How to Start Reading the Bible When You've Never Read It

Plenty of people buy a Bible with good intentions, start at Genesis 1, and stall somewhere in Leviticus. That isn't a character flaw. The Bible isn't one book written start to finish like a novel. It's a collection of many books, written over a long stretch of history, and some are far easier to begin with than others.

If you've never read it, or haven't opened one since you were a kid, this is a plain plan you can start tonight. It takes about ten minutes a day, and you don't need any background to follow it.

Pick a translation you can understand

Many translations exist. The King James Version has a long history and beautiful language, though its older English can slow a new reader down. Modern translations such as the New International Version or the New Living Translation use everyday words. If you aren't sure, ask someone at church what they use, or read the same short passage in two versions in a free Bible app and pick the one that sounds like a person talking to you.

The best translation is the one you'll actually keep reading. Don't spend a week agonizing over it. Choose one, and you can always switch later.

Where to begin

Don't start on page one. A friendlier place to begin is the Gospel of John. It's in the New Testament, it tells the story of Jesus, and it states its own purpose near the end: '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).

After John, many people go on to Mark, which is short and moves quickly. Then try Acts, which tells what the first followers of Jesus did next, and the Psalms, which are prayers and songs you can read when you're tired or worried. Once you have a feel for the story, going back to Genesis makes a lot more sense.

A plan small enough to keep

Ten minutes a day beats an hour you never find. Here's a plan that works for most busy people.

• Read one chapter of John a day. The book has 21 chapters, so you'll finish in three weeks.
• Read at the same time and place each day, such as with your coffee or just before bed.
• Before you read, say a short prayer asking to understand what you're about to read. One sentence is enough.
• After you read, write down one thing you noticed and one question you have.
• If you miss a day, pick up where you stopped. Skip the guilt and keep going.

When something doesn't make sense

It will happen. You'll hit a name you can't pronounce, a custom that seems strange, or a verse that troubles you. Mark it and keep going. Reading on often answers the question, because the Bible explains itself over time. For the passages that stay stubborn, write the question down and bring it to a pastor or a friend who reads the Bible. Most churches love that kind of question.

Psalm 119:105 says, 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path' (KJV). A lamp doesn't light the whole road at once. It lights the next few steps. That's a good way to think about reading, too. You don't need to understand everything to take the next step.

Read with other people

Reading alone works, but reading with someone is easier to keep up. Ask a friend to read the same chapters and text each other what stood out. Ask whatever church you visit whether they have a good starting point for new readers. Many people also like to listen to an audio version while they drive or wash dishes, and hearing a chapter read aloud can make it click in a different way than reading does.

Don't worry about doing it perfectly. Nobody checks your pace. The goal isn't to finish fast. It's to get to know what you're reading, a little at a time, until the words start to feel familiar.

Ask us where to begin

If you have a question about where to start, call New Birth Kingdom Church International at (618) 549-7861. Ask for a suggestion, or ask for this week's times and come by in Carbondale to say hello. Bring your questions along, whether you've read one chapter or none at all.