Reading The Bible from Cover-To-Cover

I did some Internet research looking for the number of Christians who claim to have read the entire Bible. I wasn’t able to find a source for this number but a few articles reported only 10% of professing Christians have ever read the entire Bible. That’s a shocking number even if it’s only close to being accurate. Have you read the Bible from cover-to-cover? I can understand how one might feel the Bible is a difficult book to read; however, if you’re using a modern translation like the New American Standard Version or the New International Version, it is actually a very comfortable read. Most people should be able to read the whole Bible in about 90 hours. I have a website with a reading program that will help you get through the Bible in 90 days reading less than an hour a day. You can find it a www.TheBibleCoverToCover.com.

Recently a couple of wonderful audio versions of the Bible have been produced. The first is “The Bible Experience” which features the voices of Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Blair Underwood, Samuel Jackson, Eartha Kitt and many others along with the Prague Symphony Orchestra and Hollywood-style sound design created at Technicolor Studios. This is an absolutely wonderfully produced version of the Bible and will make your trip through this important work fantastically entertaining.

More recently, another masterful production of the Bible was produced, “The Word of Promise,” using the voices of Jim Caviezel, Richard Dreyfuss, Gary Sinise, Jason Alexander, Marisa Tomei, Marcia Gay Harden and several others.  This production includes an original music score by composer Stefano Mainetti and a complete sound design that brings the pages of the Bible to life.  This production followed the New King James Version and The Bible Experience used the New International Version.  You can’t go wrong with either one of these beautifully crafted spiritual masterpieces.

The Bible is the most important book ever written and should be read from cover-to-cover at least once.  Of course there are parts that are slow and hard to get through, such as the genealogy of kings and the Jewish laws that seem to go on forever, but I believe there’s a lesson to be learned from that experience.  If you take your time and work your way through those sections you’ll walk away with a greater understanding of the overall plan God has for all of us.  Please believe me when I share with you that reading the Bible from cover-to-cover will change your life.  You will find things in the Bible you didn’t know were there.  You will see how it all fits together into an amazingly complex creation.  More than anything you will move closer to God as you grow in understanding and knowledge. 

Another great approach to reading the Bible is to follow the path of a great Bible teacher.  Without question the best work ever written for complete Bible understanding is the “Thru The Bible” commentaries written by Dr. J. Vernon McGee.   This five volume set will take a great deal longer than 90 hours to get through; however, it will be like sitting down with your grandfather and having him personally walk you through the Bible verse-by-verse.  This is not your typical reference style commentary; this is a far more readable commentary for the common Bible student who wants to have some authoritative guidance along the way.  Dr. McGee offers wonderful practical illustrations in a warm and friendly style that is comfortable and enjoyable.  I was privileged to hear Dr. McGee speak live on three occasions before he went on to be with the Lord; each time I felt I was hearing testimony from a man who just came from a meeting with Jesus.  Dr. McGee was a man pure of heart and an undeniable devotion to the Lord.  I can’t recommend this work highly enough. 

Let’s face it.  This world we live in has us running in ten different directions at the same time every day.  It’s hard to set aside time every day to study the Bible.  I will guarantee you if you take up this challenge and discipline yourself to work your way through the entire Bible, your life will be changed forever.  Reading sections here and there just will not give you the clear picture of God you can get by studying this work from cover-to-cover.  Think of any other large literary work you’ve read in the past.  Would you ever consider reading the last few chapters first and then just a few chapters randomly?  Would that give you a clear picture of what the author was trying to convey?  I will be praying for all those reading this article to feel the power of the Holy Spirit urging you to make this commitment to study God’s Word from cover-to-cover.  You will, without question, be greatly blessed by the experience.