Old Testament · Law · Book 1 of 66

Genesis

Genesis covers origins — of the world, of humanity, and of the family that becomes Israel. The first eleven chapters move at the scale of civilisations; from chapter twelve it narrows to Abraham and his descendants, and stays there.

Reading Genesis in a year

The easiest book in the plan to start and the easiest to mistake for the whole Bible's register. Read it as narrative and keep moving; the genealogies are load-bearing but not where the meaning lives.

In a one-year plan, Genesis occupies days 1 to 1313 days out of 365, or 4.2% of the Bible's 1189 chapters. That is a long stretch on one book, and it is worth knowing before you start rather than discovering it on day three.

The exact days

  • Day 1Genesis 1–4
  • Day 2Genesis 5–8
  • Day 3Genesis 9–12
  • Day 4Genesis 13–16
  • Day 5Genesis 17–20
  • Day 6Genesis 21–24
  • Day 7Genesis 25–28
  • Day 8Genesis 29–32
  • Day 9Genesis 33–36
  • Day 10Genesis 37–40
  • Day 11Genesis 41–44
  • Day 12Genesis 45–48
  • Day 13Genesis 49–50, Exodus 1–2

Questions

How many chapters are in Genesis?
Genesis has 50 chapters, which is 4.2% of the Bible's 1189 chapters.
How long does it take to read Genesis?
In a one-year plan of three to four chapters a day, Genesis takes 13 days — days 1 to 13.
What is the book of Genesis about?
Genesis covers origins — of the world, of humanity, and of the family that becomes Israel. The first eleven chapters move at the scale of civilisations; from chapter twelve it narrows to Abraham and his descendants, and stays there.
Is Genesis in the Old or New Testament?
Genesis is in the Old Testament, classified as Law. It is book 1 of 66 in canonical order.

Also Law