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 A GOOD PLAN

    FOR

READING THE BIBLE.




      BY	

  JOHN R. SAMPEY, D. D. 



Baptist World Publishing Co. 

LOUISVILLE,  KY.
A Good Plan for Reading the Bible.
Professor John R. Sampey, D. D.

      It is a mistake to try to read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation; for the reader's interest will almost certainly decline for days and even weeks at a time while perusing the minute Levitical regulations, long genealogical tables and lists of place names found in parts of the Old Testament. Moreover, every Christian ought to read in the New Testament every day. He cannot afford to wait for months before coming to the gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. It is also a mistake to read the four gospels one after the other as they stand in the English Bible, and then not open them again for months. It is far better to intersperse them with the epistles, and thus come back to the sweet story of Jesus again and again throughout the year.

      In the entire Old Testament there are 924 chapters and in the New Testament 260. As it lies before us in the English Bible, the Old Testament falls into two almost equal portions: the seventeen historical books containing 436 chapters, followed by the twenty-two poetical and prophetic books with 488 chapters. One can read the New Testament almost twice in the time required to read either half of the Old Testament. Hence the suggestion that the reader get three good bookmarks, one for Genesis and the books that follow, one for Job and the books that follow, and one for the New Testament. Then read a chapter a day in each section. At the end of 436 days one arrives at the last chapter of Esther, and all the historical

books of the Old Testament have been read. At the end of 488 days the reader comes to the last chapter of Malachi, and the entire Old Testament has been read. At the end of 520 days the second reading of the New Testament will be completed. As soon as the historical books of the Old Testament are completed, at the end of 436 days, let the reader turn to some favorite chapter, like Romans 8 or 12, and spend the usual time allotted to this section in enjoying the most famous chapters in the Bible. And at the end of 488 days he can do the same with the time allotted to the poetical and prophetical books. Thirty-two days later he will complete the second reading of the New Testament. Thus in the short period of 520 days one can read every line of the Old Testament once, every line of the New Testament twice, and certain favorite chapters three or more times. All the time required is about fifteen minutes a day, though thirty minutes may well be spent in meditating on what one finds in God's wonderful book. The early hour of the morning is the best time; but any available quarter of an hour will suffice. If interrupted during the working days, let the reader be sure to catch up the following Sunday.

     "If we cannot or will not give God a chance to speak to us, what right have we to think that we are his children?

The Plan in Detail.

      1. Begin at the first chapter of Genesis and read straight ahead in the historical books until you come to the last chapter of Esther. Then read a favorite chapter daily in any part of the Bible until you complete the reading of the New Testament.

     2. On the same day open the Bible at the first chapter of Job and read straight on from day to day until you come to

the last Chapter of Malachi. Then read a favorite chapter daily from any part of the Bible.

     3. Open the New Testament at the first chapter of Mark and read through the New Testament twice in the following order: Mark, Acts, Romans; Matthew, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians; Luke, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, I Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews; gospel of John, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation.

     To avoid confusion, the only skipping is the interspersing of the four gospels among the other New Testament writings. The plan is so simple that the plain man can follow it with ease, and yet it has many advantages over the usual plan of beginning at Genesis and going straight through to Revelation. Never a day will the reader fail to find something intensely interesting and helpful to his own, personal religious life.

     According to this scheme, the cycle or reading period is 520 days, and has nothing to do with the calendar year. One .can begin at any time and go forward. Even if one can read only a chapter a day, he will find the scheme helpful, if he will take the Old Testament history one day, Old Testament poetry and prophecy the next and a chapter from the New Testament on the third day, advancing his bookmark in each section as he reads. But do not get your consent to fall short of three chapters a day. Get up fifteen minutes earlier than usual rather than fail.

     For children and young people from ten to fifteen years of age, there is no better book for the reading of the Bible than "The Heart of the Bible", by Ella Broadus Robertson and which sells for only $1.00. Adults will also find it very helpful.

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[From a four-page tract, n.d. Document provided by Ben Stratton, Farmington, KY - Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]


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