I’m guessing that reading the entire Bible from cover to cover is on a lot of bucket lists. I’m also guessing that this is a goal that gets pushed to the back burner more often than not.
The Bible is a book like no other. It is the best selling book of all time, and by far the most translated book in history. Gutenberg chose it as the first book to be printed on his revolutionary movable-type press in 1455, and even after all these centuries, 100 million Bibles are sold or given out every year. The Bible’s impact on humanity is inestimable.
And yet, reading the whole thing from the beginning to the end can be a challenge. Even so, it is an important goal. I'm on my fourth trip through the Bible in four years, faithfully reading every day, except when I occasionally have to double up because I've missed the day before. The content becomes richer and more cohesive with each time around, so yes, reading all of it is well worth while. But also hard, I know. Especially if you don't have someone to guide you through the tricky bits.
I’d like to tell you about my discovery. It’s a free one-year online plan called The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel.
Do you prefer to read text? The transcript is right in front of you. Listen and follow along? You can do that too. Listen while you get ready for the day? Absolutely. Would you like to open an app on your phone, or sit in front of your monitor to use the website? It's all possible.
Need more options? Three versions of the plan are available. I'm using Classic, which takes about 25 minutes. The Express edition runs for 11-13 minutes with less commentary. There is also a Youth Edition that is about 14 minutes long.
Reasons I Love This Guide
British accents ... David Suchet is the reader of the Bible passages ... the translation is the English Standard Version ... Nicky Gumbel’s commentary is intelligent, carefully constructed, well spoken and never boring ... Pippa adds her two cents worth at the end – honest, often hilarious, always down to earth.
More Reasons I Love This Guide
Generally, Bible-in-a-year guides offer daily readings following the printed order of the internal books and chapters. I like the way this one is arranged. You don’t get stuck in the Old Testament for three quarters of the year. Each daily reading is a wisdom book passage from Psalms or Proverbs, a New Testament passage, and an Old Testament passage. You still read the books in order within their categories, and still will have read the whole Bible by the end of a year.
The host, Nicky, chooses a daily title that pulls the three readings together. So often I find this common thread remarkable, even inspired. As he speaks about each part of the day’s reading, he weaves in the theme, connecting, explaining, guiding and encouraging.
Time is often an issue for many of us. Listening gives the option of a daily Bible reading while doing some mundane task, such as exercising, chores, or commuting to work. Still, if you have time to sit and read, the text is provided in the same place so it's easy to access.
This Start Page guides you
through the options.
This Frequently Asked Questions page
gives you a lot more detail.
Nicky and Pippa Gumbel
You might never have heard of these people but you probably have heard of the Alpha program, which has spread around the world and been translated into 112 languages. Nicky Gumbel is its pioneer.
Nicky's original career was as an English barrister. After a few years he decided to train for ordination in the Church of England. He joined the staff as vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton and served for seventeen years along with Pippa, his wife. Meanwhile the Alpha program was growing, and in conjunction with it, the daily Bible reading plan that Nicky and Pippa introduced first in 2009.
The Gumbels' ministry is both evangelistic and charismatic. It centres on the authority of the Bible and the historical gospel message, while emphasizing the active work and experience of the Holy Spirit.
