Have you ever ever thought of studying the Bible in chronological order? A few of you may be saying, ‘ I’ve by no means even thought of studying the Bible in common order. ’ Otherwise you would possibly say, ‘I believed the Bible was already in chronological order.’
In any occasion, I need to go on document as saying that studying the Bible chronologically is my absolute favourite strategy to learn it. I’ll most likely proceed to make use of that technique till God takes me to glory!
I do know many individuals battle with studying and understanding the Bible typically. So, on this put up, I’ll clarify why studying the Bible in chronological order is the easiest way to raised perceive the total story of Scripture and how you can get began.
This put up could include affiliate hyperlinks. You may learn my full disclosure right here.
Canonical Order vs. Chronological Order
The Bible was written over a interval of 1600 years by roughly 40 totally different authors (kings, prophets, leaders, apostles, and followers of God).
It’s a assortment of 66 books divided into two components: the Previous Testomony and the New Testomony.
The Bible, in its entirety, is one grand, interconnected historic narrative that outlines the creation of mankind, our battle with sin, and God’s final plan for redemption.
Solely God, in His sovereignty, might divinely encourage the composition of His Phrase by means of so many alternative writers over so a few years and nonetheless have all of its contents stream collectively as one historic masterpiece.
I marvel at the truth that Scripture has been preserved all through historical past and that even immediately, in 2025, it’s the most distributed e book on this planet!
Canonical Order
The church fathers of the 4th century have been the primary to make use of the time period canon in reference to the Bible.
The phrase canon comes from the Greek phrase kanon, which implies reed or measuring rod. In Christian utilization, it means norm or rule of religion.
All customary Bibles are printed in what we name “canonical” order (from Genesis to Revelation), by which the sixty-six books are grouped by style. The style distinctions sign adjustments in content material, writing fashion, and objective.
Previous Testomony:
- Books of the Legislation (Genesis by means of Deuteronomy)
- Historical past (Joshua by means of Esther)
- Poetry and Knowledge (Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Music of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations)
- Prophecy (Isaiah by means of Malachi)
New Testomony:
- The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
- Historical past (Acts)
- Letters of Paul/Pauline Epistles (Romans by means of Philemon)
- Normal Letters (Hebrews by means of Jude)
- Prophecy/Apocalyptic (Revelation)
Chronological Order
As a result of the Bible’s canonical order teams the sixty books by style, it doesn’t mirror the chronological sequence by which the varied occasions occurred.
A chronological bible prints the contents of the books in a studying order that’s in accordance with the precise sequence of occasions by which they occurred in historical past.
As an example, you possibly can learn a psalm written by David together with the occasion that was occurring in David’s life when he really wrote the psalm. Or you possibly can learn a prophecy written in mild of what was occurring in Israel’s historical past on the time by which the prophets really lived and wrote.
Why Ought to I Learn the Bible in Chronological Order?
There are 5 key advantages to studying the bible in chronological order.
It Enhances Our Normal Understanding of Scripture
After we watch a film or learn a e book, we need to begin at first and proceed to the top. Studying the Bible chronologically locations the biblical occasions in a approach that causes the textual content to learn like a narrative we will higher perceive.
Greedy a story or one particular biblical precept is nice, however understanding how all of the accounts of the Bible are tied collectively and what they imply as one cohesive document is even higher, as it is going to paint an image of God’s plan and objective for mankind.
If studying the Bible, typically, has all the time been tough for you, then studying chronologically is the very best approach to assist all of it make much more sense.
It Helps Us Perceive the Historic Context of Our Christian Religion
The Bible is NOT only a e book of tales and guidelines. We frequently overlook the truth that our Christian religion is constructed upon the Bible, which is the divinely impressed Phrase of God. With out it, we wouldn’t find out about our non secular heritage or how God desires us to stay.
Studying the Bible in chronological order will assist us higher perceive the vital particulars of the origin and historical past of our religion – one thing each true Christian ought to need to know.
It Helps Give Us an Even Clearer Image of Who God Is
God’s character is progressively revealed all through the Bible. We don’t absolutely get to know somebody upon assembly them for the primary time or after a couple of visits. Nor can we absolutely perceive God by solely studying items of Scripture. Studying and learning the Bible chronologically will assist present readability and a fuller comprehension of who God actually is.
Belief me, lots of the issues we suppose we find out about God and a few of the traits that we have now created in our minds about Him will rapidly dissolve when you learn by means of everything of Scripture.
Whether or not you understand it or not, what you imagine about God impacts the way you view every little thing else in life – the great, the unhealthy, and the ugly.
It Brings Scripture to Life in a New Method
Studying the Bible within the order of occasions that passed off affords a contemporary perspective and brings the scriptures to life in a brand new approach.
I don’t find out about you, however there have been instances when I discovered studying sure components of the Bible to be boring (e.g., genealogies, directions for constructing the Tabernacle, complicated prophecies, and so on.).
Studying the Bible in chronological order helps carry even these boring components to life, because it provides them extra that means within the story’s overarching narrative. While you higher perceive the aim of the varied texts on the time they have been written, you’ll higher recognize all their contents.
Observe: some components should still be boring, LOL, however not less than you’ll higher perceive why God had them document such meticulous particulars.
It Helps to Join the Bible Collectively as a Complete
Studying the Bible chronologically helps you see the massive image of the story. It connects the person tales inside the particular person books collectively as one complete historic narrative.
Many Christians simply consider the Bible as historic texts. Nonetheless, in actuality, the bible paperwork precise historical past from the start of time – one thing no different historical past e book does!
Sure, the flood really occurred. Sure, Noah constructed an ark. Sure, Moses parted the Crimson Sea. Sure, the partitions of Jericho actually did fall down. Sure, the Israelites actually made animal sacrifices.
In the identical approach that we have now museums for different elements of historical past, we even have museums, artifacts, different archaeological proof, and precise landmarks in Israel immediately that help and ensure the occasions of the Bible!
And the story remains to be ongoing as a result of some prophecies are but to be fulfilled! We’re nonetheless residing in historical past (His story – God’s story)!
Find out how to Learn the Bible in Chronological Order
When you have learn by means of the bible earlier than and are used to studying by means of Scripture cowl to cowl, studying chronologically could seem a bit unusual at first. Nonetheless, I promise you, as you learn, the story will naturally start to unfold in a brand new mild.
On this part, I’ll cowl the three important methods to learn the bible chronologically and a few ideas for fulfillment.
Three Methods to Learn the Bible Chronologically
You may learn the bible in chronological order through the use of a chronological bible, a chronological studying plan, or a chronological app/podcast.
Please NOTE: all chronological Bibles and studying plans are NOT the identical!
Theoretically, all chronological Bible studying plans could be the identical. Nonetheless, since we don’t have exact data concerning the timing of each single ingredient of the Bible, there will likely be some variations. Chronological Bibles are the most effective try by biblical students at arranging the books in chronological order based mostly on after they have been written.
For instance there are Psalms, for instance, that don’t record authors, so we have now no approach of understanding after they have been written. For the New Testomony books, we don’t know for certain who wrote Hebrews. It is usually unknown as to when the e book of Job was written. Though on account of compelling proof it’s broadly believed that he lived in the course of the time of the patriarchs.
Regardless of the variations, all chronological Bibles and studying plans are very comparable, they usually all intention to current the texts within the order by which they occurred.
Use a Chronological Bible
A Chronological Bible is one that’s already pre-arranged in chronological order (based mostly on the students behind the manufacturing of the precise bible).
Observe: It is very important word {that a} chronological Bible does NOT change any of the content material of an ordinary Bible. It merely arranges the content material in a distinct order.
What’s the finest chronological Bible?
As a result of I’ve personally utilized this technique a number of instances over time, I provides you with my prime suggestions:
The One Yr Chronological Bible (NIV)
The Each day Bible in Chronological Order (NLT)
Use a Chronological Bible Studying Plan
Whereas having a chronological Bible is nice, you don’t need to exit and buy one with a purpose to learn by means of the Bible in chronological order. You may merely use a chronological studying plan or chart together with an ordinary bible. The distinction is you can be flipping backwards and forwards each day to get to the studying of the day.
You will discover plans that suit your tempo, whether or not you need to learn by means of the complete Bible in a 12 months or two years or unfold it out over a extra prolonged interval.
Listed here are hyperlinks to my prime suggestions for chronological studying plans:
Observe: if you wish to unfold it out over an prolonged time frame, merely choose a plan and simply verify off the record as you full it, whatever the timeframe.
Use a Chronological Bible Studying App/Podcast
As a result of I drive for Uber in the course of the day, podcasts have been the primary approach by which I eat content material for the previous few years. I’ve been listening to the Each day Audio Bible Chronological Podcast, in addition to a separate podcast that recaps the each day readings by highlighting all the important thing issues.
If you’re an auditory learner or favor listening to the Bible being learn, then this technique is for you! The hyperlinks are listed beneath on your comfort:
Observe: for the apps and podcasts, you possibly can obtain and hear wherever you presently get your apps/podcasts by means of (Google Play, iTunes, Spotify, Podbean)
Ideas for Success
As you learn, be ready for some components to be extra attention-grabbing than others. Be ready to nonetheless NOT absolutely perceive all of it. But in addition, be able to proceed studying it doesn’t matter what. Listed here are 4 key ideas that will help you succeed:
- Take Your Time: Studying the Bible in chronological order isn’t a race. Permit your self time to mirror on what you’re studying and the way it connects with different components of Scripture. The purpose is to learn constantly and turn out to be aware of the general story. The Bible is inexhaustible, which implies you’ll by no means be taught all there may be to know. That’s why you possibly can learn by means of the bible time and again and nonetheless be taught new issues every time!
- Journal Your Journey: Hold a journal of insights, questions, and private reflections as you undergo the Bible. It may be a significant strategy to monitor your non secular development.
- Use Research Aids: I like to recommend that your first journey by means of Scripture be a easy studying to absorb the content material, whether or not you perceive it or not. Nonetheless, when you have learn by means of the Bible earlier than (in any order) and also you need to additional improve your subsequent journey by means of Scripture as you learn chronologically, think about using research aids resembling maps, timelines, and commentaries to raised perceive the historic and cultural context of every passage. The Chronological Life Utility Research Bible is a wonderful selection.
- Learn in Group/Talk about with Others: Contemplate studying with a gaggle or sharing your insights with buddies. Bible research teams may also help you achieve totally different views and deepen your understanding. For the final two years my father, who can also be my pastor, has been studying in chronological order as effectively, and we have now discussions about our studying on a regular basis. Additionally, the 2 podcasts I discussed earlier every have welcoming Christian communities on-line (Fb and/or Instagram) which you can be a part of.
Begin Studying the Bible in Chronological Order Immediately!
The Bible is the very Phrase of God. It’s the e book on which our Christian religion is constructed, how we get to know and develop nearer to God, and the information for our Christian journey:
- Jesus answered, “It’s written: ‘Man shall not stay on bread alone, however on each phrase that comes from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4 NIV
- Come close to to God and he’ll come close to to you. James 4:8
- Your phrase is a lamp for my ft, a light-weight on my path. Psalm 119:105
I don’t find out about you, but when I put my religion in one thing to the purpose the place I resolve to stay my total life by its requirements, then in some unspecified time in the future, I’ll need to learn the e book on which it’s all based mostly—not less than as soon as.
Studying the Bible chronologically is the easiest way to get began. It may possibly deepen your understanding of God’s plan and the way His guarantees have unfolded throughout historical past. It’s an journey by means of time that connects the dots and divulges the total scope of God’s story—from creation to redemption. And it even provides a glimpse into the everlasting glory that’s but to come back!
Get began immediately. It doesn’t matter what day of the week it’s or what month it’s. Simply choose a way (get a Chronological bible, obtain a chronological studying plan that you should use with an ordinary bible, or begin listening to a each day chronological bible studying podcast. Begin studying and monitoring your progress! And even if you happen to miss a day right here and there, don’t stop till you end.
Let me know within the feedback when you have ever learn by means of the bible earlier than, which chronological technique you’ll strive, and while you’re planning to start out.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Demetra is a busy, self-employed, single mother who loves Jesus and is a fanatic about prioritizing her time with God! She created Within the Mirror of God to assist different Christian girls learn the way commonly trying into our non secular mirror (the Bible) equips us to domesticate a deeper relationship with God, suppose biblically about every little thing, conquer the challenges of on a regular basis life, and really get pleasure from life to the fullest, the way in which God supposed. Go right here to be taught extra about her story, or go to her contact web page to ship a fast message.
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