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Guide

Bible reading plans for beginners: how to choose one

If you are new to reading the Bible, the best plan is one you will actually keep. The Bible is a collection of 66 books in most Protestant Bibles, written in different styles over many centuries, so starting at Genesis and reading straight through is not the only way, and not always the easiest.

Start with a gospel

Many beginners start with one of the gospels, such as Mark or John. Mark is short and fast moving. John focuses on who Jesus is. Reading a chapter a day, you can finish Mark in a few weeks.

Book by book plans

Book by book plans take you through one book at a time. They are good for focus and let you pause between books. A common beginner path is a gospel, then Acts, then a short letter such as Philippians or James, then Genesis and Psalms.

Chronological plans

A chronological plan arranges readings in the approximate order events happened, so a psalm may appear next to the story it relates to. It helps the big story make sense. Note that some dates are debated, so different chronological plans order some books differently.

Thematic plans

Thematic plans follow a topic, such as prayer, hope or forgiveness, across many books. They are a good short option when you want something focused for a few weeks.

One year or two year plans

Reading the whole Bible in a year usually means about three to four chapters a day, often 15 to 20 minutes depending on your pace. A two year plan halves that. If you are a beginner, a slower plan you finish is better than a fast plan you abandon.

How to choose

• Be honest about how many minutes you have most days.
• Pick a readable translation you understand.
• Start small. You can always move to a longer plan later.
• Expect to miss days, and decide in advance to keep going when you do.