What is the best order to read the Bible?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament is not “old” in the sense of “less valuable.” Rather, it largely focuses on humanity's background, why sin exists, why one cannot save himself or herself, and the hope of a future Savior. It thus sets the background for the need for a New Testament and Jesus.
• The Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy) is the foundation for all other Scripture. It explains that humans are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26–27), setting us apart from animals, and why our rebellion brought death into the world (Genesis 3:16–19). It also introduces the hope of a savior (Genesis 3:15) through the line of Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3) ending in Israel (Genesis 49:10). It shows how God set Israel apart as His people (Exodus 19:5–6), giving them the Law to teach how to obey Him (Exodus 20:1–17), and the sacrificial system to provide limited atonement for their sin (Leviticus 17:11). The rest of Scripture builds on these themes to show how the Messiah, Jesus, is unlike the rest of humanity, not being sinful and thus able to be a final sacrifice for sin.
• The historical books show that need for a Savior in that, despite being God’s people, as sinful men and women, Israel was incapable of obeying God. For example, Joshua, Judges, 1–2 Samuel, and 1–2 Kings all show how, leader after leader, period after period, and person after person, they continued to rebel against their God. They, thus, build the case that salvation cannot come through obedience, showing that salvation had to come another way.
• Scripture does not just provide history or teach; it also addresses humanity’s emotional needs and desires. For example, Psalms are filled with poetry that praises God (Psalm 100), cries in sorrow (Psalm 13), and hopes for the future (Psalm 130:5–6). Proverbs provides wisdom through memorable sayings. Song of Solomon shows that sexual love is not sinful when done right, between husband and wife.
• Prophetic books in the Old Testament are a mix of historical and prophetic material from our perspective. Some have already been fulfilled, while others are yet to be. The major prophetic books are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and portions of Daniel. They show that God keeps His promises (Isaiah 46:9–11), was sending a Savior (Isaiah 9:6–7), and will judge everyone in the future (Daniel 12:2).

from the new testament

• Paul said that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). In his day, most Scripture was what we call the Old Testament. Whether a book is from the Old Testament or New, it is profitable for believers.
• For new believers or those seeking to know more about Christianity, the Gospels are often the most accessible and relevant books. They are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They show Jesus’ life from different perspectives, showing how He came to die for the sins of humanity. While they are all equally useful, John’s Gospel is often preferred because he uses simple language that doesn’t rely heavily on Old Testament knowledge and also expands on details the other accounts omit.
• Just as the Old Testament has its foundational books, so does the New Testament. Besides the Gospels, Romans and Hebrews are such books. Romans explains that everyone is sinful and unable to earn salvation through obedience to either the Mosaic Law or one’s conscience (Romans 2:14–15; Romans 3:20). Instead, salvation can only come through the righteousness of Jesus, who God sent as a sacrifice (Romans 3:25) and through whom humanity can be reconciled to Him (Romans 5:10–11). Hebrews, written for a Jewish audience who relied on Old Testament sacrifices, showed that Jesus is God’s better, more righteous, and final sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:11–14).
• The remaining epistles (letters) provide instruction on how to apply Scripture to a believer’s daily life. Some examples include Ephesians, Philippians, James, and 1 Peter.
• Acts is the New Testament’s primary historical book and shows how the church was birthed after Jesus returned to heaven (Acts 2:1–4), with Christianity spreading from Jerusalem to Samaria and then to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). They also features Peter and Paul, with particular focus on the Gospel message spreading primarily among the Gentiles.
• Revelation is the New Testament’s primary prophetic book and brings together all the Old Testament prophetic threads to show how Jesus fulfills what remains after His return. At that time, final judgment will happen (Revelation 20:11–15), the earth and heaven will be made new (Revelation 21:1), sin and death will be destroyed (Revelation 21:4), and God will live eternally with His people (Revelation 21:3, 22:5).

implications for today

Because “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16), there really is no best order to read the Bible. All of it is true. All of it is good and useful. If Scripture provides any form of teaching on how to approach reading the Bible, it’s that all of it is to be read (Acts 20:27), we are to meditate on it (Psalm 1:2), and that it all builds toward Jesus and the gospel (Luke 24:27).

To help Christians with which book of the Bible to read, various ministries and churches publish or offer Bible reading plans every year. We also have a quiz to help you determine which book of the Bible to read with a reading plan (see Resources > Quizzes > "Which Book of the Bible Should I Read?"). Whether you use an aggressive, 6-month reading plan to read through the Bible or go through it over several years, what is important is that you read it!

One particular caution when you select a plan: be careful not to read only certain books. For example, the Psalms, Proverbs, and Gospels are profitable, but there’s so much more in Scripture that teaches us about God and how to obey Jesus. Don't limit yourself. Be willing to read even the less familiar portions or the books with lots of repetition. Everything in them is profitable, and God gave us each of those 66 books as His means for communicating Himself and His truth to us. Let us, therefore, read consistently and faithfully to hear all that He has said!