One Year Bible Reading Plan: Your Complete 365-Day Guide
A one year Bible reading plan transforms an overwhelming goal into a daily habit. Instead of staring at 1,189 chapters wondering where to begin, you simply open today's reading and spend 15-20 minutes with Scripture.
By the time 365 days pass, you've read every word—Genesis through Revelation—without heroic effort or marathon sessions.
This guide covers everything you need to choose and complete a one year Bible reading plan: the different approaches, their pros and cons, and how to actually finish what you start.
Why Read the Bible in One Year?
Reading the entire Bible in a year isn't about speed—it's about completion. Most Christians have never read the whole Bible. They know Genesis, Psalms, the Gospels, and a handful of Paul's letters. But Obadiah? Nahum? Leviticus 14?
A 365 day Bible reading plan ensures you encounter all of Scripture, not just the familiar passages. Here's why that matters:
Complete Context
The Bible is one interconnected story. Reading only portions is like watching random scenes from a movie—you miss the plot, character development, and resolution. A one year plan gives you the full narrative arc from creation to new creation.
Balanced Perspective
Left to our own choices, we gravitate toward comfortable passages. A reading plan pushes you through challenging texts—the genealogies, the laws, the minor prophets—that contain surprising treasures you'd never discover otherwise.
Sustainable Pace
Seventy hours of reading sounds daunting. Spread across 365 days? That's just 11-15 minutes daily. (Curious about the exact time commitment? See our breakdown of how long it takes to read the Bible.) A one year Bible reading plan makes the impossible achievable through consistency rather than intensity.
Built-In Accountability
"Read the Bible more" is a vague goal. "Read Genesis 4-6, Matthew 2, and Psalm 2 today" is a specific assignment. Plans create accountability by defining exactly what success looks like each day.
Types of One Year Bible Reading Plans
Not all 365 day Bible reading plans are created equal. The approach you choose affects your experience significantly.
Canonical Reading Plans
What it is: Reading the Bible in the order books appear—Genesis through Revelation.
Structure:
- Start with Genesis, end with Revelation
- Books read in traditional biblical order
- Simple, predictable progression
Pros:
- Easy to follow
- Books read as complete units
- Mirrors how Bibles are organized
Cons:
- Gets bogged down in Leviticus and Numbers early
- Long stretches of similar content (all prophets together)
- Many people quit before Exodus ends
Best for: Readers who want simplicity and like finishing one book before starting another.
Chronological Reading Plans
What it is: Reading events in the order they happened historically.
Structure:
- Job potentially first (possibly oldest book)
- Historical books interwoven with prophets
- Psalms inserted when David likely wrote them
- Gospels harmonized into one narrative
Pros:
- See how events relate historically
- Prophets read alongside the kings they addressed
- Creates coherent historical narrative
Cons:
- Jumps between books constantly
- Can feel fragmented
- Dating of some books is debated
Best for: History lovers and those wanting to understand biblical chronology.
Thematic or Blended Reading Plans
What it is: Multiple readings daily from different sections of Scripture.
Structure:
- Old Testament + New Testament each day
- Often includes Psalms and Proverbs daily
- Variety built into every reading session
Pros:
- Never stuck in difficult sections for long
- Daily variety keeps engagement high
- Proverbs provides daily practical wisdom
Cons:
- Less book-by-book continuity
- Jumping between contexts requires mental shifts
- Some find variety distracting
Best for: Most readers—especially first-timers and those who've struggled with other plans.
The BibleMate 365-Day Reading Plan
After analyzing why people quit reading plans, we built something different. Our free 365-day Bible reading plan uses a blended approach designed for completion, not just ambition.
Daily Reading Structure
Each day includes four short readings:
| Section | Daily Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Old Testament | 2-3 chapters | History, prophecy, wisdom literature |
| New Testament | 1 chapter | Gospels and epistles |
| Psalms | 1 psalm | Worship and prayer |
| Proverbs | 1 chapter | Daily wisdom |
Total daily time: 15-20 minutes at normal reading pace.
Why This Structure Works
Variety prevents burnout. You're never reading Levitical laws for three weeks straight. Even on "difficult" Old Testament days, you still get an encouraging psalm and practical proverb.
New Testament daily. Hearing from Jesus or the apostles every single day keeps the gospel central to your reading experience.
Psalms as prayer. The daily psalm becomes a natural transition into your own prayer time, turning reading into devotion.
Proverbs as application. Each day ends with immediately applicable wisdom for everyday life.
What You'll Read Each Month
January: Genesis, Matthew, Psalms 1-31
February: Exodus, Mark, Psalms 32-59
March: Leviticus-Numbers, Luke, Psalms 60-90
April: Deuteronomy-Joshua, John, Psalms 91-120
May: Judges-1 Samuel, Acts, Psalms 121-150
June: 2 Samuel-1 Kings, Romans-1 Corinthians
July: 2 Kings-1 Chronicles, 2 Corinthians-Philippians
August: 2 Chronicles-Nehemiah, Colossians-Hebrews
September: Esther-Job, James-Revelation
October: Psalms (deep dive), select epistles
November: Proverbs-Isaiah, Gospels review
December: Jeremiah-Malachi, closing readings
View the complete reading plan →
How to Actually Finish a One Year Bible Reading Plan
Starting is easy. Here's how to make it to Day 365:
1. Choose One Time and Protect It
The when matters as much as the what. Most successful Bible readers establish a consistent time:
- Morning readers (most common): Coffee + Bible before the day starts
- Lunch readers: A midday reset during breaks
- Evening readers: Wind down with Scripture before bed
Pick one and defend it like an appointment with a VIP—because it is.
2. Create a Friction-Free Environment
Make starting easy:
- Keep your Bible (or phone) in your reading spot
- Bookmark today's reading before finishing yesterday's
- Remove distractions during reading time
The goal: zero decisions when your reading time arrives.
3. Use the Two-Day Rule
Miss a day? It happens. Miss two consecutive days? That's where plans die.
The rule: Never skip twice in a row. If Monday was busy, Tuesday is non-negotiable—even if it's just one chapter.
4. Embrace Imperfect Completion
Fell behind by a week? You have options:
- Catch up — Read extra each day until you're current
- Skip ahead — Jump to today's date and accept the gap
- Continue — Pick up where you left off and finish "late"
All three are better than quitting. There's no Bible police. Reading 340 days out of 365 is infinitely better than stopping at day 45.
5. Track Your Progress Visibly
Checking boxes releases dopamine. Use our reading plan tracker or interactive calendar to mark completed days. Watching the calendar fill up creates momentum.
Some readers print a yearly grid and cross off each day with a marker. Others use apps with streaks. The method doesn't matter—visual progress does.
Common Questions About One Year Bible Reading Plans
Can I start a 365 day Bible reading plan mid-year?
Absolutely. Three options:
- Start with Day 1 — You'll finish next year
- Jump to today's date — Read alongside others on the same schedule
- Wait for a milestone — First of the month, your birthday, etc.
Our plan is designed for any start date. Begin with Day 1 whenever you're ready.
What Bible translation should I use?
Whichever one you'll actually read. Some popular choices:
| Translation | Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| NIV | Balanced | General reading |
| ESV | Literal | Study-focused readers |
| NLT | Clear | Beginners and quick reading |
| NASB | Very literal | Deep analysis |
| MSG | Paraphrase | Fresh perspective |
Our online readings use the NHEB (New Heart English Bible)—a clear, modern translation that's easy to understand.
How do one year plans handle Psalms and Proverbs?
Most blended plans cycle through Psalms and Proverbs multiple times during the year. Since there are 150 Psalms and 31 Proverbs chapters, you might read through them 2-3 times while completing the rest of Scripture once.
This repetition is intentional—these books are meant for repeated meditation.
Is audio Bible an option for a one year plan?
Yes! Many people listen during commutes, exercise, or chores. At 70-90 hours total, listening for 20 minutes daily completes the Bible in 6-9 months.
You can also combine methods: listen to Old Testament readings during your commute, then read New Testament and Psalms at home.
What if some passages are confusing?
Keep reading. First-time readers won't understand everything—and that's fine. Understanding grows with repeated exposure. Note confusing passages for later study, but don't let difficult texts stop your progress.
The goal of a one year plan is exposure, not mastery.
The Real Question
You've reached the end of this guide. You know the options, the strategies, the math. But knowledge isn't the problem—starting is.
The Bible will take about 70 hours to read. That's less time than watching one season of most TV dramas. Spread across a year, it's 15 minutes a day—less than you spend scrolling your phone.
A year from now, you'll either have read the entire Bible or you won't. The time will pass regardless.
Your next step: Open Day 1. Read Genesis 1-3, Matthew 1, Psalm 1, and Proverbs 1. It takes 18 minutes.
Tomorrow, open Day 2.
Repeat for 363 more days.
That's it. That's the whole secret.
Start Day 1 of your one year Bible reading plan →
Never Lose Your Place
BibleMate keeps you on track with your 365 day Bible reading plan:
- Daily reminders — Never forget your reading
- Progress tracking — See how far you've come
- Offline access — Read anywhere, anytime
- Bookmark sync — Pick up exactly where you left off
Ready to start your Bible reading journey?
Read the entire Bible in one year with daily guidance.
