How Long Does it Take to Read Through the Bible?

There are 66 books in the Bible - 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. However, the Bible probably does not take as long to read as many might think. A Bible-in-a-Year reading plan requires a commitment of just 12 minutes a day on average. Most of us, if not all, can find 12 minutes in each day. 12 minutes is much shorter than a TV show episode, less time than most commutes, and less time than many of us spend on social media each day.

How Long Does it Take to Read the New Testament?

I created this colourful infographic showing how many minutes it takes to read each book of the New Testament and included a key theme from each book.

How Long Does it Take to Read the Old Testament?

This infographic shows how many minutes it takes to read each book of the Old Testament.

How Long Does it Take to Read Through the Bible?

I heard someone say he has been reading through the Bible every 90 days for years, and I recently read about a man who read the Bible in a week. How long it takes to read the Bible depends on how much time you invest in it each day.

Read the Bible for an hour a day if you want to complete the New Testament in 3 weeks and the Old Testament in 91 days. In 112 days - that's less than 4 months - you could read the Bible cover to cover. Doing this repeatedly would mean reading the Bible three times a year. Of course, reading the Bible is not a race, but when we realise what a transformational treasure it is we will desire to deepen our understanding of the Bible by reading it through and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus in the Scripture.

Having read through the Bible you could decide to do it all over again. Alternatively, the next step could be to dig deeper into Scripture through study, to reread parts you did not understand or that stood out, or to review a theme from the Bible such as love, redemption, faith or sacrifice.

Why Read Through the Bible?

There are lots of reasons to read through the Bible. Here are just a few.

John 1:1 and 14 tell us that Jesus is the Word of God. For me, this is the biggest motivating factor for increasing my knowledge and understanding of the Bible through reading and study: I am getting to know and understand more of God. That is an awe-inspiring privilege. I am not just getting to know about God; I am getting to know God. This also benefits me. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CJB) says:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work.

Trying to do good without the Word of God is bound to fail. Reading the Bible is preparation for doing the good God created us for. Consider the Bible the manual for Christian living, but be sure that it goes beyond instructing us on how to live. The Bible transforms us for the better and does for us what we could never do for ourselves (see John 17:17).

The Word of God is "living and active" (see Hebrews 4:12) not dead and powerless. One Scripture has the power to change our lives; but only if we have read or heard it. The Bible is not going to transform our lives while never engaged with. It is only the food you eat that nourishes you, and it is only the truth you know that sets you free (see John 8:32).

If you want to know God for yourself, rather than relying on someone else's relationship and revelation of God then read the Bible for yourself. Reading the entire Bible gives context and understanding that cannot be gained by reading passages here and there. As you know God better you will be better able to tell other people about Him.

Reading through the Bible systematically allows us to gain an overview of God's love for and interaction with humanity and enables us to make connections between different parts of the Bible. This increases our understanding, and our understanding leads to fruitfulness.

Reading the Bible produces faith because "...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17 NKJV). How can we have faith in something we have not heard? When we read the Bible we are hearing the Word and should remember that faith without works is dead. We should expect the Word to transform us supernaturally and we should also expect to make conscious changes to how we live based on what we read.

Being a disciple of Jesus requires discipline. Developing a spiritually beneficial habit like Bible reading demonstrates our commitment to truly be like Jesus.

Lastly, there is a blessing attached to loving God's Word. Psalm 1 tells us that the person who delights in the Law of the Lord is blessed. The Book of Psalms also contains a beautiful acrostic poem written about the wonders of the Word of God. With 176 verses, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and can be read in about 17 minutes. It is an expression of someone who delighted in the Word of God and who encountered God through His Word.

Tips for Reading Through the Bible in 2024

If you are considering reading through the Bible then using a Bible Reading Plan can help you know what to start and finish each session. Create a routine and make it a habit. If you read your Bible at the same time, in the same place each day you should find it easier to stick with it.

Being accountable to someone can also help you stay on track. You could arrange to do the same Bible Reading Plan with a friend or group and schedule meetings or chats to discuss the Bible readings every week and motivate each other.

Blessing in Action: How Long Does it Take to Read Through the Bible?

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:31-32 ESV

Commit today to reading the Bible consistently. It is time well spent. Rather than trying to fit the Bible into your schedule, consider how you can schedule the other activities of your life around your Bible reading. Tell someone about your commitment to keep yourself accountable. Don't be discouraged if you get off track at any point, just keep at it.