How to Read Through the Bible: A Simple Plan That Builds Understanding
If you have ever wondered how to read through the Bible without feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. Many believers want to know God’s Word more deeply but are not sure how to begin. Where should you start – Genesis, Psalms, the Gospels?
If you are ready to read through the Bible in a way that builds understanding and strengthens your relationship with the Lord, this simple plan may help.
Why Read Through the Bible?
The Bible is not just a collection of inspirational verses. It is a living, breathing letter from our Heavenly Father to us! It’s one complete story – the story of redemption.
When we read through Scripture in an intentional way, we start to see:
- The faithfulness of God across generations, both then and now
- How history affects us even now
- Lessons we can learn for our benefit and how to apply them
- The fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of Christ
- God’s loving character
- The beauty of His original plan from beginning to end
- A clear picture of how it all applies to our lives
- What we need to do to really follow Him
Reading through the Bible strengthens us spiritually and shows us where we need to grow and change as believers.
Where Should You Start Reading the Bible?
Many reading plans start at the beginning with Genesis. I personally recommend starting in the New Testament. Why?
Because the New Testament shows us Jesus. Although Jesus was with the Father from the beginning of time, the New Testament lets us get to know Him more intimately.
When we begin with the life, teachings, and sacrifice of Christ, we can build a foundation that helps us better understand the Old Testament.
A simple starting point could look like this:
- Read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
- Continue with the book of Acts
- Read each “letter” in the New Testament
- Finish with Revelation
When you start a book, read it all the way through before starting another one.
In between the books of the New Testament, consider reading some of the Old Testament books. Sprinkle them among the New Testament books. For instance, you could read Matthew and then go to Genesis, then back to the Gospels.
This does a couple of things:
- It helps you understand why they did and believed some of the things you read about in the New Testament. You can build connections between the two time frames and understand some of the traditions and laws a little better.
- It also keeps you from ending up with only the Old Testament left to read. That can be a little overwhelming.
I have seen so many people get motivated to read through the Bible and start at the beginning, like you would with a novel. By the time they get to the laws or the building of the tabernacle, they have given up on it.
If you are just starting your adventure of reading through the Bible, I highly encourage you to start with the New Testament.
Why Finish Reading an Entire Book Before Moving on?
Each book of the Bible was written as a complete message.
- The Gospels were written as full personal accounts.
- The Epistles were written as letters to different churches by different people.
- The prophets delivered entire messages that were given to them by the Lord.
If we jump around without finishing a book, we often miss the message the author intended.
I find that when I have read a passage one day and pick up where I left off on the next day, I have so much more understanding. It is a continuation of what is going on. Things really make a lot more sense, and I can pick up more application for my own life.
Reading one full book before starting another:
- Helps keep you from taking verses out of context
- Makes life applications more clear
- Prevents misunderstanding
- Lets you see what actually happened in the stories
Even if you are reading just one chapter per day, stay with that book until you finish it.
- When it comes to the books of Psalms and Proverbs, you can actually read those while you are reading other books of the Bible if you want. Those two books are written more where each chapter could stand alone. It is easier to read those along with another book without getting confused or overwhelmed.
How to Read the Bible in Context
To truly understand Scripture, slow down.
Ask simple questions:
- Who wrote this book?
- Who was it written to?
- What was happening historically?
- What does this teach me about God?
- How can I apply what they were going through to my own life?
You do not have to be a theologian to read through the Bible and understand it. A basic study Bible in a version that is easy to understand or commentary can help give you the historical background and answer many questions that come up while you are reading.
There are also many online resources to help. You have to be cautious when searching for theological answers, but I do find a lot of historical information on the Internet. It is very interesting to see the Internet confirm something that was prophesied many years ago!
A Simple One-Chapter-A-Day Bible Reading Plan
If you read one chapter each day, you can finish the entire Bible in about 3 years.
There will be days that you feel like you can read more than one chapter – go for it! There will also be days that certain chapters have so much great information that you may not read the entire chapter. Listen to the Spirit. We don’t want to set anything in stone.
Here is a simple daily plan:
- Pray before you read.
- Read one chapter slowly.
- Highlight a key verse.
- Write one reflection.
- Apply one truth.
Consistency matters more than speed.
I have also found that when I write a Scripture down that really speaks to me, as I am writing it, the Lord gives me more meaning and application.
Tips for Staying Consistent
- Choose a consistent time of day.
- Keep your Bible and journal in the same place.
- Find the best time for you personally, where you will have less interruptions. For some people this is first thing in the morning, some find before bedtime best, and I have known others to go to their vehicle at lunchtime to read their Bible.
- Put your phone away so you are not distracted.
- Expect some books to feel harder to read than others.
- Do not skip the difficult passages.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you.
Remember that this is not about marking something off of your checklist. It is about hearing what the Lord has to say to you personally.
Keeping Up with It
There are so many ways to keep up with where you are and what books of the Bible you have finished reading. These are just a few options:
- Have a chart with all of the books of the Bible and check them off as you finish reading them. If you look back at the top of this post, I created one for anyone who wants it.
- Turn to the Table of Contents and either highlight the book as you finish it or write the date when you finished beside it.
- Instead of a bookmark, I like to use a sticky note.There are times that you may read further into another chapter. A sticky note will tell you exactly where to begin the next day, and it won’t fall out of your Bible.
Helpful Resources
You can find more of my favorite Bible Study Resources here.
FAQs About Reading Through the Bible
The best way to read through the Bible is to follow a structured plan, read one chapter per day, and complete each book before moving on to the next. Starting with the New Testament can help new readers understand the life and teachings of Jesus before diving into the Old Testament.
Read for meaning instead of the mission of “getting finished.” We are reading to hear what the Lord wants to share with us, not just to say we read it.
If you read one chapter a day, you should finish reading the Bible in about three years. Reading two to three chapters a day can shorten the time to about one year.
Give yourself grace and start fresh the next day! The main thing is to start back on your reading. If you go several days without reading, it becomes harder to start back.
A Final Encouragement
Being able to open God’s Word each day is a gift. Think about it as actually hearing the Lord’s voice as He speaks to us.
There have been generations who longed to hear from the Lord and could not. We are privileged to have His Word (usually in multiple forms) in our homes and in our hands (phones).
Start small, stay consistent, finish each book, and trust that over time the Lord will plant His Word into your heart in ways that will shape your faith and even become a legacy for those you love.
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Related Posts
Simple Bible Study Ideas for Spiritual Growth
How to Choose the Right Bible for Personal Bible Study
Eternal Gifts for the Ones We Love
Read the Book of Proverbs in 31 Days
Until next time,
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“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
This is such a helpful guide, Susan, thank you for putting it together. I started from the beginning and with a KJV Bible when I was younger, and oh my word, it was a slog at times. I’m grateful you advise people to start with the gospels. Those four books are the best way to create a solid foundation. Another thing that really helped me was to memorize the scriptures that spoke to me. It doesn’t matter what the situation there is always a scripture for every reason and season. Sending hugs, CoCo