I want to start reading the Bible. Where should I begin?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, written by over 40 authors across more than 1,500 years, yet it presents one unified message: God's plan to redeem humanity through Jesus Christ. For those new to reading Scripture, Genesis is a great starting point, laying the foundation for understanding creation, sin, and God's covenant with His people, while Exodus reveals how God rescued and shaped Israel. Many also begin in the New Testament with the Gospel of John, which highlights the life, teachings, and divine nature of Jesus, written so that readers may believe and have life in His name (John 20:31). The rest of the New Testament, including the other gospels, Acts, the epistles, and Revelation, offers insight into Jesus's ministry, the early church, and God's promises for the future. Whether you begin in Genesis or John, the key is to read the Bible regularly, apply its truths (James 1:22–25), and allow God to transform your life through His Word.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• For those who have not previously read the Bible, the book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, is a great place to begin. It lays the foundation for our understanding of God (Genesis 1:1), humanity (Genesis 1:26–27), sin (Genesis 3), and redemption (Genesis 3:15).
• Continuing through the second book of the Bible, Exodus helps us understand the Jewish people, through whom God sent our Savior, Jesus (Exodus 3:6–10; see Acts 7:35–37; Romans 9:4–5). Exodus tells the story of God delivering Israel from slavery in Egypt, establishing them as His covenant people, and giving them His law—a foundation pointing forward to Christ.
• The Old Testament is inspired by God and comprises about three-fourths of the Bible's text (including 39 of the Bible's 66 books). It covers the time period from the creation of the universe to approximately 400 BC, including Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark, Abraham and his descendants, Moses and the people of Israel, the periods of the judges and kings of Israel, the prophets, and the return of the exiled Jewish people to Israel under Ezra and Nehemiah. In addition, an understanding of the Old Testament helps to better understand the teachings and history of the New Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Many suggest starting to read the Bible in the New Testament with the Gospel of John. It is the fourth book of the New Testament and was authored by the apostle John (John 21:24), one of the 12 original followers of Jesus (Matthew 10:2) and a member of Jesus's inner circle, along with James and Peter (Mark 5:37; Matthew 17:1). John’s Gospel includes many of the teachings and miracles of Jesus and emphasizes His divine nature (John 1:1, 14; John 10:30). It also records intimate conversations and events not found in the other gospels, offering a unique perspective on Jesus as the Son of God. John 20:30–31 gives the purpose of the Gospel of John: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 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.”
• After completing the Gospel of John, it would be most helpful to continue with the other three gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), also known as the Synoptic Gospels. These books provide a narrative of Jesus's life and ministry, including His teachings and many miracles. Often, the same event is recorded by each of the three writers, but reading the accounts from different perspectives can illuminate details that enrich one's understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
• Following the gospels, the book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament provide both the early history and teachings of the church. Acts provides an overview from Luke (author of the Gospel of Luke) that covers approximately the first 30 years of the church's history.
• The epistles offer teachings in the form of letters written by Paul, Peter, John, Jude, James, and the author of Hebrews. Revelation chronicles the apostle John's vision of the last days.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Bible is unlike any other book in the world. It is not just a collection of ancient writings, but the living Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and written through over 40 different authors from diverse backgrounds—kings, prophets, fishermen, shepherds, and scholars—over a span of more than 1,500 years. Despite this wide range of authors, cultures, and time periods, the Bible carries a unified and consistent message: God’s plan to redeem humanity through Jesus Christ. Its accuracy is supported by fulfilled prophecies, such as the detailed predictions about the Messiah, written centuries before Jesus’s birth (Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2). The Bible’s internal consistency, historical reliability, and transformational power offer strong evidence that it is not merely a human, book but the divinely inspired Word of God.

The Bible is God's Word to humanity. While Genesis or John are great places to begin, the important thing is to read the Bible and to apply its teachings in your life—starting today! As James 1:22–25 says, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

UNDERSTAND

• New readers are often encouraged to start with Genesis for foundational truths or the Gospel of John to encounter Jesus directly and understand His purpose.
• Reading the Bible is not just informational—it’s transformational.
• Regardless of where you start, what is important is reading the Bible regularly.

REFLECT

• Where do you feel most drawn to begin reading the Bible and why?
• How can you make reading the Bible a regular part of your daily life, so it shapes your thoughts and actions?
• What changes might happen in your life if you truly lived out the truths you discover as you read God’s Word?

ENGAGE

• What can we learn about God’s character by comparing the beginning of Genesis with the Gospel of John?
• How does understanding the unified message of redemption throughout Scripture impact the way someone approaches reading the Bible?
• How does the Bible transform lives, and what does that say about its divine origin and power?