What I Learned from Reading the Entire Bible in Five Days

In just five days, I read the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, to raise funds for equipping under-resourced township pastors with copies of the Africa Study Bible. This experience not only deepened my understanding of Scripture but also offered profound lessons and spiritual insights.

Preparing for the Journey

Before starting, I did some research to understand the scope of the challenge:

• The Bible contains between 700,000 and 800,000 words, roughly equivalent to reading ten standard novels.
• Estimates suggested it would take 55 to 70 hours to read the Bible, depending on factors like reading speed and translation.
• I chose the New Living Translation (NLT) for its readability and because it aligns with the Africa Study Bible.

To make the experience meaningful, I adopted a focused approach. A ministry leader from Luke 10 Transformation (L10T) encouraged me to track themes central to their teaching. These included:

1. God’s blessing (given or withheld)
2. Forgiveness and reconciliation
3. The Fall and salvation
4. The necessity and power of prayer
5. Care for your neighbor
6. Behavior or testimony as an example
7. The Holy Spirit as our helper
8. A lifestyle of following Jesus
9. Training others to follow Jesus
10. Why people resist God

Every time I encountered one of these themes, I marked the corresponding number in the margin. This kept me engaged and focused throughout the reading.

this …

How I Managed the Challenge

I quickly realized maintaining a consistent reading speed was difficult, so I used the YouVersion Bible app’s audio feature. Listening to the Bible at an accelerated speed (typically 1.5x) while following along in print allowed me to:

• Engage multiple senses, deepening my comprehension.
• Maintain a steady pace.
• Easily backtrack if I missed a passage.

Over five days, I averaged 12–13 hours of reading per day, with the most intense effort on the final day, dedicated to the New Testament. Despite the pace, I often paused to reread and underline key passages, especially in Paul’s letters, which captivated me with their depth and eloquence.

Key Lessons and Takeaways

1. Scripture is Surprisingly Clear
   A straightforward reading of the Bible reveals its clarity and relevance without the need for elaborate interpretations.
2. Difficult Passages Become Clearer
   Reading the Bible as a cohesive narrative helps contextualize challenging sections, showing how they fit into God’s larger story.
3. The Unity of the Testaments
   The divide between the Old and New Testaments fades when read in close succession. Christ emerges as the fulfillment of Old Testament promises.
4. Historical Books and Prophets Gain Cohesion
   Reading these sections together highlights their interconnections, especially the prophets’ actions against the backdrop of Israel’s history.
5. Human Nature Is Constant
   Across millennia, humanity’s struggles and God’s redemptive grace remain unchanged, underscoring the relevance of Scripture today.
6. Hearing the Word Is Powerful
   Consuming Scripture aurally, as it was historically shared, adds a profound and moving dimension to the experience.
7. We Often Miss Hidden Gems
   Details like the king who hid among baggage or the left-handed assassin with a concealed weapon enrich the Bible’s narrative.
8. Paul’s Brilliance as a Communicator
   Paul’s letters demonstrate exceptional clarity, passion, and purpose, serving as a model for sharing the Gospel effectively.
9. We Underappreciate Scripture
   The Bible is an unparalleled gift that reveals God’s character and plan. Immersing ourselves in it transforms our understanding and lives.

Favorite Passage

One passage that deeply resonated with me was Acts 20:22–24:
“And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

This inspiring declaration of resolve by Paul serves as a powerful example for all believers.

Final Reflections

Reading the entire Bible in five days is not a common approach, but it’s one I found profoundly rewarding. While this method may not be for everyone, the key is to engage Scripture regularly and ask God to reveal Himself through His Word.

If you are passionate about God’s Word, please pass on the gift with a small donation in your own currency on this secure website. All donations go towards Africa Study Bibles for under-resourced pastors.

More importantly: Keep listening to and reading the Bible. It will literally change your life.

This article about what I learned when I read the entire Bible in five days originally appeared here.