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How to read the Bible

Start with the Gospel of John, read one chapter a day at a set time, and ask three questions: what does it say, what does it show me about God, and what should I do? Scroll for the full 7-step guide, or jump to the 30-day plan.

Start the guide30-day plan

Step 1 of 7

Start with a Gospel

Don’t begin at Genesis and push through Leviticus. Start with the Gospel of John, or Mark if you want something shorter. They tell the life of Jesus, the center of the whole Bible.

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John 20:31 KJV

Step 2 of 7

Choose a time and place

Pick a regular time, such as with your morning coffee or before bed, and a spot where your phone won’t pull you away. A small habit you keep beats a big plan you drop.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 5:3 KJV

Step 3 of 7

Read a little, slowly

One chapter a day is plenty. Read it twice if you can. Going slowly lets the words sink in, and it is better than skimming three chapters you won’t remember.

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Psalm 119:18 KJV

Step 4 of 7

Ask three questions

What does this passage say? What does it show me about God? What should I do about it? Write down one sentence for each if it helps.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Acts 17:11 KJV

Step 5 of 7

Put it into practice

Choose one thing to carry into your day: a promise to trust, a command to obey or a person to forgive. Reading changes you when you act on what you read.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:22 KJV

Step 6 of 7

Add Psalms and Proverbs

Once the habit forms, add a psalm for prayer and a chapter of Proverbs for wisdom. Proverbs has 31 chapters, one for each day of the month.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 1:2 KJV

Step 7 of 7

Keep going

Missed a day? Just pick up where you left off. Over months, small daily readings will take you through book after book, and eventually the whole Bible.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105 KJV

Ready?

Start reading John 1

How to read the Bible in 7 steps

  1. Start with a Gospel. Begin with the Gospel of John or Mark, not Genesis.
  2. Choose a time and place. Read at the same time and place each day.
  3. Read a little, slowly. One chapter a day is enough, read slowly.
  4. Ask three questions. What does it say, what does it show about God, and what should I do.
  5. Put it into practice. Carry one thing from the passage into your day.
  6. Add Psalms and Proverbs. Add a psalm for prayer and a proverb for wisdom.
  7. Keep going. If you miss a day, pick up where you left off.

A 30-day Bible reading plan for beginners

Read the Gospel of John in 21 days, then Philippians and James. Each day is one chapter, about five minutes. Tap a day to read it one verse per screen.

  1. Day 1John 1
  2. Day 2John 2
  3. Day 3John 3
  4. Day 4John 4
  5. Day 5John 5
  6. Day 6John 6
  7. Day 7John 7
  8. Day 8John 8
  9. Day 9John 9
  10. Day 10John 10
  11. Day 11John 11
  12. Day 12John 12
  13. Day 13John 13
  14. Day 14John 14
  15. Day 15John 15
  16. Day 16John 16
  17. Day 17John 17
  18. Day 18John 18
  19. Day 19John 19
  20. Day 20John 20
  21. Day 21John 21
  22. Day 22Philippians 1
  23. Day 23Philippians 2
  24. Day 24Philippians 3
  25. Day 25Philippians 4
  26. Day 26James 1
  27. Day 27James 2
  28. Day 28James 3
  29. Day 29James 4
  30. Day 30James 5

How to study the Bible

When you want to go deeper, try the SOAP method with each day’s chapter:

  • ScriptureWrite out one verse that stands out to you.
  • ObservationNote what it says: who is speaking, to whom, and why.
  • ApplicationDecide how it applies to your life today.
  • PrayerTurn the verse into a short prayer.

Reading the verses around a passage, comparing the KJV with the World English Bible, and reading with a friend or a church group will all help you understand more.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I start reading the Bible?

Start with the Gospel of John or Mark, which tell the life of Jesus. After that, Genesis, Psalms and Acts are good next steps. The 30-day plan on this page begins with John.

Should I read the Bible from beginning to end?

You can, but many beginners stall in Leviticus or Numbers. Starting with a Gospel and then reading Genesis, Exodus and the rest of the New Testament gives you the big story first.

How long does it take to read the whole Bible?

The Bible has 1,189 chapters. Reading three or four chapters a day takes you through it in about a year, and one chapter a day in a little over three years.

Which Bible translation is best for beginners?

The best translation is one you understand and will keep reading. This site has the King James Version, with its classic 1611 wording, and the World English Bible, in modern English. Switch between them with the KJV button at the top of the page.

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