Reading a short book of the Bible in full: James, Ruth, Philippians...
We know verses, chapters, stories. But how many have read a whole book of the Bible, in one go, the way you read a letter? A short book takes twenty to forty minutes to read: well within your reach. This monthly quest invites you to do it.
What it looks like in your day
Choose a short book, find a quiet moment, and read it from beginning to end. Here are a few suggestions, with approximate time and style:
- James (5 chapters, 20 minutes): a very practical letter, which speaks of patience, words, faith that acts.
- Ruth (4 chapters, 15 minutes): a moving story about faithfulness, family and God's providence.
- Philippians (4 chapters, 15 minutes): a letter of joy, written from a prison.
- 1 John (5 chapters, 20 minutes): on love, light and the assurance of salvation.
- Jonah (4 chapters, 10 minutes): a small, astonishing story about God's compassion.
- Colossians (4 chapters, 15 minutes): on the greatness of Christ and the new life.
To make this reading bear fruit:
- Read in one go, without interruption, the way you read a letter or a tale.
- Take a few notes: the recurring themes, the important words, what strikes you.
- Read the book a second time within the month if possible: the second reading reveals what the first missed.
- End with one sentence: "This book taught me that..."
If you are in a hurry, spread the reading over three days. If you are a beginner, start with Philippians or Ruth. If you are shy about a whole book, remember that it is short.
What the Bible says
Reading a whole book means reading the way the author wrote: with a purpose. John says it clearly in his first letter:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
"These things have I written unto you...": the authors of the Bible have a message to convey, and you grasp it better by reading the whole. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, declares his confidence:
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
This confidence runs through the whole letter, and you feel it by reading in one go. And in the book of Ruth, one sentence sums up the faithfulness that reigns there (Ruth 1:16): "whither thou goest, I will go."
James, for his part, urges us to put the word into practice (James 1:22). Reading his letter in full shows you how concrete that demand is.
Pitfalls to avoid
Wanting to understand everything. On the first reading, some gray areas will remain. That's fine: an overall reading serves to grasp the shape, not to resolve every difficulty.
Choosing a book that is too long or too difficult. Avoid Leviticus or Ezekiel to begin. Start with accessible books.
Reading in dribs and drabs. If you read a chapter a day, that is good, but the thread gets lost. For short books, reading in one go is a real plus.
Neglecting the context. Who is writing? To whom? In what situation? A few lines of introduction in your Bible can change your reading.
Stopping at the reading. After reading, leave a space for reflection. What did God tell you through this book?
This month, choose a book: James, Ruth or Philippians. Set aside a moment and read it in one go.