How Long Does It Take To Read the Bible? 4 Ways To Read the Entire Bible

How long does it take to read the Bible? This is a question that many people ask themselves. The answer might surprise you! In this article, we will answer this question and many more like how to read the Bible in 30 days.

Some people have cut down their reading time by doing an entire bible reading plan, and others just want to know how long they would need if they were reading at a steady pace. In this article, we will explore different options so you can find out how long it takes for you personally to read through the Bible with ease.

I will never forget watching the Christian channel on TV and hearing about this awesome church in India where believers were reading the entire Bible in 30 to 60 days. My mind was blown. I quickly pulled out my calculator to do the math. I soon realized my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ were spending countless hours devouring the Word of God!

Talk about a reality check to me! Not in a condemning way, but it made me look at how I spent my time daily. And how I could structure my day better where I could stoke the flame of God in my life.

And I want to help you stoke the flame of God in your life. So, let’s dig in and learn how you can read the entire Bible and how long it will take! But before we do that…Why should we care to read the entire Bible?

Why Read The Entire Bible?

As Christians, it’s vital for us to know the Word of God (Old and New Testament). One of the best ways to do this is by reading through it. It’s important that we read and understand God’s Word so that when people have questions or struggles about what they’re going through, you can lead them into Biblical truth.

This also helps anchor you when you are facing difficult times. We will face tough times in our lives, which is why it’s important that we are rooted and grounded in His Word.

• It will help you grow and draw closer to God.
  
• You can apply what you learn from reading the Bible into your daily life.
  
• Gives answers for tough questions or doubts about faith.
  
• The Bible is soooo interesting! It’s like a treasure chest full of gold and gems. For example check out my post on Colors in the Bible or Are Mermaids in the Bible? God’s Word is amazing!

>> Check Out How To Memorize Scripture: 8 Helpful Tactics

Figuring Out How Long Does It Take To Read The Bible: It’s All About The Math

Before we dive into the various time frames you can read the Bible. It really comes down to basic math. There are 1,189 chapters in the protestant Bible. Dividing this amount by the number of days you want to complete will give you the average amount of chapters to read. Here is a simple math equation to show you:

1,189 (Bible Chapters) ÷ 60 (Amount of days) = 19.8 Chapters per day (round up to 20 Chapters)

You can use this math equation for any length of time you desire.

Another important variable is reading speed. Now, if you are a slow reader it will take you longer to read a chapter versus a fast reader. The average person reads between 200-300 words per minute.

Here is a cool little test you can take to see where you are at Free Reading Test.

How Many Hours to Read the Bible?

Another math equation you can do is to see how long it would take to read the entire Bible based on your reading speed. This helps you to figure out how many hours does it take to read the Bible.

783,137 (words in the Bible depending your version) ÷ 200 (reading speed – words per min) = 3915 (minutes) or 65.2 hours

This means that in 65.2 hours (non-stop) I could read the entire Bible! That also means no eating, bathroom breaks, or power naps. Not very realistic.

Just to note… the more you read the better and faster you will get at it. So, if you are not happy with your score don’t worry about it. You can improve it! And the Bible is a great way to do that.

How to Read the Bible in 30 days

Have you ever wondered if it is possible to read the entire Bible in 30 days?? If you have, then the answer is yes. You can read the Bible in 30 days by reading 40 chapters each day. It will take a lot of commitment and time, but it is doable for some.

Reading speed plays a huge role in how long it takes to read the Bible. If you are a slow reader, then I would encourage you to do one of the longer plans.

I also would want to ask you, Why read the Bible in 30 days? What is the purpose or need to read it so quickly?

If you are able to read and retain 40 chapters of information then I say go for it. But a slower pace will be more beneficial for retention in the long run. It’s about quality reading, not quantity.

How to Read the Bible in 90 days

You can accomplish a lot in 90 days (3 months). A lot of people set goals in this time frame. 90 days is a good amount of time to read through a Bible it’s much easier than 30 days yet, still gives you a challenge. It takes you reading about 13 chapters a day to finish the Bible in 3 months.

You can balance your reading around work and life so that you don’t feel too overwhelmed or stressed out by it.

To accomplish this, I recommend doing 6 chapters in the morning and then put all other readings for the day on hold until your evening is free. Breaking it up will help you retain and keep focus. Plus starting and ending your day in God’s Word is pretty awesome.

How to Read the Bible in 6 months

Now, to read the entire Bible in 6 months you will need to read 6.5 chapters a day. This also can be broken up into morning and evening readings.

I recommend reading the Bible in a different way. You can choose to do it as follows:

• Read one book at a time, then proceed onto the next book until you’ve finished them all. If you don’t know how this is done, I recommend reading (in order) Genesis -> Exodus -> Leviticus -> Numbers -> etc…
  
• You can read the Bible chronologically as it was written. Very eye opening. You can even buy Bibles like this…this is the one I own.
  
• Read 2 chapters in the New Testament and 4 in the Old Testament. You will finish the New Testament a little early, but that’s ok. Just make sure when you do that you 6.5 chapters in the Old Testament.

How to Read the Bible in 1 Year

One of the most common ways to read the Bible is to do it within one year. It’s by far the easiest way of going about reading the Bible. It only takes 3 chapters a day. That’s right…just 3 chapters a day and you will have read the entire Bible in a year. Pretty awesome right!?

There are many ways you could do this, same as I mentioned above. But to be honest my favorite is to just read it from front to back:

• Start with Genesis -> Exodus -> Leviticus -> Numbers -> Joshua and Judges -> Ruth -> Samuel and Kings…Etc Just keep going till you get to the Book of Revelation.

Warning: Falling Behind

The problem with all reading plans, with the Bible or your basic novel. Is that when you fall behind it can really throw you off. Missing one day can make you 40, 13, 6.5 ,or 3 chapters behind. Your scheduled reading time may only allow time for 3 chapters and now all of a sudden have to read 6 or 9.

via GIPHY

I’ve been there.

And it’s easy to beat yourself up about it. But that’s not what Bible reading is about. It’s about spending time with God and growing in Him.

So, here are my tips for when you are falling behind:

• On days you have extra time read a chapter or two extra. This way if something happens that you miss a day or weren’t able to finish all your Bible reading… you will already be ahead!
  
• Listen to the Bible. So many apps now will actually read the Bible to you! It’s awesome!! This is a great way to catch up on chapters while commuting or working around the house. The only thing I would encourage you to do is to be an active listener. Don’t zone out, but really pay attention while listening.
  
• Give yourself grace. Sometimes you lose a day and that’s ok. Just move your deadline over a bit. it’s not the end of the world. My only warning is that you don’t make this habit. Because when you do you tend to never accomplish your goal.

Tips to Help You Read Your Bible Daily

For some reading daily can be a struggle. We get busy and we find it hard to squeeze in reading time. Or let’s be real…you don’t like reading!

Here are some tips I’ve found that can help:

• Use an app like, Bible Gateway, or Bible Journey which follows a reading plan/schedule for you, and includes videos, audio content, maps and more.

• Set a time of day to read. Make it almost like an appointment. Maybe it’s first thing in the morning, or right before bed. Or even during a break at work.
  
• Read for 15 or 20 minutes each day – that’s less than an hour! Even if it feels like too much, try doing just three chapters each day. In a year you have read the whole Bible.
  
• Find reading partners! Find a small group of people who want to read through the Bible together and discuss what you find as you go along. This is a great way to stay accountable and sharpen yourself with other Christians.
  
• Pray! Ask the the Lord to put a passion in your heart for His Word.

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It may not seem easy to read the Bible in its entirety, but it is possible. And actually easy! Plus in our day and age, there are many tools available online that can help you find and track your progress. If you plan out a time over the next few months or year where you will commit to reading three-chapter per day (or even just 1 hour each week of reading), there is no excuse why you shouldn’t be able to finish this goal before long!

What about starting with some passages from The Gospels? Or Acts? Maybe Psalms? You have so much opportunity at your fingertips- what better way could there be than spending more time with God by immersing yourself in His word every single day?!

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this post and that it has answered your question, How long does it take to read the Bible? If you would like to leave me a comment below I would love to hear from you.