Biggest Bible Study Ever!

          I've decided to undertake an in-depth, verse by verse, study of all 73 books of the Bible (yes including Leviticus and Numbers).  This study is not intended to be one of those "finish-the-Bible-in-a-year" studies.  My intention is to go slow.  According to the plan I've created this intensive study will take approximately six years.  This is not for someone who wants an overview of scripture.  It is not for someone who simply wants to read the Bible.  It is for those who already regularly read the Bible and are interested in taking a different approach.  It is for those who want the entire Bible to permeate through their being.  The order of the study is not the canonical order of the books, nor the chronological order.  When a book or series of books appears outside of chronological or canonical order I will explain my reasoning for ordering them in this way.  The order of the books are not divinely inspired and this order of study makes the most sense to me. 

          The purpose of this study is not simply intellectual satisfaction.  The Bible is not merely another piece of literature and I will not approach it as such.  There are 4 primary assumptions that I make regarding this study:

1.  Sacred Scripture is revelation of the Divine God.  All philosophical arguments for a personal God are moot unless that personal God reveals itself to creation.  I believe that an all-powerful-personal God by definition must engage in self revelation with its personal creation.  If not, then it follows that either God is not all-powerful or is not personal or is neither and thus all Christian theology diminishes to deism.  I believe that the Bible is this revelation and by undertaking this study it will solidify this believe beyond any reasonable doubt.
2.  Attention will be given to the unity of Scripture.  It may have over 40 human authors contributing in their own times and cultures, but it was ultimately one author who "consigned to writing whatever he wanted written, and no more" (CCC106) so I will make special effort to be attentive to the "unity of the whole Scripture" (CCC 112).
   
   
3. The study will take place within the living Tradition of the Church.  I am not the sole authority on the interpretation of scripture, but rather it is the Holy Spirit who interprets the Scriptures.  Through baptism and my personal relationship with Christ I know the Spirit dwells within me, but the Spirit cannot contradict the Spirit.  The fullness of truth in the Spirit dwells in the Church, after all she is "the pillar and foundation of truth" (1 Tim 3:15). As such I will pay special attention to what the early church fathers believed about the Scriptures.
4. The faith of the Church came before the Bible.  It is simple historicity that the Bible developed out from a community of believers. Since this is the case special attention will be given to what that community believed reading it within the context of the entire deposit of faith.  After all since the Bible was written in the context of the deposit of faith it would be irresponsible to attempt to interpret it against that faith.

           The study will have two equally important components, both necessary if we want to experience the full meaning behind God's word.  I will look at both the literary sense and the spiritual sense. 

          By literary sense I mean utilizing the tools given to us in the historical critical method of study.  This aims at understanding who was writing, the historical context of the author, the audience, the purpose, and the form of their writing to ascertain what the original author intended their readers to understand about the revelation given to them. 

          By spiritual sense I mean that Scripture is alive!  It transcends all of time and space to speaks to us today.  I will draw out from the scriptures the typological, allegorical, moral, and anagogical (viewing the realities in terms of their eternal significance) senses. 

          All great things come through great cost.  It is my prayer that by undertaking this massive task and allowing others to participate through the wonders of the internet that we can encounter Jesus, the Word made Flesh, and come to love him more and desire to live as his missionary disciples. 

"Lord, inspire me to read your Scriptures and to meditate upon them day and night. I beg you to give me real understanding of what I need, that I in turn may put its precepts into practice. Yet, I know that understanding and good intentions are worthless, unless rooted in your graceful love. So I ask that the words of Scripture may also be not just signs on a page, but channels of grace into my heart. Amen."

-Origin, 184-253 AD

The Study Outline

	Old Testament
Genesis
Week 1	Preamble. The Creation of the World (1:1–2:3)
Week 2	The Creation of the Man and the Woman, Their Offspring, and the Spread of Civilization (2:4–4:26)
Week 3	The Pre-flood Generations (5:1–6:8)
Week 4	The Flood and the Renewed Blessing (6:9–9:29)
Week 5	The Populating of the World and the Prideful City (10:1–11:9)
Week 6	The Genealogy from Shem to Terah (11:10–26)
Week 7	The Story of Abraham and Sarah (11:27–25:18)
Week 8	The Story of Isaac and Jacob (25:19–36:43)
Week 9	The Story of Joseph (37:1–50:26)
Exodus
Week 10	Introduction: The Oppression of the Israelites in Egypt (1:1–2:22)
Week 11	The Call and Commission of Moses (2:23–7:7)
Week 12	The Contest with Pharaoh (7:8–13:16)
Week 13	The Deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh and Victory at the Sea (13:17–15:21)
Week 14	The Journey in the Wilderness to Sinai (15:22–18:27)
Week 15	Covenant and Legislation at Mount Sinai (19:1–31:18)
Week 16	Israel’s Apostasy and God’s Renewal of the Covenant (32:1–34:35)
Week 17	The Building of the Tabernacle and the Descent of God’s Glory upon It (35:1–40:38)
Leviticus
Week 18	Instructions for the Israelites (1:1–5:26)
Week 19	Instructions for the Priests (6:1–7:38)
Week 20	Ceremony of Ordination (8:1–10:20)
Week 21	Laws Regarding Ritual Purity (11:1–16:34)
Week 22	Holiness Laws (17:1–26:46)
Week 23	Redemption of Offerings (27:1–34)
Numbers
Week 24	Census and Preparation for the Departure from Sinai (1:1–10:10)
Week 25	Departure, Rebellion, and Wandering in the Wilderness for Forty Years (10:11–25:18)
Week 26	Second Census of a New Generation and Preparation to Enter the Promised Land (25:19–36:13)
Deuteronomy
Week 27	First Address (1:1–4:43)
Week 28	Second Address pt 1: The Lord’s Covenant with Israel (4:44–11:32)
Week 29	Second Address pt 2:The Deuteronomic Code (12:1–28:69)
Week 30	Third Address (29:1–33:29)
Week 31	The Death of Moses (34:1–12)
Joshua
Week 32	Conquest of Canaan (1:1–12:24)
Week 33	Division of the Land (13:1–21:45)
Week 34	Return of the Transjordan Tribes and Joshua’s Farewell (22:1–24:33)
Judges
Week 35	The Situation in Canaan Following the Israelite Conquest (1:1–3:6)
Week 36	Stories of the Judges (3:7–16:31)
Week 37	Further Stories of the Tribes of Dan and Benjamin (17:1–21:25)
Ruth
Week 38	Ruth (1:1-4:22)
1-2 Samuel
Week 39	The Last Judges, Eli and Samuel (1 Sm 1:1–7:17)
Week 40	Establishment of the Monarchy (1 Sm 8:1–12:25)
Week 41	Saul and David (1 Sm 13:1–2 Sm 2:7)
Week 42	The Reign of David (2 Sm 2:8–20:26)
Week 43	Appendixes (2 Sm 21:1–24:25)
1-2 Kings
Week 44	The Reign of Solomon (1 Kgs 1:1–11:43)
Week 45	The Reign of Jeroboam (1 Kgs 12:1–14:20)
Week 46	Kings of Judah and Israel (1 Kgs 14:21–16:34)
Week 47	The Story of Elijah (1 Kgs 17:1–19:21)
Week 48	The Story of Ahab (1 Kgs 20:1–2 Kgs 1:18)
Week 49	Elisha Succeeds Elijah (2 Kgs 2:1–25)
Week 50	Stories of Elisha and Joram (2 Kgs 3:1–9:13)
Week 51	The End of the Omrid Dynasty (2 Kgs 9:14–11:20)
Week 52	Kings of Judah and Israel (2 Kgs 12:1–17:5)
Week 53	The End of Israel (2 Kgs 17:6–41)
Week 54	The End of Judah (2 Kgs 18:1–25:30)
1-2 Chronicles
Week 55	Genealogical Tables (1:1–9:34)
Week 56	The History of David (9:35–29:30)
Ezra
Week 57	The Return from Exile (1:1–6:22)
Week 58	The Work of Ezra (7:1–10:44)
Nehemiah
Week 59	The Deeds of Nehemiah (1:1–7:72)
Week 60	Promulgation of the Law (8:1–10:40)
Week 61	Dedication of the Wall; Other Reforms (11:1–13:31)
Tobit
Week 62	Tobit’s Ordeals (1:3–3:6)
Week 63	Sarah’s Plight (3:7–17)
Week 64	Preparation for the Journey (4:1–6:1)
Week 65	Tobiah’s Journey to Media (6:2–18)
Week 66	Marriage and Healing of Sarah (7:1–9:6)
Week 67	Tobiah’s Return Journey to Nineveh and the Healing of Tobit (10:1–11:18)
Week 68	Raphael Reveals His Identity (12:1–22)
Week 69	Tobit’s Song of Praise (13:1–18)
Week 70	Epilogue (14:1–15)
Judith
Week 71	Assyrian Threat (1:1–3:10)
Week 72	Siege of Bethulia (4:1–7:32)
Week 73	Judith, Instrument of the Lord (8:1–10:10)
Week 74	Judith Goes Out to War (10:11–13:20)
Week 75	Victory and Thanksgiving (14:1–16:25)
Esther
Week 76	Prologue (A:1–17)
Week 77	Esther Becomes Queen (1:1–2:23)
Week 78	Haman’s Plot against the Jews (3:1–13; B:1–7; 3:14–15)
Week 79	Esther and Mordecai Plead for Help (4:1–16; C:1–D:16; 5:1–5)
Week 80	Haman’s Downfall (5:6–8:2)
Week 81	The Jewish Victory and the Feast of Purim (8:3–12; E:1–24; 8:13–9:23)
Week 82	Epilogue: The Rise of Mordecai (9:24–10:3; F:1–11)
1-2 Maccabees
Week 83	Crisis and Response (1:1–2:70)
Week 84	Leadership of Judas Maccabeus (3:1–9:22)
Week 85	Leadership of Jonathan (9:23–12:53)
Week 86	Leadership of Simon (13:1–16:24)
Isaiah
Week 87	Indictment of Israel and Judah (1:1–5:30)
Week 88	The Book of Emmanuel (6:1–12:6)
Week 89	Oracles against the Foreign Nations (13:1–23:18)
Week 90	Apocalypse of Isaiah (24:1–27:13)
Week 91	The Lord Alone, Israel’s and Judah’s Salvation (28:1–33:24)
Week 92	The Lord, Zion’s Avenger (34:1–35:10)
Week 93	Historical Appendix (36:1–39:8)
Week 94	The Lord’s Glory in Israel’s Liberation (40:1–48:22)
Week 95	Expiation of Sin, Spiritual Liberation of Israel (49:1–55:13)
Jeremiah
Week 96	Oracles in the Days of Josiah (1:1–6:30)
Week 97	Oracles Primarily from the Days of Jehoiakim (7:1–20:18)
Week 98	Oracles in the Last Years of Jerusalem (21:1–25:38)
Week 99	The Temple Sermon (26:1–24; cf. 7:1–15)
Week 100	Controversies with the False Prophets (27:1–29:32)
Week 101	Oracles of the Restoration of Israel and Judah (30:1–35:19)
Week 102	Jeremiah and the Fall of Jerusalem (36:1–45:5)
Week 103	Oracles Against the Nations (46:1–51:64)
Week 104	Historical Appendix (52:1–34)
Lamentations
Week 105	The Desolation of Jerusalem (1:1–22).
Week 106	The Lord’s Wrath and Zion’s Ruin (2:1–22).
Week 107	The Voice of a Suffering Individual (3:1–66).
Week 108	Miseries of the Besieged City (4:1–22).
Week 109	The Community’s Lament to the Lord (5:1–22).
Baruch
Week 110	Historical Setting (1:1–9)
Week 111	Confession of Guilt (1:10–2:10)
Week 112	Prayer for Deliverance (2:11–3:8)
Week 113	Importance of Wisdom (3:9–23)
Week 114	Inaccessibility of Wisdom (3:24–36)
Week 115	Wisdom Contained in the Law (3:37–4:4)
Week 116	Baruch Addresses Diaspora (4:5–9a)
Week 117	Jerusalem Addresses Neighbors (4:9b–16)
Week 118	Jerusalem Addresses Diaspora (4:17–29)
Week 119	Baruch Addresses Jerusalem (4:30–5:9)
Week 120	Letter of Jeremiah (6:1–72)
Ezekiel
Week 121	Call of the Prophet (1:1–3:27)
Week 122	Before the Siege of Jerusalem (4:1–24:27)
Week 123	Prophecies Against Foreign Nations (25:1–32:32)
Week 124	Hope for the Future (33:1–39:29)
Week 125	The New Israel (40:1–48:35)
Daniel
Week 126	Daniel and the Kings of Babylon (1:1–6:29)
Week 127	Daniel’s Visions (7:1–12:13)
Week 128	Appendix: Susanna, Bel, and the Dragon (13:1–14:42)
Hosea
Week 129	The Prophet’s Marriage and Its Symbolism (1:2–3:5)
Week 130	Israel’s Guilt, Punishment, and Restoration (4:1–14:9)
Joel
Week 131	Announcement of Unprecedented Disaster (1:2–20)
Week 132	The Day of the Lord (2:1–27)
Week 133	The Lord’s Final Judgment (3:1–4:21)
Amos
Week 134	Editorial Introduction (1:1–2) Oracles against the Nations (1:3–2:16)
Week 135	Threefold Summons to Hear the Word of the Lord (3:1–5:9)
Week 136	Three Woes (5:7–6:14)
Week 137	Symbolic Visions (7:1–9:10)
Week 138	Epilogue: Restoration Under a Davidic King (9:11–15)
Obadiah
Week 139	Obadiah (1:1-21)
Jonah
Week 140	Jonah’s Disobedience and Flight (1:1–16)
Week 141	Jonah’s Prayer (2:1–11)
Week 142	Jonah’s Obedience and the Ninevites’ Repentance (3:1–10)
Week 143	Jonah’s Anger and God’s Reproof (4:1–11)
Micah
Week 144	Oracles of Punishment (1:2–3:12)
Week 145	Oracles of Salvation (4:1–5:14)
Week 146	Announcement of Judgment (6:1–7:6)
Week 147	Confidence in God’s Future (7:7–20)
Nahum
Week 148	Nahum (1:1-3:19)
Habakkuk
Week 149	Habakkuk (1:1-3:19)
Zephaniah/Haggi
Week 150	The Day of the Lord: Judgment on Judah (1:2–2:3)
Week 151	Judgment on the Nations (2:4–15)
Week 152	Jerusalem Reproached (3:1–7)
Week 153	The Nations Punished and Jerusalem Restored (3:8–20)
Week 154	The Restoration of the Temple (1:1–15)
Week 155	Oracles of Encouragement (2:1–23)
Zechariah
Week 156	Introduction (1:1-6)
Week 157	The Visionary Unity (1:7-6:15)
Week 158	The Address to Bethel (7:1-14)
Week 159	The Seven Oracles (8:1-23)
Malachi
Week 160	Malachi (1:1-3:24)
Job
Week 161	Prologue (1:1–2:13)
Week 162	First Cycle of Speeches (3:1–14:22)
Week 163	Second Cycle of Speeches (15:1–21:34)
Week 164	Third Cycle of Speeches (22:1–27:21)
Week 165	The Poem on Wisdom (28:1–28)
Week 166	Job’s Final Summary of His Cause (29:1–31:37)
Week 167	Elihu’s Speeches (32:1–37:24)
Week 168	The Lord and Job Meet (38:1–42:6)
Week 169	Epilogue (42:7–17)
Psalms
Week 170	Psalm 1-41
Week 171	Psalm 42-72
Week 172	Psalm 73-89
Week 173	Psalm 90-106
Week 174	Psalm 107-150
Proverbs
Week 175	Title and Introduction (1:1–7)
Week 176	Instructions of Parents and of Woman Wisdom (1:8–9:18)
Week 177	First Solomonic Collection of Sayings (10:1–22:16)
Week 178	Sayings of the Wise (22:17–24:22)
Week 179	Further Sayings of the Wise (24:23–34)
Week 180	Second Solomonic Collection, Collected under King Hezekiah (25:1–29:27)
Week 181	Sayings of Agur and Others (30:1–33)
Week 182	Sayings of King Lemuel (31:1–9)
Week 183	Poem on the Woman of Worth (31:10–31)
Ecclesiastes
Week 184	Qoheleth’s Investigation of Life (1:12–6:9)
Week 185	No One Can Find Out the Best Way of Acting (6:10–8:17)
Week 186	No One Knows the Future (9:1–12:14)
Song of Songs
Week 187	Song of Songs (1:1-8:14)
Wisdom
Week 188	The Reward of Righteousness (1:1–6:21).
Week 189	Praise of Wisdom by Solomon (6:22–11:1).
Week 190	Special Providence of God During the Exodus (11:2–16; 12:23–27; 15:18–19:22) with digressions on God’s mercy (11:17–12:22) and on the folly and shame of idolatry (13:1–15:17).
Sirach
Week 191	The Wisdom of the Wise (1:1-23:27)
Week 192	The Meaning of Wisdom, its application, and a hymn on creation (24:1-43:33)
Week 193	The Praise of the Ancestors (44:1-50:24)
	New Testament
Mark
Week 194	The Preparation for the Public Ministry of Jesus (1:1–13)
Week 195	The Mystery of Jesus (1:14–8:26)
Week 196	The Mystery Begins to Be Revealed (8:27–9:32)
Week 197	The Full Revelation of the Mystery (9:33–16:8)
Week 198	The Longer Ending (16:9–20), The Shorter Ending, The Freer Logion (in the note on 16:9–20)
Matthew
Week 199	The Infancy Narrative (1:1–2:23)
Week 200	The Proclamation of the Kingdom (3:1–7:29)
Week 201	Ministry and Mission in Galilee (8:1–11:1)
Week 202	Opposition from Israel (11:2–13:53)
Week 203	Jesus, the Kingdom, and the Church (13:54–18:35)
Week 204	Ministry in Judea and Jerusalem (19:1–25:46)
Week 205	The Passion and Resurrection (26:1–28:20)
Luke
Week 206	The Prologue (1:1–4)
Week 207	The Infancy Narrative (1:5–2:52)
Week 208	The Preparation for the Public Ministry (3:1–4:13)
Week 209	The Ministry in Galilee (4:14–9:50)
Week 210	The Journey to Jerusalem: Luke’s Travel Narrative (9:51–19:27)
Week 211	The Teaching Ministry in Jerusalem (19:28–21:38)
Week 212	The Passion Narrative (22:1–23:56)
Week 213	The Resurrection Narrative (24:1–53)
Acts
Week 214	The Preparation for the Christian Mission (1:1–2:13)
Week 215	The Mission in Jerusalem (2:14–8:3)
Week 216	The Mission in Judea and Samaria (8:4–9:43)
Week 217	The Inauguration of the Gentile Mission (10:1–15:35)
Week 218	The Mission of Paul to the Ends of the Earth (15:36–28:31)
John
Week 219	The Prologue (1:1-18)
Week 220	The First Days of Jesus (1:19-51)
Week 221	From Cana to Cana (2:1—4:54)
Week 222	The Feasts of "the Jews" (5:1—10:42)
Week 223	Jesus turns toward "the hour" (11:1—12:50)
Week 224	The Last Discourse (13:1—17:26)
Week 225	The Passion (18:1—19:42)
Week 226	The Resurrection (20:1-29)
Week 227	The Conclusion (20:30-31)
Week 228	Epilogue: Further Resurrection Appearances (21:1-25)
1 John
Week 229	Prologue (1:1–4)
Week 230	God as Light (1:5–3:10)
Week 231	Love for One Another (3:11–5:12)
Week 232	Epilogue (5:13–21)
2-3 John
Week 233	2 John 1:1-3 John 1:15
1 Thessalonians
Week 234	Address (1:1–10)
Week 235	Previous Relations with the Thessalonians (2:1–3:13)
Week 236	Specific Exhortations (4:1–5:25)
Week 237	Final Greeting (5:26–28)
1-2 Corinthians
Week 238	Address (1:1–9)
Week 239	Disorders in the Corinthian Community (1:10–6:20)
Week 240	Answers to the Corinthians’ Questions (7:1–11:1)
Week 241	Problems in Liturgical Assemblies (11:2–14:40)
Week 242	The Resurrection (15:1–58)
Week 243	Conclusion (16:1–24)
Week 244	Greeting (1:1–11)
Week 245	Paul defends his actions and apostleship, affirming his affection for the Corinthians. (1:12 –7:16)
Week 246	Instructions for the collection for the poor in the Jerusalem church. (8:1–9:15)
Week 247	A polemic defense of his apostleship (10:1–13:10)
Week 248	Closing greetings (13:11–13)
Philippians
Week 249	Address (1:1–11)
Week 250	Progress of the Gospel (1:12–26)
Week 251	Instructions for the Community (1:27–2:18)
Week 252	Travel Plans of Paul and His Assistants (2:19–3:1)
Week 253	Polemic: Righteousness and the Goal in Christ (3:2–21)
Week 254	Instructions for the Community (4:1–9)
Week 255	Gratitude for the Philippians’ Generosity (4:10–20)
Week 256	Farewell (4:21–23)
Philemon
Week 257	Philemon (1:1-25)
Galatians
Week 258	Address (1:1–5)
Week 259	Loyalty to the Gospel (1:6–10)
Week 260	Paul’s Defense of His Gospel and His Authority (1:11–2:21)
Week 261	Faith and Liberty (3:1–4:31)
Week 262	Exhortation to Christian Living (5:1–6:10)
Week 263	Conclusion (6:11–18)
Romans
Week 264	Address (1:1–15)
Week 265	Humanity Lost without the Gospel (1:16–3:20)
Week 266	Justification through Faith in Christ (3:21–5:21)
Week 267	Justification and the Christian Life (6:1–8:39)
Week 268	Jews and Gentiles in God’s Plan (9:1–11:36)
Week 269	The Duties of Christians (12:1–15:13)
Week 270	Conclusion (15:14–16:27)
2 Thessalonians
Week 271	2 Thessalonians (1:1-3:18)
Colossians
Week 272	Address (1:1–14)
Week 273	The Preeminence of Christ (1:15–2:3)
Week 274	Warnings against False Teachers (2:4–23)
Week 275	The Ideal Christian Life in the World (3:1–4:6)
Week 276	Conclusion (4:7–18)
Ephesians
Week 277	Address (1:1–14)
Week 278	Unity of the Church in Christ (1:15–2:22)
Week 279	World Mission of the Church (3:1–4:24)
Week 280	Daily Conduct, an Expression of Unity (4:25–6:20)
Week 281	Conclusion (6:21–24).
1-2 Timothy
Week 282	Address  & Sound Teaching (1:1–20)
Week 283	Problems of Discipline (2:1–4:16)
Week 284	Duties toward Others (5:1–6:2a)
Week 285	False Teaching and True Wealth (6:2b–21)
Week 286	Greeting & Paul’s Challenge to Timothy (1:1—2:13)
Week 287	Instructions Regarding False Teachers (2:14—3:9)
Week 288	Following Paul’s Example (3:10—4:8)
Week 289	Paul’s Final Instructions for Timothy (4:9-22)
Titus
Week 290	Address & Pastoral Charge (1:1–16)
Week 291	Teaching the Christian Life (2:1–3:15)
Hebrews
Week 292	Introduction (1:1–4)
Week 293	The Son Higher than the Angels (1:5–2:18)
Week 294	Jesus, Faithful and Compassionate High Priest (3:1–5:10)
Week 295	Jesus’ Eternal Priesthood and Eternal Sacrifice (5:11–10:39)
Week 296	Examples, Discipline, Disobedience (11:1–12:29)
Week 297	Final Exhortation, Blessing, Greetings (13:1–25)
James
Week 298	Address & The Value of Trials and Temptation (1:1–18)
Week 299	Exhortations and Warnings (1:19–5:12)
Week 300	The Power of Prayer (5:13–20)
1-2 Peter
Week 301	Address & The Gift and Call of God in Baptism (1:1–2:10)
Week 302	The Christian in a Hostile World (2:11–4:11)
Week 303	Advice to the Persecuted & Conclusion (4:12–5:14)
Week 304	Salutation & The Certainty of the Believers’ Salvation (1:1-21)
Week 305	The Deception of the False Teachers’ Message & Conclusion (2:1–3:18)
Jude
Week 306	Jude (1:1-25)
Revelation
Week 307	Prologue (1:1–3)
Week 308	Letters to the Churches of Asia (1:4–3:22)
Week 309	God and the Lamb in Heaven (4:1–5:14)
Week 310	The Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Plagues, with Interludes (6:1–16:21)
Week 311	The Punishment of Babylon and the Destruction of Pagan Nations (17:1–20:15)
Week 312	The New Creation (21:1–22:5)
Week 313	Epilogue (22:6–21)

Do you accept this challenge?