Guides · Where to start, and how to keep going
How to Read the Bible where to start, and what order
Short answer: Start with one of the Gospels: Mark, the shortest, or John, written “so that you may believe.” Read one chapter a day; it takes three or four minutes. Before you read, ask God to help you understand. As you read, ask what the chapter shows you about God and about yourself. Afterward, pray about one thing you noticed. When you finish a Gospel, follow a plan through the Bible’s big story, then read the whole Bible in book order or chronologically. You don’t have to start at Genesis.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
— Psalm 119:105 (BSB)
The Bible is not one book but a library of 66, and few people get far by opening to page one and pushing through. Those who end up reading it for life usually start small, read a little every day, and know what they will read next. Here is how to do that.
Where should a beginner start reading the Bible?
Start with Jesus. The whole Bible points to Him (Luke 24:27), and the Gospels, the four accounts of His life, death and resurrection, are the clearest way in. Mark is short and fast-moving, 16 chapters. John is slower and deeper, 21 chapters, and says plainly why it was written:
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
— John 20:31 (BSB)
Many people stall after their first Gospel because the next step is unclear. Choose it before you finish:
| If you… | Read | How long |
|---|---|---|
| are brand new to the Bible | Mark, a chapter a day | 16 days |
| want to know who Jesus is | the Gospel of John in 21 days | 3 weeks |
| have just put your trust in Jesus | the plan for new believers | 30 days |
| want the Bible’s big story, start to finish | the Bible reading plan for beginners | 60 days |
| want all four Gospels | the Gospels in 30 days | 30 days |
| want words for prayer, or wisdom for daily life | Psalms in 30 days or Proverbs in 31 days | A month |
| are ready for the whole Bible | Bible in a Year or Chronological | A year |
How much of the Bible should I read a day?
Less than you think. An average chapter is about 600 words, three or four minutes of reading. One chapter a day is a fine start, and a small habit you keep beats a big plan you abandon. Here is what each pace adds up to:
| Pace | Time a day | What you’ll read |
|---|---|---|
| 1 chapter | 3–4 minutes | A Gospel in about three weeks; the whole Bible in about three and a quarter years |
| 1 chapter, weekdays only | 3–4 minutes | The New Testament in a year (260 chapters) |
| 3–4 chapters | 10–13 minutes | The whole Bible in a year |
| About 13 chapters | 40–54 minutes | The whole Bible in 90 days |
Should I read the Bible in order or chronologically?
Either works, and neither is more spiritual. The books of the Bible are grouped by kind, not by date, so reading in book order means the story sometimes jumps back in time. A chronological plan puts things in the order they happened. Here is how the main approaches compare:
| Way to read | What it means | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book order | Genesis to Revelation, the order in your Bible | Simple to follow and track | The laws in Leviticus and Numbers stop many readers early |
| Chronological | Events in the order they happened: Job with the patriarchs, psalms with David, prophets beside their kings | Seeing how the story and history fit together | Jumps between books; the place of some books is a best estimate |
| One book at a time | Pick a book, read it through, pick the next | Depth; following your interest | Easy to skip the hard books forever |
| A short plan | 21 to 60 days on one part or theme | Beginners and fresh starts | Doesn’t cover the whole Bible |
For a first time through the whole Bible, chronological order often helps the story make sense; book order is easier to keep track of. Both year-long plans on this site have a printable checklist and every chapter to read right on the page.
How is the Bible put together?
The Bible has 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament, written before Jesus came, and 27 in the New Testament, written after His death and resurrection. Many human authors wrote over many centuries as God carried them along (2 Peter 1:21), and together they tell one story: God makes the world, people turn from Him, God calls a people to Himself, and God sends His Son to save. The books fall into groups:
| Section | Books | What you’ll find |
|---|---|---|
| Law (5) | Genesis to Deuteronomy | Creation, the fall, Abraham, Moses, the Exodus, God’s covenant and laws for Israel |
| History (12) | Joshua to Esther | Israel in the land: judges, kings, exile and return |
| Poetry and Wisdom (5) | Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon | Prayers, songs, and wisdom for everyday life |
| Prophets (17) | Isaiah to Malachi | God’s messages through the prophets: warnings, calls to return, promises of a coming Savior. Major means longer, not more important. |
| Gospels (4) | Matthew, Mark, Luke, John | The life, death and resurrection of Jesus |
| Acts (1) | Acts | The first church, from Jerusalem to Rome |
| Letters (21) | Romans to Jude | Letters from Paul and other early church leaders: what to believe and how to live |
| Revelation (1) | Revelation | John’s vision of the risen Jesus, His victory, and the new heaven and new earth |
How to read a Bible reference
John 3:16 means the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16. John 3:16-18 is verses 16 to 18. 1 John is a separate, short letter, not the Gospel of John. Chapter and verse numbers were added centuries after the books were written, to help readers find their place, so a sentence or a story can run straight across a break.
How do I read the Bible and actually understand it?
Use the same simple habit every day. It takes about fifteen minutes:
- 1
Pray
Ask God to help you understand and to speak to you. A sentence is enough. Here is a prayer before reading the Bible if you want words.
The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
— Psalm 119:130 (BSB) - 2
Read
Read a whole chapter or story, not a verse here and there. Go slowly; read aloud if your mind wanders.
- 3
Ask
Three questions: What does this show me about God? What does it show me about people, and about me? Is there something here to trust or to do?
- 4
Pray again
Turn one thing you noticed into a prayer, and write it in a line or two if you keep a notebook.
Want to go deeper? Try S.O.A.P. for a 15-minute journal entry, or how to study the Bible for one passage at a time.
What should I do when the Bible is confusing?
- Keep reading. The next paragraph or chapter often explains the one you are stuck on.
- Ask who is speaking, and to whom. A promise to Abraham, a law for Israel and a letter to a church are all God’s Word, but they apply to us in different ways.
- Remember that the Bible records things it does not approve. Many stories show people’s sin honestly; describing is not recommending.
- Write your question in the margin and move on. Not understanding everything the first time is normal.
- Ask for help. Read the book’s introduction in a study Bible, or ask your pastor or a mature Christian friend. Even the Ethiopian official reading Isaiah needed a guide:
So Philip ran up and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
— Acts 8:30-31 (BSB)
How do I keep reading the Bible every day?
- Same time, same place. Tie it to something you already do: your first coffee, lunch, the bus, bedtime.
- Use a plan with a checklist. It settles the question ‘what do I read today?’ and every tick is a small encouragement.
- Read with someone. Text a friend the chapter you read, or follow the same plan as your spouse or small group.
- Listen when you can’t sit down to read. An audio Bible on the commute counts.
- When you miss a day, don’t try to catch up on all of it. Read today’s chapter and keep going. God’s love for you doesn’t depend on your streak.
- Remember why you read: not to finish a book, but to know God and to follow Jesus.
Keep going
- Bible reading plan for beginners: the big story in 60 days
- The Gospel of John in 21 days
- Bible in a Year, with a printable checklist
- Chronological Bible reading plan
- All Bible reading plans
- How to study the Bible
- How to have a quiet time with God
Questions
What is the best order to read the Bible for the first time?
Start with a Gospel (Mark or John), then follow a short plan through the Bible’s big story, then read the whole Bible in a year, either in book order or chronologically. Starting at Genesis and reading straight through also works, but many readers stall in Leviticus.
How long does it take to read the whole Bible?
About 60 to 80 hours of unhurried reading, or around 80 hours as an audio Bible. That is 10 to 13 minutes a day for a year, or 40 to 54 minutes a day for 90 days.
Which Bible translation should I read?
Choose a faithful, modern translation you can understand, and read it every day. Every verse on this site is from the Berean Standard Bible, a modern English translation that is in the public domain, so anyone can read and share it freely. Your church may recommend one too.
Do Christians need to read the Old Testament?
Yes. It was the Bible Jesus read and taught from, and it tells the story He fulfills. Paul says that “everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction” (Romans 15:4). Read it with the New Testament, and look for how it points to Jesus.