The New Testament has 260 chapters. At 7 chapters a day you're done in 40 days. That's less time than most people spend on a single Netflix series.
The challenge isn't the length. It's building the daily habit before life interrupts it.
This plan is designed so that interruptions don't derail you. Each day has a clear assignment. The structure is flexible enough to absorb missed days without forcing you to restart.
Why 40 Days
Forty days has biblical weight: Moses on the mountain, the wilderness wandering, Jesus' temptation in the desert. But practically, it's also the minimum time research suggests for a habit to take root.
Forty days is short enough to feel achievable. Long enough to transform how you read Scripture.
The 40-Day New Testament Reading Schedule
Week 1: The Gospels Begin (Days 1 to 7)
| Day | Reading | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 1 to 7 | 7 |
| 2 | Matthew 8 to 14 | 7 |
| 3 | Matthew 15 to 21 | 7 |
| 4 | Matthew 22 to 28 | 7 |
| 5 | Mark 1 to 8 | 8 |
| 6 | Mark 9 to 16 | 8 |
| 7 | Luke 1 to 6 | 6 (lighter day) |
Focus: Jesus' life, teachings, and miracles. Notice how Matthew and Mark cover the same events with different emphases.
Week 2: Luke, John & Acts (Days 8 to 14)
| Day | Reading | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Luke 7 to 13 | 7 |
| 9 | Luke 14 to 24 | 11 (longer day, or split across two) |
| 10 | John 1 to 7 | 7 |
| 11 | John 8 to 14 | 7 |
| 12 | John 15 to 21 | 7 |
| 13 | Acts 1 to 8 | 8 |
| 14 | Acts 9 to 15 | 7 |
Focus: John's unique perspective on Jesus' identity. Acts as the bridge between the Gospels and the letters.
Week 3: Acts Completes, Paul Begins (Days 15 to 21)
| Day | Reading | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Acts 16 to 21 | 6 |
| 16 | Acts 22 to 28 | 7 |
| 17 | Romans 1 to 8 | 8 |
| 18 | Romans 9 to 16 | 8 |
| 19 | 1 Corinthians 1 to 9 | 9 |
| 20 | 1 Corinthians 10 to 16 | 7 |
| 21 | 2 Corinthians 1 to 13 | 13 (longer day, or split) |
Focus: The early church spreading across the Roman world. Paul's systematic theology in Romans.
Week 4: Paul's Letters (Days 22 to 28)
| Day | Reading | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Galatians 1 to 6, Ephesians 1 to 3 | 9 |
| 23 | Ephesians 4 to 6, Philippians 1 to 4 | 7 |
| 24 | Colossians 1 to 4, 1 Thessalonians 1 to 5 | 9 |
| 25 | 2 Thessalonians 1 to 3, 1 Timothy 1 to 6 | 9 |
| 26 | 2 Timothy 1 to 4, Titus 1 to 3, Philemon 1 | 8 |
| 27 | Hebrews 1 to 9 | 9 |
| 28 | Hebrews 10 to 13, James 1 to 5 | 9 |
Focus: Paul's practical guidance on church life, faith, and Christian conduct. Hebrews as the theological bridge to the Old Testament.
Week 5: General Epistles (Days 29 to 34)
| Day | Reading | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | 1 Peter 1 to 5, 2 Peter 1 to 3 | 8 |
| 30 | 1 John 1 to 5, 2 John 1, 3 John 1 | 7 |
| 31 | Jude 1, Revelation 1 to 5 | 6 (lighter day) |
| 32 | Revelation 6 to 12 | 7 |
| 33 | Revelation 13 to 19 | 7 |
| 34 | Revelation 20 to 22 | 3 (finish strong) |
Days 35 to 40: Use these six days as buffer days. Catch up on anything you missed, re-read sections that impacted you most, or journal what you learned.
How to Actually Complete the Plan
Audio for the hard days
Some chapters land hard: dense genealogies, long arguments, unfamiliar names. On those days, switch to audio. A good narrator carries you through passages that would stall a silent reader. BibleNow lets you listen to any chapter of the Bible, so on those days you can press play instead of pushing through on your own.
Attach it to an existing habit
The readers who finish 40-day plans don't find extra time. They replace something. Morning coffee becomes Bible time. The gym commute becomes Acts in your ears. The 10 minutes before you fall asleep becomes Revelation.
Pick one slot. Protect it for 40 days.
Don't chase comprehension on day one
You are not doing a study. You are doing a read. Let yourself encounter the full shape of the New Testament first. Deep questions will be there after day 40, and they'll make more sense once you've seen the whole canvas.
When questions come up, ask Lumi, the BibleNow companion that answers your questions about the Bible. Type your question and get an answer with verses without breaking the reading flow.
Mark chapters as you go
Progress visibility changes how a plan feels. When you can see that you're on day 22 of 40, the remaining distance shrinks. Tick off each day in the schedule above as you finish it, and keep that list where you'll see it.
What Happens After Day 40
The New Testament in 40 days gives you the full map. Now you can:
- Go deeper: Return to Romans, John, or Hebrews for a slow, study-focused re-read
- Continue to the Old Testament: The New Testament makes the best entry point; the Old Testament will make far more sense now
- Run the plan again in a different translation: Reading the same text in a second translation surfaces details you missed the first time
The goal of the 40 days isn't just completion. It's building the reading reflex that makes the next 40 days feel natural.
Start Today
Open BibleNow. Start Matthew 1. Read or listen to seven chapters.
Don't plan the tracker. Don't wait for a better week. The plan works in the background. Your job is to show up for day one.
Frequently asked questions
Can a beginner complete the New Testament in 40 days?
Yes. The 40-day plan averages 7 or 8 chapters per day, which is about 20 to 25 minutes of reading or 15 to 18 minutes of audio. BibleNow lets you listen to any chapter, so beginners can keep up during commutes or before bed without needing dedicated sitting time. That makes the pace sustainable even for those new to Scripture.
What is the reading order for a 40-day New Testament plan?
The plan follows the canonical order: Matthew through Revelation. This order works well for 40 days because it moves from the Gospels (foundational) to Acts (the early church) to the epistles (practical teaching) to Revelation. Each section builds on the one before it.
How many chapters per day is a 40-day New Testament plan?
The New Testament has 260 chapters. Over 40 days that's an average of 6.5 chapters per day. We round to 7 on most days, with a couple of lighter days built in for rest and catch-up. At an average reading pace, that's 20 to 25 minutes, or 15 minutes of audio.
What if I fall behind in my 40-day reading plan?
Don't restart. Pick up where you left off and adjust the remaining days. A 45-day or 50-day completion beats quitting at day 15. Tick off each day as you finish it, so you always know exactly where you are in the plan.
Live it in BibleNow
Listen to Bible stories with their painting, read Scripture on paper or at night, and ask Lumi anything.
