If you’re a Christian, why do you need to read the entire Bible?

I’ve read through the entire Bible almost 20 times, and nothing else has blessed me or changed me more.

There are several reasons you need to read the entire Bible, including the Old and New Testaments.

Let’s look at these reasons that will encourage you to read the entire Bible.

1. It Helps You Understand the Verses in Context

It’s common for Bible verses to be taken out of context in conversations, online, and even in church.

When you read the entire Bible, you will understand the greater context and how a single verse applies to the entire text.

You can beef up your knowledge of ancient cultures by getting a study Bible that provides insight through commentary.

As you grow in understanding the cultural context, you will be able to have clearer context for verses.

2. It Gives You Greater Understanding

One of the most important reasons to read the entire Bible is to understand God’s redemptive plan throughout history.

The redemptive plan is mentioned as early as Genesis 3, when God promised a redeemer for humans (Gen. 3:14-15, NIV).

This plan unfolds chapter by chapter throughout the Old Testament as you follow the bloodline of Jesus.

It also gives you a greater understanding of how Jesus fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies through his life, death, and resurrection.

3. It Offers You Additional Wisdom

Christians believe that the Bible is the word of God, and therefore the source of wisdom.

The Bible says,

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6, NIV).

You will gain wisdom as you read the entire Bible from beginning to end.

You’ll learn about the wisdom of God compared to the wisdom of men.

You will also learn why God’s ways are higher than our ways (Is. 55:9, NIV) while you watch His plan unfold in the story of Scripture.

4. It Offers You Extra Insight

One of the Holy Spirit’s jobs is to give us insight when we read Scripture (Jn. 16:13, NIV).

He will bring certain stories and passages to your attention that can help you with your current struggles.

Through your increased insight into Bible passages, you can start to understand God better as well as how He wants you to relate to others.

The Holy Spirit may give you insight into how to apply Old and New Testament principles to your life at home, work, church, and your community.

5. It Helps with Personal Application

The Bible has great value for personal application.

You can learn both what to do and what not to do when reading the accounts of people in the Bible.

You can read the Gospels to learn how to follow Jesus’ example in daily living.

6. It Encourages Spiritual Growth

The Psalms can help you grow your relationship with God through prayer, and Proverbs can help you grow in integrity.

The warnings in the books of the prophets can keep you on track in your spiritual life.

The letters of the New Testament can help you grow in your faith as you apply the directives to your choices.

The entire Bible will help you in your spiritual growth journey.

7. It Offers Additional Perspective

When you read the entire Bible, you can have a greater perspective on what’s going on in the world.

Jesus told us in Matthew 24 what to expect close to the time when He returns to Earth.

When you read Revelation in light of what Jesus said, you can gain a wider perspective.

In addition to reading the entire Bible, commentaries can help you understand complicated teachings and how they relate to today’s world.

8. It Leads to More Evangelistic Opportunities

When you read the entire Bible, you will equip yourself with knowledge to share with others.

The more you read the Bible, the more it becomes part of your thinking and speech.

Bible verses and stories will naturally come to mind and be easier for you to share with others.

You will gain more confidence as you read the entire Bible and learn how others shared their faith in the Bible.

Ways to Read the Entire Bible

There are several ways to read the whole Bible.

If you read just one chapter per day, it could take you three years.

However, you can speed this up by choosing a One Year Bible or a Bible reading plan.

Many choices are available to suit your needs.

You can choose the one that works best for your schedule, and you’ll grow in all the ways mentioned.

Be Sure to Read the Entire Bible

Some teachers say you only need to read the New Testament.

They might tell you that the Old Testament is not relevant for today.

However, when you read the entire Bible, you’ll have the most comprehensive understanding of who God is and His plan for the world.

If you only focus on the New Testament, you’ll miss out on the foundation laid in the Old Testament.

Be sure to read the entire Bible to get the full look at what God wants to teach you.

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