Series: In Defense of...
Welcome to the In Defense of… Series, where I document my journey reading through the chronological Bible in a year during 2025. I’ll keep this page updated with the full list of posts and other resources I’ve found useful.
Series Posts
(1/13/2025) SERIES INTRODUCTION - In Defense of Reading the Bible in a Year: Thoughts on starting over in Genesis
(2/4/2025) In Defense of Reading the Repetitive Parts of the Bible
About my Bible(s)
I use Tyndale’s One-Year Chronological Bible (Expressions) (hardcover edition) as my home base
Pros:
Wide margins for taking notes from other translations and resources
Chronological structure (in order of when books were written and events occurred)
365-day format
Pretty
Cons:
It’s the NLT
Does not contain the Apocrypha
Every few pages, you’ll find a random verse in the margins decorated with cutesy font. Let’s just say it feels weird to be reading about Job’s children being murdered right next to a frilly calligraphy rendering of “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
I’ll often look up each day’s passage in other translations (esp the Orthodox Study Bible Old Testament and Harper Collins Study Bible/ NRSVUE) and read them all in conversation with each other.
When listening to the Bible through audio, right now I’m enjoying the Listener’s Bible.
Other Resources I Like (a growing list)
Amy-Jill Levine, The Old Testament (my review here)
Rabbi Evan Moffic, Reading the Old Testament Through Jewish Eyes
(I’ve got lots of resources I could include here, but am limiting this list to ones I’m actively reading alongside the Bible this year.)
Resources other Readers of this Blog have Recommended
Podcast: Daily Orthodox Scriptures (Ancient Faith Radio) by Fr. Alexis Khouri (children’s version here) —> Note: this doesn’t follow a chronological reading plan but it’s still a good podcast if you are trying to read the Bible in a year but don’t have time to sit down every day to read it.