I've been exposed to the Bible my entire life and have read whole books of it.  But starting this year one of my goals is to read the Bible cover-to-cover, my dad & I have both been meaning to so now we're motivating each other.  I've been reading the KJV and have really enjoyed some of it.  I liked Genesis & Exodus a lot. Leviticus was pretty dull (and pretty infuriating in some parts). I'm up to Numbers and its kind of slow going at this point.  But I am determined to finish.  Anyway, I was just wondering if there are people here who've read the whole thing cover to cover?  How long did it take you?  What version did you use?

*Note: I'm reading it from a literary view point, not a religious one.  There's a Bible as Lit course at my school that I sometimes sit in on.

I listen to books at work and I am seriously thinking of listening to the Bible cover to cover if I can find cds somewhere.

Oh, sure. King James version for me, which is what I grew up with. Even with the errors, it's beautiful reading and full of good stories. Things get a lot better when you get into Joshua et seq. Everyone should read the Old Book once, in a decent translation, for the poetry of the language.

I took a "New Testement as Literature" class 8 or 9 years ago. We read about 2-3 books of the bible a week depending on the lengths.

KJV is my preference, although I have alot of other translations that I have read.  I didn't pay attention to how long it takes me. Present tense because  I read 1 week in the Old Testament and 1 week in the New Testament.  And when you are reading for learning it doesn't matter the time amount that it takes.  Because the lessons in there are so rich.  Hope you enjoy the reading!

I've read it through a couple of times.  The first was back when I was in college and studying Renaissance literature.  I hadn't ever read it all the way through before and wanted to familiarize myself with it.  It didn't take very long, about a week or two, mixed in with my studies.

Since then, I've read it through a couple of times and I think that it's best to really take time reading it.  Read a section, then set it down and do something else.  Then a day or two later, read another section.  I find that if I take the time to consider each "section" separately, I find more meaning and possible meaning from them.  It becomes a much richer work.  So I'd suggest taking your time. 

Hey, what do you know, Deborah and I agree!

I started this feat in Dec. and I am now up to John. It's the first time i've ever read the bible and I really am enjoying it. It's changed my whole way of thinking.

I've read it twice--once when I considered myself Christian and once as purely literary mythology.  I have to say I enjoyed the stories better when I viewed them as mythology instead of "truth."  I don't remember how long it actually took me either time--but it was over a significant period of time.

Edited to add that I've only read the King James Version.

Long ago, I read most of the old testament and all of the new testament. That's been enough for me so far.

I read most of it when I was forced to attend church.  Actually I probably read mostly the New Testament and bits and pieces of the Old.  We used to have Sword Drils, where kids would get up at the front of the church and have a race to see who could find a chapter and verse first.  Then that person would get to read it aloud. 

I've read my King James Bible through several times, but haven't kept count. Reading it from a literary view point is OK, but the Bible is a spiritual book and can only be truly understood from that stand point. Watch out, though! The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword; it just might get you! ;)

Florence, believe it or not, you can find the King James Bible on CD at the dollar store. When my sons were toddlers, I'd get them of to bed, then listen to a dramatized version of the King James and it really was an eye-opening blessing - old and new testaments.

Numbers and Deuteronomy are just deadly. Soooo boring. All those head counts of tribes and begats. But, I have a soft spot for Isaiah, which is mostly incomprehensible, but oh, the language!

I always read the King James Version. It's what we use at church so it's familiar, plus I really think that you lose a lot of the sheer poetry of it when you use a modern version (which may be fine if you are reading spiritually, but if you are reading for literary purposes then the KJV can't be beat.)

I have a great book on my keeper shelf called 'In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible' by Alastair McGrath all about the translations and how it came to be compiled. One of the best history books I've ever read, and just fascinating on the subject of translations and how the words of the Bible have impacted the English language.

In answer to your question, how long does it take? I try to do at least a chapter every day, sometimes more. And at that rate, about eight months. The shortest I ever read it in was about four months. But it is never my primary book that I'm reading. I could whip through it much faster if it was!

Ellen, thanks for the suggestion! We were wondering where we were going to get the Old Testament.

My co-worker is borrowing the New Testament on tape read by James Earl Jones that we are listening to now. We both agree that his voice is so powerful and wonderful that it makes the books come alive. We are doing a tape in the morning and it actually makes the morning go faster because you are concentrating on listening.

No problem!!

I am doing this right now!  It works better if you don't try to sit and read it in order.  There is actually a "read the bible in a year" division of books that I am reading.  It takes you through a couple of verses every day.  It gives both old and new testaments.  I am enjoying it!