Where to start reading the Bible (hint: not Genesis)

By Chris S. · September 9, 2026

Maybe you've opened the Bible fully intending to read it properly — started with Genesis, did fine through creation, the flood, Joseph and his brothers... and then hit the genealogies. Or the laws in Leviticus. Or you simply closed the book, unsure whether you were even reading it right.

If that's you, take a breath: there is no wrong way to begin. There's just a gentler way — and that's what I want to share with you today.

First, some relief: you don't have to read it in order. The Bible isn't a novel with a beginning, middle and end to follow in sequence — it's an entire library: stories, poems, letters and prophecies written across more than a thousand years. Reading from Genesis to Revelation, page by page, is like walking into a huge library determined to read every book starting with shelf A. It gets exhausting before it gets good.

Second: start with the Gospel of John. It was written precisely for people who are just getting to know Jesus — the author says so himself at the end of the book:

"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

After John, if you'd like to stay in the Gospels, go to Mark — the shortest and most direct, almost an eyewitness account moving at full speed. Save Matthew and Luke for when you're more at home in the story.

Third: you don't have to understand everything. Some passages won't make sense at first — and that's okay. Nobody understands it all, not even people who study it their whole lives. The Bible was written thousands of years ago, in another language and another culture; questions are normal. What it promises isn't total clarity on the first read — it's real usefulness for those who keep going:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16

Fourth: one chapter a day is enough. Forget the "whole Bible in 90 days" challenge if it fills you with anxiety instead of appetite. One chapter — sometimes just a few verses — read slowly is worth more than ten chapters read out of obligation, taking nothing in. There's a verse that captures the spirit of it:

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Psalm 119:105

Notice it's not a floodlight for the whole road — it's a lamp for the next step. You don't need to see the entire path today.

Fifth: choose an easy-to-read translation. Classic versions like the King James have gorgeous English — but it's centuries-old English, and at the beginning that can become one more obstacle. If you're taking your first steps, look for a modern translation like the NIV (New International Version) or the NLT (New Living Translation). Both are free in apps like YouVersion's Bible App, which will even remind you to read every day.

Sixth: write down whatever touches you. It doesn't have to be a theology essay — just a phrase, a verse, a question that stayed with you. Over time, that little notebook (or your phone's notes) becomes a map of how God has been speaking to you. And you'll be able to look back and see how far you've walked.

Oh, and one little secret that changes everything: before you open the book, a single sentence of prayer is enough — "God, speak to me through these pages." Reading stops being study and becomes encounter. There's no test to pass here. It's a conversation that starts slowly and grows familiar — like any real relationship. Open the Gospel of John today, read one chapter, and see what happens.

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