How Much Time Does It Take to Read the Entire Bible?

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A breakdown of reading times for the Bible and its 66 books
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The Bible is full of beautiful messages and passages for you to explore, but just how long will it take you to absorb all of the Word from cover to cover? Don’t worry, we’ve done the math and have all of the answers for you. We’ll tell you how long on average it’ll take you to read the Bible in its entirety as well as break down reading times by each section and book. If reading the whole Bible is one of your goals for the year, we’ll also be sure to give you plenty of tips about how to start your journey and make a reading plan for yourself.

Things You Should Know

  • It takes an average person about 67 hours and 18 minutes (a little less than 3 days of non-stop reading) to read the entire Bible at a speed of 200 words per minute.
  • Start by reading the Gospels, then move on to the Epistles and Writings, and then read the book of Genesis to read the Bible in chronological order.
  • Use a 1-year Bible that contains a reading plan to help you read the Bible a bit every day, or make your own plan by picking 2-3 chapters to read each day.
Section 1 of 4:

How long does it take to read the entire Bible?

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  1. On average, a person reads about 200 words per minute, though some can read up to 500 words per minute if the material is easy to digest. [1] The number of words in your Bible can vary depending on the translation you choose, however, one site estimates that the New American Standard Bible (NASB) has around 807,361 words. This means that it would take around 67.3 hours to read this version of the Bible from cover to cover, which is just under 3 days of non-stop reading. [2]
    • The Old Testament in the NASB has around 622,771 words, meaning that it would take about 52 hours to read the entire thing. The New Testament is significantly shorter and has around 184,590 words. So it would take only about 15 hours for the average person to read.
    • If your goal is to read the entire Bible within a month (30 days), read from the Bible for about 2 hours and 15 minutes each day. If you’re going for a slightly longer period of 40 days (such as during Lent), cut your reading time down to about 1 hour and 40 minutes per day.
    • If you wish to finish the Bible within 1 year, many reading plans such as this one suggest reading 2 to 3 chapters each day. You only need to read for around 11 minutes a day to get through the whole Bible in 1 year.
    • The breakdown of reading times for each of the 6 sections of the Bible is as follows:
      • Pentateuch (books 1-5): around 13 hours
      • Historical Books (books 6-16): around 17 hours
      • Writings (books 17-22): around 9 hours
      • Prophets (books 23-39): around 15 hours
      • Gospels and Acts (books 40-44): around 10 hours
      • Epistles and Revelation (books 45-66): around 7 hours
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Section 2 of 4:

Different Ways to Read the Bible

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  1. Even though the Bible doesn’t necessarily go in chronological order, it’s still possible to read it from Genesis chapter 1 to Revelations chapter 22. Just keep in mind that each story may not flow smoothly into the next since the Bible is a collection of writings rather than a chronological narrative. [3]
    • If you want to read the Bible in a way that makes sense chronologically, go ahead and purchase a chronological Bible . These also sometimes come with guided notes that can help you understand what you’re reading.
  2. If this is your first time reading the Bible , start with the four Gospels: Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. These four books focus on the story of Jesus, His teachings, and His ministry. The four Gospels are the first 4 books in the New Testament. [4]
  3. The Epistles contain the Romans, Ephesians, and Philippian's books. Through reading these books, you’ll learn how to better live your life worshipping God. [5] Books from Writings, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon, also have a lot of wisdom that can inspire you as you embark on the journey of devoting yourself to the Lord. [6]
  4. The book of Genesis tells the story of how God created the world and also delves into the impact sin has had on the world. Continue reading the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) to learn about the significant ancient spiritual figures and the very foundations of Judeo-Christian beliefs. [7]
  5. Many of the books of Prophets, such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, contain passages that discuss the coming of the Messiah and the part He plays in God’s plan for humanity. This is an important section to read if you want to understand more about Jesus’ role within Christianity. [8]
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Section 3 of 4:

Methods for Reading the Bible in a Year

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  1. There are plenty of sites and apps that have reading plans that are meant to help you get through the entire Bible within a year . For example, a group called The Gideons International offers reading plans through their site or app that help you read each of the chapters within 1 year. [9]
    • Feel free to modify your reading plan according to your timeline. For example, if you want to take more time to really delve into each passage, your reading plan might be 3 years. If you’re short on time, read for about 2 hours a day to read the Bible within just 1 month.
    • Download a pre-made reading schedule like this one and start reading today.
    • Reading the Bible is a lifelong experience. Even after you finish it once, there’s always more you can learn from another read-through. Don’t feel pressured to finish the entire thing in a set amount of time and read at a pace that’ll allow you to get the most value from the Word.
  2. Buy a 1-year Bible to read from each day. There are plenty of Bibles that have been created specifically for people who wish to read from them a little bit each day. These 1-year Bibles usually organize the books and passages into chronological order or by message, and they may even come with annotations and notes that will help you understand what you’re reading. [10]
  3. Just like eating, showering, and sleeping, you can make reading the Bible an essential part of your day. Whenever you have a spare moment, open up your Bible or read an online version and go through a few passages. For example, read a passage or two while you’re waiting in line, eating a meal, or waiting for a commercial break on TV to be over. [11]
    • Another option is to listen to the Bible in audiobook format. On average, audiobooks read at about 150 words per minute, so it will take longer (around 90 hours, or a little less than 4 days of non-stop listening) to “read” the entire Bible.
    • When it comes to audiobooks, you always have the option to make the reading speed faster.
    • If you want to listen to the entire Bible within 1 year at a normal speed, listen for around 1 hour and 30 minutes each day.
  4. Studying in a group not only holds you accountable to keep up with your reading, but it also can provide a great community of friends to help you understand the passages you’re reading. It can also be interesting to discuss your individual interpretations, and you might gain some new insights from other members. [12]
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Section 4 of 4:

Reading Times for Each Book of the Bible

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  1. If you’re curious about how long it’ll take you to get through each of the 66 books of the Bible, we’ve got you covered. Use the following estimates to plan out your reading sessions or just get a general idea of how long each book is. These estimates are based on the New American Standard Bible (NASB). [13]
    • Genesis : ~3 hours and 10 minutes
    • Exodus : ~2 hours and 40 minutes
    • Leviticus : ~2 hours
    • Numbers : ~2 hours and 40 minutes
    • Deuteronomy : ~2 hours and 20 minutes
    • Joshua : ~1 hour and 30 minutes
    • Judges : ~1 hour and 30 minutes
    • Ruth : ~12 minutes
    • 1 Samuel : ~2 hours
    • 2 Samuel : ~1 hour and 40 minutes
    • 1 Kings : ~2 hours
    • 2 Kings : ~2 hours
    • 1 Chronicles : ~1 hour and 40 minutes
    • 2 Chronicles : ~2 hours and 10 minutes
    • Ezra : ~37 minutes
    • Nehemiah : ~52 minutes
    • Esther : ~28 minutes
    • Job : ~1 hour and 30 minutes
    • Psalms : ~3 hours and 30 minutes
    • Proverbs : ~1 hour and 15 minutes
    • Ecclesiastes : ~28 minutes
    • Song of Solomon : ~13 minutes
    • Isaiah : ~3 hours and 5 minutes
    • Jeremiah : ~3 hours and 30 minutes
    • Lamentations : ~17 minutes
    • Ezekiel : ~3 hours and 15 minutes
    • Daniel : ~1 hour
    • Hosea : ~26 minutes
    • Joel : ~10 minutes
    • Amos : ~21 minutes
    • Obadiah : ~3 minutes
    • Jonah : ~6 minutes
    • Micah : ~15 minutes
    • Nahum : ~6 minutes
    • Habakkuk : ~7 minutes
    • Zephaniah : ~8 minutes
    • Haggai : ~5 minutes
    • Zechariah : ~30 minutes
    • Malachi : ~8 minutes
    • Matthew : ~2 hours
    • Mark : ~1 hour and 15 minutes
    • Luke : ~2 hours
    • John : ~1 hour and 30 minutes
    • Acts : ~2 hours
    • Romans : ~47 minutes
    • 1 Corinthians : ~47 minutes
    • 2 Corinthians : ~30 minutes
    • Galatians : ~15 minutes
    • Ephesians : ~15 minutes
    • Philippians : ~11 minutes
    • Colossians : ~10 minutes
    • 1 Thessalonians : ~9 minutes
    • 2 Thessalonians : ~5 minutes
    • 1 Timothy : ~11 minutes
    • 2 Timothy : ~8 minutes
    • Titus : ~4 minutes
    • Philemon : ~2 minutes
    • Hebrews : ~34 minutes
    • James : ~12 minutes
    • 1 Peter : ~12 minutes
    • 2 Peter : ~7 minutes
    • 1 John : ~12 minutes
    • 2 John : ~1 minute
    • 3 John : ~1 minute
    • Jude : ~3 minutes
    • Revelation : ~1 hour

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      References

      1. ↑ https://catalog.shepherd.edu/mime/media/12/913/SU+Credit+Hour+Policy+Appendix+B.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/how-many-chapters-verses-and-words-are-in-the-bible/
      3. ↑ https://www.allaboutgod.com/how-to-read-the-bible.htm
      4. ↑ https://www.allaboutgod.com/how-to-read-the-bible.htm
      5. ↑ https://www.allaboutgod.com/how-to-read-the-bible.htm
      6. ↑ https://bible.org/seriespage/poetical-books
      7. ↑ https://bible.org/seriespage/3-law-first-five-books
      8. ↑ https://bible.org/seriespage/major-prophets
      9. ↑ https://www.gideons.org/read-the-bible
      1. ↑ https://www.allaboutgod.com/how-to-read-the-bible.htm
      2. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/08/reading-the-bible-on-a-tight-schedule/
      3. ↑ https://wordgo.org/journal/6-benefits-of-studying-gods-word-with-others
      4. ↑ https://holyword.church/miscellaneous-resources/how-many-words-in-each-book-of-the-bible/

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