Men of faith and the number of times they have read the Bible

Does anyone know the Christian men of history (such as Charles Spurgeon, Oswald Chambers, George Mueller, etc) and the number of times they have read the bible?\t

Can you also let us know from where you got the information.

Thanks

You want to know how many times Chritian men of history have read the Bible?

Can I say this? I don't even know how many times I have read the Bible, let alone others.

Still, it would be intresting to know, and it could be encouraging and helpful for all.

All the best in your endeavours.

God bless.

Or does anyone know any website or other sources where I can find this information other than reading their biography.
Thanks

I was just listening to a tape on this topic this morning. George Muller read through the Bible at least 100 times before he died and he said that the only thing he would do over in his life is read through it more.

I think it was J. Goforth who read through the whole NT once a month. He read just ten chapters a day.

Jordan

gtenigma wrote:
Or does anyone know any website or other sources where I can find this information other than reading their biography.
Thanks

Here's a sermon to listen to that has something to do with this topic. I haven't listened to all of it, but what I've listened to has been great.

http://www.charityministries.org/tapeministry/audio/771.mp3

Jordan

Keith Daniel said his daddy read the Bible front-to-back 69 times in 7 years. He said that Africa still hasn't recovered from the staggering effects of his dad's ministry. Men would fall to their knees in his presence, overcome by the awesome majesty of God. Keith Daniel himself has probably read through the Bible no less than 400 times, and has entire books committed to memory. John Sung, while he was institutionalized, read through the Bible about 40 times I believe (and I think he was there for less than a year).

But, as they would all would tell you, it's not about how many times you've been through the Book, but how many times the Book has been through you.

Have no idea but I don't see the practicality in knowing the number of times men of faith have read the Bible. Surely they have read it many times most of them, but what does it matter to know the exact number? Most people don't keep track, I don't.

For instance, how many times have I read through that precious book of Acts? I have no idea! I have no idea as to why I would keep track.

The Bible is a massive library though, few people read it back to front more than a couple times at least... it's not really meant for that type of reading, though that can be done.

So people that read it back to front over and over are missing the whole "deal" in my view. You're really not supposed to do that, you're supposed to "meditate on Thy Word"... not reading through it as if it was a single book. If you want to do it though, that's fine, but I don't recommend it at all as a rule of thumb.

Jordan

So people that read it back to front over and over are missing the whole "deal" in my view.

But whether you read your Bible right through or not, i'd just like to encourage everyone, soak yourselves in the Bible, and never neglect it, it's your source of survival in this life. Esteem it more than your necessary food, and like Jorden said, meditate on it.

But i also don't know how or why people keep track of how many times they've read through their Bible. As for myself, i have no idea how many times i've read through the Bible. i'm always reading in the Old and the New testament at the same time, so i usually read through the New about four times for every one through Old, so i'm not sure how you'd count that.

But anyways... for those of you who do count, count away. and for you who read here and there, keep reading, but read it all.

Grace and Peace to all who love our God in sincerity of heart.

least of all,
~vico

Vico,

I'm not saying you shouldn't read the Bible all the way through. If I came across as saying that I apologize. What I was trying to say was that reading through The Bible "over and over" as if it was ONE book (when it is many books) is not really good to do. I said/inferred reading it through it back to front a couple of times was OK of course (go for it), but doing more than that (i.e., doing that as a rule of thumb) was somewhat dangerous (in certain respects)... as you're not really allowing yourself the time to soak it up, as it should be, and as you said so. It's not a large novel, so to say. It's a library. Treat it as such. Open up to Thessalonians and let God speak to you, then go to the Psalms, etc., but reading from it back to front, again, as if it was some sort of large book like any other book, is not good to do, again, as a rule of thumb.

The Bible is meant to be read slowly. You can read it fast for a comprehensive understanding, but ultimately, the majority of your time spent in the Word should be as it were a conversation between you and God, and God speaks softly, slowly, and you must have ears to listen. If you want it fast, you will not hear anything from God. It takes waiting, which is suffering, which ultimately is death, to go through God's Word. (I'm not speaking as one elderly in the Faith that I have done this, just speaking as matter-of-factly, so-to-say.)

Jordan

What I was trying to say was that reading through The Bible "over and over" as if it was ONE book (when it is many books) is not really good to do....It's a library. Treat it as such.

i see what you're saying, but... hmmmm.

Anyway, i won't get into anything here. As long as you're reading it :-D theres plenty of people who don't even do that!

God bless ya man!

least of all,
~vico

This thread was suppose to be just informative about the number of times Christian men have read the Bible but people always wants to give there opinion which most of the time ends up in arguments..

Lord Jesus, show us how we can glorify you in all that we do.

sorry brother, i really didn't mean it to be that way.

I'll look up some numbers and post 'em on here.

//Edit//

George Muller: nearly 200 times, 100 of those times on his knees.

Will McFarland (according to Keith Daniel, the holiest man that ever lived): over 400 times.

Martin Luther would read through the Bible twice a year.

Hudson Taylor: 40 times in 40 years

William Carey would start each morning reading one chapter of the Bible in 6 languages. Not sure how much he read during the rest of the day, or how many times he read it through in his life.

Cathrine Booth read through the Bible 8 times by the time she was 12.

Thats all i can find for now, i'll see if i can find some more later.

God bless you brother.

Here's an interesting quote from [i]George Muller of Bristol[/i] by Arthur Pierson. This was said in an address to young believers by Mr. Mueller when he was 71 years old. He lived another 22 years, who knows how many more times he read through the Bible in that time?
Now in brotherly love and affection I would give a few hints to my younger fellow-believers as to the way in which to keep up spiritual enjoyment. It is absolutely needful in order that happiness in the Lord may continue, that the Scriptures be regularly read. These are God's appointed means for the nourishment of the inner man. . . .Consider it, and ponder over it. . . . Especially we should read regularly through the Scriptures, consecutively, and not pick out here and there a chapter. If we do, we remain spiritual dwarfs. I tell you so affectionately. For the first four years after my conversion I made no progress, because I neglected the Bible. But when I regularly read on through the whole with reference to my own heart and soul, I directly made progress. Then my peace and joy continued more and more. Now I have been doing this for 47 years. I have read through the whole Bible about 100 times and I always find it fresh when I begin again. Thus my peace and joy have increased more and more.

In Christ,

Ron

On a personal note, I would find it hard to keep track how many times I've read through the Bible. I think Martyn Lloyd-Jones said that a full-time minister should make sure he reads through the Scriptures at least once or twice a year, not counting individual book studies. I personally try to do such myself (and I'm not in a "full-time" ministry).

I think it is good to do this, as your mind can get a little foggy sometimes. In fact, just this past week I was teaching a Bible study, and spoke off-cuff most the night. And boy, did it show it one time! At one point I referred to how Elijah was riding his donkey through a narrow walk way, and how the angel of the Lord appeared to the donkey, and the donkey rebuked Elijah! Talk about the Proverbial "egg on your face!" And here I was sitting there with my Bible college's Alumni t-shirt on!!!

So, it is a good try and refresh the memory by reading through the Scriptures at least once a year. But if you are going to do such only once a year, it should only be due to the fact you are doing individual book studies pretty heavily too. I remember one instructor at Bible college talking to me about how he decided one month to read nothing else in his Bible save the gospel of Mark!

That might be a little extreme. However, I think it is a good idea from time to time to take a single book in the Bible, and read it through several times back to back. I've personally done such with several shorter books, and have been greatly blessed by doing such. Such is especially helpful when reading Paul's letters, as they tend to be highly structured and have a flow of argument that you'll probably never notice reading simply a chapter or two here and there.

gtenigma: This thread was suppose to be just informative about the number of times Christian men have read the Bible but people always wants to give there opinion which most of the time ends up in arguments..

Lord Jesus, show us how we can glorify you in all that we do.

In the larger perspective, how can the Church operate if people are limited to not giving out opinions (grounded in the Word!) if they might be deemed "potentially" argumentative? Think about it. We must leave open room to discuss what is on our hearts together in mutual respect for one another.

I have seen much more argumentative and vile conversation elsewhere than was contained in this thread.

Jordan

Thank you very much for all the information you provided.
I am doing a study on this subject and this is a good start for me.

Thanks again.

Some encouraging posts. I have read through the Bible about twice, not including other studies, and random reading. This time through I am reading each book twice back to back (Genesis, Genesis, Exodus, Exodus, etc). I have sometimes just read a chapter about 10 times in a row. It seems to bring out phrases and the overall spirit of the passage that you don't pick up with a one-timer.

I woke up at around 4:00 am Friday morning, and just started reading from the middle of Daniel. Tremendous. I don't think there is a wrong way to study to show ourselves approved, as long as we are studying to show ourselves approved unto God.

I don't fault anyone for reading any certain way, as long as you do read all of the Bible at some point.

The ultimate of all is memorization. I want to memorize the Psalms before I die. I think it was Spurgeon that said ministers used to be expected to do this. I have a long way to go, since I only know about 3 of them. The true treasure of memorization is applying a seemingly distant verse and having in come alive.

"Your enemies roar in the midst of your congregations, they set up their ensigns for signs."

...wow, 100 times on his knees. No wonder he prayed an orphanage into existance.