The short answer
Start with the Gospel of Mark. It is the shortest of the four Gospels, and its scenes move quickly. Read one chapter a day, add a Psalm when you want words for prayer, and save books like Leviticus for later. You don’t have to begin at Genesis or finish on a schedule.
Do you have to start at Genesis?
No. Most Protestant Bibles contain 66 books, written over many centuries in different forms: history, law, poetry, prophecy and letters. Reading it cover to cover is a fine goal, but it’s a hard first step. Plenty of cover-to-cover plans stall in Leviticus, a book of priestly laws that makes much more sense once you know the larger story.
A better first step is a book that shows you the center of that story and reads like a story. For most people, that means one of the Gospels.
The best books of the Bible to read first
Each of these is short enough to finish and clear enough to follow without a study guide.
- Mark (16 chapters). The shortest Gospel, with fast scenes and plain language. The best first read for most people.
- John (21 chapters). Slower and more reflective, and focused on who Jesus is. Many people read it second.
- Psalms (150 chapters). Songs and prayers for every mood. Read one at a time, in any order.
- Proverbs (31 chapters). Short, practical sayings. One chapter a day fills a month.
- Genesis (50 chapters). Creation, Abraham and Joseph. Read it when you want the backstory.
- James (5 chapters) and Philippians (4 chapters). Short letters about everyday faith.
A simple plan for your first 30 days
This plan takes about 10 minutes a day. It starts with a story, adds prayer, and ends with two short letters.
- Days 1–16: the Gospel of Mark, one chapter a day.
- Days 17–21: Psalms 1, 8, 19, 23 and 103, one a day.
- Days 22–26: James, one chapter a day.
- Days 27–30: Philippians, one chapter a day.
If you miss a day, pick up where you stopped. The plan is a path, not a test.
How to read a passage so it stays with you
Read the chapter once at a normal pace, then skim it again. Before you close it, ask three questions:
- What happens, or what is the writer saying?
- What does this show about God?
- What is one line I want to remember today?
Write that line down or save it in your app. Coming back to one sentence the next day does more than racing through three chapters. When a verse puzzles you, read the paragraph around it; our guide to reading a Bible verse in context shows how.
Which Bible should a beginner read?
Use a modern translation you can read without stopping on every line. The New Living Translation, the New International Version and the Christian Standard Bible are common first choices, and the World English Bible is a free modern-language edition. If you’re unsure, read the same chapter in two versions and keep the one you understand. Our guide to Bible translations for beginners compares them side by side.
How long does it take to read the whole Bible?
The World English Bible has about 756,000 words in 1,189 chapters. At a comfortable 200 to 250 words a minute, that is roughly 50 to 63 hours of reading. Spread over a year, it comes to about 10 minutes a day, or a little more than three chapters. Our guide to how long it takes to read the Bible times every book.
You don’t need to start with that goal. Finishing Mark in a few weeks teaches you more about reading the Bible than giving up halfway through Leviticus.
Can a phone help without taking over?
It can, if the app makes reading easier instead of becoming one more feed. In Versomi, you read one verse at a time, open the full chapter when you want context, and set a daily goal of 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes. Your place is saved, so tomorrow starts where today ended. A printed Bible works just as well; nothing in the plan above depends on an app.
Common questions
What is the easiest book of the Bible to read first?
For most beginners, Mark. It is the shortest Gospel, with 16 chapters, and moves quickly from scene to scene. Proverbs and Psalms are also easy to start because you can read them in small pieces.
Should I read the Old Testament or the New Testament first?
Most beginners do better starting in the New Testament with a Gospel, then reading Genesis and the Psalms. The Old Testament makes more sense once you know where the story is going, and the Gospels quote it often.
How much of the Bible should I read a day?
About 10 minutes, or one chapter, is a good start. It is enough to follow a story and small enough to keep doing. You can read more once the habit feels normal.