Reading through the entire Bible in a year is one of the most significant things a Christian can do for their spiritual formation. It gives you the complete narrative arc — creation to new creation — and builds the kind of comprehensive scriptural literacy that changes how you think, how you pray, and how you interpret the passages you encounter.
The challenge isn't finding a plan. Plans are everywhere. The challenge is finishing one. Most people who start a read-the-Bible-in-a-year plan abandon it by February. This guide gives you a plan — and more importantly, the strategies to actually complete it.
Why Read Through the Entire Bible?
Most Christians spend their entire lives in the same 50 or 60 passages — the famous ones, the comforting ones, the ones that get preached most often. Reading through the whole Bible exposes you to the 90% you've never engaged with. Obadiah. Nahum. Zephaniah. The genealogies. The wilderness passages. The strange prophetic visions. They matter — and they often illuminate the familiar passages in surprising ways.
Beyond that, reading the Bible in full gives you its story. Single passages make more sense when you know the narrative they're embedded in. You understand why the exile is devastating when you've read the covenant promises it violates. You understand why the resurrection is cosmic when you've read the whole story of what fell in Genesis 3.
The Four Most Popular Reading Plan Formats
Chronological Plan
Reads the Bible in the order events occurred historically, rather than canonical order. Places Job alongside the patriarchs, weaves Psalms into the context of David's life, puts the prophets alongside the kings they addressed. Excellent for understanding the story and how everything fits together. Best for: people who want narrative coherence.
Canonical (Genesis to Revelation)
Read straight through in canonical order — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus... all the way to Revelation. Straightforward and simple, but includes long stretches of difficult reading (Leviticus, Numbers). The clarity of the canonical order has its own value. Best for: people who want simplicity and a single clear path.
Blended (OT + NT + Psalms/Proverbs Daily)
Read a portion of the Old Testament, a portion of the New Testament, and a Psalm or Proverb every day. You're moving through multiple streams simultaneously, which prevents the fatigue of extended stretches in difficult OT material. Best for: most people — this is the format we recommend.
New Testament + Psalms First
Spend January through May in the New Testament and Psalms, then tackle the Old Testament from June to December. Builds familiarity and confidence before engaging the more challenging OT material. Best for: beginners or people who have struggled to finish plans before.
Study each day's passage more deeply
As you read through the Bible, use Life Bible Study for any passage you want to go deeper on — instant context, life application, and a devotional prayer. Free, every day.
Open the Study Tool →A Month-by-Month Blended Reading Guide
Here's a high-level guide to the blended plan — which books to cover each month, averaging about 3–4 chapters per day. For a specific daily breakdown, the YouVersion Bible app (free) has dozens of excellent structured plans you can follow day-by-day with reminders.
Genesis–Exodus + Matthew–Mark + Psalms 1–41
Begin with creation, the patriarchs, and the exodus. Read the first two Gospels alongside. Start the Psalms with David's foundational prayers and laments.
Leviticus–Deuteronomy + Luke–John + Psalms 42–89
The Law books are dense — the NT reading and Psalms provide relief and context. Luke and John give you the most complete picture of Jesus' life and teaching.
Joshua–2 Samuel + Acts–Romans + Psalms 90–119
Israel enters the land, the monarchy rises, David reigns. In the NT, the church is born and Paul's greatest letter explains the gospel. Psalm 119 alone is a month-worthy companion.
1 Kings–Esther + 1 Corinthians–Galatians + Psalms 120–150 + Proverbs
The kingdom divides, the prophets appear, exile comes. Paul's practical letters address real church problems. The Psalms conclude. Proverbs: one chapter a day through July.
Job–Song of Solomon + Ephesians–Colossians + Ecclesiastes
The wisdom literature — some of the most profound and accessible writing in the Bible. Short NT letters pair well. Ecclesiastes is a meditation on meaning that still resonates.
Isaiah–Malachi + 1 Thessalonians–Revelation
The Major and Minor Prophets — more accessible than they first appear, especially with a good commentary. Revelation closes the year: the story ends with all things made new.
How to Actually Finish
You will miss days. The question is whether one missed day becomes two, then five, then "I'll start again next year." Commit to the rule: never miss twice in a row. Miss a day — fine. Begin again the next morning. Don't try to catch up all at once (that's how plans collapse). Just pick up where you left off.
- Use audio for difficult sections. Leviticus, Numbers, and the genealogies are far more bearable heard than read. YouVersion and Bible.is both have excellent free audio.
- Don't get stuck. If a passage confuses you, make a note and keep moving. You can always come back. Forward momentum matters more than comprehension of every verse.
- Use Life Bible Study for passages that land. When a passage stops you — when something strikes you as important or confusing or challenging — open it on Life Bible Study for a full devotional. Don't do this for every passage (you'll never keep pace) but do it for the ones that matter.
- Tell someone you're doing it. Accountability is the single biggest predictor of finishing. Tell your spouse, a friend, or your small group. Better yet — do it together.
- Lower your standard for "good" days. On hard days, three chapters read quickly with minimal retention is still three chapters. Consistency over intensity. You're building a habit across a year, not a spiritual experience in a single session.
What to Do With What You Read
A reading plan by itself is information intake. To turn it into formation, add one small practice: at the end of each reading, write one sentence about what you noticed. Not a summary — one thing that stood out. Over a year, that's 365 observations. You'll be stunned at the end of the year by what you've accumulated.
And for any passage you want to go deeper on — open it on Life Bible Study. The devotional connects it to your life today in about five minutes. Read, reflect, apply. That's the rhythm that makes a year of reading transformative rather than just informational.
Go deeper on any passage you're reading
Open any passage on Life Bible Study — all 66 books, four translations, instant life application. Free, every day of your reading plan.
Open the Study Tool →