The Bible is not one book but a library of 66 books (in most Protestant Bibles), written over many centuries in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. That is why reading it straight through from Genesis often stalls somewhere in Leviticus. This guide, part of our Learn the Bible section, gives you a route in, a daily rhythm and a 7-day start plan you can begin today.
Where should I start reading the Bible?
Most beginners do best with a Gospel: an account of the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Gospel of John is a common first choice because it states its own purpose plainly near the end:
“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.”
John 20:31 (BSB)
Mark is the shortest Gospel (16 chapters) and moves fast, so it also works well. After a Gospel, go back to the beginning with Genesis, which sets up the story the rest of the Bible keeps returning to: creation, the first family, the flood, and God’s promise to Abraham. Then add one psalm or a few verses of Proverbs each day alongside your main reading.
How to read the Bible: 6 steps
1. Pick a readable translation
Choose a modern English translation you can follow without a dictionary. On 7 Scrolls we quote the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), a recent, literal-leaning translation in plain English that is in the public domain, and sometimes the World English Bible (WEB). You can read either free online. Any reputable translation is fine for daily reading; what matters most is that you understand the sentences.
2. Choose a fixed time and a small amount
Decide when (morning coffee, lunch break, before bed) and how much: one to three chapters, or about 10–15 minutes. A small daily habit beats a long weekend session you skip. If you miss a day, simply continue with the next reading; there is no need to “catch up” all at once.
3. Read the whole passage before you stop to think
Read a full chapter or section in one go, as you would read a letter. The Bible was mostly written to be heard aloud in a group, so reading aloud quietly helps. Chapter and verse numbers were added many centuries later as a finding aid; a thought often runs across a chapter break, so do not let the numbers chop up the story.
4. Ask two questions of every chapter
- What happens or what is said? Summarise it in one sentence in your own words.
- What does it show about God and about people? Note one line that stood out.
That is enough. You do not need commentaries to start. When you want to go deeper, our guide on how to study the Bible step by step adds context and application.
5. Use a plan so you never wonder what to read next
A plan removes the daily decision. If you want to read everything, the one-year Bible reading plan covers all 1,189 chapters in 365 days, roughly 3–4 chapters a day, with a tracker you can tick off. Shorter and chronological options are on the reading plans page.
6. Keep notes and look things up later
Keep a notebook or a notes file: the date, the passage, your one-sentence summary and any question. Questions about a word, a person or a place can wait until the weekend, when you can look them up in our Bible dictionary or people of the Bible pages.
In what order should I read the Bible?
There is no single correct order. Three common approaches, each with a different strength:
| Order | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Gospel first, then Genesis | John or Mark → Genesis → Exodus → a psalm a day → Acts | Beginners who want the centre of the story first |
| Book order (cover to cover) | Genesis to Revelation as printed, often in one year | People who like a clear finish line |
| Chronological | Books and chapters arranged in the order events happened | Readers who want the history to make sense |
If you want the events in sequence, try the chronological reading plan. Keep in mind that dating many events is debated, so every chronological order involves some judgement calls.
How much of the Bible should I read a day?
For most people, 10–15 minutes is sustainable. That is roughly two to four chapters of narrative, or one longer chapter of a letter. Some numbers to set expectations:
- Whole Bible in a year: about 3–4 chapters a day.
- Whole Bible in 90 days: about 13 chapters a day, close to an hour (see the 90-day plan).
- New Testament only: 260 chapters, so under a chapter a day covers it in a year.
Common mistakes that make people quit
- Starting at Genesis 1 with no plan. Genesis and Exodus read quickly, but the laws of Leviticus and the census lists of Numbers stop many readers. Read them later, inside a plan, knowing what they are for.
- Reading too much at the start. Ten chapters on day one feels great and is hard to repeat. Start small and grow.
- Treating missed days as failure. Pick up where you left off. Progress, not perfection.
- Pulling single verses out of their setting. Read the paragraph around a famous verse before deciding what it means.
- Expecting every chapter to feel personal. Some chapters are history, law or poetry for a specific moment. They still belong to the bigger story; not every page will speak to today.
A 7-day start plan
The Gospel of John has 21 chapters, which divides neatly into seven days of three chapters. Each day takes about 15 minutes.
| Day | Read | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John 1–3 | Who John says Jesus is; the conversation with Nicodemus |
| 2 | John 4–6 | The woman at the well; the feeding of the crowd |
| 3 | John 7–9 | Arguments about who Jesus is; a man born blind |
| 4 | John 10–12 | The good shepherd; Lazarus |
| 5 | John 13–15 | The last supper; the vine and the branches |
| 6 | John 16–18 | Jesus’ prayer; the arrest |
| 7 | John 19–21 | The crucifixion; the empty tomb; breakfast by the lake |
When you finish, start Genesis at three chapters a day, or switch to a full plan. The Bereans in Acts are remembered for examining the Scriptures every day, which is exactly the habit you are building:
“Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.”
Acts 17:11 (BSB)
What to read next
- How to study the Bible: a three-step method with a worked example.
- Understanding the Bible: how the 66 books fit into one story.
- Books of the Bible: a plain-English summary of every book before you read it.
In summary
- Start with a Gospel (John or Mark), then Genesis, plus a psalm a day.
- Read a small fixed amount, about 10–15 minutes, at the same time each day.
- Ask two questions: what happens, and what it shows about God and people.
- Use a reading plan so you never have to decide what comes next.
- Missed a day? Continue with the next reading. No catching up required.