7 Best One-Year and Chronological Bibles

Choose a mixed-reading one-year Bible if you want several kinds of Scripture each day. Choose a chronological edition if you want to follow the unfolding narrative. If you already own a readable Bible, you can also follow a reading plan without buying another one.

A one-year Bible splits Scripture into 365 daily readings. Some follow the order of the books with a little from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day. Chronological Bibles follow an editor’s reconstruction of the order of events. The dates and placement of some material are debated. Both make a wonderful Christmas gift for someone who wants to start fresh on January 1. If you only have a minute, start with my top three.

One-year Bibles compared

How I chose: I looked at how each Bible divides the reading, how readable the translation is for daily use, and what extra help it gives so readers don’t quit in March.

Best one-year Bibles with mixed daily readings

1. Best Overall: The One Year Bible NLT

The One Year Bible is one of the most popular ways to read the whole Bible in a year. Each day mixes a portion of the Old Testament with the New Testament, a psalm and a few verses of Proverbs, so even on a slow day in Leviticus you’re also reading the Gospels. That variety is what keeps many first-timers going past February. The NLT keeps it easy to understand, and because every reading is dated, there’s no planning or bookmark juggling: just open to today and read. Tyndale advertises reading in as little as 15 minutes a day. Your pace and time spent reflecting may be different.

2. Best ESV One Year Bible: ESV One Year Bible

If your church preaches from the ESV, this edition lets you follow the same one-year pattern in the translation you hear on Sunday. Each day you get a portion of the Old Testament, the New Testament, a psalm and a proverb, so you’re never stuck in one book too long. The readings are dated, which makes it easy to pick up after a missed day and keep going. The linked format is hardcover. Check the current edition and interior sample before choosing it as a gift; this guide does not establish binding durability.

Best chronological Bibles

3. Best Chronological: ESV Chronological Bible

For many readers, a chronological year is when the Bible finally clicks. You read the prophets alongside the kings they spoke to and Paul’s letters within the story of Acts. Crossway’s edition, arranged by scholar Andrew Steinmann, adds summaries and timelines so you always know where you are. The Bible is divided into eight eras, and the fold-out master timeline helps you see the big picture at a glance. The single-column text reads like a book, which makes long stretches of history easier to follow. It’s big, so plan on reading it at a desk or kitchen table.

4. Best NLT Chronological: The One Year Chronological Bible NLT

The same chronological approach in the NLT. It’s a great pick for someone reading through the Bible for the first time. The NLT is an option for readers who prefer contemporary English wording. Related historical and prophetic passages can be grouped together in a chronological edition. Treat the placement of uncertain-date books and psalms as an editorial decision, not a newly stated biblical date. Check the exact softcover’s dimensions and weight if you intend to carry it to work or while traveling.

5. Best with Commentary: The Daily Bible (NIV)

LaGard Smith’s brief notes set the scene before each reading, so you know who’s speaking and why it matters. This is an established chronological format; check the exact edition rather than relying on its publication history. It’s arranged chronologically in 365 readings, and the short introductions work like a guide walking beside you, explaining what’s happening before you dive in. That makes it a strong pick for someone who has tried to read through the Bible before and gotten lost. A large print edition is also available for tired eyes.

Best companions for reading the Bible in a year

6. Best Companion: The Bible Recap

The Bible Recap follows a chronological plan and gives a short daily summary that ties the reading together and points out what it shows about God. Tara-Leigh Cobble’s key phrase is “He’s where the joy is,” and every recap comes back to that idea, so the year becomes about knowing God, not just checking boxes. The recaps take only a few minutes, and many readers use the free podcast alongside the book. It’s especially helpful for groups reading together. There’s also a Bible Recap ESV Chronological Study Bible that puts the recaps and the Bible in one volume:

7. Best for Men and Women: The One Year Bible for Men and for Women

These editions add a brief devotional to each day’s reading. A matching pair makes a thoughtful Christmas gift for a couple who want to start the year in the Word together. If you want to read these as a couple, compare the daily passages in the exact editions before assuming the schedules match. You can then choose a shared passage to discuss while using each edition’s devotional material separately. Both use the New Living Translation, which keeps the reading clear and approachable.

Full Bible, reading plan, or companion?

I checked publisher descriptions and exact product records for this research-based update. I have not timed readers, weighed these copies, or tested their bindings.

The original companion remains one of my seven recommendations below, but it should not be mistaken for a seventh complete Bible. Match the subtitle and ISBN to the kind of help you want.

Two sample reading sessions

Mixed daily reading: open the day’s entry and read its Old Testament selection, New Testament selection, psalm, and proverb. Keep one question in a notebook rather than stopping to research every difficulty. This describes the format, not a reproduction of a publisher’s dated schedule.

Chronological reading: read that day’s grouped passages, then use the timeline or introductory note to locate the people and events. Ask how the selection connects with the previous day’s reading. Be ready for an editorial placement to differ from the order in an ordinary Bible.

Neither format requires you to rush reflection. If a day’s reading takes longer than expected, continue at the next sitting. A completed reading plan is useful; so is careful reading that takes longer than twelve months.

Edition details worth checking

Tyndale’s mixed-reading NLT edition and NLT chronological edition serve different purposes despite sharing the One Year name. Crossway’s chronological hardcover is ISBN 9781433589508 and lists 1,808 pages with a 6 × 9-inch size. Its marketing text says 9.25-point type while its specifications say 9.15. I would check the interior sample rather than resolving that inconsistency by guessing.

For The Daily Bible, confirm whether the card offers the older hardcover or a newer format. Harvest House’s current NIV description describes the same chronological concept in a different ISBN. Do not transfer binding, dimensions, or paper claims between those listings.

Tips for actually finishing

• Pick a time and a place. Same chair, same time, every day.
• Don’t quit when you miss a day. Skip ahead to today’s date and keep going.
• Read with someone. A spouse, a friend or a small group keeps you going.
• Want a structured study instead? See The Bible in 52 Weeks for Men and The Bible in 52 Weeks for Women, or try a Bible study app.

My final picks

For a companion to your own Bible, The Bible Recap pairs a reading schedule with explanations, while A Beautiful Year in the Bible adds weekly themes, reading assignments, and reflection questions. If you are still building a reading habit, my Bible study guide for beginners can help you plan a manageable first session.

Giving one for Christmas? See the best Bibles to give as gifts and my full Christian gift guide.

Additional editions shown above