Welcome to the first week of reading through the Bible in Chronological order. I’m eagerly looking forward to this adventure, and hope we will be able to bless one another through sharing, as we progress through the history and Source of our faith.

Each day’s readings include links so you can read or listen to the passages online. You may choose from several translations within the Bible Gateway website. These are for anyone who feels overwhelmed at the thought of reading through the Bible in a year. There is no right or wrong way to read. Find what works for you.

The stronger approach is to read from a print Bible that you can underline and/or mark up freely if possible. The more you interact with the passages as you read, the more you will get out of them. A bookmark for week 1 is also available as a PDF file in a link below. It is helpful for keeping your place through the week as well as for taking notes – especially on things you might want to share with us or with your own study group. 

Normally I will post on Saturday mornings throughout the year for the benefit of those wanting to use it for Sunday groups. Since this is for the first week of the year, I am posting it earlier. Feel free to share this post with anyone you think might be interested in joining us on our Bible reading adventure. Subscribe to this blog using the box at the upper left of the screen so you will receive these weekly reading schedules in your email.

Passages to read this week:

• Jan 1 Genesis 1-3
• Jan 2 Genesis 4-7
• Jan 3 Genesis 8-11
• Jan 4 Job 1-5
• Jan 5 Job 6-9
• Jan 6 Job 10-13
• Jan 7 Job 14-16

Click here for bookmark: Chronological Bible – Week 1

Brief overview of the passages for this week:

The first week’s readings include the following accounts:

• From Genesis 1-11
  • God creates the heavens and the earth
  • Adam and Eve
  • The fall, Cain and Abel
  • Genealogies of the first people up to Noah and his family
  • The flood, God’s covenant with people and the animals
  • The Tower of Babel
  • Genealogy from Shem (Noah’s son) to Abram
• From Job 1-16 (Note: Most Bible scholars believe that Job lived after the flood and before the time of Abram.)
  • Setting: The land of Uz, a large territory east of the Jordan Valley
  • God speaks well of Job
  • God allows Satan to test Job
  • Job loses sons, daughters, and property
  • Job loses health
  • Joseph’s three friends visit
  • First cycle of speeches by his friends and Job’s replies to them
  • Second cycle of speeches begins

Suggestions for things to look for:

• We will be in the Old Testament for most of the year. Look for passages that foretell the coming of Jesus. You may be surprised at how many you will find.
• Key concepts and words to watch for in this week’s readings:
  • Sequence of creation (compare to food chain)
  • Deception leading to the fall
  • Curse of the fall
  • Blood sacrifices
  • Nephilim (see link at bottom of this page)
  • God’s hand at work in the flood
  • Language – from one to many
  • Righteousness of Job
  • Satan’s role in Job’s life
  • Approaches to comforting/confronting Job
  • Job’s defence of himself

Sharing what we learn:

I will in no way presume the role as teacher. One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to teach us and help us to understand God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is our teacher as we read the Bible. I see my role as a cheerleader to encourage you as you read through the Bible. I will do what I can to encourage discussion in the comments following each week’s post. Comments should include questions or offer enlightenment and understanding. I will monitor comments to prevent arguments. We are not here to promote any denomination or to hammer away at any particular doctrine. I will delete comments that cross over this line.

Suggested questions for discussion in the comments section:

• What were your favorite passages?
• What new insights have you gleaned about the nature of God?
• Did you read something that caused you to think differently about your faith or about how you live your life?
• What did you read that surprised you?
• What did you read that disturbed or confused you?
• Did you learn something this time that you didn’t notice the last time you read these passages?
• Feel free to think up your own questions to discuss as well . . .

Latest evidence on Noah’s Ark discovery: