As believers we have different aspects of our lives we want to focus on. When these areas are left unattended, stagnancy develops. If we neglect the act of studying the word of God our lives become unbalanced as Christians.
One of the several questions that some Christians ask is how long does it take to read the Bible? This question is quite a popular one, because people claim to have busy schedules that prevent them from spending time studying the scriptures.
Joshua gives us a sneak-peek into how the study of the word should be done to facilitate robust growth as believers.
Joshua 1:8 (ESV)
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then, you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
How long does it take to read the Bible?
The Bible is a pretty large book that contains guidelines on living as Christians. Not reading the Bible is equivalent to a deteriorating Christian life. When people ask how long does it take to read the Bible, it is because they don’t know how to plan their time.
Anyone can read through the Bible quickly, but what matters is how much time that goes into studying the Bible and meditating on it. There is no limitation to the number of times you can read the Bible daily. You can read it based on your daily routine.
How to read the Bible effectively
Spending time reading the word of God has never been disadvantageous. If you need nourishment and refreshment for your soul, you need to read the Bible. Sometimes, studying the word can be overwhelming.
You might not even know where to start though. Before you ask how long does it take to read the Bible, it is important to learn how to read it the right way.
Here are some tips that can get you started.
Ask for the Holy Spirit to help you understand
The input of the Holy Spirit when it comes to reading the Bible is underrated. Before Jesus left the Earth, he mentioned the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth. The Holy Spirit helps our understanding as we study the scriptures. Hence, this makes the Bible no ordinary book.
John 16:13 (ESV)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears, he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Have a study Plan
Some people do not actually read and study the Bible; they scan or skim through it. If you want to diligently study the word of God then you need to work with a study plan. Don’t feel compelled to start with the book of Genesis.
No rule states the book of Genesis is compulsorily the first place to begin your Bible study. You can begin by studying any topic that has got you curious over time. When you pick a topic, search the verses related to those topics. This will provide you with a good place to start studying.
Also, you don’t have to finish in a day, so you don’t want to rush it. Depending on your schedule, you can spread this study over a week or a month.
Make notes
While you diligently study the Bible, have a jotter and pen to write what you have learned. Remember to include dates on your notes so that when you revisit what you have written, you can track how well you understood the scriptures over time.
Pray after reading the Bible
When you are done reading, it is right to pray. Reading the Bible is great, but it becomes more effective when you act on the word of God. Therefore, pray that God gives you the grace to become a doer of the word.
James 1:22-25 (ESV)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to read the Bible in one sitting?
It is impossible to read and finish the Bible in one sitting. To fully understand the content of the Bible you need to spend a very long time finishing up. Hence, to answer the question, how long does it take to read the Bible; nobody can finish the entire text of the Bible all at once.
How long does the average person read the Bible?
There’s no specific duration that states how long it takes the average person to read the Bible. We all have different reading rates. We have fast and slow readers. Hence, each person’s time will be different.
Can you read the Bible in 40 days?
To finish the Bible in 40 days means that you would be doing nothing else except reading the Bible. One way to know is by making a simple calculation. There are 66 books in the Bible, so to finish the Bible in 40 days, you will have to read an average of 1-2 books each day.
Who wrote the Bible?
The Bible was written by different men of God who the Holy Spirit inspired. Many scholars claim that about 40 authors wrote the Bible. So far, about 34-35 of them have been confirmed.
2 Peter 1:20-21 (ESV)
Knowing this, first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
Having read this article, you now know that the question of how long does it take to read the Bible does not have a single definite answer. You need to understand your routine and create ample time to always digest the word of God. It might be impossible to study at the same pace every day, but what matters is how consistent you are.
