Reading the Bible is not merely an act of flipping through pages. It is an act of spiritually growing, connecting to something bigger than us. Believers don’t read it simply to say that they have read it. Instead, they read it so as to learn from it, as it sends some important messages not only about the way we should believe in God, but also about the ways we should lead our everyday lives, thus turning us into better human beings.
Read more about its usefulness: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxcrpbk/revision/6
Anyway, if you haven’t read the Bible in the past, but are now thinking about doing it, you are most likely wondering how long this will take. As human beings, we all have that urge to finish something we start as soon as we start it, and we often get impatient when we realize that things take time. Furthermore, a lot of us also have the habit of procrastinating, especially when it comes to tasks that we know will last longer. So, when you take a look at the number of pages in the Bible, you may find yourself discouraged to even start reading it, because you won’t have a clue as to how long it will take you to finish it.
If you’ve had those kinds of thoughts as well, that’s perfectly normal. In fact, it is perfectly human. Especially nowadays, when we live in a fast-paced world and when the speed of doing things is rewarded just as much, if not more, as the quality of doing them. So, don’t beat yourself up if you’re wondering how long reading the Bible will take and if you’re sort of unable to even start reading the Scripture before getting an answer to that.
Instead of beating yourself up, you should get better informed about it all, and try to figure out how much time you’ll approximately need to finish the Scripture. Below I will provide you with an answer to that question. And, the truth is that it may actually surprise you. Don’t worry – the surprise will be a good one. This article also explores the topic of how long reading the Bible will take.
How Long Does It Take?
Like I mentioned above, the answer to this question may actually surprise you. After all, you are probably expecting me to give you a huge number here, and that may be what’s discouraging you from getting started. When you think about it for a moment, though, and when you break down all the books and the time it takes to read them, you come to a more optimistic calculation than you may have thought. In short, reading everything from start to finish takes no more than 3 or 4 days.
Does that sound too good to be true? Well, let me make things clearer. Depending on your personal skills and speed, it takes 3 or 4 days of continuous reading to finish the Scripture. Emphasis on the word “continuous”. This means that, if you were to do nothing else but read the Bible, you would be able to complete it in a few days.
This, however, is not exactly a sustainable practice. We all have lives, and we cannot devote 24 hours a day to reading. Even if we could, we shouldn’t. After all, if you approached the process this way, it wouldn’t have much spiritual value to you, as it would simply be a sort of a race. No book should be approached that way, though, because it is much more important to understand what you are reading than to be able to say that you’ve read something.
Why Going Slowly Is Better?
The above is especially true for the Bible, as it contains a lot of important messages that have to carefully be thought about. Plus, the language can often be quite difficult, which means you could be required to actually read some things more than once in order to understand the message. And then, in addition to understanding the messages, you have to take a step back and start wondering how you can apply it to yourself and to your life, aiming at becoming a better Christian and a better person overall. So, taking things slowly is always a much better idea than trying to finish the Scripture in a few days.
How long will it, then, realistically take you to finish the Scripture if you decide to take it slowly? Well, once again, this depends on your skills and your commitment to the process, as well as on the amount of time a day that you can devote to reading. Some people finish it in a few months, while others take years and years to have it done. The good news is that devoting just around 15 minutes a day to reading the Bible will lead to you completing it in approximately a year. Of course, you have to count on life getting in the way and on, therefore, skipping some days, but one year is a pretty realistic goal – a realistic deadline in which you can read the Scripture, while also being sure that you’re getting the messages that it sends.
How to Make Your Reading Plan?
Now, if you are ready to start the process, you’re probably thinking about making a plan. Sure, you can just pick it up one day and start reading through the Bible without any kind of a plan in mind. But, we can’t deny the fact that having a clear plan will help you stay committed and motivated, and not give up.
It would be best to set aside a specific period during the day and use it for reading. Remember, you only need approximately 15 minutes. Decide whether you want to read in the morning, or in the evening, before you go to sleep, as those are usually the periods during which few things can get in the way. Life can get hectic during the day, but mornings and evenings can be quite calm, so devoting some time to reading the Bible will be easier.
