Read the Bible the whole way through

I’m on 1 Peter. This is so worth it. I’m disappointed that I didn’t keep doing it every day for a while, but I’m back on track now. It helps get through my daily struggles. 21 months ago

The other night I was talking with a contact of mine on msn and he asked me: “do you read the bible, lauraly?”

Me: “yes”

him: “but i mean, have you read the whole thing?”

Me: “yes! Not cover to cover – I jumped around a lot – but I’ve read the entire Bible.”

What a thrill to get to say that! 2 years ago

Thank you to everybody for the cheers and for the nice comments as I worked towards completing this goal. Almost 2 years and almost 200 cheers later, I can say I have done this. I have read the entire Bible! The whole thing! All the way through!

Now I get to start over and read it all again. (: 2 years ago

Luke and John are finished! Half way through Acts! SO CLOSE! 2 years ago

Where are my cheers going? I noticed this months ago, that I’d have a certain number and when I’d come back, one or sometimes two, would be gone. I thought it was my imagination, but look at this! I had 183 earlier, but didn’t get to make the screen cap, but I DEFINITELY had 182 as of the other day. What’s going on???

I finished reading Mark, the shortest of the Gospels, and I am half way through Luke. 2 years ago

I laid in bed and read the last few chapters of Matthew. It was SO nice to get to do that! Since I’ve been off work, despite having that extra 8 hours, I find I have less time to read. Read anything for that matter, not just my Bible, though Gabriel does seem to concentrate his efforts on taking it out of my hands over any other book. He likes to flip through it.

Afterwards I realized how much I missed being able to read several chapters at once – I mean, I read wherever and whenever I can; the car, while waiting in line or waiting rooms, so on – but that is usually only a chapter or two at a time. I’m thinking up ways I can ramp up my reading for the month of May… which may or may not be easy with a new baby due soon!

I also got another Bible at Goodwill the other day. I’m going to need a special place to keep my collection soon! (My poor bookcase is STUFFED!) 2 years ago

I am done! I can hardly believe it! I’ve read THE WHOLE BIBLE!

I’m still reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts before this will be marked as completed, but I finished 1 and 2 Thessalonians mid-March.

Just about that time, my parents, Gabe and I went on a day-trip to a town about 2-3 hours away (one way). On the drive, my mom was talking to my dad about the scripture that says “Peace and security” and she asked me if I had my Bible on me so we could look it up to see precisely what it says.

Of course I do!, I told her as I carry it everywhere with me in my bag, and the coolest thing was I had literally read that very scripture the morning before, so I knew exactly where to find it. (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

So, anyway… I HAVE read the Bible the whole way through. It took my just under 2 whole years. Not bad timing, considering I stuck to no real schedule as far as how much to read at a time, or how frequently I read! 2 years ago

Through January I read Genesis and through February I read Exodus. I rented five books at the library yesterday, three more than I intended to! so it looks like March’s reading will be crammed!

Genesis was wonderful for the refresher. I’d forgotten so much since I was 10 and I can appreciate and understand more now that I’m older. For a 10 year old, I think I still got a lot of out of it, though.

My favorite part of Genesis, one that gave me cold shivers, was when Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, and after he had been brought out of the prison and promoted to gather the grain for the 7 year famine… just how willing the people were to sell themselves as slaves just to stay alive a few more days. They were so hungry they were willing to do anything. I think it’s very important for our day, in a country where we are generally well fed, to keep that in mind. Anything can happen to us and we could be that desperate very easily.

But the “all things happen for a reason” aspect wasn’t lost on me, either. Joseph’s brothers betrayed him, but if they hadn’t… who knows what would have happened!

Exodus wasn’t quite as interesting, as a good portion towards the end was the designing and building of the tabernacle. I’m a kinesthetic learner, but failing that I have to at least see something. I’ve never been good at visualizing descriptions of something’s design, but that majesty of the tabernacle still wasn’t lost to me. I wish I could see it though!

The exodus out of Egypt however was interesting, and even more so how incredibly stubborn and stupid Pharaoh was to dismiss and then refuse to let the Israelites go. And then, for the Israelites to see ALL THOSE MIRACLES, one after the other after the other after the other, and STILL insist Aaron make them an idol to worship when Moses didn’t come off the mountain right away.

I read about 1100 pages of non-Bible reading through February, so at this point I think I will aim for only 1 and 2 Thessalonians through March… but we shall see. (: 2 years ago

...the only books I have left to read are 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Wow!

The last few books didn’t take long at all for me to fly through. The Thessalonians won’t take long either… except that because it has been twelve years since I read Genesis and Exodus I’m rereading those at the moment. From there I will probably also reread Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts as well. It’s been years, after all – 5 years since Matthew and Mark and 4 years since Luke, John and Acts. I’d like a bit of a refresher so that I feel more like I have been able to “Read the Bible the whole way through”... rather than in chunks and pieces. (: 3 years ago

As per Lauraly, I’ll mark them off as I go.

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
Jude
Revelation 3 years ago

I’m almost finished reading the entire Bible, really?

Since November I’ve read Revelation, Hebrews, Malachi, Zechariah, Ephesians, Colossians and Philipians.

That leaves me with only 11 of the small books left. I’m stunned! :D

In other news, I’ve decided I’d like to start collecting Bibles. 3 years ago

I’m still here. Throughout October I read only fiction books, however. The main reason is that I needed something easy and without much thinking to keep my awake at work on breaks. I didn’t feel it fair too, that if I couldn’t focus I’d be pretty much going through the motions and not actually getting anything from any Bible reading.

I had only a few more chapters of Zechariah and all of Malachi to go before I was finished with the entire Hebrew Scriptures, but I quit where I was and read Revelation instead. I was really looking forward to that, and now that I’ve read all of Revelation, I can return to reread Zechariah and to Malachi, or I can jump about where I please. Hebrews stands out at me presently.

We’ll see, but I am still reading.

Revelation was FASCINATING. I could read that all over again. I once had someone tell me how they felt Revelation was “just a scary story” which when I read it, I have to wonder what planet they were from. How can anyone say that? How can they not see all the things in Revelation happening right now in our day?

My homepage is Bhookh.com and it says right below the picture of malnourished children with distended stomachs that “Hunger remains the No.1 cause of death in the world.”

My mom shared this site with me the other day which shows you all of the volcanoes, earthquakes, flash floods, epidemics, HAZMAT, storms and so on that have happened the world over that day alone.

But Revelation is “just a scary story”? We’re LIVING in a scary story. It’s never been clearer. And I’m an unfailing optimist who can almost always see the best in people and all situations.

Revelation does have a happy ending. For instance Revelation 21:1-7 is all entirely positive and full of hope.

My coworkers have gotten used to me reading although there was some (very goodnatured) teasing for the first little bit. One thought maybe I’d done something wrong and this was my “penance”, lol! People seem to think if you walk around with a Bible you’re weird, but they’re usually the ones who dye their hair pink, so who is keeping score? :P 3 years ago

Somehow I missed jotting down that I’d read Micah AND Obadiah in July. Don’t know how I missed that, lol. I reread Hosea and then Obadiah as well. Then I finished up Nahum and Habbakuk and I’m onto Zephaniah.

I look at the amount I’ve read and think Wow! I’ve come a long way!

My original plan was to read Revelation last but I think now I’ll read it after I finish the Hebrew Scriptures. 3 years ago

Thanks, Chris. I got a kind comment from him JUST as I was logging onto 43things telling me I was doing wonderful. It’s kind of spooky, because I was just thinking as I logged on how I need to update my reading!

I read Jeremiah throughout August… The very last of the long books. Everything else shouldn’t take me 50+ chapters to get through. Without confirming, I think the longest book I have left to read now is Revelation.

I finished Lamentations just this morning and I started on Hosea again, as I said I would. I had read it earlier but… couldn’t seem to concentrate on it. When I read it the first time I didn’t remember more than Hosea was living common law with Gomer and they had children together…

But this morning when I restarted it, I had absolutely no problem concentrating and comprehending what I was reading. I actually really really like it.

Jeremiah was frustrating. Not because it’s a very long book, but… I just don’t understand how completely stupid Israel could be. Time and time and time again. HOW? WHY? I don’t get it!

And, I enjoyed Lamentations.

After I reread Hosea, I’ll read Obadiah and Micah. It’s all downhill from here! 3 years ago

My very first post to this goal was one year ago to the day. And look how far I’ve come! I’m quite behind had I been doing the “Bible in a year”, but I think I’m doing wonderfully all the same.

In addition to the books I’ve already completed, I can mark Obadiah and Micah down as finished, too. Not bad. Not bad at all! 3 years ago

I see these on livejournal quite often; it’s a meme style way of showing which you’ve “consumed”, usually books you’ve read or movies you’ve watched.

You start with the list, and highlight the ones you’ve, in this case, read.

So here are the 66 books of the Bible, and the ones I have and have not read.

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Dueteromony
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Conrinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation

I really liked Song of Solomon; it is a beautiful writing. It ended rather abruptly, though!

Looking at my Bible meme, I feel like it won’t be long before I’m complete with the Old Testament. The only other “long” book I have left in the OT is Jeremiah. Most in the Little Prophets are just that; 3 or so chapters! 3 years ago

That is, Esther, Ezra and Ecclesiastes. I decided to wait on Song of Solomon for now.

I’m almost finished Ecclesiastes, and really enjoying it. If you’re ever stressed, anxious or worried, that is the book to read. Some of the scriptures I reread just to better absorb them.

Esther was great, too. At first it seems to be about Mordecai more, but Esther was quite the heroine.

Ezra was kind of boring, and honestly I don’t really remember much about it! Short book, though, and I realize when I was reading it, I was slightly distracted.

Maybe once I’ve finished Ecclesiastes, I will follow through with reading Song of Solomon. (Ecclesiastes is written by Solomon, too!) 3 years ago

I only JUST finished 2 Chronicles. Both of the Chronicles have really held me up, but it also gave me more time to reflect, too, and to look forward to reading my Bible during a less hectic, busy time.

I don’t know which book to read now, though I’m seriously considering rereading Matthew… if not I’ll probably go with Song of Solomon. Any ideas, anyone? 3 years ago

I only managed to read 1 Chronicles throughout all of April. It was an average length, but I was quite distracted with my schoolwork, the suddenly beautiful weather, I was viciously sick for a few days, and just a bunch of stuff that was April-specific.

I’ve seen other people with goals along the lines of read the Bible daily, read the Bible in a year and read the Bible regularly.

But when I actively started working on this goal, I knew I had to avoid that kind of thing. I simply can’t read a certain quota per day, per week, per month. Maybe this month (though I doubt it! May is shaping up to be chaotic in the most extreme way!) I will read 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Jeremiah – who knows? But if I only manage to finish 2 Chronicles, that is okay with me, too.

In ways I wish I could taken up “read the Bible daily” or one of those, but I know if I do, I set myself up to fail. If I miss one day of reading, it means I have to double read the next day. If I have to double read, I feel pressured and am more preoccupied with getting it done so that I’m not “behind” in my reading than I am with absorbing and understanding. Then I get discouraged, overwhelmed, and I give up.

Slow and steady wins the race, after all.

The first of Chronicles was… well…

I recall when I was much younger, it was imparted to me that “even if you’re just reading so and so became father to so and so, and so and so became father to so and so”, you’ll be blessed by God just for having the interest, wanting to read it.

I remembered that conversation many times while reading 1 Chronicles because it’s mostly the historical “chronicle” of the people Israel. At first glance, it’s boring. And I’ll admit it’s not a captivating tale like 1 Samuel was – Hannah’s story made me cry, and David’s strife struck a chord – or like Ruth, Job or Proverbs, to name a few, but in other ways, wow. To read the names of all the people back then and know they once lived and breathed, and so many years later, here their names are, written down for me to read… It made me feel really small. 3 years ago

I have finished Nehemiah and Deuteronomy, so that means I have 16 books in the Old Testament and 16 in the New Testament to read! 3 years ago

Being sick really dampens my interest (and ability) to read, so since I was on here last I have read:

Judges
Joel
Amos and
2 Kings

I’m currently reading Nehemiah. 3 years ago

I’m 1/4 of the way into Ezekiel now, after reading through 1 and 2 Timothy, as well as Numbers. I decided that after Isaiah, I wouldn’t read Jeremiah just yet. I’ll come back to that one later.

I love reading Paul’s letters. Wow. What’s most amazing is how he was SUCH a persecutor of the early Christians, and then he completely turned around. When someone I meet or know is mean, hateful or just seems like a “lost cause”, I think of him (even though it’s hard.)

Numbers is aptly titled, as it is about numbers, numbers, and more numbers. How many of this tribe, how many of that tribe, census taking, and then census taking again. Not inspiring, but very interesting on a historical level as Numbers records more laws and statues the Israelites, Levites and the tribe of Judah were to live by. And I now know what an ephah is! lol

I have to say, I find Moses to be a poor writer. His writing seems very wooden and methodical, especially compared to how I’ve already noticed the book of Ezekiel to be. Different subject matter, that’s for sure! But even when writing about the copper snake, or when the water came out of the mountainside, or any of those events, he doesn’t put the feeling into it that I even noticed in say, Joshua.

Ah well, different strokes for different folks. The only book written by Moses that I have left to read now is Deuteronomy anyway. (And I always found Genesis and Exodus to be fascinating!) 4 years ago

So far, I have read…

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Joshua
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Isaiah
Daniel
Hosea
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Conrinthians
2 Corinthians
and Galatians

That’s 15 books since I started working on this goal in July of last year.

On to 1 and 2 Timothy, then probably to Jeremiah or maybe reread Hosea as that was one I didn’t understand the first time reading it. I really really really enjoyed 1 and 2 Samuel as well as Isaiah. 4 years ago

Read both 1 and 2 Samuel, and I’ve started into 1 Kings now. 4 years ago

I just have to say I am amazed to log on to 43things today and find that I now have almost 80 cheers on this. Thank you everyone!

Also, finished reading Jonah. Huge whopper of a book at 4 tiny chapters. :P 4 years ago

I have finished Hosea, but didn’t realy “get” it, unfortunately. I couldn’t seem to pay attention and felt like I was just going through the motions, so I’ll come back to it later on and reread it.

In the meantime, I’m not sure which to read now. I could go back to Judges and read on through, or I could skip Judges and go to 1 Samuel… or I could go to something different like 1 John.

I dunno; last time when I wasn’t sure of which book to read next I had a dream about being in a lions den, and so I read Daniel. I wonder what I’ll dream of tonight… lol 4 years ago

I read all of Leviticus, Ruth, and almost all of Hosea.

I was almost dreading Leviticus because it is sooo boring, but I found it to be better than I was expecting. Maybe because I’m older I was just better prepared to understand it.

After Leviticus I read Ruth as a “reward” because I knew I would like it – all 4 chapters of it!

Now to finish Hosea, and maybe head back to Judges, or maybe I’ll just continue on with the “Little Prophets” – Hosea, Joel, Amos…

The reading I can accomplish when Gabriel sleeps!

And it’s not like I’m forcing myself to read; I really did enjoy Leviticus. It was kind of repetitive, but it also made me think of how beneficial the laws were, and really, after being led out of slavery in Egypt, how light the responsibilities of the sacrifices must have seemed.

And Ruth, of course, is just all around awesome. There are so many accounts of so many strong, amazing women in the Bible. 4 years ago

It’s funny how this really has become a habit. If I go a few days of being unable to read or of reading another book, I miss it and can’t wait to read again.

Joshua is the book that tells about my favorite female in the entire Bible, Rahab, so that was a highlight for me. A good portion of the rest of the book was just geographical history of how the land was divided up, but the last few chapters were a break from which sons of which tribe were given which land and the surrounding areas.

I think next I’ll read Judges, but not sure on that yet. 4 years ago

I finished Daniel yesterday all at once. It becomes difficult to read while putting a baby to sleep, but especially so when he is fighting sleep and thinks what you are reading is more interesting. And if you read to him, he takes that as an invitation to alternate between giggling at the book and wiggle all over the bed!

So now to read anything, my Bible or otherwise, I have to wait until he is fast asleep to even pick up a book! What a stinker, but at least he loves books!

Anyway, Daniel was a good book and I enjoyed it. I think on to Joshua now… 4 years ago

to read Daniel next. I think I absorb my reading better if I don’t read “in order”. I seem to never read anything first to last. It’s usually the third, the last, the second to last, etc, in fiction books.

Daniel isn’t very large; I wonder how long it will take me to read through it. 4 years ago