Chronological Bible Reading Guide: God's Word the Word of Light and Life

By Jane Becker Weathers

Chronological Bible Reading Guide presents the arrangement of events recorded in the Bible in sequential order to help us better understand how time flows through and joins, or occasionally separates, these sixty-six individual books. When seen in context with the historical, political, and religious settings, we can better understand the different lessons told in different styles and literary forms including poetry, prophecy and epistles as they are intertwined with history.

These readings are grouped by chapter, and while this does not provide a perfect chronology (if that is even possible), it comes fairly close and helps retain some of the original authors’ flow when switching between books. The daily readings provide a guide through the entire Protestant canon in one calendar year. Or read at your own rate through God’s word of truth.

This guide is the result of more than a decade of personal study in Biblical history and fine-tuning the daily readings to maintain a consistent reading time.

Invest 10-15 minutes a day to increase your faith and understanding of Scripture! “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ” Romans 10:17. The word of God is “more desirable than gold–than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey, which comes from the honeycomb” Psalm 19:10.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664212350

Jane Becker Weathers

Jane Weathers grew up on a small farm in South Dakota, the youngest of six children. She received a B.S. degree in education from John Brown University, and taught for twenty-four years, mostly in Christian schools. She taught students of all ages during those years, and worked one-on-one with children with learning difficulties. A highlight was teaching Bible lessons and stories with applications to little ones starting their learning years in kindergarten. Jane’s passion for the Bible, led her to study what Bible scholars had to say about various scriptures. During a fifteen-year period she arranged her own time line for the text, and developed her Chronological Bible Reading Guide. Jane and her husband, Ted, reside in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. They have three married sons and six grandchildren.

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ISBN: 978-1-6642-1236-7 (sc)

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WestBow Press rev. date: 12/01/2020

CONTENTS

God’s Word: Light And Life

Preface

Introduction

Week 1 Readings

Week 2 Readings

Week 3 Readings

Week 4 Readings

Week 5 Readings

Week 6 Readings

Week 7 Readings

Week 8 Readings

Week 9 Readings

Week 10 Readings

Week 11 Readings

Week 12 Readings

Week 13 Readings

Week 14 Readings

Week 15 Readings

Week 16 Readings

Week 17 Readings

Week 18 Readings

Week 19 Readings

Week 20 Readings

Week 21 Readings

Week 22 Readings

Week 23 Readings

Week 24 Readings

Week 25 Readings

Week 26 Readings

Week 27 Readings

Week 28 Readings

Week 29 Readings

Week 30 Readings

Week 31 Readings

Week 32 Readings

Week 33 Readings

Week 34 Readings

Week 35 Readings

Week 36 Readings

Week 37 Readings

Week 38 Readings

Week 39 Readings

Week 40 Readings

Week 41 Readings

Week 42 Readings

Week 43 Readings

Week 44 Readings

Week 45 Readings

Week 46 Readings

Week 47 Readings

Week 48 Readings

Week 49 Readings

Week 50 Readings

Week 51 Readings

Week 52 Readings

Author’s Note

Appendix A

Appendix B

Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

Appendix F

Appendix G

Bibliography

Endorsements

About the Author

GOD’S WORD: LIGHT AND LIFE

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that had been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men.

John (John 1:1-4)

I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.

Jesus (John 8:12)

Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life.

Simon Peter (John 6:68)

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Anonymous (Psalm 119:105)

The revelation of Your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.

Anonymous (Psalm 119:130)

PREFACE

Spending time with Jesus and reading His letter with a cup of coffee is my favorite early morning activity. Over the years, my passion for the entire word of God, and its importance in my life led me to study how scriptures correlate, and this work is a result.

After reading through the Bible from cover to cover several times, I decided in 2005 to read it with a commercially planned chronological Bible reading plan. The plan listed complete books at a time, and generally three chapters of the Bible per day. This varied from a few short Psalms to quite a few pages per day in other books. Other chronological reading plans had similar problems. Books like Jeremiah and Daniel are not chronological.

After reading through the Bible, supposedly in sequence, but only book by book, I decided to devise my own plan. It became evident that daily portions could be an average of ten to twelve minutes a day, and a normal reader could read through the Bible in a year’s time.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee, in his Thru the Bible radio program said that prophetic books should be studied with historical books, and someone should thread the prophetic books into the history where they belong. This guide does that to the best of my ability.

Many Christians seem to believe the only pertinent scripture for today is in the New Testament, but God preserved the entire Bible for those who wish to discover the whole counsel of God. I agree with A. W. Tozer who said, We must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others.

The importance of spending time in God’s word was expressed by C. H. Spurgeon, who said, If you wish to know God, you must know His Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by His Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.

I am grateful to my husband Ted, and son Jeremy, for the suggestions and technical help they provided. This guide has been a work in progress for fifteen years, and is subject to change as new insight appears. I accept responsibility for misconceptions on time dating, and for the choice of accompanying scriptural portions, especially in the book of Psalms.

Jane Weathers

October 2020

INTRODUCTION

This guide has been compiled to give the Bible reader, whether a novice, or a seasoned through-the-Bible reader, an opportunity to read chronologically, not book by book, but chapter by chapter. A read-through in one year is not important, since the reader may go at a personal rate. The purpose of this guide is to include the supporting literature of poetry, prophecy, and epistles, as near as possible to the historical narrative of the times.

Dates in the first few chapters of Genesis are extrapolated from Ussher in The Scofield Reference Bible, King James Version. Other dates are based on Jones’ Bible Time Line; HCSB: Holman Christian Standard Study Bible; the NIV: Life Application Bible: New International Version; and my Bible student husband Ted in the book of Daniel.

God’s word does not give enough information to be dogmatic about all elements of time, and Bible scholars have different views about the dates of events.

Overlap and frequent review take place especially in the Kings and Chronicles, which contain information of the kings of Judah and Israel who ruled simultaneously. Some chapters cover events that occurred over many years of time. The gospels also contain much overlap and review.

Many Psalms do not identify the author or event, but the goal in placement is to associate the main theme or elements of a Psalm with the events of the time.

Keeping a day’s reading to full chapters rather than a few verses here and a few verses there (with other narratives all happening at the same time) means that a true chronology is not practical or possible!

My prayer is that this reading schedule will arouse a deep desire to pour over the whole counsel of God to know Him better. May it increase understanding and provide guidance, as well as bless by shining the light of Jesus to brighten your day.

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WEEK 1 READINGS

Day 1

John 1:1-5

In the beginning

Genesis 1-3

Creation: c. 4000 BC

Genesis 1-2: Other scriptures referring to creation include: Isaiah 45:18; Proverbs 8:27-29; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11.

Genesis 1-3: The complexity of our bodies, our DNA, and even the perfectly formed tiny creatures show scientific evidence of irreducible complexity. The biological system must be completely intact to function properly as affirmed by the Institute for Creation Research. Albert Einstein