What's Your Bible Reading Like?

This year, I am reading the Chronological Bible. I've read one before and liked it.

I've read the King James, in part, the New King James, the ESV, the NIV, and now the NLT. I've read parts of others.

Sometimes I get behind and instead of one year, it takes me 1.5 years. But that's because I write a myriad of notes and study word origins and such. My compilation of notes is vast ...... and very unorganized. I have resolved that 2025 is the year while reading to get those notes in order.

I know some say they can read the Bible in its entirety in a flash of two-three weeks or one month, but I could not do that and at the same time retain, glean, or be able to teach anything.

So what Bible are YOU reading and what's YOUR schedule like? I'm curious.

Just don't tell me that you are like Sally, here. LOL.

I have read through the Bible every year, usually either in the KJV, NASB, or the NAU (New American Standard 1995 Update). I read the KJV last year and plan on doing so again this year.

In the past, I have also read through the Bible in one year in the NKJV, NIV, LXX + Greek NT, and two Spanish translations (Reina Valera 1960 and LBLA). A few years, I read through the Bible more than once in a year. One year, I read through the Bible in 53 days.

I do not have any fixed schedule that I follow, but I usually start out the year by reading through the Pentateuch, Proverbs, and Psalms, and finish the rest of the Bible in varying ways. Most days, I usually read at least 3 chapters.

I have binders and binders full of notes, but they are not organized in any way except for by the date that I took the notes.

I have never set a plan to read through the bible. I will just pick a book OT or NT and study through it. This may sound like I will miss some of the books but when you do the cross ref work you will find that God leads you to all the books He has given us. 75 now so a bit late to change my ways.


I use a number of translations as seeing how they write the passage can by times give you a better understanding of the underlying text.

NASB, NKJV, Berean Study Bible, NET. I have Alford's Greek and Hebrew Study Bible that I will use on occasion.

Scarlett O. said:

This year, I am reading the Chronological Bible. I've read one before and liked it.

I've read the King James, in part, the New King James, the ESV, the NIV, and now the NLT. I've read parts of others.

Sometimes I get behind and instead of one year, it takes me 1.5 years. But that's because I write a myriad of notes and study word origins and such. My compilation of notes is vast ...... and very unorganized. I have resolved that 2025 is the year while reading to get those notes in order.

I know some say they can read the Bible in its entirety in a flash of two-three weeks or one month, but I could not do that and at the same time retain, glean, or be able to teach anything.

So what Bible are YOU reading and what's YOUR schedule like? I'm curious.

Just don't tell me that you are like Sally, here. LOL.

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You mentioned the Chronological Bible. What do you like about it? I have thought of picking up one but just never did.

Silverhair said:

You mentioned the Chronological Bible. What do you like about it? I have thought of picking up one but just never did.

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Well, it's the flow of the story, for me. I don't always read the Chronological, but I am this year to year 1/2.

For example, the Psalms written by David while hiding from Saul are read in 1 Samuel when that action is taking place. The prophets are read alongside the kings they served under.

It just makes for an interesting read.

Silverhair said:

I have never set a plan to read through the bible. I will just pick a book OT or NT and study through it. This may sound like I will miss some of the books but when you do the cross ref work you will find that God leads you to all the books He has given us. 75 now so a bit late to change my ways.

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The past few years, this has been my "plan". Reading books as I feel led to and skipping around. Hence - it takes a while.

Scarlett O. said:

The past few years, this has been my "plan". Reading books as I feel led to and skipping around. Hence - it takes a while.

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I use E-Sword bible pgm so I gave it a shot and looked to see if they had a Chronological Bible. Lo and behold they did, 2 actually. One is a straight Chronological Bible and the other is a Chronologically Thematic Plan. So I downloaded both.
The Thematic one is described this way so I am going to give it a shot.

"This is a one year Bible reading plan which arranges the various chapters of the Bible in both chronological and thematic fashion. In the author's words, "Starting at Genesis 1, this plan moves chronologically through the Bible but when a weighty person, place or theme is mentioned, other parts of Scripture are read along side to go more in depth with the person, place or theme...."

Always up for a challenge.

Scarlett O. said:

This year, I am reading the Chronological Bible. I've read one before and liked it.

I've read the King James, in part, the New King James, the ESV, the NIV, and now the NLT. I've read parts of others.

Sometimes I get behind and instead of one year, it takes me 1.5 years. But that's because I write a myriad of notes and study word origins and such. My compilation of notes is vast ...... and very unorganized. I have resolved that 2025 is the year while reading to get those notes in order.

I know some say they can read the Bible in its entirety in a flash of two-three weeks or one month, but I could not do that and at the same time retain, glean, or be able to teach anything.

So what Bible are YOU reading and what's YOUR schedule like? I'm curious.

Just don't tell me that you are like Sally, here. LOL.

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I have read the Bible several times, beginning in my teens, and quite intensively when I was working in my theology degree.
With my husband and sons, we conduct family Bible study where we read a section, consult commentaries (like John Gill and R. C. Sproul), discuss it, and take notes. I also encourage them to read independently. My own Bible reading often focuses on specific passages for edification or in-depth study. This frequently occurs within the context of my theological studies, including catechism and the confessions. I aim to verify whether the scriptural interpretation presented in these works is supported by the text itself, considered within its context.
I've considered putting the boys on this plan when they're a little older.
Bible study technology has come a long way. The family have got Sturgeon Study Bibles! Plus, we all sport reading tablets with Bible study software, tons of translations, and a whole library of ebooks. Makes life a lot easier, let me tell you.
Speaking of Study Bibles, I used to use the MacArthur Study Bible. Don't get me wrong, the guy's sharp, and we agree on a lot. But his notes? Some of his eschatology didn't sit right with me.

I am reading the Modern King James Version approximately 15 minutes per day.

Even though I’m an avid reader, I’ve never used a chronological Bible. The notion of a Chronological Bible even bothers me a bit.

(1) Probably the most important reason is that there is a lot of interpretation/guesswork involved in making decisions about when things occurred.

(2) The alignment of the text in the way it is an important feature of the text; the author(s) purposely arranged the text to tell the story they wanted to convey.

(3) Sometimes when stories are told twice in the Bible, a later author/compiler was re-telling the episode from a different perspective or time period, providing a different lesson to learn. To move the story from its original context changes that lesson.

Certainly, if one reads a chronological Bible as a devotional, a daily sort of thing, to simply read through the Scriptures, reading such a Bible may be useful.

I tend to concentrate on one particular book of the Bible and study topics that get my attention.

Rob

Scarlett O. said:

This year, I am reading the Chronological Bible. I've read one before and liked it.

I've read the King James, in part, the New King James, the ESV, the NIV, and now the NLT. I've read parts of others.

Sometimes I get behind and instead of one year, it takes me 1.5 years. But that's because I write a myriad of notes and study word origins and such. My compilation of notes is vast ...... and very unorganized. I have resolved that 2025 is the year while reading to get those notes in order.

I know some say they can read the Bible in its entirety in a flash of two-three weeks or one month, but I could not do that and at the same time retain, glean, or be able to teach anything.

So what Bible are YOU reading and what's YOUR schedule like? I'm curious.

Just don't tell me that you are like Sally, here. LOL.

View attachment 10186

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I tried a chronological Bible once. It was a bit odd to me. Reading the same story several times in a row.

In our undergraduate program we had all 4 years of required Bible courses (36 credits). Go thru the Bible four complete times verse by verse
Chronology of the Bible (using Reese's Chronological Bible)i
Geography of the Bible
Theology of the Bible
Philosophy of the Bible

I did not teach the Chronology classes, but it was my first experience with that. I had LOVED a Harmony of the Gospels, unifying the life of Christ, so loved doing the same for all the Bible. I did "skim" duplicate passages, and enjoyed the Chronological approach.

Independently I'm studying Paul's pastoral letters, I Timothy, II Timothy, and Titus. My study Bible is a KJV with Henry Morris notes. I finished II Timothy this morning and Titus will be on the menu with coffee in the morning.

Recently I finished a good study on John which our pastor led on Friday mornings with a small group. In a few weeks, (waiting on study guides) we'll be diving into a study of all Paul's books.

I forgot to reply to part 2 of the thread. I generally use a King James Bible, however I do use on occasion an NIV, (simply because a KJV version is rare and way expensive for some reason) Archaeological Bible for it's notes, photos, and maps. Along with the Bibles a Strong's Concordance, Unger's Bible Dictionary, and sometimes even the Works of Josephus. I would love to find a really good Bible Atlas! I have several, which simply are found wanting in some form or another.

Having owned and read several Study Bibles I've settled on the Henry Morris Study Bible. It's KJV, Dr. Morris is co-founder of The Creationist Society, and has authored quite a few books including, ''That You Might Believe'' a scientific record of God's word. My carry Bible is a small modest 4x6 inch complete KJV pocket Bible that can go anywhere with me. I use a cane and it allows a free hand as it fits in a T-shirt pocket.

I don't care for regimented, ''read through the Bible in a Year'' programs, I've done it and found it distracting at best, reading some Old Testament, then some New Testament in the same day. Not bashing it, it just doesn't work for ME. I study in several year cycles, that is, read through from Genesis to Revelation, (about 9-10 months) pick out further study and do a deeper study on them. A read through and deeper chosen subject/book study may take several years. I think it's a good way to spend retirement mornings! I've completed Paul's Pastoral books this morning, now I'm on to Galatians. I'll probably stick with the writings of Paul for quite a while.

Roy Kling said:

Independently I'm studying Paul's pastoral letters, I Timothy, II Timothy, and Titus. My study Bible is a KJV with Henry Morris notes.

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I use free daily devotional booklet from Institute of Creation Research that Morris founded, and many daily readings are from him. He was a hero of mine as a youth (I grew up in Minneapolis) in fighting evolutionary hypothesis.

Dr. Bob, Henry Morris was an amazing man, a hydraulic engineer by trade who was blessed with such insight and knowledge of God's word. Only after buying his Study Bible did I realize I had some of the books he authored and had been reading his works for years. If I have any complaint of his Study Bible, it's that the one I have doesn't have the best binding, it's a very thick Bible and deserving of better binding.

Henry Morris worked with John Whitcomb (Genesis Flood), a great theologian. What a great team. Have never seen Morris' study Bible; glad you give it such good ratings

Henry Morris Study Bibles are available from, The King James Store and I've seen them on E-bay new and used, text book and leather bound editions. Dr. Morris gives a great account of creation and explains of things like the firmament, why man lived nearly 1,000 years pre-flood, dinosaurs, and much more. I'm sure there were collaborations with creationist theologians also. Far as I know, it's only available in KJV.

Here's a review, the same one The KJV store has on their site.


We've wandered off track a bit here. My apologies to Scarlett O.