Church to Read Bible Cover to Cover in Three Days

The Rev. Lonie Eatherton had always heard that the Bible could be read cover to cover in 70 hours. And he's decided to see if it's true.

Eatherton is pastor of , 1500 San Simeon Way, Fenton. He has enlisted the congregation to do a complete reading of the Bible  from 5 p.m. April 19 to 5 p.m. April 22. Eatherton has scheduled 72 hours for the readings, just in case, but he believes it can get done in 70.

"You can get CDs with the Bible being read, but we didn't just want to hear it; we wanted to read it. I challenged the congregation to do this, and we already have 35 of our people to show up," he said. "People have enmbraced it wholeheartedly."

The "70-Hour Holy Week Bible and Prayer Vigil" will begin with readings Genesis and end up with Revelation, employing the New International Version of the Bible that has become the most easily read, Eatherton said.

Part of the concept for the 70-hour readings stemmed from the fact that 2011 is the 4ooth anniversary of the King James Bible, published in 1611, which Eatherton said was the most comprehensive and complete at the time. But he said the language used in the King James version often is stilted, employing archaic versions of modern words. Eatherton said it would be difficult for many people to read today.

An example from the King James Version of Genesis, chapters 1 and 2: In the beginning God created the Heauen, and the Earth. And the earth was without forme, and voyd, and darkenesse was vpon the face of the deepe: and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the face of the waters.

The same verses from the New International Version: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

The 70-hour Bible reading is only part of Our Savior's Holy week observances leading up to Easter. There is a large chart inside the church that gives a play-by-play of congregation members who are attempting to read the entire Bible, although at a slower pace. There also will be Bible study being carried out in the adjacent .

Eatherton says the public is welcome to attend the 70-hour Bible reading event. He's confident the congregation is up to the task.

"I don't anticipate that we'll lag behind; we should be OK," he said. "It's not a race."