Can a beginner complete the New Testament in 40 days?

Yes. The 40-day plan averages 7–8 chapters per day, which is about 20–25 minutes of reading or 15–18 minutes of audio. BibleNow's audio mode lets beginners listen during commutes or before bed without requiring dedicated sitting time — making 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 20–25 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. BibleNow tracks every chapter you've read, so you always know exactly where you are in the plan.

40-Day New Testament Reading Plan: Day by Day Guide

The New Testament has 260 chapters. At 7 chapters a day you're done in 40 days — 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 1–7)

Day	Reading	Chapters
1	Matthew 1–7	7
2	Matthew 8–14	7
3	Matthew 15–21	7
4	Matthew 22–28	7
5	Mark 1–8	8
6	Mark 9–16	8
7	Luke 1–6	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 8–14)

Day	Reading	Chapters
8	Luke 7–13	7
9	Luke 14–24	11 — longer day, or split across two
10	John 1–7	7
11	John 8–14	7
12	John 15–21	7
13	Acts 1–8	8
14	Acts 9–15	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 15–21)

Day	Reading	Chapters
15	Acts 16–21	6
16	Acts 22–28	7
17	Romans 1–8	8
18	Romans 9–16	8
19	1 Corinthians 1–9	9
20	1 Corinthians 10–16	7
21	2 Corinthians 1–13	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 22–28)

Day	Reading	Chapters
22	Galatians 1–6, Ephesians 1–3	9
23	Ephesians 4–6, Philippians 1–4	7
24	Colossians 1–4, 1 Thessalonians 1–5	9
25	2 Thessalonians 1–3, 1 Timothy 1–6	9
26	2 Timothy 1–4, Titus 1–3, Philemon 1	8
27	Hebrews 1–9	9
28	Hebrews 10–13, James 1–5	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 29–34)

Day	Reading	Chapters
29	1 Peter 1–5, 2 Peter 1–3	8
30	1 John 1–5, 2 John 1, 3 John 1	7
31	Jude 1, Revelation 1–5	6 — lighter day
32	Revelation 6–12	7
33	Revelation 13–19	7
34	Revelation 20–22	3 — finish strong

Days 35–40: 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's audio Bible lets you listen at 1x, 1.25x, or 1.5x — at 1.25x, seven chapters becomes 12 minutes.

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 — they'll make more sense once you've seen the whole canvas.

Use BibleNow's Bible Chat feature to ask questions as they arise. Type your question and get an instant contextual answer 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. BibleNow automatically tracks every chapter you complete — your reading progress is always visible, even if you switch between your phone and tablet.

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.