How to Read the Bible

Co-authored by Mark Russell

Last Updated: December 3, 2024 Approved

To make reading the Bible feel doable, choose a plan that guides which sections to read and in what order. For instance, you could choose a plan that guides you to read the books of the Bible in historical order, or a plan that puts you on track to read the entire Bible in a certain time limit. If you want more help with reading, you can use study guides or join a study group. Get absorbed in this fascinating text that has inspired countless people.

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Following a Devotional Plan

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Start with one of the Gospels to read Jesus’ story and teachings. The Bible’s ultimate message is the story and teachings of Jesus Christ, told in a set of books called the Gospels. If you’re just starting out reading the Bible, go with these first. There are four Gospels. They overlap in parts but have differences, too:^{[1]
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- Matthew alternates stories of Jesus’ life and sections which provide his teachings. These provide context relating Jesus to prophecies in earlier Biblical books.
- Mark is a fast-paced account of Jesus’ life. This dramatic narrative culminates in the crucifixion.
- Luke has larger blocks of stories and teachings. It focuses on Jesus’ relationship with people.
- John is often set apart from the other (Synoptic) Gospels. It focuses on the character of Jesus and contains stories not told in the others.
The first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) are known as the Pentateuch. These tell of God’s creation of the world and about ancient spiritual figures like Noah, Moses, Abraham, and Isaac. They also include important passages like the Ten Commandments. Read these if you want to learn about the foundations of Judeo-Christian belief.^{[2]
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Other books from the Old Testament, like Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon are filled with poetic passages of wisdom. These can be wonderful readings if you want to deepen your understanding of things like faith, praising God, and righteousness.^{[3]
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Certain books of the old testament, like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel include passages that discuss the coming of the Messiah and his role in God’s plan. If you want to deepen your understanding of Jesus’ role in Christianity as a whole, these books are a good start.^{[4]
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Books like Corinthians, Galatians, Peter, and Jude are called Epistles. These are presented as letters by early followers of Jesus. They provide accounts of how early Christians were persecuted and tested in their faith, but also great wisdom about how to live a devout life. Read these if you want to deepen your understanding of Christian values.^{[5]
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Turn to the Bible for guidance on specific topics when in need. The Bible covers many different topics related to spiritual matters. Study Bibles suggest sections for readings based on common topics. If you want to read the Bible for a certain reason, these can be very helpful. For instance, you could try reading:
- Matthew 1028-33 or Philippians 4:4-47 if you are struggling with adversity.
- Psalm 91:9-16 or Joshua 1:9 if you feel bullied.
- Luke 15:11-24 or Psalm 107 4-9 if you are feeling lost.
- Psalm 100 or 2 Corinthians 9:10-12, 15 if you want to express thanks.
Some people believe that selecting books, chapters, or verses from the Bible at random can lead to insights. Many spiritual leaders and Biblical experts suggest that this can be a confusing method and lead to contradictions. But if it keeps you reading, then go ahead.^{[6]
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Part 2

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Reading the Bible for Cultural Study

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Aside from the creation story and stories of ancient figures, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy give accounts of the 12 Hebrew tribes. This includes their captivity in and flight from Egypt, and information about their laws and customs. These are a great resource if you want to study ancient Hebrew history.^{[7]
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Several books, such as 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles, describe the early kingdom of Israel, Babylon’s overtaking of the kingdom, and other stories. Biblical scholars are divided about the historical accuracy of these books, but they are a critical part of tradition.^{[8]
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There are few references to Jesus written during his lifetime. However, certain books of the Bible, including the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles (like Corinthians, Galatians, Peter, and Timothy) discuss how early followers of Jesus spread his teachings around the Mediterranean and Middle East. These are a rich source of information if you are interested in the early development of Christianity and its establishment as a religion.^{[9]
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Read the Bible in chronological order to see it as a continuous story. The individual books of the Bible aren’t all placed in terms of the order of events. If you are interested in reading the Bible as one big narrative, you will have to shuffle some things around.^{[10]
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- Check your study Bible or online guides for charts that tell you what order the books were written in.
The order of books in the Bible also doesn’t reflect the order in which they were written. Look for tables telling you when the books were written. These can be found in many Bibles or via sites like Bible Gateway.^{[11]
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Part 3

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Reading the Entire Bible

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Take the Bible on cover to cover if you’re ambitious. One Biblical book doesn’t necessarily lead directly to the next. Spiritual leaders don’t always recommend reading the Bible straight through. If you are ambitious and want a sense of accomplishment, you can try it. Start at Genesis chapter 1 and read all the way to Revelations chapter 22.
- Services like the Bible Project can give you guidance with each part of the Bible as you read it through. This can help you understand what you read.^{[12]
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Tackle the entire Bible in a certain time limit to stay motivated. Getting through the whole Bible within a year, for instance, is a popular goal.^{[13]
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Mark Russell
Christian Theology Expert

Expert Interview. 16 August 2024.} Setting a goal like this can be a great way to keep you motivated to read. There are lots of resources to help you in your quest.^{[14]
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- For instance, a group called Gideons offers a plan (online or via their app) for reading each of the Bible’s chapters within a year.
- Some plans will couple the daily reading with a Psalm or excerpt from Proverbs for variety.
- You will need to read about 3 chapters a day to read the entire Bible in a year, but only about one a day to read it within three years.
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Pair the New Testament with the Old to get the Bible’s whole message. The Bible is divided into two main parts. The Old Testament covers events and teachings before the birth of Jesus. The New Testament discusses his life, teachings, and first followers. You don’t have to treat them as truly separate parts, however.^{[15]
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- For instance, each day you can read a chapter from the Old Testament, and one from the New.
- You could instead read one whole book from the Old Testament. Then read one from the New Testament, then back to the Old, and so on.
- This technique is most useful if you are trying to read the whole Bible in a certain amount of time, and want some variety rather than reading cover to cover.

Part 4

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Putting Your Plan into Action

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Select a translation that speaks to you. There are many translations of the Bible. New ones are always being developed. Each translation has a different emphasis and style. The most important thing is to find one that speaks to you and inspires you to keep reading.^{[16]
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- The King James Version (KJV) was created in the 1600s for the Church of England. It sounds old-fashioned, but many readers still enjoy its powerful style.
- The New International Version (NIV) is a translation done in the 1970s. It is readable while still conservative in its interpretation.
- The New Living Translation, isn't a direct translation, but it conveys the Bible's message in a clear, inclusive way.
- You can also read and compare several translations to get a sense of how the original texts have been interpreted differently.
Traditional Bible reading is done with the print text in hand. Many readers still enjoy this direct, classic way to read. It’s easy to make notes, highlight, and use tabs to mark passages you want to remember. You also never have to worry about battery life with a print Bible.
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Use an electronic Bible for convenience. There are many options for reading the Bible electronically if that is more comfortable to you. You can read electronic Bibles on practically any device.^{[17]
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Mark Russell
Christian Theology Expert

Expert Interview. 16 August 2024.}
- There are also numerous versions of the Bible available as ebooks and apps.
- Some app and ebook versions of the Bible have nice features that let you highlight and make notes.
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Set a schedule to find time. With so many tasks and distractions in life, finding the time to read the Bible can be a struggle. Setting a schedule helps. Try to make a commitment to read a certain number of chapters or verses per day, or to read for a certain amount of time each day. If you need more help, try:^{[18]
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- Reading on the way to school or work.
- Listening to an audio version of the Bible while you are doing something else.
- Downloading a Bible ebook or app and reading while you are standing in lines, waiting for a bus, etc.

Part 5

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Deepening Your Bible Study

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^{[19]
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Zachary Rainey
Ordained Minister

Expert Interview. 19 May 2019.} You can read the Bible as literature, as history, or as philosophy. But for most readers, it’s the book’s spiritual importance that matters above all. Pray before and after your readings for help understanding what you read.^{[20]
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Many Bibles come with extra materials. These can help you learn about the history, significance, and interpretation of different sections of the text.^{[21]
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Mark Russell
Christian Theology Expert

Expert Interview. 16 August 2024.} Take a look at these before or after you read from the Bible. Deepening your knowledge of the Bible can inspire you to read even more.^{[22]
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Take notes as you read. While it might seem a little like you’re in school, writing down your thoughts and questions as you read the Bible can deepen your reading experience. You can keep a notebook dedicated to your reading. Many online Bibles and Bible study apps also have features that allow you to take notes electronically as you read.
- As you read, take notes about ways to apply what you read to your own life, or jot down questions that come up.
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Join a Bible class or group. Reading together with others can encourage and inspire you. Being able to talk about what you read with other people can also deepen your understanding of the Bible.^{[23]
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Expert Source

Zachary Rainey
Ordained Minister

Expert Interview. 19 May 2019.} You can check out Bible study groups at local churches. You can also look for community Bible study groups that meet in informal locations for discussions.^{[24]
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- Bible study groups often set a schedule for what to read, and devote time to questions that members have.

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Will reading the Bible make me closer to God?

Zachary Rainey
Ordained Minister
Rev. Zachary B. Rainey is an ordained minister with over 40 years of ministry and pastoral practice, including over 10 years as a hospice chaplain. He is a graduate of Northpoint Bible College and a member of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

Zachary Rainey

Ordained Minister

Expert Answer

Through reading the Bible, you can read about the death of Jesus Christ, the Bible's most important lesson. In reading about Jesus's death, sinners can find relief from their sins that keep them away from God.

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Question

What are good books of the Bible to study?

Zachary Rainey
Ordained Minister
Rev. Zachary B. Rainey is an ordained minister with over 40 years of ministry and pastoral practice, including over 10 years as a hospice chaplain. He is a graduate of Northpoint Bible College and a member of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

Zachary Rainey

Ordained Minister

Expert Answer

The death of Jesus Christ is the most important lesson in the Bible. The New Testament focuses upon the crucifixion of Jesus. Through identification with His death, a lost person can participate in a miraculous transformation into a child of God. The fruit of the Spirit is also one of the most important lessons in the Bible. It can encourage you to spread love, joy, and peace with the help of the Holy Spirit. Another important lesson of the Bible is found in the teachings of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth. He told them that suffering has a reward if a person believes in Jesus Christ. If a faithful person experiences injustice, pain and suffering in this temporary world, they will be answered by God with a commensurate amount of glory in the eternal permanent world.

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What are Bible verses used for?

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Bible verses are used for a couple of things, like convenience and to help you memorize the verses. It's important to remember verses. You don't have to memorize the entire Bible, but it might be a good idea to memorize the verses that stand out to you.

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