Starting to read the Bible can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a beginner. The Bible is a big book (actually, a collection of 66 books) and it’s normal to wonder where to start reading the Bible. You might be asking yourself questions like, “Where do I start reading in the Bible?” or “What is the best order to read the Bible for the first time?” The bible is challenging and sometimes difficult to read – the good news is that there are simple ways to begin that will help the Bible come alive and make sense.
Also check out: How to Study the Bible for Beginners
How is The Bible Structured?
Before figuring out where to start reading the Bible, it helps to understand what the Bible is and how it’s laid out. The Bible isn’t a single long novel, but rather a library of books written by different authors over about 1,500 years. It has two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament
(39 books) covers the time before Jesus Christ. It starts with creation in Genesis, and then follows the history of God’s people (Israel) through books of law, history, poetry, and prophecy. These books include various genres – from stories and laws to psalms (songs/prayers) and prophetic messages.
The New Testament
(27 books) covers the life of Jesus and the early Christian church. It begins with four accounts of Jesus’s life (the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), followed by the history of the early church (Acts), letters to early Christians (the Epistles), and a final prophetic book (Revelation).
Why is the Structure Important?
Knowing this structure is helpful for a new reader. Many people assume they should read the Bible in order from Genesis to Revelation (you can and the bible is written in this order for a reason) but that can be challenging for beginners. The books are not all arranged chronologically; they’re grouped by type. This means if you start at Genesis and try to read straight through, you’ll hit some tough sections (like detailed laws in Leviticus or dense prophecies) and might get discouraged.
It is important to remember the old testament is incredibly important and rich with with wisdom, context and lessons. But you don’t have to start there.
Remember, the Bible’s central story is about God’s relationship with humanity – how sin entered the world, how God set a plan to redeem us, and how that plan was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. With that in mind, it makes sense for a beginner to start with the parts of the Bible that focus on Jesus and the core message of salvation. This will help you grasp the big picture before you explore other sections.
Where Should I Start Reading the Bible?
So, where to start reading the Bible as a newcomer? A great place to begin is in the New Testament, and specifically with one of the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – and they each tell the story of Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection. Starting with a Gospel will introduce you to Jesus, who is the central figure of the Bible and of the Christian faith.
Many Bible teachers and scholars often recommend starting with the Gospel of John. Here’s why: John’s Gospel is written in a way that’s easy to understand and it focuses on who Jesus is and why He came. John was one of Jesus’ closest disciples and he wrote his account so that readers would come to believe in Jesus. In fact, John plainly states his purpose near the end of the book:
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” ( John 20:31, NIV Explore this verse ).
For a beginner, John is an excellent starting point because it answers the question of who Jesus is and what He offers to us.
Pick a Bible Translation You Can Understand
The first step is to make sure you have a Bible that’s right for you to read. The Bible was originally written in ancient languages (Hebrew and Greek), but today we have many translations in modern English or any other language you prefer.
Check out: Best Bible Translation for Beginners
Use a Readable and Accessible Translation
The New International Version (NIV) is a highly recommended choice for its clear, everyday language. Other good options include the New Living Translation (NLT) or the English Standard Version (ESV). If you have an older Bible like the King James Version and find the language hard to understand, don’t hesitate to use a more modern version like the NIV – it will make a big difference.
Just Read Whatever You Have!
All this being said, just read whatever translation you have! All these translations share the same core messages and as a new Christian or a beginner to bible study the translation you use does not matter so much as long as you can read and understand what the scripture is saying.
Best Order To Read The Bible
Step 1: Start with the Gospel of John – Meet Jesus First
As mentioned above, begin your Bible reading journey with the Gospel of John. Find the New Testament section (about two-thirds into your Bible) and locate John – it’s the fourth book of the New Testament. John introduces you to Jesus in a profound yet accessible way:
“In the beginning was the Word… In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” ( John 1:1,4 NIV Explore this verse ).
As you read John, you’ll encounter Jesus’ teachings, miracles, and His love displayed ultimately on the cross and through His resurrection.
Practical Advice
Take your time through this book. You might aim to read a chapter each day (John has 21 chapters, so that’s a three-week journey if you read one per day). Before you read each day, say a short prayer asking God to help you understand and to speak to your heart. Even as a beginner, you can ask God for guidance.
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” ( Psalm 119:18, NIV Explore this verse )
John’s Gospel was written to give you faith in Jesus, so pay attention to the conversations Jesus has (like with Nicodemus in John 3 or the Samaritan woman in John 4) and the statements and claims Jesus makes about Himself (the “I am” statements).
Let the Apostle John introduce you to Jesus personally.
Step 2: Read Acts – The Building of the Church
A great next step is to continue with the Book of Acts, which comes right after the Gospel of John. Acts is essentially “Part 2” of the story, picking up after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension into heaven. It was written by Luke (who also wrote the Gospel of Luke), and it tells how the early followers of Jesus (the apostles) spread the good news about Jesus and how the first churches began.
Acts is full of inspiring stories of faith, courage, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Reading Acts will show you what happened after Jesus’s earthly ministry and how the message of Christ started to reach the world.
You Might Want To Read Luke As Well
If you read the Gospel of Luke at some point, Acts is its sequel – some people prefer to do Luke plus Acts in sequence since they go together. You can choose to do that as well, either instead of John or after John. The exact order of the Gospels is not critical; the important thing is to read at least one Gospel and the book of Acts early in your journey.
By the time you finish Acts, you will have a strong grasp of who Jesus is and how Christianity began, which is a fantastic foundation.
Step 3: Read The New Testament Letters for Practical Guidance.
After the narrative books (the Gospels and Acts), it’s helpful to read some of the Epistles (letters) in the New Testament. These books were written as letters to early Christian individuals or communities, and they contain lots of practical teaching, encouragement, and explanation about faith.
For a beginner, you might start with a short, easy-to-understand letter such as James or 1 John, or Paul’s letters like Philippians or Ephesians.
James
For example, the Book of James is only five chapters and is very straightforward – it talks about living out your faith through actions, controlling your tongue, trusting God in trials, etc. James is often a favourite starting point because it’s so practical.
Philippians
Or you could read Philippians, which is a joyful letter about encouragement and focusing on Christ. As you read these letters, you’ll gain insight into how to live as a Christian and deepen your understanding of concepts like faith, grace, love, and perseverance. Don’t worry if you encounter some ideas that are hard to grasp at first – remember, you are just starting out.
The Epistles Can be Hard to Understand
Even the Apostle Peter noted that some of Paul’s writings contain things that are hard to understand:
He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort ( 2 Peter 3:16 Explore this verse )
Take it slow and feel free to reread passages. You can also jot down questions that come to mind. The Epistles will help answer a lot of “How do I…?” questions about Christian life.
Step 4: Read the Old Testament
Once you’ve spent time in the New Testament, it’s hugely important to go back to the Old Testament to see the bigger story of why we need Jesus in the first place.
Start With Genesis
The Book of Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, is an excellent next step. Genesis means “beginnings,” and true to its name, it tells the story of the creation of the world, the first people (Adam and Eve), the origin of sin, and God’s early dealings with humanity. In Genesis you’ll read foundational stories: Adam and Eve’s fall into sin, Noah and the flood, Abraham’s calling, and the beginnings of the nation of Israel through Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Understanding Genesis will give you context for many references you’ll encounter later in the Bible.
After Genesis, you can continue into Exodus to read about Moses, the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt, and how God delivers them. These Old Testament stories set the stage for everything and help you grasp the problem of sin and the need for salvation, which Jesus ultimately fulfils.
You Don’t Need to Read the Tricky Bits Straight Away
As a beginner, you don’t have to read the entire Old Testament straight through immediately. You can read the narrative books (Genesis and Exodus for example) and perhaps pause when you reach sections that list a lot of laws (like the second half of Exodus or Leviticus) – those can be studied later once you have more context.
Check out: How to Understand the Bible Scriptures: Understanding Bible Verses
The Psalms and The Wisdom Literature
There are so many enriching parts of the Old Testament for beginners like Psalms and Proverbs (part of the wisdom literature).
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs that can encourage you in your own relationship with God as well as help teach you how to pray.
Proverbs especially is filled with life changing wisdom for everyday life.
You might consider reading a psalm or a few proverbs alongside your main reading to add variety and inspiration – especially when you are struggling to stay engaged.
Consider the Context
Always remember to consider who wrote what you are reading and why. For example, knowing that the Apostle Paul wrote Ephesians as a letter to a church and understand the context of Israel at the time will help you to understand far better why and what thing mean. Many Bibles have a short introduction at the beginning of each book – these can provide helpful background (when it was written, main themes, etc.). Sometimes understanding context will help you understand the more challenging and confusing statements you will likely encounter on your Journey.
Do not be afraid when you meet these verses – stop and understand the context.
Be Patient and Prayerful
Understanding the Bible is a lifelong journey. Even scholars who have studied for decades continue to discover new depths. Don’t feel like you have to “get” everything at once. When you hit a confusing section, make a note of it and move on, or ask someone about it. Pray for wisdom.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all” ( James 1:5, NIV Explore this verse ).
God will gradually increase your understanding as you keep reading.
Apply What You Learn
The Bible isn’t just meant to inform us; it’s meant to transform us. Even as a beginner, you can start putting its lessons into practice. When you apply the Bible to your life, you life will be transformed.
Jesus said:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” ( Matthew 7:24, NIV Explore this verse ).
We build a strong foundation when we do what His Word says.
Conclusion
Remember that the Bible is often described as a “living” book –
“For the word of God is alive and active” ( Hebrews 4:12, NIV Explore this verse ).
This means as you read, God can speak to your heart in real time, giving you comfort, guidance, and insight. You are not just reading words on a page; you’re spending time with God who loves you.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” ( Psalm 119:105, NIV Explore this verse )
You’ll start to see the overarching story of God’s love develop. And most importantly, you’ll get to know the Author – God Himself – more and more.
“Faith comes from hearing the message” ( Romans 10:17, NIV Explore this verse )
And by reading the Bible you are letting your heart hear God’s message regularly, which will strengthen your faith. Start right where you are.
