The Bible in a Year?

Guess what? You don't have to read the Bible in a year. You know what else? People who tell you that you must read the whole Bible in a year are binding your conscience and adding to the law of God. Is it reasonable to read the Bible in a year? Absolutely. Can you do it? Indeed, and for many people, the only thing that keeps them from reading it in a year is determination and a plan. But God doesn't command you to follow someone else's reading schedule.

Reading plans are designed for man, not man for the reading plan. Not everyone is that great at reading. It's is a struggle for some people and it takes them a good long while to get through a short passage. So yes, you might be able to read 5 chapters in 15 minutes, but it would take three-quarters of an hour for some people to do the same, if not more. If you have a hard time reading you can find audio versions to listen to as you read along to help. Not all people are preachers or can be and not all people are gifted with the same reading skills and capacities as the men God gifts to read, study, teach, expound, preach God's Word. 

Besides, the Bible doesn't command you to read the Bible through in a year. But do you know what the Bible DOES tell you to do? It tells you to study it (2 Timothy 2:15). It tells you to meditate on it (Psalm 119:15), to take heed (Psalm 119:9), and understand (Psalm 119:27). But it does not command you that you have to read it in 365 days. 

Reading large chunks of the Bible in one setting is a different type of reading than digging in and reading slowly. Reading large portions will give you the information, the big picture, the general information, while slow, close reading will provide the opportunity for study, meditation, and understanding. Of course, all this depends on what part of the Bible you are reading. Reading chapter 9 of Proverbs a verse at a time would be too slow to get the point, but reading chapter 10 a verse at a time would be perfectly appropriate. But, by reading it quickly, you'll get a feel for what's there and learn that some actually exist and can circle back later. I Samuel tells a history, so you could read five chapters and meditate on the flow of the story. Reading the first two chapters of Ephesians is like drinking from a water hose, but reading the first two chapters of Galatians gives you an understanding of what was going on with the entrance of a false gospel in Galatia. 

You need to read the Bible, and you ought to desire to read and know every Word of God. But if you only read big chunks and never slow down and study, you'll believe every jot and title is inspired but not know what a tittle is or why that's important. If you are reading so fast that you cannot meditate on or comprehend what you've read, I question your aim. Yes, it's essential to read through the Bible and get the big picture. All God's Word is profitable. But reading much and reading fast, and never studying, praying over it, meditating, and discerning application is not the wise way to go.

I would rather you study one verse and understand it, meditate on it, and apply it than read 5 chapters in 15 minutes and not be sure what you read. Some read just to have read. Plenty of people read the Bible every year but don't understand it. Indeed, in most instances, you need to understand the context of the surrounding verses to get the meaning, but that's part of the study and meditation of one verse. I've taken one book or one small portion and read that every day for a month. Is that wrong, to forgo a  365 schedule, to read the book of James every day for a month, and if so, why and who says? I've read a chapter in Leviticus and got to the end and couldn't have told you one thing I read because I just glossed over it. Technically, I read every word and I can check it off the list, but what was the point? Is it better to read it again the next day and actually read it but throw the whole schedule off or just skip it and move on? 

 I'm not downplaying the good of continually reading through the Bible, front to back. I also am not discouraging you to read the Bible yearly, if you can. And I know not having a plan is planning to fail. I just want you to know that reading the Bible slowly is better than not reading it at all, or reading it so quickly, you might as well not even have read it. Don't beat yourself up if you can't keep up with Brother S. Gonzalez and read as speedily as he does. Don't allow his pace to discourage you from going at the pace you are able to go. That would be like deciding you won't take up jogging for your health because you can't keep pace with Olympic runners. If it takes you 5 years to do it, that's better than never doing it all or getting stuck in Leviticus in February and quitting every year for the rest of your life. If you tried and failed, just keep going and make it a two-year plan. 

It's not a contest or a race. I'm glad people encourage others to read the Bible. I hope that you do. I'm glad others show you how you can read the Bible in a year. But don't let their zeal for their program become a law to bind your conscience.  Do the best you can, for God's glory and by His grace, He'll bless your desire to know more about him.