BASIC BIBLE 365
A Plan for Reading and Understanding God’s Essential Message
What’s on your bucket list? Here are some ideas:
- Compete in the Iron Man Triathlon
- Climb Mount Everest
- Swim the English Channel
- Ride the Tour de France
- Read the Bible
For many of us, reading the Bible ranks with those other impossible tasks. We start out with good intentions but give up along the way.
We don’t need more motivational speeches or gimmicks. We just need a more realistic goal. What if someone offered a simpler plan, one that would help you understand the Bible in the process?
Basic Bible 365 features 365 selected chapters that follow the grand story in the Bible from the creation to the end of history. The readings include Old Testament history (from creation to the fifth century BC), New Testament history from Jesus’ ministry to the early church (27 – 66 AD), and selected samples. That’s about a third of the whole Bible. Here is what you will be reading:
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
- Genesis (Creation around 1900 BC[1]):
World history in creation, rebellion, and judgment;
The beginning of redemptive history with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons. - Exodus 1-20 (1525 – 1445 BC):
Israel in slavery, the call of Moses, escape from Egypt, and the law covenant.
- Numbers (1445 – 1406 BC):
Moses prepares to take God’s covenant people to the land that he had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
The first generation fails to trust God and is disqualified;
After the first generation dies, the second generation prepares to finish God’s task.
- Joshua (14-6 – 1380 BC):
Joshua, who has served under Moses, leads the people into Canaan. - Judges (1380 – 1050 BC):
Joshua dies, and the people after the Conquest forget their heritage;
God raises up judges to deliver the people from their oppressors, but the nation’s collective soul almost dies.
- 1 Samuel (1100 – 1010 BC):
The birth story of Samuel the prophet, Israel’s last judge;
Saul as the first king of Israel;
Saul’s failure as king and David’s call to take his place. - 2 Samuel (1010 – 970 BC):
The establishment of the kingdom under David;
David’s abuse of power with Bathsheba, followed by his loss of authority as king.
- 1 Kings (970 – 853 BC):
David’s son Solomon establishes his position in the kingdom;
Internal unrest and civil war after Solomon;
Israel divides into two kingdoms;
Parallel histories of the Northern Kingdom and Judah. - 2 Kings (853 – 560 BC):
The final days of Israel and Judah;
Israel falls to Assyria in 722 BC;
Judah falls to Babylon in 586 BC.
- Nehemiah (444 4- 410 BC):
Judah’s return to Jerusalem;
Nehemiah the Governor directs the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem.
NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY
- The Gospel of Mark (AD 27 – 30):
The ministry of Jesus.
Most modern Bible scholars believe that Mark is the earliest Gospel. Mark shows Jesus to be God in the flesh who is driven in his mission to serve. - Acts (AD 30 – 66):
Early church history.
Jesus speaks to his apostles after his resurrection
The church’s growth from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and then to the Gentile peoples.
THE END OF HISTORY
- Revelation:
Persecution continues under the Roman emperors. Many believers will experience incredibly harsh persecution, but John calls them to persevere until the end.
World judgment, and a return to Eden.
The closing chapters show how God will judge evil and drive it from the world. The last two chapters of the book borrow language from Genesis to show that the new heavens and earth are the new Eden.
ADDITIONAL READING
- Psalms: Your choice: Pick any six to enjoy a taste of Old Testament intimacy with God
- Proverbs: Your choice: Pick any five chapters to explore Old Testament wisdom.
- Micah: An example of the prophetic books.
During the Old Testament period, God spoke through prophets. Micah stands as a beautiful example of prophetic writing. - Malachi: The last Old Testament prophet with a written message calls the people to prepare to meet their Messiah.
- Ephesians:
One of Paul’s greatest letters.
Ephesians concentrates on the greatness of God’s gift of salvation and what it means for the believer. - 1 Peter:
A letter calling believers to walk with Jesus in the dark times.
1 Peter is written to Jewish believers who are beginning to undergo persecution under Emperor Nero.
Doug Knox
[1] Dates are taken from Jason S. DeRouchie, ed., What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survfey of Jesus’ Bible, (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2001), 45.