Just How Long Does It Take To Read The Bible?
Just How Long Does It Take to Read the Bible?
The task of reading the whole Bible seems rather daunting to many Christians, even to those who have been lifelong believers. Admittedly, when one holds the whole Bible, it can seem rather intimidating. It clocks in at sixty-six books, each of them with their own contexts, narratives, and styles. As a result, many are off-put by the massive volume of reading set before them, and when considering their possible "poor reading speed," they choose to simply mark off the task as "not for them." To the question "How long does it take to read the Bible?", they will answer with "Too long!" However, there are many who have read the Bible–even multiple times through–and they say that it is easily possible for anyone to do.
How many hours does it take to read the Bible? The average person with an average reading speed would be able to read the entire Bible in around 74 hours and 28 minutes. For those of you keeping track at home, that’s roughly 3 straight days in a row. But as a matter of fact, if one were to read the Bible for only twelve minutes a day, one would have finished the entire Bible in a year. Yes, 12 minutes a day. Knowing this, it is clear that a consistent Bible reading plan covering one year is far more manageable than previously thought.
Having said this, there is just one question left to ask...
How do I start?
Bible Reading Basics
To be clear, there is no "best way to read the Bible" in terms of Bible plans. Some Bible reading plans simply read through the Scripture from the Old Testament books first and then the New Testament books afterwards. This is sometimes called "Table of Contents" reading or "Simple Reading Plans." These plans require nothing but simply reading as if it is a normal book, left-to-right, chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book.
However, other reading plans are split in that they read a portion of the Old Testament together with a portion of the New Testament each day. This way, a mixture of both Covenants is ensured each reading. No matter what Bible reading plan you choose, you will be going through the entire Old Testament and the entire New Testament. So what should you know about reading the Old and New Testaments?
Firstly, it is good to know that the Old Testament takes significantly longer to read than the New Testament. After all, there are 39 books in the Old Testament, and 27 books in the New Testament. On average, the Old Testament can be read in about fifty-six hours. As such, any reading plan will likely consist of more Old Testament reading per day than time spent on New Testament passages. On another note, the Old Testament has more variation in the genres present than what would be seen in the New Testament (e.g., there’s a high concentration of the poetic present). This could result in some greater complexity or difficulty when reading from passage to passage, but using a more modern translation (ESV, CSB, NIV, etc.) should avoid the possible difficulties many have in understanding what is being read.
On the matter of the New Testament, the total time needed to read it is about eighteen hours total, if read at an average reading speed. Furthermore, most of the writing in the New Testament falls into the genre of "letters/epistles," all of which are more simple in style to comprehend (though the deep theological principles of each epistle may take longer to understand). It is also the case that many Christians have become so familiar with the four Gospels that these books become far easier to read in smaller time frames. So it may very well be the case that the average reader can read the entire New Testament faster than average, as you’re treading on familiar ground. However, one should always take their time reading even the passages which are familiar to them. Who knows what new meaning shall become clear in via the Holy Spirit and another run-through of those oft-heard Scriptures? This is, after all, the living and breathing word of God.
Reading is one thing, and comprehension another. Indeed, some may say that this process of reading the entire Bible does not actually translate to understanding the Scripture. But this does not change the fact that reading the Bible is a necessary first step to understanding God's word. If you wish to more deeply understand the Scripture as you go through it, it may be worth joining a Bible study group, or utilizing free online commentaries. It will be a helpful resource for motivation to stay consistent on one's daily bible reading plan, and you will only grow in finding new insights as you continue to study God's Holy Word.
Amount of Time It Takes to Read Each Book of the Bible
So now that we have a more clear understanding of the time required to read through the Old and New Testaments, the next breakdown is this: How much time is required to read each individual book of the Holy Scripture?
Please consult the following list to see the time needed for a reading of each book:
Genesis~ 3 hours, 31 minutes
Exodus~ 3 hours
Leviticus~ 2 hours
Numbers~ 3 hours
Deuteronomy~ 2 hours, 24 minutes
Joshua~ 1 hour, 42 minutes
Judges~ 1 hour, 41 minutes
Ruth~ 14 minutes
1 Samuel~ 2 hours, 14 minutes
2 Samuel~ 2 hours
1 Kings~ 2 hours
2 Kings~ 2 hours
1 Chronicles~ 2 hours
2 Chronicles~ 2 hours, 19 minutes
Ezra~ 40 minutes
Nehemiah~ 1 hour
Esther~ 31 minutes
Job~ 1 hour, 46 minutes
Psalms~ 5 hours
Proverbs~ 1 hour, 35 mins
Ecclesiates~ 31 minutes
Song of Solomon~ 17 minutes
Isaiah~ 3 hours, 43 minutes
Jeremiah~ 4 hours
Lamentations~ 20 minutes
Ezekiel~ 3 hours, 39 minutes
Daniel~ 1 hour
Hosea~ 32 minutes
Joel~ 12 minutes
Amos~ 24 minutes
Obadiah~ 4 minutes
Jonah~ 8 minutes
Micah~ 18 minutes
Nahum~ 7 minutes
Habakkuk~ 9 minutes
Zephaniah~ 10 minutes
Haggai~ 6 minutes
Zechariah~ 35 minutes
Malachi~ 11 minutes
Matthew~ 2 hours, 21 minutes
Mark~ 1 hour, 23 minutes
Luke~ 2 hours, 24 minutes
John~ 1 hour, 51 minutes
Acts~ 2 hours, 15 minutes
Romans~ 1 hour
1 Corinthians~ 1 hour
2 Corinthians~ 38 minutes
Galatians~ 20 minutes
Ephesians~ 19 minutes
Philippians~ 14 minutes
Colossians~ 13 minutes
1 Thessalonians~ 11 minutes
2 Thessalonians~ 7 minutes
1 Timothy~ 15 minutes
2 Timothy~ 11 minutes
Titus~ 6 minutes
Philemon~ 3 minutes
Hebrews~ 44 minutes
James~ 15 minutes
1 Peter~ 15 minutes
2 Peter~ 10 minutes
1 John~ 16 minutes
2 John~ 2 minutes
3 John~ 2 minutes
Jude~ 4 minutes
Revelation~ 1 hour, 10 minutes
Naturally, the specific time for each and every person will vary depending on their familiarity with the text, the translation being used, the time of reading plan that they are using, their normal reading speed, and even the small changes that happen in daily life that may cause reading to be a bit more difficult (hello, kids running around your home like crazy!) But no matter what the small differences may be, it should be clear that each of these books, individually, are more manageable. The hardest part is often taking that first step, but stay consistent, and you will be surprised by just how much of the Bible you can read in due time.
Why Read the Whole Bible
"Sure, I guess I can see that I am able to read the entire Bible if I take the time throughout each day to do it. But why should I read the whole Bible?" you may be asking. Fair enough.
Many often tell themselves that it is enough to read the "key passages" or "popular verses" of the Bible and that reading the whole Word of God seems to be unnecessary. Others would say that they don't feel a need to read the whole Bible through some personal reading plan because they know that they will have gone through the entire Bible with their Church body if they just keep on going each Sunday. And while that may be the case, it should also be noted that it can take a Church multiple years–even a decade–to actually preach through the entire Bible (if a pastor preaches exegetically and not topically).
If you are listening to the Scriptures being read once a week with the rest of your congregation on Sunday, then it is likely that you will not remember much of what was read the previous weeks. Studies show that humans retain roughly 10% of what they hear. That isn't enough to help you form a good foundation in the teachings of Scripture, let’s be honest. Others may speak to the "difficulty" or "murkiness" of some books of the Bible (hello, Leviticus and Numbers).
Often, when we get to those parts of the Bible, our first instinct is to run to the four Gospels and find peace in hearing Jesus speak. While this is an understandable experience, we should recall what our very Lord says in the Gospels:
“He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”
–Luke 24:44-45
Did you catch that? In other words, the whole of our Old Testament Torah, Psalms, and Prophets points to Jesus. That includes the first five books of the Scripture (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). If Jesus says that those "difficult" parts of the Bible are still pointing toward Him, then we should read them, period. Let us consider why it is important for all Christians to make an effort to read the whole Bible.
Spiritual Growth
Moral Compass
Comfort and Peace
Understand Salvation
Strategies to Read the Entire Bible
As mentioned earlier, the various reading plans offered for those attempting to read the Bible can vary greatly. Some will alternate between Old and New Testament passages every other day, while some will include Old and New Testament passages together every single day. Some recommend trying to read one whole chapter a day for one book, and others recommend reading just a certain number of verses each day. Others recommend a time-based reading system, in which they choose how much time they will spend reading the Bible each day.
Overall, what one should consider when reading the Bible is the following:
- How much time they are comfortable with spending each day (with the minimum being 10 minutes a day of reading)
- How many chapters would be reasonable for reading the Bible daily (for those choosing a chapter block)
- How often do they want to discuss their readings with others
- Where to fit their Bible reading time in their daily routine
- Their average familiarity with reading, overall
- If they are a slow reader or a fast reader
- The order of books that they will read in God's word (chronological order, canon order, thematic order, etc.)
While taking all of these points into consideration may sound taxing, it is by taking each of these points seriously that one can find a reasonable plan to help them read the Bible effectively. Prayer is also a must-have for effective Bible reading.
“Prayer is the better half of study.” –Martin Luther
Many times, we are so focused on reading the Bible that we forget to ask God for aid in our Bible reading. Worst of all, we will often think of prayer as another "task" to do alongside Bible reading. But the truth is that we ought to make a habit of speaking with God as we read through the divine revelation we hold in our hands. It should be our delight that God promises wisdom to those who so dearly request it in prayer (God promises free blessings and exports of wisdom in James 1:5; rarely in the Word is such a promise purported.).
Your words in prayer needn't be fancy or elegant for the Lord to hear your heart Make as much a habit of prayer as you do of Bible reading, and you will find that any Bible reading plans you have will be far more effective. But perhaps most simply, let us recall that God's Word is worth reading. Let us rejoice that we can make time for prayer and that we can have a daily reading time in which we know our God even more closely, as most of humanity before modernity could not read.
How to Read God’s Word in a Year
So, what steps can I take to make it through God's word in one year? What should be the length of scripture read in my daily Bible reading in order to read the entire Bible in 365 days? Well, it may be helpful to think that the Bible, if following the Protestant Bible, is comprised of 66 books, 1189 chapters, and 31,000 verses. This means that the average person should set their daily reading at some interval that considers one of these numbers.
- If I have chapter goals: 1189 chapters ÷ 365 days = 3.26 chapters per day [for the sake of simplicity, we would advise rounding up to four chapters so as to complete the whole Bible in a year]
- If I have verse goals: 31,000 ÷ 365 days= 84.9 verses per day [we round this up to 85 verses of the Bible per day]
Some may find the idea of reading "85 verses a day" to sound more intimidating, which is why we recommend framing your Bible reading through a chapter lens instead. This will allow most people to see the chapter goal as less intimidating since it is only a few chapters. After all, reading about three chapters a day sounds far better than "eighty-five" verses, even if they end up being the exact same length.
What can also help is shifting one's frame of mind to think of this as not simply "a task to check off of our list." Rather, this is our active goal towards spending time with God, growing in our spiritual journey, and having a more clear understanding of God's plan for these wild lives we live. We come to know Jesus more fully, and we find answers in the Scripture that the world cannot provide. Daily Bible reading renews our hope and faith in the midst of a tumultuous and difficult life. It also gives us further joy and rest when life is more pleasant and exciting. In all of these moments, the words of God give us a break from the monotony of daily living. Let the words spoken by Jesus Christ give you hope and motivation to rest in the matter of Bible reading:
"Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me."
–John 14:22-24
And my personal favorite:
“Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
–Jesus in Matthew 4:4
