Where to Start Reading the Bible?
Okay, real talk — opening the Bible for the first time can feel like walking into a party where you don't know anyone. It's massive! And without a timeline- you don’t even know where the doors are- like Ikea!. Sixty-six books, thousands of years of history, a whole cast of characters. No wonder so many people never crack it open at all.
Here's the good news, though (pun intended): you do not need to read the Bible cover to cover to get something real out of it. You just need to start. That one decision — starting — can be the difference between "I get it" and "I give up by chapter three."
I grew up in Catholic school, so I learned the Bible the way you learn geometry — as a subject. Facts, tests, done. What nobody taught me was how to actually live with it, day to day, like a real practice instead of a class. That didn't click for me until a few years ago, when I found a guided daily reading plan that walks through Scripture in the order it actually happened historically, not the order it's printed. Some days I listen while I drive. Some days I'm three weeks behind and need a few walks to catch up! It's not about being perfect. It's about staying in it.
And honestly, reading became tangled up with something bigger for me. When I lived in Chile, I wasn’t fluent in spanish, I went through a miscarriage without my support system and we kept it quiet from everyone. I leaned hard on walking daily, listening to and reading the Scriptures. My Sunday ritual of going to mass and the reading that went with it, was one of the only things that stayed steady while everything else felt like it was falling apart. It gave me hope when I was in despair.
This past year brought a different kind of loss — my dad passed away. So I packed up and moved back home to rebuild. Going back to that same reading plan gave me something to hold onto through both. Not because it made the grief go away, but because staying in that daily rhythm kept me hopeful when so many things were changing.
Where to Start Reading the Bible
So — where do you actually start? Your starting point matters more than you'd think. The Bible isn't one continuous story like a novel; it's more like a library, packed with different genres and voices from different centuries. Where you begin shapes how confident and connected you feel as you read the Bible, and it becomes your foundation for everything after.
Think of it like merging onto a highway. Get on in the right spot, and you flow right into the story. Get on in the wrong spot, and you're lost before you've even found your lane. Starting with a map and plan, historically or otherwise, sets you up to keep going instead of giving up three chapters in.
Why Read The Bible?
Here's why so many people make bible study a real part of their lives…
Understand God's Word
As a Catholic, I believe the Bible is God's Word and is inspired through the Holy Spirit. Reading it yourself, instead of hearing about it secondhand, means you get to form your own understanding instead of borrowing someone else's.
Learn About Jesus Christ and the Son of God
The New Testament is all about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Reading the gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — puts you right there for his teachings, his relationships, his whole ministry. For a lot of people, this is the reason to open the Bible at all.
Grow in Faith
Bible study is one of the most common ways people say their faith actually deepens over time. You see real examples of doubt, trust, and transformation, and that shapes how you look at your own life. It's not a one-and-done thing — it's cumulative.
Find Encouragement
There is so much comfort packed into Scripture. Grief, uncertainty, loneliness — there's a psalm, a letter, a gospel passage for all of it. People turn to it in hard seasons for a reason.
Better Understand the Good News
"Good news" is literally what the gospel means — that through Jesus Christ, you're offered grace and a way back to God. Reading the gospels for yourself gives you that message in full, not in fragments you've picked up secondhand.
Is It Hard To Read The Bible
Honestly? It can be! It's long. It jumps between genealogies, ancient laws, poetry, and prophecy that can feel like a different language. It doesn't move in a straight line, so jumping in at a random spot can leave you more confused than inspired. Older translations don't help either — the phrasing can feel stiff and distant from how we actually talk. That combo is exactly why so many people try to read the Bible cover to cover with zero guidance and quietly give up a few weeks in.
Here's the relief, though: none of that is a personal failing. It's just how the book is built. Pick the right starting point, grab a translation that actually reads like modern English, and go slow. Most of the intimidation fades once you're a few chapters into something that clicks.
But I think the easier thing to do is listen to Bible in a Year! My friend sent it to be because she said the priest was hot, she’s not wrong… More importantly, it’s the easiest way to read or listen to the Bible. I listen to it on my walks or while I’m driving. it’s anywhere from 20-30 mins a day.
Where Should You Start Reading The Bible?
If you don’t want to do the podcast, there's no one required starting line. A few sections just tend to be the easiest on-ramps.
The Gospel of John
This is probably the most popular starting point, and for good reason — it's a clear, rich introduction to who Jesus Christ is. Great if you want the big picture of what Christianity is actually about, right out of the gate.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Reading all four gospels together gives you Jesus's life from four different angles. It's more ground to cover, but if you like deeper context and don't mind a little overlap, this is a satisfying way in.
The Book of Genesis
Want the origin story? Genesis has it — creation, covenant, the very beginning of God's relationship with people. If you're a narrative person who likes to start at the start, this is your spot.
The Psalms
Prayers, songs, poetry — basically the full range of human emotion in one book. If you're looking for comfort or a devotional feel rather than a storyline, start here. These are my favorite- and Proverbs!
There's no wrong answer here. Pick based on what you're actually craving right now — understanding, comfort, or the full story from the top.
How To Read The Bible?
A few things that have genuinely helped me stay consistent…
Try a Guided Reading Plan
Honestly, the hardest part isn't understanding a verse — it's knowing what to read next and why. A guided, chronological reading plan solves that for you. That’s why I use Ascension Press's Bible in a Year, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz — as I mentioned, it’s about 20 minutes a day, in historical order, with a little reflection/his thoughts to make it relatable at the end. It's the thing that finally made this habit stick, for me.
Anchor Reading to an Existing Ritual
Attach it to something you already do — your coffee, a walk, your commute. It doesn't need to be the same time every day. It just needs to ride along with a habit you already have so it's not one more thing fighting for your attention.
Let It Be Imperfect
You will fall behind. That's not failure, that's just life. This isn't a streak to protect. Catch up on a walk, catch up in the car, catch up in whatever pockets you've got.
Reflect and Revisit
Jot a quick note next to what you read. Scripture hits differently depending on where you're at in life — a passage that felt simple last year can suddenly mean something completely different this year.
Read in Community
This is something I want to do! I would love to have a Mass & Mimosa’s lunch after Church - or whenever- and chat about the week’s ‘listenings’ from Bible in a Year. What stuck out? What made you feel a certain way? What was confusing- because Lord knows there are a few chapters that are just lineage, and that can get hard. Who’s in?
Maybe it’s just a group chat where you drop what hit you that week, or ask someone to pray for you — that turns a solo habit into a shared one.
Reading the Bible doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing project. Pick a starting point that actually pulls you in — the Gospel of John, Genesis, the Psalms, whatever fits where you're at — and build from there. Or just open to a random page! The rest gets easier the more you show up, one passage at a time.
