Reading Plan

A Self-guided Reading Plan for “Jesus, the Full Story”

Original edition

Here is a (now revised below) unadorned list of NT documents (‘books’) in a reading order I think will give you a fairly useful portrayal of Jesus. My proposed sequence is intended to make NT connections and developments more obvious to you, the reader.
(I have seen an estimated total reading time for the NT of about 19 hours.)


Improved list

• Luke - Gospel of
• Acts of (the) Apostles
• Thessalonians I & II
• Corinthians I & II
• Galatians
• Romans
• Colossians
• Ephesians
• Philemon
• Philippians
• Timothy I
• Titus
• Timothy II
• Matthew - Gospel of
• Hebrews
• James
• Mark
• Peter I & II
• James
• John - Gospel of
• John I, II, & III
• Revelation

My original suggestion went as follows
   
Luke - Gospel of
Acts of the Apostles
Mark – Gospel of
John - Gospel of
Romans
Matthew – Gospel of
Galatians
Hebrews
Letters of John
Ephesians
Thessalonians, 1st and 2nd
   
The remaining 13 books all add to the picture you gain. (The final writing in the NT collection, Revelation, is unlike the others. I suggest it be read fairly quickly without dwelling on details, to get an overview of its message.)


The one way to gain the full story is to read the NT. Of course there is nothing to prevent anyone simply opening the NT and reading it from page 1. That may not be the most satisfactory approach to anyone inexperienced in the topic.

Finding it a challenge? Just ask God.

ADDED NOTE June 2018
The modified list above replicates one from a program "Community Bible Experience" published by Biblica Europe in 2011 (see the website). The publication I have now noticed is called "The Books of the Bible: New Testament" (see picture). The version is NIV. The ISBN of the specific edition is 9781563207310; however that print appears now to be available second hand only.
The approach in the program is to read the entire NT, as in a 'book club" (community), without the usual text numberings and in single column format.  (This might more or less be accomplished by using Biblegateway.com and adjusting the settings.)
The reason for the unconventional order followed is explained in the book - essentially the crtieria is related content rather than length or tradition.



Current edition (EAN 9781444795042) - is cheaper!

Reference:
https://www.biblicaeurope.com/our-work/community-bible-experience/introduction