How to Read the Bible in a Year

To read the Bible in a year, read three to four chapters a day — the Bible's 1,189 chapters divided across 365 days — which takes most people 12 to 15 minutes. The most sustainable approach is a balanced plan that pairs an Old Testament passage with a New Testament passage each day, read at a consistent time, with a way to track progress and catch up gracefully when you miss a day.

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season.”Psalm 1:3 (KJV)

The math is kinder than you think

The whole Bible is 1,189 chapters: 929 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New. Spread over 365 days, that is 3–4 chapters a day. An average reader finishes a chapter in 3–5 minutes, so a full year through Scripture costs about 15 minutes a day — less time than most of us give a news feed before breakfast. Psalm 1 pictures the person who meditates on God's Word “day by day” as a tree planted by water: not straining, just steadily drawing from the stream.

Pick a plan shape that fits how you read

• Balanced Old + New Testament (recommended). Each day pairs OT chapters with a NT chapter (for example, Genesis 7–8 with Matthew 3). You get the sweep of Israel's story and the life of Christ side by side all year, and you're never stuck in a hard stretch of one testament alone. This is the Bible in a Year path in the By The Water app.
• Canonical, at your own pace. Read straight through Genesis to Revelation, one chapter at a time, without a fixed schedule. Slower, but zero guilt — the right choice if a dated plan has defeated you before. (This is the app's At Your Own Pace path.)
• Chronological. Readings arranged in historical order — Job alongside Genesis, the prophets inside Kings. Rich for a second or third trip through; see what order to read the Bible.

Five habits that get people to Revelation 22

1. Anchor the reading to an existing habit. With coffee, on the commute, before bed — a fixed slot beats willpower (Psalm 119:147). A daily reminder at the same hour helps; the app can send one.
2. Track progress visibly. Crossing off chapters and watching a percentage climb is not vanity — it is encouragement. Seeing “23% of the Bible read” in February keeps March honest.
3. Read for understanding, not just completion. The Ethiopian official asked, “How can I understand, except some man should guide me?” (Acts 8:31). A chapter summary before or after the text — context, themes, key verse — turns pages read into Scripture understood.
4. Expect to miss days, and plan for it. The difference between finishers and quitters is not perfect streaks; it is a graceful way back. See how to catch up when you fall behind.
5. Respond to what you read. A one-line prayer or note per day roots the reading (James 1:22). Keep a journal beside the plan.

What you'll need

A Bible you can carry everywhere, a plan that assigns each day's chapters so you never wonder where you are, and ideally a layer of explanation for the hard chapters — Leviticus and Ezekiel are where most one-year attempts die. By The Water bundles all three: the full Bible text offline (KJV and World English Bible), the 365-day balanced plan, and guided insights that explain every chapter you read. For where to begin if this is your first time, start with our beginner's reading plan.

Frequently asked questions