good. Otherwise they have no purpose, and reading the Bible through, over and over, by a set number of pages daily, brings an order to your reading through the Bible that helps to strengthen the habit of daily Bible reading by reading the same amount of pages every day.

Why do so many people fail to read the Bible through? Because reading is a HABIT ”“ under-developed in most individuals. Even some college graduates are not good readers. The secret is practice and more practice. Have a certain time to read each day, convenient to your life. Stick to it. Never skip a single day.

16. It takes 30 days to establish a better reading habit pushing and practicing every day. Sorry to say, most people will not continue and thus fail to get out of the rut of old reading habits formed years ago. Have you heard someone say, "I read slow to get it.” The fact really is you read slow because you never tried to read any other way.

17. Will I understand and remember what I read every day?

When reading the Bible, you have the Holy Spirit as Guide and Teacher. Moody said, "When you read the Bible through, ENJOY what you understand, knowing the Holy Spirit will reveal new truths as you continue reading.” The Holy Spirit will "bring back to your remembrance” what you read and know in the Bible, but you must put things in the mind that can be recalled by the Spirit.

18. What about the long lists of names?

There are not that many lists in the Bible. If all the lists of names were in one section of the Bible, they could easily be read in ½ hour or less. The names in the Old Testament are important because they show the line by which Christ came to be our Saviour. Would you stay off a freeway because of a few miles of rough road? I doubt it. There are times reading through the Bible when you will speed up a bit and there will be times when it will be best to slow down a bit. We only remember 20% of what we read, and that is the reason for repeated readings through the Bible.

19. Dr. Moule puts it right when he says, "No matter what your study method, BE ALWAYS READING YOUR BIBLE THROUGH.” We read it all so we will know what part we need to return to for the purpose of study.

What about the schedule for reading the Bible through?

We give you SIX SCHEDULES OF READING TO BE FAIR WITH EVERYONE.

The reading Bible you should use should be big print and not marked much.

5 PAGES DAY Through in 365 days Read through 1 Time Year
10 PAGES DAY Through in 180 days Through 6 months ”“ 2 Times Year
15 PAGES DAY Through in 120 days Through 4 months ”“ 3 Times Year
20 PAGES DAY Through in 90 days Through 3 months ”“ 4 Times Year
30 PAGES DAY Through in 60 days Through 2 months ”“ 6 Times Year
60 PAGES DAY Through in 30 days Through 1 months ”“ 12 Times Year

260 pages, average pages, to each of 7 volumes. No one is asking anyone to follow any certain schedule. You make the choice honestly. If you do not follow a schedule in Bible reading, the chances are slim that you will ever read the Bible through. The devil and circumstances will see to it that, without discipline and determination, you will never read your Bible through.

How Often should I read the Bible through?

J. Hamilton said, "The Word of God still will stand 1,000 readings, and HE WHO HAS GONE OVER IT THE MOST FREQUENTLY, is the SUREST OF FINDING NEW TREASURES THERE.” It is entirely up to you. Make the fairest and best decision that you can for the best in eternity. The Book will be there when you arrive. How will you really feel, glad or sad at the sight of the world’s most wonderful and only inspired and living Book?

What are the 7 rules for better reading?

PRE-READ ”“ Look the book over, title page, contents, headings, author, look over the first and last chapters of the book. Authors state their case in chapter one and summarize in the last chapter.

SHIFT SPEED ”“ Let eyes go over print like a car goes over different roadbeds, sometimes slow down and sometimes speed up.

READ PHRASES ”“ even paragraphs ”“ do not read one word at a time.

Read With PURPOSE ”“ there are really 4: Information ”“ New Ideas ”“ Enrichment ”“ Relaxation.

Concentrate ”“ you can read too slow, just like too fast. You remember only 20% of what you read, regardless of slow or fast reading.

Skim names and small details. Knowing BIG points will bring the little ones into memory and focus. Try it and see.

Find and follow the MAIN thought. Remember ”“ when you have heard a speaker, and you later tell a friend what he said ”“ you really report what you remember he said ”“ NEVER do you report what the speaker said word for word ”“ if you talk that way, why not read that way? It does work!

How to find time to read that book.

Lydia Roberts said: 1. Talk less. 2. Carry book with you. 3. Keep book under pillow for sleepless nights. 4. Wake up 15 minutes early to read. 5. Keep the book with you at all times ”“ read while waiting.

Again be reminded READING IS A HABIT. If we obey Jesus we will read the Bible through because Jesus was concerned about Bible reading in His day. Some read only the New Testament, but the Bible is one Book and if all references in the New Testament to the Old Testament were removed, you would have only a few chapters left! Be honest about it. No one fully understands and enjoys the New Testament who does not read and know the Old Testament as well. Be determined to read the whole of the Bible several times a year all the way through.

Can you give a summary of what you have written?

Let us review from the words of reading specialist. Realize that new discoveries in the reading field have changed things permanently. You need not become a speed reader, but everyone should practice to be a better reader, and should obey certain rules of reading. No matter the speed that you read ”“ we only remember 20% ”“ "so be always reading the Bible through.”

20. Last April the Tampa Tribune invited Dr. Ratz, a reading specialist who reads 25,000 words a minute, to address 300 people in a double session at the International Inn. She was great! I sat with ears in my eyes as she told what could be done by understanding reading and comprehension better, and then she said, "Most you have come here in vain ”“ what I have to say to you will not believe ”“ and I can’t help you.”

I talked to some teachers after the double session ”“ they got nothing out of what she said. A legal secretary laughed and said, "It’s not for me.” One person rudely interrupted several times because she did not understand either. My wife went home, believing what she heard about reading and increased her own reading speed from 300 to 700 words a minute with 90% comprehension. I could write a book on what Dr. Ratz said, I hardly looked up but took notes for the entire 120 minutes that I use to this day.

Dr. Ratz made several suggestions and I list just a few:

"If you read a book in 6 weeks, you have not read it, you have only played with it, and you will not remember what you read.”

"You must change your mental attitude to change your reading habits. It is not easy, and most of you will not take the time to do it.”

Use right hand as a pacer. Evelyn Woods discovered this in her Dynamics Reading Course known to thousands. Move the hand down the page to keep the eyes moving. Practice for 6 weeks to get good results and do it every day.

Keep an open mind. You are breaking old habits and making new ones, and IT WILL NOT BE EASY OR COMFORTABLE.

Always preview. Never pick up a book and just start reading. Find out if it fits your need.

Have a purpose. If you have no purpose then read no book. It will do you no good.

Read for ideas ”“ not just words. Never again read a book in 3 or 18 sittings. Read books through at a single sitting to get the maximum out of them.

Test yourself. Figure your own words per minute. You can do better. There is a right and wrong way to read anything, even the newspaper.

Be positive and realize what an increased reading rate will do for your own store of ready information on any subject in which you are interested.

Start tonight ”“ try out these suggestions when you get home while they are still on your mind.

21. What will continuous Bible reading do for me?

Your answer is in your own Bible and found in Deuteronomy 17:18-20.

The king is told he needs "the Book.” V18. "It shall be WITH him”…always. V19. Why? V19 "he shall READ THEREIN ALL the DAYS OF HIS LIFE:”

7 Blessings Of Bible Reading
LEARN to fear the Lord.
KNOW what laws to keep.
Kept humble.
Established ”“ not turn
Long Life
CONTINUE ”“ his kingdom
Blessed children

7 BLESSINGS WILL RESULT:
1,2 … MENTAL …Mind needs the WORD!
3-5 …Physical, Social, Emotional WORD!
6 …Material and social care ”“ WORD!
7 …Happy family ”“ by the WORD!

"He shall READ therein ALL the DAYS of his LIFE” How can anyone honestly question consistent, constant, daily, READING THE BIBLE THROUGH? How can you refuse to do it? What will you say when you stand in His presence and the BOOK will face you there?

Remember SAUL REFUSED TO HAVE A COPY OF THE BOOK ”“ SAUL DID NOT READ DAILY THROUGH THE BOOK ”“ SAUL’S confused, unstable life, his mental illness, his hates and outlandish conduct and death should warn us all ”“ DO NOT NEGLECT TO READ DAILY THROUGH AND KNOW GOD’S WORDS.

Just one hour daily reading the Bible through ”“ Purpose ”“ Plan ”“ Schedule ”“ Record. This does not hinder prayer and study time. All 3 Read-Pray-Study are separate and different. Bible reading through has suffered most in the past. Proper balance between the 3 is the only safe policy, no matter what you have been doing ”“ make room for Bible Reading in your daily schedule and be sure to have a purpose-plan-schedule-keep a record.

21. Will I be successful? Success only appears once in the Bible ”“ Joshua 1:8. "WORD SUCCESS” is all that is in the verse! That’s amazing, really. 4 Conditions: MOUTH ”“ TALK THE WORD. MIND ”“ THINK THE WORD. EYES ”“ READ THE WORD. WILL ”“ DO, OBEY THE WORD. 2 Promises: Thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS. Thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS.

To TALK THE WORD ”“ I must KNOW IT. John 8:30-32 "Jews BELIEVED ON HIM”. To THINK THE WORD ”“ I must KNOW IT. "CONTINUE in WORD ”“ I WILL KNOW IT. "ye shall KNOW” (condition ”“ read through). To OBEY THE WORD ”“ I must KNOW IT. "TRUTH (Bible) make YOU FREE!!!”

FREE ”“ the more I KNOW the TRUTH, the MORE FREE I AM through HIS WORD. I READ ”“ PRAY ”“ STUDY ”“ all in BALANCE with the other, not one neglected! Paul put "READING” first in 1 Timothy 4 ”“ then "STUDY” in 2 Timothy 2:15. Let’s keep it in place to be balanced ”“ many are over balanced on study and this must not be allowed.

Rev. 1:3 "Blessed (Happy) is he that READETH, and they that HEAR … and KEEP things are WRITTEN: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND.”

23. Now in the 28th year reading a certain number of pages daily, I look back with joy over 10,000 days, having read every day since 1950. Was it always easy? No. Did I fall behind schedule sometimes? Yes, but always made it up and kept a record always up to date. Has the schedule remained the same for the 28 years? No, but each time a change was made, reading was increased rather than decreased. Here is the schedule I look back upon today:

5 Years ”“ 30 Pages Daily ”“ Read through in 60 Days ”“ 6 Times Yearly
10 Years ”“ 45 Pages Daily ”“ Read through in 40 Days ”“ 9 Times Yearly
20 Years ”“ 60 Pages Daily ”“ Read through in 30 Days ”“ 12 Times Yearly
22 Years ”“ 90 Pages Daily ”“ Read through in 20 Days ”“ 18 Times Yearly
23 Years ”“ 120 Pages Daily ”“ Read through in 15 Days ”“ 24 Times Yearly
24 Years ”“ 260 Pages Daily ”“ Read through in 7 Days ”“ 52 Times Yearly
28 Years ”“ 608 Pages Daily ”“ Read through in 3 Days ”“ 121 Times Yearly

My progress was gradual. I was a college graduate and college teacher, but did not know the rules for better reading when I began. I did not even know what good reading was or how to describe it.

For the first five years, the Bible was read through 6 times a year, or every two months ”“ 60 days. It was the hardest habit I ever tried to establish in my life!

For the next 10 years it took 6 weeks (1 ½ months) to read the Bible through; for 20 years, it took 30 days or each month to read through. For 24 years it took a week to read through the Bible. 26 years it averaged 6 days reading through the Bible, and in the 28th year, the over all average is 3 days through, and it takes over an hour a day, with my giant print reading the Bible cut into 3 volumes ”“ and I keep it with me all the time to read in spare moments during the day or night.

Moody offered five dollars to anyone who could catch him without his Bible. A young man found him in the hall of a Y.M.C.A. in his bathrobe on the way to the shower. When he asked about his Bible, Moody reached inside his robe to a small pocket his wife had placed there and pulled out his New Testament. The 7 Volume Giant print reading Bible is easy to keep with you all the time, at least the volume you are reading through, and this is really the secret of reading through the Bible in a short time. It is not just zipping through to build up a total! We all know there would be no profit with the wrong motive, but what about those who are critical who have no motive to read their Bible through?

My Bible is filled with key words all the way through, and serve as lights along the path reading through the Bible. Every book has a key word and every chapter (1,189) through the Bible has a chapter summary and a key verse in every chapter is marked. Main characters all the way through, main events all the way through, main crisis points all the way through, the highpoints all the way through, and this knowledge that came largely from repetition ”“ reading the Bible through over and over ”“ so that one is completely at home anywhere through the Word of God. This does not result form education, but repeatedly reading the Bible through over and over. The results in my life have been worth the daily effort for over 28 years!

I must remind you the material I have listed above is in my study Bible. Very little marking should ever appear in a reading Bible, and then only in light pencil that can be erased when transferred to your study Bible. No underlining whatsoever in your reading Bible. Such markings will hinder future reading through, and will hinder you getting new thoughts from the Holy Spirit as you read through. I can truthfully state that each time reading through the Bible is a major adventure for me, as the Holy Spirit points out things along the way I never saw before!

There have been times and even seasons over the years when my reading has been increased, sometimes reading ten hours a day. Overseas I had many opportunities to be alone a lot and these hours were turned into reading time through the Bible.

I do read other books ”“ many books a year, but NEVER until my Bible reading is done for the day first. On trips I do not travel until a set number of pages are read daily. If I have a rushed schedule in some country, the reading is done the day before in order not to fall behind on the typed schedule that is made yearly and followed daily and marked on a calendar.

A final note and announcement. Bible Reading Seminars are conducted all over the world for various groups of believers, using diagrams in color to illustrate each step. CRUSADES are conducted also all over the world as God directs. In crusades Bible reading is discussed the first week. In the nights that follow a variety of subjects are presented in larger diagrams in color as that the audience can see the message as well as hear it.

A "BIBLE READER’S HANDBOOK” will be available soon, showing all the key words, and the chapter summary for every book in the Bible ”“ each book diagram will be on a separate sheet of paper, so that when you read through, you only need turn the page to the book you are reading through, and it will give reading time and brief suggestions to aid you in understanding the book, and thus your reading trips through the Bible will be more enjoyable.

Feel free to write at any time and you will receive an answer to any questions about Bible reading. This service is free and open to all of you. God bless you, every one, and "Be always reading your Bible through.”

Yours in Christ,
Philip Green
7109 S. Westshore
Tampa, Florida
Phone: 813-832-8021, 813-626-4747

IT IS A FACT ”“

Using the poor rate of reading 200 words a minute (about 10 verses) THE BIBLE CAN BE READ THROUGH, READING 30 MINUTES (1 ½ HOUR) DAILY for 4 MONTHS or 3 TIMES A YEAR!

IT IS A FACT ”“

God has spoken 7 blessings to His Bible readers in Deut. 17:19, 20. The 19th verse says, "he shall read therein ALL THE DAYS of his life.” If he is told to read ALL HIS DAYS, he must read ALL THE BOOK!

IT IS A FACT ”“

Moody said, (1) "When I READ the Bible, GOD TALKS TO ME.” (2) "When I PRAY, I TALK TO GOD.” And (3) "When I STUDY, I TALK TO OTHERS.”

The 3 words are different and will not mix. How can I talk to others about God UNLESS I LET GOD TALK TO ME FIRST AS I READ THE BIBLE THROUGH.

IT IS A FACT ”“

READING is a HABIT and we must PRACTICE TO PROGRESS DAILY. PUSH every day to CHANGE YOUR BAD READING HABIT. PRACTICE ”“ read 10 pages in an hour. PRACTICE ”“ read 15 pages in an hour. PRACTICE ”“ read 20 pages in an hour. PRACTICE, PUSH, every day to a goal.
MOST WILL NOT ”“ YOU CAN DO IT.

IT IS A FACT ”“

George Mueller read the Bible through every 3 months (90 days) for 25 years ”“ that would be 20 pages in the Giant Print edition Bible daily ”“ this is SLOW reading, allowing 3 minutes to each page for one hour.

IT IS A FACT ”“

To be FREE, we must KNOW THE TRUTH. THE CONDITION we MUST KNOW first, BY READING THE BOOK THROUGH. Then we ACT on what we KNOW and the result is FREEDOM. Remember the Chinese proverb, "A book not read is A BLOCK OF PAPER.”

IT IS A FACT ”“

The 200 words per minute ARE NOT SPEED READING the Bible through. Some of my students read far beyond the 200 words, BUT AT 200 words a minute, you will be a far better reader of the Bible than you are NOW ”“ TRY IT and SEE FOR YOURSELF how much MORE you will enjoy, remember, comprehend, and meditate in the WHOLE BIBLE as you repeatedly READ THE WHOLE BIBLE THROUGH over and over for your own good both here and in eternity.

Dr. Moule said, "No matter what your study habit, BE ALWAYS READING your Bible THROUGH.”

IT IS A FACT ”“

You need not speed read your Bible, But over 90% of all Bible believers NEED TO READ THE Bible better, and daily and through. Start today!

IT IS A FACT ”“

Dr. Sung, in state hospital, read the Bible through EVERY 4 ½ DAYS for 6 months. He gained a working knowledge of every chapter in the Bible (1189) in only 6 months -reading the Bible from the first word to the last word over and over. He was released from the hospital completely free and well!

IT IS A FACT ”“

If you use your clock or the timer on your stove, you will read more pages in the hour, and the more you read your Bible through, the clearer will be the over-all picture of God’s dealings with mankind through the ages.

IT IS A FACT ”“

Reading 200 words a minute is poor by national standards, BUT THE BIBLE CAN BE READ THROUGH, reading ONE HOUR DAILY for 2 MONTHS or 6 TIMES A YEAR at 200 words a minute!

IT IS A FACT ”“

44 Bible books ARE SHORT, EACH CAN BE READ IN 30 MINUTES (1/2 Hour). If 2 short Bible books are READ in ONE HOUR daily, 2/3 of the entire Bible can be read SLOWLY in 22 DAYS!

IT IS A FACT ”“

All the way back to the apostles, the great majority of Bible believers have never read the Bible from start to finish.

IT IS A FACT ”“

In the New Testament, Paul tells Timothy to READ in the first letter, and instructs him to "study” in the 2nd letter. This IS CORRECT ORDER!

IT IS A FACT ”“

We must read entire books of the Bible at a time ”“ do not chop it up, skip here and there, or read a few chapters in the Old Testament and then a few chapters in the New ”“ NEVER DO THAT ”“ "You will remain ignorant of God’s plan and purpose through the Bible.”

Source:
https://www.kjv-asia.com/how-to-read-the-bible/

Yes I know that is probably a KJV only site. Still good article to read no matter what version you use.

Is this one of those condemnation threads?

bill I think id feel a bit condemned trying to live up to that last post of Platy, did that man quote one bible verse in that massive sermon

Bill,

Listen to this message here:

https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=4633&commentView=itemComments

Once you've listened to it fully my question to you will be do you consider that a condemning message?

Brother Gary,

He is just offering practical advice in that article. However you read the bible is up to you. I certainly don't follow everything or agree with everything in that article. The fact is though most people do not read their bibles. Or let me put it this way they have no interest in the bible. I personally did a polling in people in my own circle. The number of people who show any interest for the word of God is close to 0%.

amen yea, I hate to say it but I don't know many people who love their bibles. we are sure weirdos to many people and even churchgoers... one thing I liked about Keith's sermons, some of them are just the word memorized and spoke nothing else, imaging if he walks to those liberal churches, they all go to the dunny at the same time to get away from the word of god , but some might even get born again, cause Keith is one powerful preacher I remember one or two of is messages which were mainly just scripture readings, were on the top of my favorites lists. i remember paul said to timmy, give attention to the public reading of scripture.

My message here is, even though the OP of this thread probably didn’t purposely "I hope” post it to bring condemnation, these kind of threads can. It’s like asking how many here go to church or go to church every Sunday.

Your intention may be sincere, but asking questions like this can put some folks under condemnation, I feel the only person that needs to know if I read my bible, or go to church is God, and of course he already knows.

Also, what about the folks that never read their bible, but feel the need to post in a thread like this to keep up the good Christian appearance, and say they do. Christians do lie, we are not at all perfect, and it’s really easy to lie on the internet where no one knows you personally, and probably never will.

Now with that said, I’m not accusing anyone on this thread of lying, but if you bring on enough condemnation in others, it could cause them to not be completely truthful about something.

Now these kind of threads can be useful for those who don’t read their bible, or read it as much as they would like to, they can be a reminder. We have to know the heart of the OP and why they are asking a question like this. I don’t personally know Dominic, and I surely don’t know his heart.

Also when you add scripture to a thread like this, that just adds fuel to the fire of condemnation for some. For me the Bible is an instruction book, it helps me put my life together, just like sometimes we need instructions to put something together.

If I don't read my Bible or go to church will I go to hell? No. The only prerequisite for going to Heaven is accepting Christ into your heart as Lord and God. Remember the only person we need to please in the way we live our lives, is God, I personally have no desire to please man. If Dominic reads his bible frequently, it’s easy for him to ask this question. I wonder if he never reads his Bible, would he even have started this thread?

Dominic said: "I do not understand people who say they love Jesus but do not love the bible"

I personally don't understand folks that think we all should be like and think like them, and should be at the same place in our walk as them. Some folks may forget, God made us all different for a reason, all the way to our fingerprints, over 7 billion folks on the planet, not another print the same, amazing!

When I read some of the words in the subject of this Keith Daniel sermon ""Sin will keep me from the Bible, but the Bible will keep me from sin." I have no desire to go any farther. Sin will keep me from the Bible? so only sinners don't read their Bibles? Aren't we all sinners? He also said the Bible will keep me from sin? Is that right? so if I start reading my Bible continuously, I will never sin? Pastors needs to be very careful in their messages, and the words they type or speak, because we're all sinners regardless if we read our Bibles or not, well of course that's what my Bible say's, maybe Keith is reading from a different one, to make a quote like that.

no bill I'm not a sinner its no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me,, a saint, if we listen to your gospel we may have a well not have a bible,throw it in the bin hey we don't need it,iv never heard anything like this before .... 1john 3 9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. We don't need this verse do we bill , with that false doctrine that you proposed here, it's no one you think you sinner, without holiness no one will see the lord ..... 1john 3 4Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him, there is no sin. 6Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. another verse from the bible we don't need to read... no wonder you don't like the bible bill it makes you feel uncomfortable doesn't it , thats called conviction of sin which is another doctrine from the bible that you don't need ..

no wonder you don't like the bible bill it makes you feel uncomfortable doesn't it

We in absolutely no way deny that we are sinners. Goodness, walk around in any of our heads for a half hour and there will be no doubt! We sin, we stumble, we fail. We hurt others and we hurt God. We chase after our own desires and can be incredibly self-absorbed. If you have not yet come to the realization that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and that the "all” includes you, then we’d encourage you to do some serious soul searching. We’re sorry to be the ones to break it to you, but you do not have perfect behavior. And if your Mom or Pastor were the ones that gave you that idea, they were lying.

Psalm 14:3 gives us another example, "They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” Or check out Romans 7:21-24, "So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

We must see, acknowledge, and allow ourselves to feel the pain and turmoil of our sin. Grace does not ignore sin or pretend like it no longer has significant consequences. Understanding our sin and its effects is part of what makes the grace of God so unendingly wondrous.

Quote:
"no wonder you don't like the bible bill it makes you feel uncomfortable doesn't it”

What? Where did I say that? Wow!
””””””””””-
Bill I agree that that was a gross overreaction to your posts. I didn’t take it any where near the way Gary did.

I don’t think the OP was meant to bring condemnation but who knows. I do think a Christian should desire to read the Bible, not necessarily all the way through in a year, but at least regularly. Perhaps Keith Daniel was referencing the verse "They word I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.” I think the idea is that if we spend time in God’s word it can’t help but change us for the good. After all, it is a living word. It doesn’t just lay there.

But I know that you know this already. And I know you read the word. How much you or I read is between us and God- and nobody else. I volunteered my reading plan simply as an encouragement- that’s all. My mom read through the Bible for years before I decided to do it. But again, no one HAS to do it. What they have to do is grow deeper in the Lord. That is not an option, and how they do that is between them and the Lord.

Thank you Todd and Dan, Dan you interrupted my post/posts very well. I'm not upset or mad at anyone, I just feel we all should have the same respect for others posts as we do theirs. If we see some correction in someone's post, in the process of chastening which is the means of correcting us, we should make sure it is done by the Spirit of God as the "Instrument of Correction", this is the way it should be done. I guess you could call me a realist/common sense type of person, by no means am I am Bible Scholar, and I'm open to everyone's thoughts, why? because I can be taught.

This brings me to a quote I've posted here many times my old Pastor said in 1958 during his sermon, "Brothers and Sisters, You Haven't Ever Been Beat Up, Until You Have Been Beat Up By a Christian". From some of the posts or replies I've witnessed here at times, I believe he was correct, and it still hold true today. By the way, I do understand the pandemic has a lot of folks on edge, and we all probably say things we may not normally say, but I'm ok, I'm a VERY forgiving person, I "Thank God" was born with the gift of forgiveness.

It was interesting I think when the Scottish revival happened people I am trying as there was massive bible sales I am trying to find the quote by Duncan Campbell

A quote from pilgrims progress

Now while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to look back, and saw Ignorance come up to the river side; but he soon got over, and that without half that difficulty which the other two men met with.[330] For it happened that there was then in that place, one Vain-hope,[331] a ferryman, that with his boat helped him over; so he, as the other I saw, did ascend the hill, to come up to the gate, only he came alone; neither did any man meet him with the least encouragement. When he was come up to the gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have been quickly administered to him; but he was asked by the men that looked over the top of the gate, Whence came you? and what would you have? He answered, I have eat and drank in the presence of the King, and He has taught in our streets. Then they asked him for his certificate, that they might go in and show it to the King; so he fumbled in his bosom for one, and found none. Then said they, Have you none? But the man answered never a word. So they told the King, but He would not come down to see him, but commanded the two Shining Ones that conducted Christian and Hopeful to the City, to go out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and have him away. Then they took him up, and carried him through the air, to the door that I saw in the side of the hill, and put him in there.
Then I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of Heaven,

Keith Daniels i think quoted like entire books from memory

When I first posted this I was more interested in your personal use of the bible

We are in a sorry state , without the bible there are no concepts such as original sin , the holy spirit and so many fundamental things to Christians

The other thing that I find it so important that people who are not grounded in the bible are less likely to be taken out by cults such as the Jehovah's witnesses and other cults

I wanted to do a poll as I went to a university town where people who studied theology and people were Buddhists and atheists who knew the bible than most Christians and used it against Christians but this is not an argument for not reading your bible

We should have read the bible at least once

We want a revival but don't want to study the word of God and in most revivals there has been a hunger for the bible

John 16:8-11, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged

This is talking about the holy spirit

Acts 5
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? note

4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

John 16:14
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Acts 2:42

ESV - 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Reading your bible is a basic 101 like prayer and the aspect of salvation is through grace alone, faith alone , by Christ alone

How do you know who to worship

The reason is that when I worked at the Christian bookshop I read through many translations from cover to cover

It also helps you when you are listening to preachers to check every word they say against the bible as there are so many saying that preachers use that are not from the text and I use a greek strongs to look up there greek words

There was times I got baptised I had such a hunger for the word of God I got through 1 Samuel to proverbs in a few hours because I wanted Jesus or got through the new testament in two weeks

I used to argue why do we need books when we have TV and videos and God convicted me

I have read the bible so many times I can not count and I know the history and have read numerous commentaries and know when it was written , the geography but would still long for one touch of the king to change everything

I understand if someone hasnt been a Christian maybe like 3 years and they haven't read the bible the whole way through but I have met some Christians who have in there first year consumed more of the bible than Christians who have been 20 years in the faith and have not read the bible the whole way through

If you haven't I am not critical just take Greg's offer and listen to the audio bible

Bill i wasn't angry at you or bitter, texting words are not a great way to communicate,, but when you say things this like this .......If I don't read my Bible or go to church will I go to hell? No. The only prerequisite for going to Heaven is accepting Christ into your heart as Lord and God. ........That is far from the gospel and the teachings of Christ, Jesus taught much more than that he taught self-denial and counting the cost of following him, he called people to the highest level of holiness, be perfect and be holy like your father he said, you seem to condemn Keith daniel for promoting the importance of meditating on scripture. You've reduced the gospel to just getting into heaven, and just excepting Jesus into your heart, you won't find that Jesus or the apostles taught anything like this, you will find all of Greg's sermons of this site were put here to counter that weak watered-down view of the gospel, and I'm glad for sermon index that you won't find a single sermon that would say anything like that your words are literally rebuking every single pastor and evangelist and their messages listed on here .................. Bill with all gentleness when you say this ..... I feel the only person that needs to know if I read my bible or go to church is God, and of course, he already knows. you show your reject church authority regarding eldership which is a fundamental teaching of the apostles and Jesus himself who taught discipling as the foundation of growing to maturity and as an essential part of the gospel, you ignore the verses in the bible that call for holiness and then quote verses out of context as if you can cancel out the most important verses which prove that the evidence that person is truel born again is he won't live like a sinner, this type of gospel is dangerous because it gives babes in christ and unbelievers none of the apostles nor Jesus teachings on enduring and growing and the main message which is repentance, wheres the message of repentance and forsaking sin and the message of being set free from sin, that is Christ's gospel ......john 834Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. The good news is that Jesus will set you free from all sin so that we can walk as Christ, 6Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked. Bill do you claim to be in Christ, you must walk then as christ walked, and this is for all Christians whether they be offended or not. I'm angry either I'm full of joy and peace and my conscience is clear because i pray in the spirit I'm not committing sins like a did in my past life, your words delegate people to sin every few hours , which is not true. one more verse to chew on brother .... 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.…

I have nothing else to say on this thread, Gary, we're as far apart as the east from the west on our thinking. I'm sticking to what I've said, and I'm sure you are also. God Bless have a wonderful week.

I know we are Bill, bless you, and may he fill you and me with the love of his spirit, and may we both walk in all the fullness of God.

Here is a Poll
https://linkto.run/p/GNW8FLNL

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Colossians 2:2
that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

1 Thessalonians 3:2
and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

Bill I am trying to encourage you :)

Even if it is just five min or 1/2 an hour in the bible or listening to an audio bible

Here's a quote that some will gladly grab hold of:
The choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian!

(Thomas Brooks)

LISTEN to audio! Download audio

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

If it is not the aim of your heart to practice what you read, to what end do you read?

To increase your own condemnation? If your light and knowledge is not turned into practice, the more knowing man you are, the more miserable man you will be in the day of recompense! Your light and knowledge will be . . .
that rod that will eternally lash you,
and that scorpion that will forever bite you,
and that worm that will everlastingly gnaw you!

Therefore read and labor to know, that you may DO--or else you are undone for ever!

Remember, it is not hasty reading, but serious meditating upon holy and heavenly truths, that make them prove sweet and profitable to the soul.

It is not the bee's touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon the flower that draws out the sweet.

It is not he who reads most, but he who meditates most--who will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian

With that said, with all due respect to Thomas Brooks who is way beyond me, he has only part right.

As has been said, if we love Jesus and the Father then we will love His voice and long to sit at His feel and hear it.

Next, the Spirit says that we become like Jesus when and as we "behold Him". Beholding Jesus happens in at least two critical ways..... through the apostles teaching and through the prophets who spoke of Him ( the early church was devoted to this teaching)...... and through Jesus "manifesting" Himself to us as we walk in fellowship with Him by loving Him and obeying His commands.

Given all that, why wouldn't you cherish, love, seek and tremble at every syllable that has been spoken by the Spirt? I'm at a loss to understand how anyone wouldn't devote themselves to "digging' for heavenly gold every opportunity they get. Unless of course they don't see the value in this particular gold which is not a rebuke but just a mentioning of loss.

I don’t have time to read every post on this thread, but to answer the original question, I am on my 5th time through. I consider that pathetic as I have been a believer for over 40 years. I have used the One Year Bible just for ease and have altered the translations each time. I have used NASB which is the Bible I primarily use, as well as NKJV and ESV. I have to say though that I’m not sure reading through is the best way necessarily. One year I found that I was just doing it out of duty and I almost came to dread it some days. That sounds almost blasphemous. I don’t mean I don’t love the Lord or have a strong desire to know Him more intimately. I just mean I came to dread the "ritual” of it. I almost think one could be better served if one spent an hour or more meditating on one verse, or one section. It is not the reading through that is important as much as letting the Word change us. One year recently I took a break from the reading through as I was going through a very difficult time in my life. My readings were primarily in the Psalms. I know EVERY word is important and given by God, but I in no way felt "scolded” by God for not being able to be in the genealogies or Levitical law or the chapters on the details of the tabernacle.The Psalms were what ministered to me and God used to keep me hanging on. I don’t put this out there to invite controversy. Yes, we could all spend more time in the Word, we would do well to ask God to help us love His Word more than we do....no matter how mature we are in Christ. I’m not suggesting that we don’t need to read the Bible cover to cover. I just think we need to guard against it being a dead ritual.

Amazing :)

I agree reading the Bible is extremely important. But to ask how often we read it is only useful for statistics.
Do we really believe it is the Word of God?
Then why are so many Christians reading versions that have clearly been changed, like the "Message" ?
Many don't believe the Bible is the ultimate authority.

May the Lord open our eyes and give us a new heart and a new hunger for His Word so that we delight in it (PS 1)

This is another whole thread if someone read the Voice Bible I would tell them to get a proper version

The inerracy of scripture is another thread I agree with the inerracy of scripture

I agree reading the Bible is extremely important. But to ask how often we read it is only useful for statistics.
Do we really believe it is the Word of God?
Then why are so many Christians reading versions that have clearly been changed, like the "Message" ?
Many don't believe the Bible is the ultimate authority.

If we once get above our Bibles, and cease making the written word of God our sole rule both as to faith and practice, we shall soon lie open to all manner of delusion, and be in great danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Our blessed Lord, though he had the Spirit of God without measure, yet always was governed by, and fought the devil with, 'It is written'. This the apostle calls the 'sword of the Spirit'. We may say of it, as David said of Goliath's sword, 'None like this'. The scriptures are called the lively oracles of God: not only because they are generally made use of to beget in us a new life, but also to keep up and increase it in the soul. The apostle Peter, in his second epistle, prefers it even to seeing Christ transfigured upon the mount. For after he had said, chap. 1:18. 'This voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount'; he adds, 'We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts': that is, till we shake off these bodies, and see Jesus face to face. Till then we must see and converse with him through the glass of his word. We must make his testimonies our counselors, and daily, with Mary, sit at Jesus' feet, by faith hearing his word. We shall then by happy experience find, that they are spirit and life, meat indeed and drink indeed, to our souls.

-George Whitefield

Source:
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=54

It's amazing how fast this thread got off track. The original question was "How many people have read the bible the whole way through & how many times" He did not say ONE word about folks NOT reading their Bibles, or ask how many folks don't read their Bibles. By reading some of the replies, you might have thought he ask "How many folks don't read their Bibles at all". Hopefully the folks that read their Bibles all the time, or have read their Bibles many times through, read a lot better than they do here. :)

Hi Dominic,

My wife and I begin every morning reading the Bible together. We typically wait until we're both fully awake (i.e., at least a half-hour after we wake up) and usually in our living room. We do this at a time so that we're free from distractions.

When we read, we go through the Bible on a book-by-book basis. For our latest journey through the Bible, we read the books of Matthew, Mark, John and Luke...then Acts...and then Galatians. After that, we went through the Book of the Law (i.e., Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) before moving to Joshua and Judges. After this, we are going back to the New Testament epistles.

I will add that this is in addition to our private, individual Bible readings that we do on our own.

As for versions: We're both very familiar with the KJV, NIV and NASB. My wife is also very familiar with the Reina Valera Antigua and a couple of other Spanish translations. In fact, we have an additional version or two within arm's reach so that we can see how a different version might word the same passage.

I appreciate going through the Bible on a book-by-book and chapter-by-chapter path. This is especially true with books that are time-linear or historical accounts.

I will say this: I think that it is vitally important for believers to read all four Gospels and Acts as well as the Book of the Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). I think that it is very helpful to read them from start to finish too.

The epistles are filled with references to the Law of Moses or even stories of people like Balaam. I've known people who have been saved for a long time who struggle with understanding the Old Testament passages -- including those from the Book of the Law account.

In fact, the epistles aren't quite as readily understood unless you understand the passages that they so often refer to (from the life of Jesus as well as the account from Creation to entering the Promised Land).

I agree that it is vitally important to read the Word daily! We have this wonderful ability to have it accessible at our fingertips. We say that we want to hear God's voice -- but so many never make the most of the opportunity to read his words.

As for versions: We're both very familiar with the KJV, NIV and NASB. My wife is also very familiar with the Reina Valera Antigua and a couple of other Spanish translations. In fact, we have an additional version or two within arm's reach so that we can see how a different version might word the same passage

Welldone Chriss

It is also interesting reading scriptures in different languages as I know I think the Russians used the septugient for the pslams as there is slight differences on what greek texts are behind the bible

I agree that it is vitally important to read the Word daily! We have this wonderful ability to have it accessible at our fingertips. We say that we want to hear God's voice -- but so many never make the most of the opportunity to read his words.

:)

Matthew 5:18
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled