The start of a New Year is looming, and the usual tussle of New Year's resolutions is happening off stage. Over the last few days, I have been looking into Bible reading plans.
I wanted to find one that I could stick to. I get sidetracked very easily wanting to study in more depth, word studies, topical studies, manners and customs and background. This is by no means a bad thing, but it doesn't get the job done in terms of beginning to end in one year.
At the end of 2024 I am in the last couple of chapters of 1
Samuel, and I have just finished the Gospel of Luke. That gives you an idea how
deeply impacted I am by this malaise of digression!
There were a few options. A few too many really. It seems
that almost anyone of any ilk offers a Bible reading plan. Variations on a
theme.
There are two main types. The first is the traditional start
at Genesis end up at Revelation and read Psalms and Proverbs as you go. There
are others that break the Bible down into genre, grouping history books
together, wisdom books, prophets, Gospels, epistles etc.
The other main type is chronological. On the surface I
thought this seemed like a great idea. Seeing Scripture as it happened. But
when I started reading more deeply into the rationale behind it, I began to
wonder.
The structure requires a rejigging of the whole of the
Canon. Bits are taken from one book, according to the events being described,
and inserted into the reading plan. Taken out of context for the sake of
historical narrative flow. On one hand that's OK. But when I gave it more
thought, actually about two thirty in the morning, I wondered about the
inspiration of the Biblical writers. They were inspired to write and wrote
according to the loving direction of the Lord.
Then there is the concept of Canon, and the question I asked
myself was this: If the books of the Bible are inspired, is the order they are
now in also the result of inspiration? Yes, I know there was a whole lot of
debate that went on with various councils attended by very knowledgeable men,
and I confess I am not strong on the events that led up to the stamping of
approval for the final order of the books we now have in our Bibles, and yes,
also aware that Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include the Apocrypha, but here I
am referring to the protestant Bible as we now have it.
I admit that not knowing the full details of how the Bible
came to us in its current form is a burr in my craw, and I am sure to digress
into addressing this shortfall in my knowledge. It has been a while since I
studied any Church history, so it's a pleasant sidetrack, on top of the
completion of the chosen Bible reading plan that is.
The good thing is that we have at our disposal an amazing
Bible study app: The YouVersion app. If you don't have it on your phone, then
you should zip off to the app store and install it, it's free. You can then
select any manner of Bible reading plans, put together by folk who want to
share their love of the Word with you, drawing you deeper into a relationship
with the living God, so that you know Him more fully, and can experience His
love ever more deeply as you read through the Bible. And that's the whole point
of it. Getting to know God, not just on the surface, but deep down. Reading the
Bible shouldn't be about self-discovery, it should be about finding out who God
really is.
I have done the Bible in One Year with Nicky and Pippa
Gumbel, and if you haven't done this one, you should, I recommend it. Lots of
great insight as you go along, and I might just work through this one again as
a top up.
But you want to know the one that I have chosen to do?
I have long been a fan of the Bible Project. They have a lot
of amazing videos up on YouTube that give you heaps of interesting facts and
amazing overviews of the Bible. If you don't know about them, you are in for a
treat. When I discovered they had put together a Bible in one year reading
plan, accompanied by over 150 of their videos, I thought, why not. I found a
copy of the plan, ran my eye down it, and it's pretty much Genesis to
Revelation with a wander into Psalms and Proverbs as you'd expect.
You don't need to worry about printing out the plan, you can
follow it through on the YouVersion app having selected the Bible of your
choice, to read, or to listen to.
What's the best Bible translation? The one you will read.
No, honestly. I have access to print copies of the NASB / The Message parallel,
love it, the literal word for word against the paraphrase, I also have an ESV,
and it's another word for word, but I prefer the NASB, although some say it's
more wooden. I suggest it is more elegant, but that's just my humble opinion.
I have a copy of the NKJV, but honestly, it's window
dressing on a translation that really is 400 plus years old. A lot has happened
in Biblical scholarship since 1611. I admit that there are parts of the KJV
where the poetry shines out, and I still enjoy those sections. But there are
other translations that tick more boxes as far as I am concerned.
I did both my master's degrees using the NIV. It was the
preferred and recommended translation. I remember David Pawson calling it the
"nearly infallible version." And it's a solid version or was until
they decided to soften it up with inclusive language. Inclusive language is
fine, providing it doesn't change the underlying meaning and intention of the
Scripture. See Malachi 4:6 for a prime example. I'm very thingy about it, as
this verse cements the fatherhood of God in the mind and hearts of the readers
/ hearers prior to the great silence of the Intertestamental Period, broken by
the voice crying in the wilderness, calling for us to prepare the way…
My go to Bible for everyday reading, is the New Living
Translation. Backed up by their Filament Bible app, and a bundle of other study
resources I have on my iPad. The NLT, with the NASB with Strongs, with the
Message in tow, it's a great combo. But that's just me. There are a lot of
resources out there, and you should take the time to discover what works for
you.
Another time I might delve into commentaries, but that's a
whole other topic. I did read a comment the other day that one should never
undersell Matthew Henry. I think they have a point, but I am wary of relying on
a single voice when it comes to commentaries, so again, mix it up a bit.
So, I am going to work through my Bible in One Year, using
the Bible Project reading plan (in conjunction with Bible in One Year, with
Nicky and Pippa Gumbel) with an electronic copy of Matthew Henry open for
interests' sake. (Tempered with the NV Application Commentaries which I have as
eBooks.) Lots of meat and potatoes.
I am looking forward to 2025 now, how about you?