How to Start Reading the Bible: A Simple Plan for Beginners

The best way to start reading the Bible is not to begin at Genesis 1 and push straight through. Start with one of the Gospels, ideally Mark, read a short passage every day at the same time, and then follow a simple plan that takes you through the key stories of the Old and New Testaments. Below is a 30-day beginner plan, an explanation of how the Bible is organized, and practical habits that make the difference between a good intention and a lasting practice.

Why the Bible can feel hard to start

The Bible is not one book but a library. Protestant Bibles contain 66 books; Catholic Bibles contain 73, including books such as Tobit, Judith and Sirach; Orthodox Bibles include a few more. These books were written over many centuries, in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, and in many different styles: history, law, poetry, prophecy, letters, and apocalyptic visions.

So if you open the first page and try to read straight through, it is very common to do well through Genesis and the start of Exodus, and then stall in the detailed laws of Leviticus. That is not a sign of weak faith. It simply means you started a library at the first shelf instead of the reading room.

A better approach is to get to know Jesus first, then see the big story he comes from, and then explore the rest.

How the Bible is organized

A quick map helps a lot.

The Old Testament tells the story of God's dealings with Israel, from creation to the centuries before Jesus. It includes:

The Law (Pentateuch): Genesis to Deuteronomy, with creation, the patriarchs, the Exodus and the covenant at Sinai.
History: Joshua to Esther, the story of Israel in the land, its kings, exile and return.
Poetry and wisdom: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon.
Prophets: Isaiah to Malachi, God's messengers calling his people back and promising what was to come.

The New Testament is centered on Jesus:

The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, four accounts of his life, death and resurrection.
Acts: the story of the early Church.
Letters: from Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude to early Christian communities.
Revelation: a symbolic vision of Christ's final victory.

When you see a reference like "John 3:16," the name is the book, the first number is the chapter, and the number after the colon is the verse.

Where to begin: the Gospel of Mark

Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels, just sixteen chapters, and it moves quickly from scene to scene. In a little over a week of short daily readings, you meet Jesus, his teaching, his miracles, his death and his resurrection. It opens like this:

The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. — Mark 1:1 (WEB)

Starting here gives you the center of the whole Bible. The Gospel of John states its purpose plainly:

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. — John 20:31 (WEB)

Once you know Jesus' story, the Old Testament makes more sense, because you can see the promises and patterns that point toward him.

A 30-day plan for beginners

This plan takes about ten to fifteen minutes a day. It starts with Mark, then visits key moments in the Old Testament, and ends with some of the most loved passages in the New Testament. It is not a full Bible-in-a-year plan; it is a starter path designed to give you the shape of the story.

Day	Reading	What it's about
1	Mark 1–2	Jesus begins his ministry
2	Mark 3–4	The twelve and the parables
3	Mark 5–6	Healings and feeding the five thousand
4	Mark 7–8	"Who do you say that I am?"
5	Mark 9–10	The Transfiguration; the first and the last
6	Mark 11–12	Entry into Jerusalem; the greatest commandment
7	Mark 13–14	The Last Supper and Gethsemane
8	Mark 15–16	The cross and the empty tomb
9	Genesis 1–2	Creation
10	Genesis 3	The fall
11	Genesis 12; 15	God's promise to Abraham
12	Genesis 22	The testing of Abraham
13	Genesis 37; 39	Joseph sold into slavery
14	Genesis 45; 50	Joseph forgives his brothers
15	Exodus 3	The burning bush
16	Exodus 14	Crossing the sea
17	Exodus 20	The Ten Commandments
18	Psalms 1; 23	Two doorways into prayer
19	Psalms 51; 103	Repentance and praise
20	Ruth 1–4	Loyalty and redemption
21	1 Samuel 16–17	David anointed; David and Goliath
22	Isaiah 53	The suffering servant
23	Luke 15	The lost sheep, coin and son
24	John 3	Born again; God so loved the world
25	John 15	The vine and the branches
26	Acts 2	Pentecost and the first Church
27	Romans 8	Nothing can separate us from God's love
28	1 Corinthians 13	Love is patient, love is kind
29	Philippians 4	Joy, peace and contentment
30	Revelation 21–22	A new heaven and a new earth

If you miss a day, don't try to "catch up" with a double reading. Just pick up where you left off. Thirty readings in forty days is still thirty readings.

When you finish, good next steps are another Gospel (Luke or John), the book of Acts, or a daily psalm alongside a longer book. If Psalm 23 on day 18 speaks to you, our verse-by-verse guide to Psalm 23 is a natural follow-up.

A simple method for each reading

Reading is one thing; understanding and remembering is another. This four-step routine works for almost any passage.

Pray briefly before you start. One sentence is enough: "Lord, help me understand and live what I read."
Read the passage once, straight through. Don't stop for every question. Get the flow of the story.
Ask three questions.
- What happens here, or what is being said?
- What does this show me about God?
- Is there something here for my life today: a promise to trust, an example to follow, a warning to take seriously?
Write down one line. A single sentence in a notebook or a highlighted verse in your app. Over a month, those lines become a record of what God has been showing you.

The psalmist describes the person who keeps returning to God's word like this:

but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper. — Psalm 1:2–3 (WEB)

(The World English Bible writes God's personal name as "Yahweh," where many translations say "the LORD.")

Habits that help you keep going

Same time, same place. Attach your reading to something you already do every day: your first coffee, your lunch break, or the few minutes before bed. A fixed slot beats waiting for the right mood.

Keep it short. Ten focused minutes every day will shape you more than one long session every few weeks.

Choose a readable translation. If old-fashioned language trips you up, use a modern translation. You can always compare versions later.

Listen when you can't read. Hearing Scripture read aloud on a walk or a drive is an ancient way of receiving it; most early Christians heard the Bible far more often than they read it.

Read with someone. A friend, a spouse, or a small group gives you people to talk with about what you read, and a reason not to quit.

Don't be afraid of hard passages. Some parts of the Bible are confusing or troubling. It is fine to write down your questions and come back to them. Your church, a pastor or priest, and good study resources can help.

Frequently asked questions

Which Bible translation should a beginner use?

Choose one that is accurate and that you can actually understand. Catholics usually read a translation approved for Catholic use, which includes the deuterocanonical books; Protestants and Orthodox each have their own preferred translations. What matters most at the start is that you read it.

Should I read the Bible from beginning to end?

You can, eventually, and many people find it rewarding. But as a beginner, starting with a Gospel and following a guided plan makes it much easier to understand the whole.

How much should I read each day?

A chapter or two, or about ten to fifteen minutes, is a good starting point. Consistency matters more than quantity.

What if I don't understand what I'm reading?

That is normal. Read it again, look at the surrounding chapters, and note your question. Short guided lessons, study notes, or a conversation with someone more experienced can fill in the background.

Keep going

If you would like some structure as you go, Prayority's 5-minute lessons walk through the big picture of the Bible, the life of Jesus, and its key characters, with a short question after each lesson and the exact verse behind the answer. You can learn more on the Lessons page, and read any chapter of the World English Bible, even offline, from the Bible page.