Here is how to start reading the Bible: begin with a Gospel such as Mark or John, read one short passage at the same time each day, and use a translation you find easy to understand. Pray briefly before you read, note one thing that stood out, and if you miss a day, simply pick up again today.
You don't need a church background, special training or a lot of spare time. The Bible is a collection of many books, including history, poetry, wisdom writing, the Gospels and letters, so knowing where to begin makes a real difference. This guide is written for any reader, whatever your church tradition, or if you don't have one yet.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship suggests starting with the Gospels of Mark and John. They tell the story of Jesus, who is at the center of the Christian faith, which makes them a natural doorway into the rest of the Bible. Mark is short and fast-moving, with 16 chapters, so a chapter a day takes a little over two weeks. John is more reflective and invites you to slow down.
After those, the same InterVarsity article suggests this order:
Mark
John
Acts, which tells how the early church began
Romans
Genesis and Exodus, with Psalms read alongside
Then alternate between Old Testament and New Testament books
You can also start at Genesis and read straight through. Just know that you will meet long lists of laws and family trees early on, in books such as Leviticus and Numbers, which is why guides like InterVarsity's start with a Gospel instead.
Aim for a routine you can keep, not a big amount. This 10 to 15 minute pattern is a good place to begin:
Pick a time and a place. Attach it to something you already do, such as your first coffee, your lunch break or just before bed.
Pray briefly. InterVarsity encourages coming to the text expecting God to meet you there, and being honest with God about how you feel.
Read a short passage. One chapter, or even one story or paragraph, is enough. Read it twice if you can.
Look closely. Ask who, what, when, where and how. Notice words that repeat, things that contrast, and causes and effects.
Write it down. Note questions the passage raises, words you don't understand and anything that surprised you.
Take one thing with you. Choose a single idea, phrase or prayer to carry into your day.
If sitting and reading is hard to focus on, try listening. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina points out that Bible apps offer audio for most translations, and that some people take in more by listening than by reading.
English Bibles are translated in two main ways, plus a looser third style:
Word-for-word (formal equivalence): stays close to the wording and structure of the original languages. Examples include the ESV, KJV, NKJV, NASB and NRSV.
Meaning-based (dynamic equivalence): aims to express the meaning in clear, natural English. Examples include the NIV, NLT, CEV and Good News Bible. The CSB aims for a balance between the two.
Paraphrase: uses very modern wording to get the main idea across. The Message is a well-known example.
For beginners, the Bible Society suggests a meaning-based translation without heavy technical language, which also suits reading longer passages. A word-for-word translation is the better fit for detailed study. The King James Version is historic and much loved, but its older English can be hard to follow at first.
Tyndale House in Cambridge adds that there is no single right answer. Choose a translation you can stick with and get to know well, avoid paraphrases for regular reading, and compare a few translations when a verse is puzzling. If you attend a church, using the same translation as your church can help you follow along. Many translations are free to read online, so you can try a few before buying a printed Bible.
A reading plan tells you what to read each day, so you don't spend your time deciding. Common options:
One Gospel, one chapter a day. Simple and short, and a good first plan.
New Testament plan. Works through the Gospels, Acts and the letters.
Chronological plan. Reads events in the order they happened.
Whole Bible in a year. Several chapters a day. Rewarding, but a big commitment for a first plan.
The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina suggests shorter goals, such as 90 days, because milestones that feel closer are easier to keep working toward. It also points to shortened plans with smaller daily readings for people who are not yet reading every day. Whatever you choose, pick a plan whose daily reading fits the time you really have.
Almost everyone misses days. Here is how to restart without guilt:
Join today's reading. If you use a dated plan, skip ahead to today and keep going. You can come back to what you missed later.
Or pick up where you left off. If you want to keep the flow of a book, start from your last reading, even if the calendar says you are behind.
Don't treat it as homework. Both options above come from the North Carolina Baptist article, which warns against turning Bible reading into a box-ticking assignment. Piling on extra chapters to catch up can do exactly that.
Restart small. Read one short passage today. A small step is easier to take than a big catch-up session.
Remember the point. The aim is to meet God in the text, not to finish a checklist.
Lamentations 3:22-23 says of the Lord's compassions, "They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (KJV). Each day is a fresh start.
Reading alongside others can help you keep going and work through hard questions. Ask a friend to read the same book, join a small group, or ask a pastor or experienced reader to explain a passage you found confusing. In a group, the Bible Society notes that you can all use the same translation, or compare different ones to see how translators handled a passage.
You can, but you don't have to. Guides such as InterVarsity's suggest starting with a Gospel like Mark or John, then Acts and Romans, before turning to Genesis and Exodus.
There is no set rule. Ten to fifteen minutes, or a single chapter, is a realistic place to start. A little most days is easier to keep up than a lot once in a while.
Meaning-based translations aim for clarity, which is why the Bible Society suggests them for beginners. Examples include the NLT, NIV, CEV and Good News Bible. Pick one you enjoy reading and stick with it.
Yes. Many translations are free to read online, and Bible apps often include audio, so you can listen as well as read.
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InterVarsity Christian Fellowship: How to Start Reading the Bible
Tyndale House, Cambridge: How do we choose which Bible translation to read?
Baptist State Convention of North Carolina: 6 hacks to save your Bible reading goals