Bible in a Year Program
My NIV Bible goes for 1230 pages, so to read it in a year only means getting through a little over 20 pages a week (about 23), not such a daunting task. There is also time for adequate reflection.
I completed a ‘read the Bible in a year’ program, it followed a time line and was very well prepared, there was just some jumping around (because of the chronological order) so what I’ve prepared is more a theme based concept. If you use it in ’23 there’ll be some notes as well.
Semester 1
Law & Gospels, the Beginning of the Kingdom of God story and the earthly life of Jesus.
- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Reading goal, 1 book a week with a study/reflection week at the end of each month.
Month 1: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus
Month 2: Matthew, Mark, Luke Synoptic Gospels, it’s a good idea to read these together in a block
Month 3: Numbers, Deuteronomy, John
Semester 2:
History, development/growth of Gospel
- Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther
- Acts
M1: Joshua, Judges, Samuel 1 & 2. Aim for a book a week.
M2: Kings 1 & 2, Chronicles 1 & 2. Aim for a book a week.
M3: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther& Ruth, & Acts. Aim for a book a week, with Esther and Ruth together in the one week.
Semester 3
Wisdom, teachings
- Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon & Lamentations
- Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude
Month 1 Week 1: Job
Week 2 & 3: Psalms
Week 4: Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon & Lamentations* this is included here because of the poetic style and the theme is close to much of what Job struggles with.
Month 2: Week 1: Hebrews, a little out of order but connects Old and New Testaments. Also challenging at the right time with the other material.
Week 2: Romans
Week 3: 1 & 2 Corinthians.
Week 4: Reflections
Month 3: Week 1: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
Week 2: 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon & James
Week 3: 1 & 2 Peter, 1,2 & 3 John, Jude
Week 4: Reflections
Semester 4
Prophetic
- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
- Revelation
Month 1: Weeks 1 & 2 Isaiah
Weeks 3 & 4 Jeremiah
Month 2: Week 1: Ezekiel
Week 2: Daniel
Week 3: Joel & Obadiah, Amos, Jonah*
* Jonah gets a special mention and attention of his own in this website.
Week 4: Reflection
Month 3: Week 1: Micah, Nahum, Habakuk
Week 2: Zephania, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Week 3: Revelation
Week 4: Reflection