No Value in Reading Through The Entire Bible Yearly?

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Reformed Catholic

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Greetings brothers,

I invited a couple of non-denominational roommates to a yearly Bible reading plan next year, but they both said that they find yearly Bible plans unproductive and unhelpful. Being used to the Reformed tradition, I was alarmed and I had always valued that practice, where additional devotional readings could complement but never replace the main reading through the entire Bible.

What is the best way to convince someone that there is strong value in reading through the entire Bible over the course of a year or two, instead of individual devotion chunks?
 
Why a year? Why two? Why not read in it every day for a little while, and not worry about a timeline?
Is there some kind of a rush? If a year is good, maybe six months is better? Why not read it all every quarter?
There is no requirement to read the whole Bible in a certain period of time.
There is no requirement to read the Bible at all, if you can attend to the Word--I've known fervent Christians who were entirely illiterate, and heard it only weekly in church, and occasonally at home if someone visited who could read to them.
I'm glad I'm not illiterate, and I read in the Bible daily, but I wouldn't tell anyone how or how fast or how often or how much they must read--that's going beyond Scripture.
 
There is no requirement to read the whole Bible in a certain period of time.
There is no requirement to read the Bible at all, if you can attend to the Word--I've known fervent Christians who were entirely illiterate, and heard it only weekly in church, and occasonally at home if someone visited who could read to them.

I didn't get the impression the OP made it a requirement. It spoke in terms of value. It is like set hours for prayer -- useful to make sure something valuable is not left undone, that someone gets full value out of it. Reading through the whole Bible isn't required but has proven valuable in our reformed tradition. The reason for a year is to not make it too burdensome. A few chapters a day is manageable, I would imagine. At least it used to be. Perhaps not so any more. That would be regrettable.
 
There is no requirement to read the Bible at all, if you can attend to the Word

I'm agreed with the rest of what you've written, but want to lovingly point out the following. Also, it's interesting to note that the Reformed method of evangelism seemed to always include establishing a school to raise literacy rates for the express purpose that the illiterate could read the Bible privately.

WLC 156: Is the Word of God to be read by all?

Answer: Although all are not to be permitted to read the Word publicly to the congregation (1), yet all sorts of people are bound to read it apart by themselves (2), and with their families (3): to which end, the holy Scriptures are to be translated out of the original into vulgar languages (4).
  1. Dt 31:9, 11–13; Neh 8:2–3; 9:3–5;
  2. Dt 17:19; Rev 1:3; Jn 5:39; Isa 34:16;
  3. Dt 6:6–9; Gen 18:17, 19; Ps 78:5–7;
  4. 1 Cor 14:6, 9, 11–12, 15–16, 24, 27–28
 
Greetings brothers,

I invited a couple of non-denominational roommates to a yearly Bible reading plan next year, but they both said that they find yearly Bible plans unproductive and unhelpful. Being used to the Reformed tradition, I was alarmed and I had always valued that practice, where additional devotional readings could complement but never replace the main reading through the entire Bible.

What is the best way to convince someone that there is strong value in reading through the entire Bible over the course of a year or two, instead of individual devotion chunks?
My broadly evangelical mother reads the Bible on a yearly plan. I've never thought it's a reformed distinctive to read the Bible once a year.

I suspect your friends simply don't like the Bible that much, and especially the "boring parts" that one is likely to come across in a plan (Leviticus, Numbers, etc).

I would point out to them that ALL of Scripture is useful so that the man of God might be well-equipped (2 Tim. 3:16), and that those bits of the Old Testament they might not have much interest in are precisely what Paul means by "solid food" in Hebrews 5:14, and they must "go on to perfection."
 
One of the pleasures of living in the days we do, is one doesnt necessarily have to read the Bible. There is a wide array of Audio Dramatizations of the Bible, where, if just 30 minutes a day were dedicated, one would go through the entire Bible about 2 times a year, just by relaxing and listening. I think for centuries most Christians didnt have written access to the scriptures, so all they knew was from oral recitation. And listening only, regardless how you feel about reading, is better than nothing.

I like "The Word of Promise" NKJV myself.
 
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Yes, there are all sorts of ways to do it.

Currently, I'm reading straight through at a rate of 3 chapters per day, 7 days per week. That may not sound like much, but that's 21 chapters per week and 90 chapters per month. I started on September 1 at Genesis 1 and, as of today (11/10/24), I'm up to Judges 3. So, that's reading at a pretty good clip.
 
Greetings brothers,

I invited a couple of non-denominational roommates to a yearly Bible reading plan next year, but they both said that they find yearly Bible plans unproductive and unhelpful. Being used to the Reformed tradition, I was alarmed and I had always valued that practice, where additional devotional readings could complement but never replace the main reading through the entire Bible.

What is the best way to convince someone that there is strong value in reading through the entire Bible over the course of a year or two, instead of individual devotion chunks?

Probably to show that there are developing themes, and our perception of their contours and value is partially dependent on going through the experience of watching them unfold. Haphazard reading is better than no reading; but systematic reading allows you to follow along with the process. Exodus is richer because it follows Genesis.
 
The reading plan is simply a tool to know the entirety of what God has communicated about Himself and His will. I would respond to your friend simply in terms of a strategy to getting to know God better rather than a legalistic, constraining plan as they might be viewing it.
 
There's definitely been a strong reaction to the perceived legalism of reading plans many circles I've been in. While plans can be misused that way, it seems that legalism is misunderstood here - that any obligation or discipline we place on ourselves, or strong encouragement from another to do something the Bible doesn't directly mandate, would be legalism. Dealing with that takes more than just discussing Bible reading!

Of course, it's harder for a generation of Christians who, so often, haven't grown up with proper Bible knowledge, or the mental tools to read the law or Prophets. I definitely find new converts without any Christian background take more preparation than they used to to read the OT, and it's especially tough with people who aren't very literate. Underlying many people's struggles is a lack of the theological tools and understanding to gain real benefit from what they read. Of course, just reading the Bible through a couple of times would give your most of those tools, but it can be helpful to kickstart the process with various helps. Not that that's something you can really do with roommates, of course.

If it's simply that people struggle with the practicality of plans, there are alternatives - daily listening (YouVersion offers this free, though some of the other content on the app is less ideal) is, as mentioned, great for this. Just listen to 3 chapters a day and that's the Bible in a year.

Or read through at three chapters a day, but instead of a plan, simply have a list of Bible books you tick off one by one - so that you can choose and get variety rather than going through multiple books of the law in order, or whatever.

Everyone should occasionally read through in the actual order, but the important thing is to get plenty Bible regularly and cover the whole thing in a balanced way.
 
I would add that the Directory of Family Worship mentions the reading of the scriptures as a usual, ordinary part of piety, and so what it says in favour of secret worship in general would certainly apply to reading the scriptures:

And first, for secret worship, it is most necessary, that every one apart, and by themselves, be given to prayer and meditation, the unspeakable benefit whereof is best known to them who are most exercised therein; this being the mean whereby, in a special way, communion with God is entertained, and right preparation for all other duties obtained: and therefore it becometh not only pastors, within their several charges, to press persons of all sorts to perform this duty morning and evening, and at other occasions; but also it is incumbent to the head of every family to have a care, that both themselves, and all within their charge, be daily diligent herein.

II.
The ordinary duties comprehended under the exercise of piety which should be in families, when they are convened to that effect, are these: First, Prayer and praises performed with a special reference, as well to the publick condition of the kirk of God and this kingdom, as to the present case of the family, and every member thereof. Next, Reading of the scriptures, with catechising in a plain way, that the understandings of the simpler may be the better enabled to profit under the publick ordinances, and they made more capable to understand the scriptures when they are read; together with godly conferences tending to the edification of all the members in the most holy faith: as also, admonition and rebuke, upon just reasons, from those who have authority in the family.

The way our forefathers saw this was very different than we moderns!


About the reading of the "hard passages" - prophets, Leviticus, ext - are you're friends dispensationalists? In my experience dispensationalism is a veil comparable to (but not nearly as thick as) the one religious Jews have when reading the scriptures, and the prophets are obscured more than any other part of the scriptures by this veil.
 
From reflecting on my own growth, those that complain about reading through the Bible yearly often do not value just washing yourself with the Word each day. My current plan has me read four chapters a day. Do I get every nuance about what I'm reading? No. Do I get some broad strokes about what God is doing in each book? Yes. There is value to both "shallow", broad reading reading and "deep", narrow reading.

I get my broad reading from personal devotions, and my narrow reading from family devotions and public worship. There is a place for both. We get into trouble when we expect to detect something from our reading, rather that just enjoy the followship with God.
 
I didn't get the impression the OP made it a requirement. It spoke in terms of value. It is like set hours for prayer -- useful to make sure something valuable is not left undone, that someone gets full value out of it. Reading through the whole Bible isn't required but has proven valuable in our reformed tradition. The reason for a year is to not make it too burdensome. A few chapters a day is manageable, I would imagine. At least it used to be. Perhaps not so any more. That would be regrettable.
Well, he was "alarmed" and wanted arguments to persuade them. I simply wanted to point out that there's no cause for alarm.
I think those who are able to read and will not, rob themselves of much benefit, but I don't see so much value in the fad of placing a time-per-read rubric around Scripture.
 
Well, he was "alarmed" and wanted arguments to persuade them. I simply wanted to point out that there's no cause for alarm.
I think those who are able to read and will not, rob themselves of much benefit, but I don't see so much value in the fad of placing a time-per-read rubric around Scripture.
Where did you see that happening? The opening past was so vague, mentioning reading the entire Bible over the course of a year or two as better than reading individual chunks. That's a far cry from legalistic prescription.
 
Reading plans can serve a few purposes:
  • The plan itself gives a structure to reading so that the undisciplined can develop discipline, and the busy can reduce cognitive load in deciding what. to read
  • The timeline gives a sense of urgency so that, again, the undisciplined can commit to finishing by a certain date, rather than a nebulous impression.
An issue arises when we turn a reading plan from a help to a requirement. If someone is already in the habit of consistent, sequential reading or studying the Bible, then a reading plan is superflous. It is like how an exercise plan can be superflous for an athelete that has already has a habit of genereal conditioning from their sport of choice.

An upstream issue is that many of us think we are more disciplined and mature than we actually are.
 
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Honestly, one of the bigger things is to not let yourself be discouraged by missing X days on the schedule but being glad you have a chance to read today. If it means crossing out the Read X on Y date and just make it a set of bullet points, that works. If it means reading that day's reading knowing it's out of context, that's ok too. The way to give up is to get off track and then just give up for the rest of the year.
 
An hour a day here. The amount of chapters I get through largely depends on the book I am in. My wife says Leviticus was a tough road, but I fly though that with joy. Numbers on the other hand is hard work for me. On my to-buy list is a solid Numbers commentary to help me frame and look at differently the long chapters of repetitive redundancy. (<-- see what I did there? hahahaha)
 
Greetings brothers,

I invited a couple of non-denominational roommates to a yearly Bible reading plan next year, but they both said that they find yearly Bible plans unproductive and unhelpful. Being used to the Reformed tradition, I was alarmed and I had always valued that practice, where additional devotional readings could complement but never replace the main reading through the entire Bible.

What is the best way to convince someone that there is strong value in reading through the entire Bible over the course of a year or two, instead of individual devotion chunks?
I would say that reading the whole Bible is very important. But not necessarily in order, or yearly. There may well be books that one finds more helpful than others. And there is no problem in reading these more often.

But, as far a "devotional chunks" go. If you mean by that, several verses pulled from somewhere, that seems to be a very bad idea. The key reason I would say this is, it causes the value of the context of the whole book to be lost.

Again, it is important to know the whole of the scriptures, but different reading paces and plans, within certain bounds, may work better for different brethren.

An hour a day here. The amount of chapters I get through largely depends on the book I am in. My wife says Leviticus was a tough road, but I fly though that with joy. Numbers on the other hand is hard work for me. On my to-buy list is a solid Numbers commentary to help me frame and look at differently the long chapters of repetitive redundancy. (<-- see what I did there? hahahaha)
Yup! Your where redundantly repetitive.
 
I think most are not called to read the Bible in a year because everyone I know including myself always quit so that is not good. Many here have said just read the Bible and do that pick what you feel is right and be very comprehensive in your study and you might get more out of it.
 
An hour a day here. The amount of chapters I get through largely depends on the book I am in. My wife says Leviticus was a tough road, but I fly though that with joy. Numbers on the other hand is hard work for me. On my to-buy list is a solid Numbers commentary to help me frame and look at differently the long chapters of repetitive redundancy. (<-- see what I did there? hahahaha)
Numbers is certainly a challenge, but often repetitive redundancy is the whole point: Numbers 7 is a case in point, where the identical gifts of each of the twelve tribes is spelled out in detail rather than summarized - a bit like the (very unPuritan) song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas". If you are looking for accessible help, may I recommend my sermons, published by Crossway in the Preach the Word series. I also really enjoyed preaching on the travelogue in Numbers 33, which is at first sight merely a list of place names, but is actually a profound reflection on the Wilderness wanderings (HT the Jewish commentator Jacob Milgrom for insightful remarks on the function of this passage).

But these issues highlight the challenge of reading rapidly through the whole Bible, or at least the OT. Many people find themselves, like the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8, unable to understand what they are reading and in need of some assistance. Simply ploughing through passages in order to check them off a list has limited value (though not no value, since there is at least some sense of the contents of each book). There is usefulness in reading through the whole Bible in a short period of time to grasp the scope of the whole story, to be sure, rather than spending all your time in familiar NT passages. But some folks would be better served by slowing down a bit and finding a resource to read alongside their Bible (even a good Study Bible) to help them read with greater understanding, especially in the more challenging parts of the OT. And the sentence proverbs in Prov 10-31 are probably not best digested a chapter a day, as some Bible reading programs suggest, but one or two proverbs per week or even month, pondered and their application wrestled with in all of their richness.
 
Numbers is certainly a challenge, but often repetitive redundancy is the whole point: Numbers 7 is a case in point, where the identical gifts of each of the twelve tribes is spelled out in detail rather than summarized - a bit like the (very unPuritan) song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas". If you are looking for accessible help, may I recommend my sermons, published by Crossway in the Preach the Word series. I also really enjoyed preaching on the travelogue in Numbers 33, which is at first sight merely a list of place names, but is actually a profound reflection on the Wilderness wanderings (HT the Jewish commentator Jacob Milgrom for insightful remarks on the function of this passage).

But these issues highlight the challenge of reading rapidly through the whole Bible, or at least the OT. Many people find themselves, like the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8, unable to understand what they are reading and in need of some assistance. Simply ploughing through passages in order to check them off a list has limited value (though not no value, since there is at least some sense of the contents of each book). There is usefulness in reading through the whole Bible in a short period of time to grasp the scope of the whole story, to be sure, rather than spending all your time in familiar NT passages. But some folks would be better served by slowing down a bit and finding a resource to read alongside their Bible (even a good Study Bible) to help them read with greater understanding, especially in the more challenging parts of the OT. And the sentence proverbs in Prov 10-31 are probably not best digested a chapter a day, as some Bible reading programs suggest, but one or two proverbs per week or even month, pondered and their application wrestled with in all of their richness.
You know, there is one British brother who I think has a real gift for unpacking the law. Stuart Olyott: https://www.knowyourbiblerecordings.org/leviticus-and-deuteronomy
 
An hour a day here. The amount of chapters I get through largely depends on the book I am in. My wife says Leviticus was a tough road, but I fly though that with joy. Numbers on the other hand is hard work for me. On my to-buy list is a solid Numbers commentary to help me frame and look at differently the long chapters of repetitive redundancy. (<-- see what I did there? hahahaha)
Thank you! I find Leviticus SO much easier than Exodus 25-40 or the non-narrative portions of Numbers.
 
What helped through those less engaging sections were:
  • Looking at Matthew Henry's Consise Commentary
  • Looking at the cross references
...so you're not just reading, but actively engaging with the text and having a guide to pull out some of the harder-to-glean concepts and principles.
 
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