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Time Required to Read the Bible

I often share how reading the Bible does not take as much the time we think.  Sometime people ask about it the numbers. Hence sharing here to make it easy to share.

I have often heard it takes  about 40 hours. It all depends on the speed at which you read. When you are reading the Bible, comprehension is also critical. Without comprehension, it is not beneficial to read the Bible.  We can also use audio Bible if it works better. 

I also understand that reading time can be different based on version and language. I personally took a reading test and averaged about 200 with 100% comprehension.  You can go faster but will not understand the subject. Hence this is a guideline. 

General Estimates:

  • Slow Reader (100 words per minute): ~100 hours
  • Average Reader (200-250 words per minute): ~50-60 hours

  • Fast Reader (300+ words per minute): ~35-40 hours

Breakdown by Sections:

  1. Old Testament: ~39 hours
  2. New Testament: ~11 hours

Daily Reading Plans:

  • 1 Year Plan: ~12-15 minutes per day
  • 6 Month Plan: ~25-30 minutes per day
  • 3 Month Plan: ~45-60 minutes per day

Average Reading Time

The time required to read each book of the Bible varies based on its length and the average reading speed of about 200-250 words per minute. Below is an estimate of the time it takes to read each book.

Old Testament

The Pentateuch (Law)

  1. Genesis: ~4 hours
  2. Exodus: ~3.5 hours
  3. Leviticus: ~2 hours
  4. Numbers: ~3 hours
  5. Deuteronomy: ~2.5 hours

Historical Books

  1. Joshua: ~1.5 hours
  2. Judges: ~1.5 hours
  3. Ruth: ~15 minutes
  4. 1 Samuel: ~2.5 hours
  5. 2 Samuel: ~2 hours
  6. 1 Kings: ~2 hours
  7. 2 Kings: ~2 hours
  8. 1 Chronicles: ~2 hours
  9. 2 Chronicles: ~2.5 hours
  10. Ezra: ~30 minutes
  11. Nehemiah: ~1 hour
  12. Esther: ~30 minutes

Poetry and Wisdom Literature

  1. Job: ~2 hours
  2. Psalms: ~5 hours
  3. Proverbs: ~1.5 hours
  4. Ecclesiastes: ~30 minutes
  5. Song of Solomon: ~20 minutes

Major Prophets

  1. Isaiah: ~3.5 hours
  2. Jeremiah: ~4 hours
  3. Lamentations: ~20 minutes
  4. Ezekiel: ~3.5 hours
  5. Daniel: ~1.5 hours

Minor Prophets

  1. Hosea: ~30 minutes
  2. Joel: ~15 minutes
  3. Amos: ~30 minutes
  4. Obadiah: ~5 minutes
  5. Jonah: ~10 minutes
  6. Micah: ~20 minutes
  7. Nahum: ~10 minutes
  8. Habakkuk: ~10 minutes
  9. Zephaniah: ~10 minutes
  10. Haggai: ~10 minutes
  11. Zechariah: ~1 hour
  12. Malachi: ~15 minutes

New Testament

The Gospels

  1. Matthew: ~2.5 hours
  2. Mark: ~1.5 hours
  3. Luke: ~2.5 hours
  4. John: ~2 hours

History

  1. Acts: ~2.5 hours

Pauline Epistles

  1. Romans: ~1 hour
  2. 1 Corinthians: ~1 hour
  3. 2 Corinthians: ~40 minutes
  4. Galatians: ~20 minutes
  5. Ephesians: ~20 minutes
  6. Philippians: ~15 minutes
  7. Colossians: ~15 minutes
  8. 1 Thessalonians: ~15 minutes
  9. 2 Thessalonians: ~10 minutes
  10. 1 Timothy: ~20 minutes
  11. 2 Timothy: ~15 minutes
  12. Titus: ~10 minutes
  13. Philemon: ~5 minutes

General Epistles

  1. Hebrews: ~1 hour
  2. James: ~20 minutes
  3. 1 Peter: ~20 minutes
  4. 2 Peter: ~15 minutes
  5. 1 John: ~20 minutes
  6. 2 John: ~5 minutes
  7. 3 John: ~5 minutes
  8. Jude: ~5 minutes

Prophecy

  1. Revelation: ~1.5 hours

Total Reading Time

  • Old Testament: ~39 hours
  • New Testament: ~11 hours
  • Entire Bible: ~50 hours

Adjustments can be made based on individual reading speed or familiarity with the text.

In summary, it should be between 42 to 50 hours for most people. 

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