Anyone read the entire Bible?

[preacher4truth]

It takes a whopping 10-20 minutes per day to read the Bible through in 1 year. Only 4 chapters per day.

If a person got off forums in which they spend hour upon hour day after day and exchanged some of that for this small amount of time they'd accomplish this easy feat. This isn't even considering that believers should also read and study other Biblical works and studies. It also tells us most do not have family devotions with Scripture reading for the sake of their families and selves. A person at church was shocked that we do this and also teach our daughter theology, it's thought of as too difficult, legalistic or in some other ungodly fashion. But for the record that's our duty, note Ephesians 6:4.

Doing this is only deemed difficult or nearly impossible because of electronic device addictions and habits which do damage to attention spans, and frankly also to laziness. If it takes a person 3 years or more to read through, they're only in it about 3-4 minutes a day on average yet hours are spent on electronic devices.

It's not really that difficult, it has to do with proper prorities and the dirty word "discipline." Note 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Timothy 4:6ff and Psalm 119.

 

[OneOfHis]

Anyone read the entire Bible in a short period of time (like a year or two years)? How did you feel after you read the entire Bible?

Yes.... completely changed my life... I will continue to read it and will always learn more. I started reading the bible in unbelief actually looking for greater reasons to doubt it after feeling very convicted. It may have actually taken about two years to fully complete reading it but I had read some books/chapters 15+ times before I read the whole thing once. (some others didn't get the same initial effort)


I was still very wrong about many things after that but I felt and feel that I can always find the truth in the bible so if I am wrong or looking for answers I know the best place to look. (of course with prayer and asking God to show me what He wants me to see and not hold on to false ideas or bias)

 

[OneOfHis]

It takes a whopping 10-20 minutes per day to read the Bible through in 1 year. Only 4 chapters per day.

If a person got off forums in which they spend hour upon hour day after day and exchanged some of that for this small amount of time they'd accomplish this easy feat. This isn't even considering that believers should also read and study other Biblical works and studies. It also tells us most do not have family devotions with Scripture reading for the sake of their families and selves. A person at church was shocked that we do this and also teach our daughter theology, it's thought of as too difficult, legalistic or in some other ungodly fashion. But for the record that's our duty, note Ephesians 6:4.

Doing this is only deemed difficult or nearly impossible because of electronic device addictions and habits which do damage to attention spans, and frankly also to laziness. If it takes a person 3 years or more to read through, they're only in it about 3-4 minutes a day on average yet hours are spent on electronic devices.

It's not really that difficult, it has to do with proper prorities and the dirty word "discipline." Note 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Timothy 4:6ff and Psalm 119.

My first go through took between 20-25 months I believe, sometimes reading for over 10 hours a day...

I didn't understand things so clearly at first brother and could spend hours rereading the same chapter... I wanted answers and not to belittle how important what I had in front of me was. (some of us may have had less bias or stumbling blocks and can surely learn much faster than I was.... I am not calling you wrong I just know first hand that it can take a long time even if you're spending more time every single day while you're awake reading the bible than any other thing in your life...)

 

[preacher4truth]

My first go through took between 20-25 months I believe, sometimes reading for over 10 hours a day...

If a person reads 4 chapters a day, they'll have read through the Bible in a year. That won't take very much time for an average reader, or even a below average reader.

I didn't understand things so clearly at first brother and could spend hours rereading the same chapter... I wanted answers and not to belittle how important what I had in front of me was. (some of us may have had less bias or stumbling blocks and can surely learn much faster than I was.... I am not calling you wrong I just know first hand that it can take a long time even if you're spending more time every single day while you're awake reading the bible than any other thing in your life...)

Hmmm. 4 chapters can be read in around 20 minutes per day, give or take. Do that daily and you've read the entire Bible in a year plus.

Not sure how many chapters a day you read reading "10 plus hours at a time," but at that rate it wouldn't take nearly 2 years to get through it. There must be more to your method than what appears above.

By the way, R. C, Sproul read his Bible through after conversion in 2 weeks. Of course he spent hours a day doing it, but he was driven to do so. Needless to say that is a long ways short of 2 years.

Lastly, no, and with all due respect you haven't stated I'm wrong, yet you are in fact suggesting I am.

This all seems aimed at asserting reading through the Bible is a difficult and nearly impossible without extensive and laborious effort.

So basically there appears to be disagreement that reading 4 chapters per day, which would take around 20 minutes per day won't get it done.

Well, here is some math:

There are 929 chapters in the Bible.

There are 365 days in a year.

A person reads 4 chapters per day.

365 X 4 = 1460 chapters read if 4 chapters are read daily.

That's more than once through Scripture in a small amount of devoted time, daily.

 

[1ofthem]

Doesn't take a long time to read it if you are just reading through it, not studying it, or taking anytime to meditate on it. However, in my opinion reading it like that is just fruitless and doesn't help.

When I first started reading it. I was just reading through it and was getting through it quickly, but then I realized I wasn't learning anything by doing that and it was pretty boring. Then I began to read it, meditate, and study it while reading. It took a little longer, but was well worth the time. I found it very interesting. It actually seemed to come a live to me and I learned much through reading it that way.

Anyhow, in my experience if you just read it to try to get through it then there's not much learning going on, but when you slow down meditate, reread certain passages, and study it then it is a wealth of knowledge. It becomes interesting and very beneficial. It's a great feeling to read it and reap the knowledge and messages from it.

 

[OneOfHis]

If a person reads 4 chapters a day, they'll have read through the Bible in a year. That won't take very much time for an average reader, or even a below average reader.




Hmmm. 4 chapters can be read in around 20 minutes per day, give or take. Do that daily and you've read the entire Bible in a year plus.

Not sure how many chapters a day you read reading "10 plus hours at a time," but at that rate it wouldn't take nearly 2 years to get through it. There must be more to your method than what appears above.

By the way, R. C, Sproul read his Bible through after conversion in 2 weeks. Of course he spent hours a day doing it, but he was driven to do so. Needless to say that is a long ways short of 2 years.

Lastly, no, and with all due respect you haven't stated I'm wrong, yet you are in fact suggesting I am.

This all seems aimed at asserting reading through the Bible is a difficult and nearly impossible without extensive and laborious effort.

So basically there appears to be disagreement that reading 4 chapters per day, which would take around 20 minutes per day won't get it done.

Well, here is some math:

There are 929 chapters in the Bible.

There are 365 days in a year.

A person reads 4 chapters per day.

365 X 4 = 1460 chapters read if 4 chapters are read daily.

That's more than once through Scripture in a small amount of devoted time, daily.

Your math is accurate.... spot on bro.

For the record you know me in case you have forgotten I am nonamemcgee.


What I am suggesting is for slow learners or people looking for something specific.. they may read matthew over a dozen times before they ever get to luke.....

I started from page one, but after exodus I may reread half of genesis then continue for awhile then reread many chapters before I continue....

I would also skip chapters at times to get to the NT before Id go back....


If you think I was suggesting you were wrong anywhere... you're wrong now😉


I think you made a great point in how realistic it is to read the bible and how we should have no excuse as if it is overwhelming.

I wanted to make a point to not rush yourself to "finish" so fast when our goal is to learn.


Love you brother.

 

[preacher4truth]

Your math is accurate.... spot on bro.

For the record you know me in case you have forgotten I am nonamemcgee.


What I am suggesting is for slow learners or people looking for something specific.. they may read matthew over a dozen times before they ever get to luke.....

I started from page one, but after exodus I may reread half of genesis then continue for awhile then reread many chapters before I continue....

I would also skip chapters at times to get to the NT before Id go back....


If you think I was suggesting you were wrong anywhere... you're wrong now😉


I think you made a great point in how realistic it is to read the bible and how we should have no excuse as if it is overwhelming.

I wanted to make a point to not rush yourself to "finish" so fast when our goal is to learn.


Love you brother.

Hey bro good to see you. I think you're still a little off track here though. 3-4 chapters a day isn't fast by any stretch. Now, reading to fully understand very slowly isn't exactly a read through the Bible plan, that's more of a study.

Yes my point is to show it's easily doable and too many of us are just plain lazy.

 

[preacher4truth]

Doesn't take a long time to read it if you are just reading through it, not studying it, or taking anytime to meditate on it. However, in my opinion reading it like that is just fruitless and doesn't help.

When I first started reading it. I was just reading through it and was getting through it quickly, but then I realized I wasn't learning anything by doing that and it was pretty boring. Then I began to read it, meditate, and study it while reading. It took a little longer, but was well worth the time. I found it very interesting. It actually seemed to come a live to me and I learned much through reading it that way.

Anyhow, in my experience if you just read it to try to get through it then there's not much learning going on, but when you slow down meditate, reread certain passages, and study it then it is a wealth of knowledge. It becomes interesting and very beneficial. It's a great feeling to read it and reap the knowledge and messages from it.

After reading through many times, a few chapters a day it becomes very easy to comprehend and pick up truths each time. One doesn't exactly read "high speed" and miss a lot with simply reading 3-4 chapters a day, and can accomplish all the above in doing so; reading through, meditating and comprehending.

 

[1ofthem]

After reading through many times, a few chapters a day it becomes very easy to comprehend and pick up truths each time. One doesn't exactly read "high speed" and miss a lot with simply reading 3-4 chapters a day, and can accomplish all the above in doing so; reading through, meditating and comprehending.

I agree 3 to 4 chapters a day is feasible and you still have plenty of time to meditate and study while reading at that pace. What I was doing wrong to start with was powering through it like you would a novel. Reading around 50 to 100 pages a day. That just didn't work for me...lol My goal was to read it all in a month. Halfway through that month, I realized I wasn't profiting any by rushing through it like that.

I then began to slow down and was still able to read well over 3-4 chapters a day with understanding by allowing myself time for studying and meditating upon it.

 

[OneOfHis]

Hey bro good to see you. I think you're still a little off track here though. 3-4 chapters a day isn't fast by any stretch. Now, reading to fully understand very slowly isn't exactly a read through the Bible plan, that's more of a study.

Yes my point is to show it's easily doable and too many of us are just plain lazy.

I agree 3 - 4 a day isn't fast, Not sure I ever read that little in one sitting. (even if I'd repeat the same all the same chapters the next day)

And your main point still rings true.

Haha I think the only thing we disagree about is if I disagreed with you🤣 (you are spot on saying I wasn't considering a plan to finish it all and was more focused on an in depth study all the way through)


Also good to see you too, always love your point of view

 

[Mii]

The Bible is like the Christian's map so we can navigate through life effectively. And we must meditate on God's Word day and night.


Joshua 1:8 KJV

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.


I have learned a daily habit from pastor Peter Tan-chi. Listening to audio Bible while on an early morning run or walk.

Some people learn more from hearing than reading and more from discussions also, like here in CC.


View attachment 210510

I was actually thinking about the listening element when I was typing. I'm not sure how I feel about memorization, but I do think reading aloud is quite different than reading silently. You can also record yourself and have a private recording to play back later for when you're lazy...or just incredibly tired. Make some CDs and play in your car.

For some reason the pacing of the KJV audio bible by Alexander Scourby I can't stand, it's just too fast. Something like Robert inglis except faster. I rather liked the LOTR audiobook for falling asleep and initially I had thought of using the KJV audio bible for a similar purpose but then I caught myself a bit. Using the word to put myself to sleep? Umm...I guess that'd be alright, but it should certainly be responsibly approached. Not sure as yet.

So make your own seems to make sense. If one were given to voice work. Then again, it feels almost narcissistic. It'd be nice to listen to a lovely female voice reading to me, and it would be a pretty solid married project.


I had one experience where I dreamed the hobbit after listening to it falling asleep and I'll admit it would be pretty neat to have that occur with scripture.


An issue though is a pretend world like Chronicles of Narnia (which I have also dreamt) seems to be fair game to whatever your mind makes of it, but factoring in dreams with scripture and treating it like entertainment Idk. I'm actually very against a lot of fantasy and vanity in pointless imagination at this point and simply retain the memories of said things, so it requires a lot of discernment to see if that'd be ok. I'm curious what you all think about it. I have always had issues falling asleep as far back as I remember.

Regardless though, there are many many times where I just listen to a pastor read scripture and preach about it. I can't say how many sermons I've listened to. So many times hyper analyzing their every word to check for errancy. "picking them apart" if you will. To the point where I held on to tons. I do certainly praise him for that. Not 100% confident of my motivation, but it seemed a way to listen versus just tuning out because I found it boring at times. Constantly feeling like there was something in it for me each time and scrutinizing every inch became a habit.




I do echo what I said early morning/late night though. Reading and breathing scripture are different things entirely. There are times I've just "read it" to say that I've read it...but did I really READ it? Were my eyes open each time to its entirety?


Oh and I had that same checklist thing pop up last night laying down, like brushing my teeth. Methinks being doers of the word is of more utility than readers of the word (although still important). Sometimes I feel like I idle away my time reading too much for the sake of it and miss out on doing. It's hard to reconcile.

Edit: as an aside, the first psalm is one of the few that I have fully memorized. It's such a good start

 

[Dave-L]

I read the bible through about 1 1/2 times every year for many years now. Also using study guides. I cannot describe how better my life is from bathing my mind in God's word every day. It just happens without trying. I'm happy all the time. Content, and sleep like a baby. I recommend all believers to practice this and reap the rewards.

 

[Bethohio1]

Yes, I've read all of it. Some of the books were challenging to get through such as Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

 

[Micaiah-imla]

I have read the entire Bible three (3) times in 2019.

This year I just finished my first complete reading in 91 days (as of yesterday).

Will start again later today. I am curious to see (Lord willing) if I can accomplish reading the entire Bible 4 times this year.

Getting a steady and constant dose of scripture every day is necessary to keep you sharp with the sword of the spirit.

I have read the Bible multiple times a year since 2008. Only recently I have begun documenting how many times in a year I have been reading it.

Give attendance to reading (1 Timothy 4:13).

 

[JohnR7]

Only recently I have begun documenting how many times in a year I have been reading it.

Use to be before the computer you could go by how many wore out bible you had.

 

[Micaiah-imla]

Use to be before the computer you could go by how many wore out bible you had.

I have two Cambridge Bibles that got worn out badly (2008-2012 & 2012-2017).

After seeing how badly cheaper Bibles wear, I decided to get a high-quality leather Cambridge Bible in 2017; I should be able to get many more years of use out of this one. (I prefer reading out of a physical book than an electronic device). After three years its still in very good condition with the same reading frequency.

 

[bojack]

I've never read the whole bible from genesis to revelation at one time .. I read on about a 8th grade level and slow but I do think I've read it all a few times because I recognize everything I ever read or talked about .. There's been many times when I tried to read at home and would forget what I'd just read, start daydreaming about what I did read, then get frustrated and start all over and pray and keep trying for an hr or two .. Reading other mens books are out of the question , I can't do it, too much fluff or something .. For years I kept a KJ pocket bible NT, Psalms and Proverbs and I kept my nose stuck in it every chance I got all day everyday, I loved that thing, every word of it .. Be working or welding and get something on my mind and couldn't wait to finish and look it up right quick ..

 

[JohnR7]

I've never read the whole bible from genesis to revelation at one time .. I read on about a 8th grade level and slow but I do think I've read it all a few times because I recognize everything I ever read or talked about .. There's been many times when I tried to read at home and would forget what I'd just read, start daydreaming about what I did read, then get frustrated and start all over and pray and keep trying for an hr or two .. Reading other mens books are out of the question , I can't do it, too much fluff or something .. For years I kept a KJ pocket bible NT, Psalms and Proverbs and I kept my nose stuck in it every chance I got all day everyday, I loved that thing, every word of it .. Be working or welding and get something on my mind and couldn't wait to finish and look it up right quick ..

Actually a lot of the Bible is what they call context. To define or help us understand the meaning of the words. People think that all of the Bible is summed up in the word love. Actually this violates the rule of first use. We always have to go back to the beginning and the first work in the Bible is Beginning. If we were to understand this first word, we would understand the rest of the Bible. Notice the Bible does not begin with the letter A the first letter of the Alphabet. The Bible begins with the second letter B which represents a tent or a dwelling. "Be" (Ben) represents Son. So we see the Son of God was given as a Grain offering so that Heaven and Earth could be united rather than to be divided. Of course the first sentence in the Bible is In the Beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth. God represents the first letter in the Alphabet. The beginning or leader or first. The letter A represents a ox head with the horns. So we know that that represents the head or the leader. We are told that all the books in the world would not be enough to tell us what Jesus has done for us.

 

[Micaiah-imla]

People think that all of the Bible is summed up in the word love. Actually this violates the rule of first use.

I like Jesus' rule.

All the law and the prophets hang on the two great commandments:

• Love God
• Love your neighbor as thyself.

Not to be confrontational with you, but where is this "rule of first use" in the Bible?

 

[JohnR7]

Not to be confrontational with you, but where is this "rule of first use" in the Bible?

Moses told us about Jesus. "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him." (Deu 18:15) Jesus adds to what we learn from Moses. Only Jesus can add to what we receive from Moses. Although David very clearly had a very special relationship with God.

"The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." (Exodus 33:11) "With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD." (Numbers 12:8)

Moses said: "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deut 6:5) Jesus said:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (Mark 12:30) Jesus adds the word MIND because in Hebrew the Heart and Mind are united together as one.

The rule of first use is Hasidic. They are the people who we learn Hebrew from. So if we want to learn Hebrew the rule of first use goes along with the way they teach Bible Hebrew. To be sure they add to the Bible and Jesus tells us not to add to the Bible. He teaches us that it is enough to follow the the word of God and we do not need to add to that.