The Printable Chronological Bible Reading Plan
I have put together a short eBook outlining every chapter in the Bible chronologically. You will find a deeper overview of this process in the opening pages.
For me, its helpful to simply print the two pages with the chapter breakdowns and tuck it in my Bible.
Feel free to print it, copy it, or share it.
Bible Reading Plan Pdf
In addition, if you are looking for more robust Bible Study features including a monthly reading plan, check out our FREE Bible Reading Plan in PDF format. By signing up below, youll get a scripture reading plan auto-delivered on a monthly basis to encourage reading the scripture every day.
FREE Monthly 15-Minute Bible Study Plan
Each month, get an inbox delivery of an easy to follow Bible Reading Plan that you can complete in just 15 minutes!
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The Ultimate Catholic Guide To Reading The Bible
The Bible is the Word of God and one of the most important aspects of a Catholics life. The Bible is an essential tool containing many books, passages, and verses, so it can be helpful to have resources for assistance. Fortunately, there are many tips and tricks to make reading the Bible more accessible and strengthen your comprehension of Gods message.
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What Are The Steps To Spiritual Growth
The steps to spiritual growth vary depending on which religion or spiritual path you follow. However, there are some common themes among different faiths. Typically, the steps to spiritual growth involve some combination of the following:
-Developing a personal relationship with a higher power
-Regular prayer or meditation
What Book Of The Bible Should A New Believer Read First
Eden Parker
What book of the Bible should a new believer read first?
Great question. There are so many to choose from! Im going to suggest two options. Before I make my case, I want to give you some general encouragement. Then, I will explain why I think you may want to begin your Bible reading adventure either in Genesis or John.
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Consider A Devotional Or Bible Study For Beginners
One great thing about learning how to read the Bible for the first time is that there are SO many great resources available to help you as a beginning Bible reader. You definitely dont have to reinvent the wheel or figure everything out for yourself.
For instance, Bible devotionals typically contain a very short passage of Scripture along with the authors thoughts and ideas on the passage and how it relates to your life, all broken up into short, daily segments. You can find devotionals on pretty much any topic imaginable , and theyre a very accessible for beginners.
Basically, Bible devotionals do all the heavy lifting for you, telling you what the author thinks the passage is about or what you should get out of it. These are perfect for learning how to read the Bible for beginners.
Bible Studies, on the other hand, are the next step up. With a good Bible study, the author will have you read a Bible passage yourself, and then answer questions about the passage so you can uncover what it means or how it applies to you today.
Similar to devotionals, you can find Bible studies on just about any Bible passage or topic.
There are tons of womens Bible studies out there to help you as youre learning how to read the Bible you can find them on just about any topic or for any book of the Bible. Just choose a book or topic that looks good to you, read the Amazon reviews for a good one, or ask a friend or womens ministry leader for a good recommendation.
Why Is The Bible So Important To Christians
The Bible is the Word of God and the ultimate declaration of His love, mercy, and ultimately, the gift of Salvation to mankind.
In 2 Timothy 3:16, it states that the Bible is God-breathed, in order to teach, train, rebuke, and correct us in our faith walk.
The Bible contains truths and commandments that, at times, prove challenging for us to obey however, they are written in order that we, as Christians, may live an abundant life, free from the bondage of sin, and filled with spiritual victory .
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Consider Reading John First
Heres a brief case for why you should read the Gospel of John first. The apostle John, who authored this book, explicitly tells us this books agenda:
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John wrote his Gospel to convince us that Jesus is exactly who He says He isthe Son of God, the promised Rescuer to whom the whole Bible points. The Holy Spirit inspired John to write this book in a way that would lead us to believe in Jesus. Johns ultimate goal is that we would come to know Jesus personally, and being reconciled to God through Jesus, that we would experience the life that is truly life.
Hopefully you can see why this book would be a fantastic place to begin your Bible reading.
Pray Before You Read Scripture
Pray that God allows you to see Christ in the passage. Pray that He allows you to understand the true meaning of the text. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate your mind. Ask the Lord to give you the desire to read His Word and enjoy it. Pray that God would speak directly to you with whatever you are going through.
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.
Remember that Hes the same God
God hasnt changed. We often look at passages in the Bible and think to ourselves, well that was then. However, Hes the same God that revealed Himself to Moses. Hes the same God that led Abraham. Hes the same God that protected David. Hes the same God that provided for Elijah. God is real and active in our lives today just as He was in the Bible. As you read, remember this incredible truth as you apply different passages to your life.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Look to see what God is saying to you in the passage that you are reading.
God is always speaking. The question is, are we always listening? God speaks through His Word, but if our Bible is closed we dont allow God to speak. Are you dying to hear Gods voice?
Do you want Him to talk to you like He used to? If so, get in the Word. Maybe God has been trying to tell you something for a long time, but you have been too busy to realize.
Write down what God is telling you.
Look in the commentary
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Suggested Order To Read The Books Of The Bible
The Gospels of Mark and John
Genesis and Exodus
Next I would suggest going to the beginning of the Bible to read Genesis and Exodus where we learn why Jesus dying on the cross was necessary. The last half of Exodus gets into some details of the law and tabernacle. Bear with it to give yourself a concept of the tediousness of keeping the law.
Romans and Galatians
After reading Genesis and Exodus, you might want to go back to the New Testament to read the books of Romans and Galatians. These books lay out how keeping the law which you just would have read about in Genesis and Exodus was not sufficient to save people.
1 John
Maybe its now time for gaining some assurances of life in Him and Gods love for us. Since second and third John are short, you might want to just finish reading through them.
Matthew and Luke
From there we might want to take in some more details about Jesus.
Acts
Luke ends with Jesus being taken up into heaven so why not read about what happened next. The book of Acts provides a historical account of the beginning of the Church.
Ephesians
The book of Ephesians gives more understanding of the Church as well as our identity in Christ.
Colossians
Continue on to Colossians to reinforce the supremacy of Christ.
The Rest of the Books
Youll find this plan in the New to Bible Reading Discipleship Tool along with additional input on the above, help with the rest of the books, and a big picture look at the Word and the God behind Scripture.
Ground Level: The Historical Books
The bulk of the Old Testament primarily covers a period of time from about 2500 B.C. to about 400 B.C., in the area of the world known by scholars as The Ancient Near East. It specifically focuses on Gods historical and prophetic interactions with the Hebrew people. There are 39 books or sections written by a number of different authors.
The Old Testament is divided into at least three major sections. The first part contains the history of the Jewish people. Its roughly chronological, and all the narratives fit into the times described in these history books.
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How To Read The Bible For Beginners
There is no one right way to read the Bible. Instead, finding the best order to read the Catholic Bible for the first time depends on what you are looking to learn from this important book. While you can read the Bible chronologically, it is not required. You can read the passages in any order, as each contains a message from God.
If you want tips about how beginners should read the Bible, however, we have some advice for getting the most out of this activity.
Heres The Best Bible Reading Plan For Beginners
While youre certainly welcome to read the Bible in any order youd like, heres the order I would recommend when youre still learning how to read the Bible for the first time.
This Bible reading plan for beginners will help you cover all the key people, stories, and teachings and start with the easiest, most applicable books first, before you get into the more obscure or difficult Bible books last.
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How To Read The Bible: Read A Little Every Day
Getting Gods Word into your life doesnt have to take long. Start smallfive or 10 minutes is better than none. Sometimes less is more, especially when reading less means youll actually remember more.
Chose a time and place thats convenient for you. Many people read their Bible first thing in the morning, choosing to spend time with God before daily distractions get in the way. But if mornings arent your thing, dont sweat it. That you read Gods Word is more important than when you read Gods Word. Personally, I love to read my Bible at a local coffee shop, but I once read through the entire Bible while waiting in carpool lines.
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Bible Reading: Order Of Books To Read
When asked where someone new to the Bible should start reading, I suggested that they begin with the Gospels, specifically Mark and John. But, they also wanted to know where to go from there.
I dont believe there is any one set right order of the books of the Bible someone unfamiliar with Scripture should follow.
But, I do believe it helps to first understand Gods central theme and gain a big picture before getting into some of the more detailed or harder to read books.
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Which Books Of The Bible Should I Read First
You have just received your first Bible, and you excitedly sit down to read it. You cant wait to read Gods Word. You are hungry for it, but where to start?
If you are like most people, you start at the beginning with Genesis. You read the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham and you imagine what it is like to be in that time. By the end, you are ready for more and start Exodus and the story of Moses.
All throughout you are learning and growing in God, and it is good. Then you hit Leviticus. You arent even through the first chapter and you are bogged down in all the offerings, and you have no clue what it all means. You try to keep reading but it is not long before you just stop because you are confused.
Now you feel guilty because you know that you are supposed to get to know God through His Word, but thats hard reading. The only thing I can say to you is to join the club. Even mature Christians can get bogged down in those books.
So what do you do?
Simple: dont read the Bible from cover to cover. The Bible is made up of sixty-six books, and many of them can be read independently of each other.
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What Order To Read The Bible
The Bible has been around since the 4th century BC. There are over 30 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament.
Each book was first written in Hebrew or Greek, then translated into Latin, and finally translated into English.
While some scholars argue that the Bible was written to be read in chronological order, others claim that it was written in topical order.
Some scholars believe that the Bible should be read in chronological order because they believe that God intended us to read it this way. They also believe that reading it chronologically helps us to better understand the message of the Bible. So if you want to know what order to read the Bible, then you have come to the right place.
In the article below, we are going to teach you about the different ways the Bible can be read, while also explaining the meaning of each book and its importance to the overall text.
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Understanding The Bible For First
The Catholic Bible comprises 73 books from various prophets, Apostles, and people who were recording history at the time. The word Bible itself stems from the Latin word meaning books. The Bible is a collection of books and stories, each with its own meaning and writing style. The Bible is divided into New and Old Testaments. The Old Testament books are from before the time of Jesus and predict His coming, and the New Testament books were written after His birth and describe His ministry and sacrifice for us.
The word testament refers to a covenant or agreement between two parties. Dividing the Bible into New and Old Testaments calls attention to all the ways God can show His eternal commitment to His people. The Old Testament is more physical, with God helping and protecting the Israelites through the Law of Moses.
On the other hand, the New Testament is more spiritual. With this agreement, we can look forward to Heaven because of Jesuss sacrifice for us. There are several more differences between the Old Testament and New Testament, as well.
In What Order Should I Read The Bible
There are many opinions on the best way to read the Bible. There is no one best order to read the Bible the first time that works for everybody. The trick is to find what works for you and what order will keep you engaged, interested, and continuing to read.
YouVersion is a Bible app that contains hundreds of Bible reading plans. I particularly like the Read through the Bible in a Year plan by Nicky Gumble. Nicky oversees the Alpha Course. He designed this reading plan for those who are new Christians or new to the Bible.
This plan contains daily readings that have you read a little of the Old Testament and a little of the New Testament every day. This can be helpful if youre not sure which Testament to start in because you get a little bit of both.
The Bible Project also has some great resources for those looking to read through the Bible for the first time. They also have a Bible reading plan that will take you through the whole Bible in a year in loosely chronological order, working through the Old Testament and then the New. They also have you read a Psalm every day.
Additionally, they have really helpful videos on each book of the Bible and many themes and topics in the Bible that can help you better understand what youre reading. Whether or not you choose to use this plan, I would highly suggest any reader of the Bible check out their videos.
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Which Bible Should I Start With
So it is important to find one that is comfortable for you to read and study. The best place to start is by looking for a Bible that is translated into your native language. If you are comfortable reading in English, then there are many different versions of the Bible to choose from, including the King James Version, the New International Version, and the New Revised Standard Version. Another factor to consider is what type of study aids are included in the Bible, such as maps, concordances, and footnotes. Some Bibles also have different versions of the text, such as the New Testament in the original Greek or Hebrew. Ultimately, the best Bible for you is the one that you will be able to understand and use to grow in your faith.