© Pastor Christopher Pack, 2016

a Chronological Bible Reading Schedule

with summary notes for each day’s readings

a Bible Reading Plan

that schedules daily passages to be read

in the chronological order that it is believed

Bible events actually occurred

Commence reading at any time by following the week by week numbering,

or read by date following a One Year or Two Year plan.

Prepared by Pastor Christopher A Pack, MA (Theol.)

© Pastor Christopher Pack, 2016

How to use this reading plan. This Reading Plan is designed to help you read through the Bible in One Year or, if a slower pace is preferred,

in two years, following as far as possible the likely Chronological sequence of events or dating.

Each week the readings are set out for seven days. If the One Year reading plan is commenced on

January 1 then the readings for the week will correspond with the calendar date.

CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE READING SCHEDULE

One Year Plan – Week One – January 1-7 (Two Year Plan – Year One, Weeks One & Two – January 1-14)

DAY DATE SCRIPTURES NOTES TICK WHEN

READ

1 January 1

(January 1-2)

Genesis 1:1-2:3; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17; Ephesians 1:3-6; Genesis 2:4-25.

Our chronological reading plan begins with the majestic faith-defining words which open the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”, and what follows is the account of the six days of Creation. The verses from St John and St Paul are faith-defining statements from the New Testament, placing Jesus at the centre of pre-creation events and creative purposes. Genesis chapter 2 is the second account of creation, most probably drawn from different documents to the first account. The focus is on humankind and the diversity of life in the Garden of Eden.

The daily readings for each day are the Scripture Passages identified

If the Two Year reading plan is preferred the readings for each week of the One Year plan are simply

spread across two weeks by taking two days to read the passages chosen for each day of the One Year

plan.

As the readings are completed simply place a or a in the Check Box provided.

The Notes are not intended to be devotional. Rather they have been written to help you understand

what the passage being read is saying to us by providing a brief summary statement about those verses.

The at the start of sections in the notes column indicates the beginning of the comments for the

next passage to be read.

At times these notes will give limited background to the writer or the book.

At other times they will cross reference the reading to another related passage.

At times they will explain why a passage is being read at this time – when it may otherwise seem out

of place and out of sequence.

Occasionally footnotes are used to further explain a passage or give additional background

information, especially where there is insufficient space in the notes column to include other helpful

comments and explanatory notes.

My prayer as you read is that you will better understand this

remarkable book we know as The Bible, grow to love this written

Word of God, and grow closer to God in your daily walk with Him.

It is quite an accomplishment to have read the whole Bible “cover to

cover”, but just reading it will be of little value unless the Holy

Spirit who inspired its writing is your guide and teacher, and the

Lord Jesus Christ, who is the central focus of the whole book, is

your personal Lord and Saviour.

May every blessing in Christ Jesus be yours!

Pastor Christopher Pack.

This reading schedule is provided free of charge for whoever wishes to use it for their knowledge of the

Scriptures and their personal growth in God. If you wish to bless the ministry which has developed these notes with a monetary gift, our banking details for Australian

transactions or international transfers are:

Power-Packed Ministries Intl. Inc.

BSB: 638-070

A/c #: 0094-24954

Thank You! God bless you!

© Pastor Christopher Pack, 2016. Page | 51

CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE READING SCHEDULE

One Year Plan – Week Fifty-One – December 17-23 (Two Year Plan – Year Two, Weeks Forty-Nine & Fifty – December 2-15)

DAY DATE SCRIPTURES NOTES READ

1 December 17

(December

2-3)

1 Peter 1:1-25; 1 Peter 2:1– 3:22; 1 Peter 4:1-19; 1 Peter 5:1-14.

Peter writes to “to God's chosen people who live as refugees” (1.1:1 GNB)

– now that is a very contemporary salutation. Those first century refugees have millions of fellow sufferers today to whom he writes words of comfort and reassurance. He writes about holy living and holy relationships, encouraging his readers to rise above persecution, being victorious even if they suffer unjustly. Peter seeks to highlight the spiritual significance of suffering, presenting Jesus as our example in such times. Elders must lead with love, and all believers must claim grace to resist the devil.

2 December 18

(December 4-5)

Hebrews 1:1-14; Hebrews 2:1 – 4:13.

The authorship of this letter has been the subject of considerable debate,33 but its significant place in Scripture is not seriously debated. The opening chapter asserts the supremacy of Christ as the “brightness of His glory and the express image” of God (1:3) and far superior to angels (1:4). This passage continues the theme of Christ’s supremacy by first stating how great a salvation we have in Him, then affirming Christ as the perfect Man (2:5-18 – quoting from Psalm 8), as being superior to Moses (3:1-6), and being far above the whole of the nation of Israel (3:7-4:13).

3 December 19

(December 6-7)

Hebrews 4:14 – 5:10; Hebrews 5:11 – 6:20; Hebrews 7:1-28.

This passage introduces a major theme in Hebrews, that Jesus is our Great High Priest who has opened up for us the way into the Holy of Holies, establishing the truth that Jesus is “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (5:6). Before continuing this theme the writer condemns his readers for their immaturity – “you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you … you have come to need milk and not solid food” (5:12) – and their need for understanding. Again, the writer presents the priesthood of Christ being greater and better than that of the Old Covenant.

4 December 20

(December 8-9)

Hebrews 8:1-13; Hebrews 9:1-28; Hebrews 10:1-18.

The writer summarises – Christ is a greater High Priest ministering a “better covenant” (8:6) – explaining to his readers why the new covenant is better. He compares the limitations of “the earthly sanctuary” (9:1) (the “Tabernacle in the Wilderness” and the Temple) to the glory of “the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands” (9:11) and teaches the supremacy of the new sanctuary and the perfect sacrifice of Christ (9:26-

28). The new covenant is better because “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (10:10).

5 December 21

(December 10-11)

Hebrews 10:19-35; Hebrews 11:1-40; Hebrews 12:1-29; Hebrews 13:1-25.

The well-known teaching in “the Faith Chapter” (Hebrews 11) begins here with the call to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” (10:23) and a familiar quotation, “the just shall live by faith” (10:38 – Hab. 2:4). This is “The Roll Call of the Heroes of Faith”. Following the example of the faithful, we must “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (12:1-2) accepting the Father’s correction, and reflecting in our conduct the values of the new covenant. The letter closes with practical guidance and a benediction.

6 December 22

(December 12-13)

2 Timothy 1:1 – 2:26; 2 Timothy 3:1 – 4:22.

Possibly the last letter Paul wrote before his execution in Rome was this very personal note to his “beloved son” in the faith, Timothy (2.1:2 – see also

2.4:6-22). Challenged by the heavy demands of leadership, Timothy was encouraged to remain strong in faith and fully utilize his spiritual gifting. In spite of difficulties confronting him he was to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2.2:3) and to accurately share “the word of truth” (2.2:15). Affirming Timothy in ministry, Paul warns of difficult times and difficult people and challenges him to continue to “Preach the word!” (2.4:2)

7 December 23

(December 14-15)

2 Peter 1:1-21; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 2 Peter 3:1-18;

Jude 1:1-25.

As he greets his readers, Peter notes the spiritual resources available to believers then details Christian values and virtues which will enable them to live so that their lives might be as “a light that shines in a dark place”.(NKJV) Chapter 2 is a strong warning against false prophets and false teachers. Reminding his readers of the 2nd coming of Christ Peter tells how Christians should live as they await Christ’s return. The brief but potent letter of Jude warns believers of the serious danger from false teachers and “mockers ... sensual persons ... not having the spirit.”(NKJV)

33 Many editions of the Authorised (King James) Version of the Bible have “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews” as the title of this

letter although this does not appear in the earliest manuscripts. Paul’s authorship, however, is seriously debated. Some do hold to that position,

citing 10:34 and 13:19 as verses which seem to fit Paul’s circumstances and noting Peter’s comments in 2 Peter 3:15-18 as affirming Paul as

the writer of a letter to Jewish Christians circulating widely at the time Peter was writing. Such a description would certainly fit this letter.

Paul typically clearly identifies himself in his letters as the writer and includes personal greetings. Neither of these features are found in this

letter. It is also argued that the literary style and language of Hebrews varies too greatly from Paul’s other letters to have come from him.

Suggested names of possible authors include Barnabas (Tertullian’s suggestion), Apollos (favoured by Martin Luther), and even Mark or

Priscilla and Aquila. The text indicates that the recipients of the letter knew its author (13:18, 22-24) but they have not left us this information.