I’m not one for new year’s resolutions, but I do like to set concrete goals from time to time. One that I started several years ago was to read through my Greek New Testament at least once a year. I had tried before but failed. One reason is that other yearly reading plans are based on chapters (e.g., Denny Burk’s and Lee Irons’s).
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The problem with chapters is that the lengths are all over the place. Just compare Matt 27 with Matt 28 and you’ll see what I mean. I always found it discouraging to get through a short chapter and then face one two or three times longer the very next day. Besides the mental hurdle, it can be hard to fit your reading into your daily schedule.
So, I have come up with something that works much better for me. Instead of chapters, I now count the pages in my preferred edition, divide by 300, and then read that number of pages each day. Using 300 gives me some room for missed days or gets me ahead if I stay on track.
By doing my reading by the page, I get into a nice, maintainable rhythm. It also keeps me from giving up when I get behind since its really easy to adjust. If October hits and I’ve missed 40 days already, I just count the pages left and divide by the number of days left in the year. This year I got stuck after Acts because of class prep but the last two years it’s worked great. I had to increase my rate at the end each time, but I made it all the way through on time.
This simple per-page method also works great if you’re switching to a new bible for the year (which I recommend doing). For the new THGNT, for example, it comes out to just over a page and half per day. Read two a day and you’ll be way ahead come the fall. For the RP2005, it’s just a little more. For N28, you’re looking at about three pages per day. If you’re just finishing your first year of Greek, pick something you find manageable like the Gospels or get a reader’s edition, do the same math, and you’ll be on your way.
As you can see, the per-page method is simple and flexible. It works with any Bible in any language. So give it a try. It’s not too late to start.
The problem with chapters is that the lengths are all over the place. Just compare Matt 27 with Matt 28 and you’ll see what I mean. I always found it discouraging to get through a short chapter and then face one two or three times longer the very next day. Besides the mental hurdle, it can be hard to fit your reading into your daily schedule.So, I have come up with something that works much better for me. Instead of chapters, I now count the pages in my preferred edition, divide by 300, and then read that number of pages each day. Using 300 gives me some room for missed days or gets me ahead if I stay on track.
By doing my reading by the page, I get into a nice, maintainable rhythm. It also keeps me from giving up when I get behind since its really easy to adjust. If October hits and I’ve missed 40 days already, I just count the pages left and divide by the number of days left in the year. This year I got stuck after Acts because of class prep but the last two years it’s worked great. I had to increase my rate at the end each time, but I made it all the way through on time.
This simple per-page method also works great if you’re switching to a new bible for the year (which I recommend doing). For the new THGNT, for example, it comes out to just over a page and half per day. Read two a day and you’ll be way ahead come the fall. For the RP2005, it’s just a little more. For N28, you’re looking at about three pages per day. If you’re just finishing your first year of Greek, pick something you find manageable like the Gospels or get a reader’s edition, do the same math, and you’ll be on your way.
As you can see, the per-page method is simple and flexible. It works with any Bible in any language. So give it a try. It’s not too late to start.