Bible Companion
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The Bible Companion (or Bible Reading Planner) is a guide developed by the Christadelphians to aid reading the Bible.[1] It was first produced by Robert Roberts when he was just 14 years of age, in about 1853,[2] and revised by him over a number of years into its current format.[3]
Background
Christadelphians believe that reading the Bible is very important: they believe that it is 'essential if one is to discover—and remember—God's revelation of Himself and His purpose';[2] citing Bible verses such as Psalm 119:105, they believe the Bible gives moral direction for the life of a Christian - thus the Bible Companion is designed to aid the Christian in their Bible reading to this end.[2]
The Bible Companion as a reading aid
By following the Bible Companion the reader is led, in small portions, through the whole Bible in a year. The Old Testament is read once in the year, and the New Testament is read twice. The plan starts on January 1 in the Book of Genesis, Book of Psalms and Book of Matthew and works its way through the scriptures as the year goes along providing around 4 chapters per day.[4] Here is an example of a section from the Bible Companion:
| January | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Reading 1 | Reading 2 | Reading 3 |
| 1 | Genesis 1, 2 | Psalms 1, 2 | Matthew 1, 2 |
| 2 | 3, 4 | 3-5 | 3, 4 |
| 3 | 5, 6 | 6-8 | 5 |
| 4 | 7, 8 | 9,10 | 6 |
| 5 | 9,10 | 11-13 | 7 |
| 6 | 11,12 | 14-16 | 8 |
| 7 | 13,14 | 17 | 9 |
| 8 | 15,16 | 18 | 10 |
| 9 | 17,18 | 19-21 | 11 |
| 10 | 19 | 22 | 12 |
| 11 | 20,21 | 23-25 | 13 |
| 12 | 22,23 | 26-28 | 14 |
| 13 | 24 | 29,30 | 15 |
| 14 | 25,26 | 31 | 16 |
| 15 | 27 | 32 | 17 |
| 16 | 28,29 | 33 | 18 |
| 17 | 30 | 34 | 19 |
| 18 | 31 | 35 | 20 |
| 19 | 32,33 | 36 | 21 |
| 20 | 34,35 | 37 | 22 |
| 21 | 36 | 38 | 23 |
| 22 | 37 | 39,40 | 24 |
| 23 | 38 | 41-43 | 25 |
| 24 | 39,40 | 44 | 26 |
| 25 | 41 | 45 | 27 |
| 26 | 42,43 | 46-48 | 28 |
| 27 | 44,45 | 49 | Romans 1, 2 |
| 28 | 46,47 | 50 | 3, 4 |
| 29 | 48,50 | 51,52 | 5, 6 |
| 30 | Exodus 1, 2 | 53-55 | 7, 8 |
| 31 | 3, 4 | 56,57 | 9 |
Current usage
Although the Bible Companion was developed over 100 years ago by the Christadelphians it is still widely used, year by year, within the community.[5] Some ecclesias (individual churches) read the allotted chapters of the Bible as found in the companion during their Sunday services. Many people have the Bible Companion printed on book marks so they can easily find and follow the day's readings. Use of the 'Bible Companion' is down to the individual's choice.
References
- ↑ "The Bible Reading Planner". Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Daily Bible Reading Exhortations". Retrieved 2007-03-29.
- ↑ Roberts, Robert (1894). My Days and My Ways. Birmingham: CMPA. p. 15.
- ↑ "Welcome to DailyReadings.org.uk". Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
- ↑ "The Christadelphian". Retrieved 2007-02-13.
External links
Bible Companions
*The Bible Companion in English A straightforward copy of the Bible Companion in English: one page for each month, setting out all three readings for each day. Dead Link, 404 error.
- Bible Companion in various languages (downloadable .pdf files)
- Free hard copy of Bible Companion
- Daily Bible readings based on the "Bible Companion" but with added brief reading from Proverbs each day
- A Bible Study site based on the Bible Companion including the following tools:
- Daily Bible Readings in Outlook or iCal based on the "Bible Companion", ics files that can be imported into your calendar program
- Daily Bible Readings by email based on the "Bible Companion", you can have the Daily Readings sent to your inbox.
- Daily Bible Readings RSS feeds based on the "Bible Companion", the daily readings as an RSS Feed
- Bible Companion Readings Online (readable with browser). All three readings (KJV) for the current day.
Comments, exhortations and questions following the Bible Companion program
- Daily Bible readings following the Companion with comments on each reading
- Daily Bible Reading Exhortations following the Bible Companion
- Christadelphian Isolation League publishes exhortations every week, and the website, alongside the readings from the KJV and as audio files, has Exhortations published on each day in recent years that may link to the daily readings