As You Begin …

THE DAILY BIBLE is conveniently presented for your daily  reading so that you may read through the entire Bible in one year. But this is not just another yearly Bible. In fact, it is unlike any other Bible you have ever read. In The Daily Bible, you will read the Scriptures in chronological order, just as the events they por­tray happened in history. Instead of reading portions of the Old Testament and New Testament at random, in The Daily Bible you will see the events unfold before you like an epic novel. Along the way, you will be led from one passage to another by informative, interesting nar­rative which sets the scene for what you are about to read.

 

If you have never read the Bible from cover to cover, this is the one Bible that will help you to do that. It takes you by the hand and leads you gently into "the whole counsel of God." Seeing the big picture, and every separate part in its proper context, you will sometimes be pleasantly surprised, always edified, and greatly challenged. Reading the Bible on a daily basis throughout an entire year will not be a bur­densome commitment but a joyous daily renewal of your faith. If your Bible study has taken on a certain sameness over the years, you will discover through The Daily Bible that God really is speaking to you with wonderful words of life!

 

Unique, Topical Presentations

As you read, you will find exciting differences between your tradi­tional Bible and The Daily Bible. For the first time, you will have all of the Laws of Moses gathered together in a single, unified presentation by subject matter. You will gain a new appreciation for the history of Israel when you see the ceremonial laws, the dietary and health laws, and the various civil and criminal laws in one place. You will also enjoy the Psalms even more than ever now that they are grouped together by themes: Psalms of the Troubled Soul, Psalms of Joy and Praise, Psalms of the Messiah. And, unique to The Daily Bible, you will discover new insights for your life in the topical arrangement of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

 

For all those who have ever wondered where the writings of the prophets fit into the history of the people of Israel, The Daily Bible sorts it out for you. With the dust blown off the writings of these great men of God, you will find yourself at the very threshold of God's presence. Their sermons decrying materialism, injustice, and religious hypocrisy ring out to a dying nation and draw each of us to a more committed response to God.

 

The Harmonized Gospels

Many attempts have been made to harmonize the four Gospels or to present them in parallel columns for easy comparison. But The Daily Bible gives you, for the first time, a totally integrated account of the life of Christ in chronological order. You will come to know Jesus as per­haps never before—intimately! And Paul's various epistles bristle with new meaning when you read them in the context of the Book of Acts, into which they are placed. No other Bible so completely organizes the Scriptures in a way that brings them so easily to life for you.

 

The Daily Bible has been divided into 365 easily readable sections. Based on logical content, the readings will vary somewhat in length. On the average, however, each daily reading section is less than five pages. The sections are identified by this reading symbol which will appear at the beginning of each day's reading.

 

Descriptive Narration—

Guides You Smoothly Though the Scriptures

The Daily Bible is neither a retranslation nor a paraphrase. The cen­tral text is composed entirely of Scripture, using the widely acclaimed New International Version. Thoughtful and reflective narrative com­mentary has been set apart by a screened background, but is written to integrate with the Scriptures in such a way as to be part of an unfold­ing story. For the most part, the narrative is written in the present tense in order to heighten your own sense of involvement in the lives of those who have sought to know God.

Throughout this presentation of Scripture, chapter and verse desig­nations are placed in the margin for easy reference. Boldface references indicate passages which are actually shown in the text. Lightface ref­erences indicate parallel passages which are duplications of the text presented. Where repetitive text is mixed together, every scriptural thought is preserved in at least one of the passages actually shown. In addition, by the use of elevated book abbreviations, the text itself will indicate which book is being presented at the time. Where verses are rearranged in chronological order, the punctuation and format of the New International Version has been left unaltered.

 

The Daily Bible will become your second Bible and constant reading companion for years to come. Giving you a greater appreciation of context and a love for reading God's revelation, it will make Bible reading a refreshing personal experience. To that end, may God richly bless your life and your reading of His Word.

 

—F. LaGard Smith

 

daily bible reading schedule

For those who may wish to follow a daily Bible reading schedule, The Daly Bible has been divided into 365 easily readable sections. Because the daily reading sections have been determined on the basis of logical content, the reading will vary somewhat in length. On the average, however, each daily reading section is less than five pages. The sections are identified by the daily reading symbol H|| which will appear at the beginning of each day reading.

 

old testament Chronological contents

Beginnings of Early Mankind

(Creation to ca. 2100 B.C.)

The Beginning I

Adam and Eve 3

First Three Sons of Adam and Eve 6

Descendants from Adam to Noah 8 Mankind's Degeneration into

Wickedness II

Noah and the Flood 12

Human Condition Remains Sinful 16

Dispersion of the Human Family 17

Beginning of Nations 18

Descendants from Shem to Abram 20

Job, the Righteous Sufferer 22

 

Period of the Patriarchs

(Ca. 2100-1525 B.C.)

The Call of Abram 23

Abram Dishonors Himself in Egypt 24

Separation of Abram and Lot 25

Defeat of the Kings 27

God's Covenant with Abram 29

Birth of Ishmael Through Hagar 30 Names and Circumcision As Signs of

Covenant 32

Appearance of Heavenly Visitors 34

Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah 35

The Scheme of Lot's Daughters 38

Abraham Deceives Abimelech 39

The Birth of Isaac 41

Abraham and Abimelech Settle Dispute 42

Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael 43

Abraham's Ultimate Test of Faith 44

News Regarding Nahor's Family 45

Sarah's Death and Burial 46

Abraham Arranges Wife for Isaac 47

Abraham Marries Keturah 50

Death of Abraham 51

Last Account of Ishmael 51

Esau and Jacob 52

A Birthright Is Sold 53

Isaac Follows in Abraham's Footsteps 53

Trouble Between Jacob and Esau 55

Jacob Leaves for Haran 58

Jacob Marries and Has Children 59

Laban and Jacob Outsmart Each Other 62

Jacob Leaves Laban 63

Jacob Returns to Canaan 66

Dinah and the Men of Shechem 68

Jacob's Journey Continues 70

Record of the Edomites 71

Joseph's Early Years 74

Judah and Tamar 76

Joseph the Egyptian Ruler 78

Jacob's and Joseph's Last Days 91

 

 

Establishment of a Nation

(Ca. 1525-1400 B.C.)

Moses Emerges As Leader 97

Plagues on the Egyptians 103

Passover and the Exodus 110

Journey to Sinai 117

The Israelites Covenant with God 121

Instructions for the Tabernacle 126

The Covenant Broken and Renewed 135

Construction of the Tabernacle 140

Ordination of the Priests 147

The Levites Chosen for Service 152

Offerings from the Tribes 153

A Nation Under Law 157

First Passover After Egypt 158

Numbering of the Israelites 158

The Journey Begins 166

Doubts and Murmurs 168

Moses Rebuked by Miriam 170

The People Lack Courage 171

Challenge to Leadership 174

From Kadesh to Moab 179

Moses' Journal of Israel's Trek 183

Blessings and Prophecy of Balaam 184

Israel Sins in Moab 190

Destruction of the Midianites 191

Israel's Second Numbering 194

Joshua Named As Successor 198

Two-and-a-Half Tribes East of Jordan 198 Preparations for Conquest and

Settlement 200

Moses Reviews History and Purpose 203

The Lawgiver Urges Obedience 210

 

The Laws of Moses

(Ca. 1450-1400 B.C.)

Introduction to the Laws 219

I.  Religious and Ceremonial Laws 220

A. Laws Against Idolatry and Paganism 220

B. Laws Against False Spiritualists 223

C. Laws Regarding Blasphemy 224

D. Laws Requiring Dedications 225

E. Laws Requiring Tithing 225

F. Special Instructions for Conquest 226

G. Law of the Sabbath 227

H. The Special Feasts 228

I. Sacrifices and Offerings 236

J. Other Rituals 247

K. Rules for the Priests 248

L. The Sabbatical Year 250

M. Year of Jubilee 250

N. Purification 252 O. Persons Excluded from the Congregation 256

P. The Nazirite Vow 257

Q. Vows of Dedication 258

R. Laws of Separation 260

 

 

II.      Laws of Government 261

A. Concerning a King 261

B. Respect for Rulers 262

C. The Judicial System 262

 

 

III.     Laws of Special Crimes 263

A. Crimes Against the Person 264

B. Crimes Against Property 267

 

 

IV.     Personal Rights and Remedies 267

A. Restitution for Loss 268

B. Seduction 268

C. Injuries and Damages 269

D. Masters and Servants 269

E. Credit, Interest, and Collateral 270

F. Contracts and Agreements 271

G. Weights and Measures 272

H. Inheritance 272

 

 

V.      Marriage, Divorce, and Sexual Relations 274

A. Marriage 274

B. Divorce 275

C. Sexual Violations 276

D. Separation of Sexes 280

 

 

VI.    Health and Dietary Laws 280

A. Health Regulations 280

B. Dietary Regulations 285

 

 

VII.   General Welfare Laws 288 A. Requirements for Benevolence 288 B. Duties of Respect and Support 289

C. Treatment of Animals 291

 

 

VIII. Rules of Warfare 291

A. Preparation for Battles 291

B. Rules of Siege 291

C. Camp Regulations 292

D. Soldiers and Marriage 292

I..     Responsibilities Under the Laws 292

A. Obedience Enjoined 292

B. Duty to Promulgate 292

C. Blessings of Obedience 293 D. Punishments for Disobedience   293

E. Conclusion 295

 

Conquering a Land

(Ca. 1400-1100 B.C.)

Renewal of the Covenant 296

Transfer of Leadership to Joshua 303

A Song of Unfaithfulness 303

Moses Blesses the Tribes 308

Moses' Death and Burial 311

Preparation for Conquest 312

The Taking of Jericho and Ai 317

General Conquest of Canaan 322

Division of the Promised Land 328

Joshua's Farewell Addresses 338

Three Burials 343

Additional Conquests 343

Failure to Complete Conquests 345

Apostasy and the Judges 346

Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar 348

Deborah and Barak 349

Gideon and His Son 353

Jephthah and Five Others 361

The Story of Ruth 365

Samson the Strong Man 369

Micah and the Danites 375

Civil War with Benjamin 378

Period of Judges Summarized 383

 

Israel As a Monarchy

(Ca. 1100-930 B.C.)

Samuel Brings About Transition 384

Saul Appointed King 392

The Reign of Saul 398

David's Rise to Power 405

David Becomes King 434

Period of the Wars 451

Absalom's Rebellion 460

Two Major Calamities 475 Preparations for Building the Temple 478

The National Convention 480

The Book of Psalms 490

Psalms of the Troubled Soul 491 Psalms About Righteousness and

Wickedness 521

Psalms of Joy and Praise 536 Psalms Expressing a Variety of

Sentiments 570

Psalms of the Messiah 580

Solomon Becomes King 587

Solomon Secures His Kingship 591

Solomon Blessed with Wisdom 594

Building of the Temple 596

Dedication of the Temple 602 Construction of Cities and Royal Palace 606

Extent of Solomon's Glory 609

 

 

Proverbs of Solomon 613

The Book of Proverbs

Arranged Topically

Proverbs of Solomon and Sayings, 614

of the Wise 619

Sayings of Agur 657

Sayings of King Lemuel 659

The Wife of Noble Character 660

(Complete topical contents in Appendix)

Songs of Solomon 661

The Song of Songs 662

Solomon's Glory Fades 672

Solomon's Reflections on Life 674

Ecclesiastes, Arranged Topically 675

The Search for Meaning 675

Importance of Finding Meaning         676

Meaninglessness of Human Pursuits    678

Value of Wisdom 684

Life's True Meaning 687

End of Solomon's Reign 689

 

 

The Divided Kingdom

(Ca. 930-725 B.C.)

Division Between Israel and Judah 690

Two Kingdoms in Contrast 698

Elijah the Prophet 704

Ahab and Jezebel 709

Elisha the Prophet 720

Miracles and Massacres 724

Obadiah's Prophecy Against Edom 727

The Era of Joash in Judah 738

The Prophecy of Joel 741

Era of Jeroboam II in Israel 752 The Preaching of Jonah Against

Nineveh 755

The Prophecies of Hosea 758

The Prophecies of Amos 776

Era of Uzziah and Jotham in Judah 790

The Prophecies of Isaiah 791

Isaiah's Mission Told in Vision 802

The Prophecies of Micah 803

Early Beginnings of Captivity 813

War Between Syria, Israel, and Judah 814

Isaiah Prophesies About a Savior 815

Isaiah Prophesies Against Nations 825

More of Isaiah's Prophecies Against

Nations 834

The Reforms of Hezekiah 839

Isaiah Tells of "Last Days" 844

Isaiah Warns Against Relapse 850

The Fall of Israel 859

 

 

Judah After Israel's Fall

(Ca. 725-585 B.C.)

Isaiah Warns About Egypt and

Ethiopia 863

Last Years of Hezekiah's Reign 870

Spiritual Decline Under Manasseh 877 Isaiah's Prophecies About Restoration

and the Messiah 878

Spiritual Renewal Under Manasseh 928

Nahum's Prophecy Against Nineveh 929

From Manasseh to Josiah 934 Zephaniah Prophesies About the Day

of the Lord 935

Josiah's Reforms 941

Jeremiah the Weeping Prophet 941

Jeremiah Rebukes an Unfaithful Nation 943

Effect of Jeremiah's Preaching 983

Assyria Falls and Babylonia Emerges 987

Jeremiah Faces Charges 989

Jeremiah's Judgment Against Egypt 991

Habakkuk's Questioning Prophecy 994

First Deportation from Judah 999

Jeremiah Tells Length of Captivity 1000

Jehoiakim Burns Jeremiah's Scroll 1003

Daniel the Faithful Captive 1006

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream 1007

Jehoiakim's Last Years 1010

The Great Deportation 1018

Reign of Zedekiah 1019

Jeremiah's Prophecies Under Zedekiah 1020

Ezekiel, Prophet in Exile 1038

Ezekiel's Denunciations of Judah 1045

Siege of Jerusalem 1070

Siege Announced to Ezekiel 1070

Jeremiah's Prophecies During Siege 1072 Jeremiah Sees Spiritual Restoration

Under Messiah 1082

Ezekiel's Prophecies During Siege 1085

Jeremiah Escapes Death 1097

Fall of Jerusalem 1100

Gedaliah and Jeremiah 1102

Jeremiah's Lamentations 1103

A Remnant Flees to Egypt 1115

 

 

The Exiled Nation

(Ca. 585-535 B.C.)

Ezekiel's Restoration Prophecies 1121

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 1134

Ezekiel's Great Temple Vision 1136

End of Ezekiel's Ministry 1150 Nebuchadnezzar's Temporary Insanity 1151

End of Jeremiah's Ministry 1154

Job and the Problem of Suffering 1155

 

Psalms of a People in Exile                    1209

 

Prophecies of Malachi                            1286

 

Daniel's Apocalyptic Visions                  1221

 

Ezra and the Second Return                   1290

 

The Writing on the Wall                         1225

 

Problem of Intermarriage                       1293

 

The Seventy "Sevens"                            1227

 

Nehemiah Rebuilds the Wall                  1297

 

Daniel in the Lion's Den                        1230

 

Redistribution of Population                  1304

 

Period of Restoration

(Ca. 535-425 B.C.)

 

Law and Covenant                                 1309

 

 

Nehemiah's Religious Reforms              1315

 

First Return to Jerusalem                       1233

 

Dedication of the Wall                            1317

 

Daniel's Last Vision                               1238

 

Official Records of Israel                        1318

 

Opposition to Temple's Construction     1243

 

Historical Interlude

(Ca. 425-5 B.C.)

 

Preaching of Haggai and Zechariah       1247

 

 

Zechariah's Visions                              1250

 

 

 

The Meaning of Restoration                  1255

 

End of Old Testament Record                1337

 

Completion of the Temple                      1257

 

Writings of the Apocrypha                     1339

 

Psalms of a Nation Restored                  1258

 

Influences on a Dispersed People          1343

 

Zechariah's Futuristic Prophecies          1269

 

Hellenism and the Jews                         1345

 

Esther and the Feast of Purim                1276

 

Judaism Under Roman Rule                  1346

 

new testament contents

 

Jesus the Christ

(Ca. 5 B.C.-A.D.30)

 

The Triumphant Entry — Sunday            1440

 

 

Final Week— Monday                            1442

 

The Coming of the Messiah                   1349 The Gospel Accounts                           1350 Introductions by the Gospel Writers       1351 The Genealogies of Jesus                        1353 The Births of Jesus and John

 

Final Week — Tuesday Morning              1443 Discourse on Future Events                   1449 Final Week-Tuesday Afternoon              1453 Final Week— Wednesday                       1454 The Upper Room                                   1457

 

the Baptist                                         1355

 

Final Discourse                                      1462

 

Visit of the Magi and Flight into Egypt                                                 1361

 

Betrayal and Arrest                                1465 Trial before Sanhedrin                            1467

 

From Infancy to Manhood                     1362 The Ministry of John the Baptist            1364 Jesus Faces Temptations                         1366 Jesus' Early Work in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee                                        1367

 

Trial before Pilot                                    1470 The Crucifixion of Jesus                         1473 The Burial of Jesus                                 1476 Jesus' Resurrection and Appearances     1477 Final Instructions and Ascension           1482

 

Beginning of the Great Galilean

 

Conclusion to the Gospel Accounts        1484

 

Ministry                                             1373

 

Christ's Church and the Apostles

(Ca. A.D. 30-100)

 

The Rise of Opposition                          1376

 

 

The Sermon on the Mount                     1381

 

Acts of the Apostles                             1485

 

The Ministry Continues                         1386

 

Power of the Holy Spirit                        1485

 

Teaching Through Parables                    1394

 

Growth of the Early Church                   1488

 

Performing Miracles                              1397

 

Martyrdom of Stephen                           1493

 

Sending Out Apostles                            1400

 

Persecution and Preaching                     1496

 

Miracles and Multitudes                        1403

 

Conversion of Saul                                 1499

 

Extensive Tour Throughout Galilee        1408

 

First Gentile Converts                            1500

 

Preparation of Apostles for the End       1410

 

Persecution by Herod Agrippa I             1505

 

In Jerusalem for Feast of Tabernacles     1415

 

First Missionary Journey                        1506

 

Ministry from Galilee to Judea               1422

 

The Jerusalem Conference                      1510

 

In Jerusalem for Feast of Dedication       1426

 

Letter to the Galatians                            1513

 

The Perean Ministry                               1427

 

Second Missionary Journey                    1519

 

Return to Judea to Raise Lazarus           1433

 

First Letter to the Thessalonians             1524

 

The Final Journey                                   1435

 

Second Letter to the Thessalonians        1527

 

Third Missionary Journey

 

1530

 

First Letter to Timothy

 

1613

 

 

First Letter to the Corinthians

 

1531

 

Letter to Titus

 

1618

 

 

Second Letter to the Corinthians

 

1550

 

Second Letter to Timothy

 

1620

 

 

Letter to the Romans

 

1561

 

Letter by James

 

1624

 

 

Paul's Arrest and Trial

 

1583

 

Letter by Jude

 

1629

 

 

Paul Before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa

 

1587

 

First Letter by Peter

 

1631

 

 

Voyage to Rome

 

1592

 

Second Letter by Peter

 

1636

 

 

House Arrest in Rome

 

1595

 

Letter to the Hebrews

 

1640

 

 

Letter to the Colossians

 

1596

 

First Letter by John

 

1656

 

 

Letter to Philemon

 

1600

 

Second Letter by John

 

1661

 

 

Letter to the Ephesians

 

1601

 

Third Letter by John

 

1662

 

 

Letter to the Philippians

 

1608

 

The Revelation to John

 

1663