How Can I Read Through The Bible In A Year?
My first response to this question is to shift the aim. Instead of seeking to read the Bible, cover to cover, in the course of a year, as a one-time feat, I suggest the greater aim is to establish a regular pattern of reading the Bible that can last a lifetime.
A plan for getting through the whole Bible follows, but the important thing is to get into the Bible in a steady way so that---as the instrument ordained by God to bring knowledge of God's ways with the world--the Scriptures can bring light, renewal, comfort, instruction, encouragement and strength to us.
These Little Charts Can Help
Many years ago, I found it helpful to mark off chapters as I read them. So I created the two charts below, one for each Testament, and kept them folded in my Bible.
A virtue here is that one can see the progress made, see what's been covered, and not get disheartened when 'life gets in the way' and one loses one's place in the plan or loses momentum. These charts are a tool to keep the project going---and, do keep the project going. Keep at it. Don't give up.
Reading The Old Testament Chart of Chapters 2 Columns.docx
Reading the Bible NT Chart of Chapters 2 Columns.docx
The Psalms and The New Testament
I recommend reading one of The Psalms at the beginning of each Bible reading, take it a a hymn to God or conversation with God, attentive to what message God has for your soul and spirit.
Then my counsel it to begin with The New Testament, following these paths, reading one or two chapters at each setting--though one may linger over a chapter, revisit it down the road, or even read one section again and again. Best to read not speedily like a ravenous consumer, but slowly, maybe more like a connoisseur!
Path 1: The Gospel of John, The First Letter or John, The Second Letter of John, The Third Letter of John.
Path 2: The Letter to The Galatians, The Letter to The Ephesians, and The Letter to The Philippians.
Path 3: The Gospel of Mark, The First Letter of Peter, The Second Letter of Peter.
Path 4: The Gospel of Luke, The Acts of the Apostles, The Letter to The Romans, The First and Second Letters to The Thessalonians, The First and Second Letters to Timothy, The Letter to Titus and The Letter to Philemon.
Path 5: The Gospel of Matthew, The Letter to The Hebrews, The Letter of James, and The Letter to Jude.
Path 6. The Revelation to John.
The Old Testament
Path 1: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
Path 2: Joshua, Judges, Ruth.
Path 3: First and Second Samuel, First and Second Chronicles, First and Second Kings.
Path 4: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.
Path 5: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon.
Path 6: Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah.
Path 7: Hosea, Joel, Amos.
Path 8: Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum.
Path 9: Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.