Introduction
Which book of the Bible should you start with? The short answer: a Gospel. Mark if you want a short, direct narrative, John if you want to understand who Jesus is and why he came, Luke if you enjoy well-constructed stories. Genesis will come later, once you have met the one the entire Bible points to. In this article, you will learn why the Gospels are the best starting point, how to choose between Mark, John, and Luke, when to approach the Old Testament, and three practical reading plans so you do not run out of steam along the way.
Why start with a Gospel and not with page one
The natural instinct with any book is to open it to page one. But the Bible is not a novel you read straight through: it is a library of 66 books, written by many authors over several centuries. Pastor Stephane Guillet reminds us with a touch of humor: you do not read the Bible "like a thriller." Each book has its genre (narrative, law, poetry, prophecy, letter), and not all are read the same way.
Yet this library has a center: Jesus Christ. The entire Old Testament story and all its prophecies point in his direction. This is why nearly every reading guide recommends starting with the Gospels, the four accounts of Jesus' life. As Pierre-Henry puts it on 1001questions: you understand the entire Bible from the perspective of what Jesus did for humanity. Starting with a Gospel means picking up the key before entering the rest of the house.
John himself explains why he wrote his Gospel: John 20:31 says: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." That is exactly what a first reading is about: believing and living, not just gathering information.
If you are a complete beginner, our pillar guide How to read the Bible when you are just starting out lays all the foundations. Here, we focus on a single question: the starting point.
Mark, John, or Luke: which Gospel to read first?
The four Gospels tell the same good news from four different angles, and the Geneva Bible Society describes them as easy to read for a beginner. The sources we analyzed do not all recommend the same one: that is good news, because it means there is no wrong choice. Here is how to decide based on your profile.
Mark: the shortest and most direct
This is the recommendation from GotQuestions for a first reading: Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels, with a fast, almost breathless style. It opens without preamble: Mark 1:1 announces right away the beginning of the gospel about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. In just a few hours of reading, you get a complete overview of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Ideal if you want a first encounter without getting lost.
John: to understand who Jesus is
David Houstin (EMCI TV) puts the Gospel of John as a top priority: it summarizes the work of Jesus and contains accounts found nowhere else. GotQuestions suggests it as a second read, as it focuses on Jesus' claims about himself. It is also in John that you find the most well-known verse in the Bible, John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John is more meditative, sometimes deeper: some save it for a second step, while others start directly with it. Both approaches are valid.
Luke: the account of an investigator
This is the starting point recommended by Stephane Guillet (Croire Publications): Luke, before writing, carefully investigated everything from the beginning, as he explains himself in Luke 1:1-4. Pierre-Henry finds Luke, along with Matthew, more accessible for a first contact. Another advantage: Luke has a sequel, the book of Acts, written by the same author. You can therefore naturally move from the life of Jesus to the birth of the Church.
In practice: choose one of the three, read it all the way through, then read a second one. You will discover that the Gospels complement each other, each reporting moments the others do not cover.
What about Genesis? When to read the Old Testament
Starting with Genesis is not a mistake. Its opening is one of the most famous sentences in literature: Genesis 1:1 declares: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The accounts of creation, the fall, and the patriarchs read well. The problem comes afterward: in a strictly linear reading, many people get stuck in the law books (Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), which GotQuestions specifically recommends saving for later; the Geneva Bible Society acknowledges that the Old Testament can be more challenging.
The right approach, then, is to read the Old Testament after one or two Gospels, and in stages. Here is a four-phase plan suggested by Croire Publications:
- Genesis: the origins and the story of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph).
- The exodus from Egypt: Exodus 1 to 20, selected narratives from Numbers, the end of Deuteronomy, and entering the land with Joshua.
- The period of the Judges and the rise of the monarchy: Judges, then 1 and 2 Samuel.
- The monarchy, exile, and return: 1 and 2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah.
Between these stages, intersperse New Testament readings and Psalms to vary the genres. GotQuestions suggests the same order of discovery: first the historical narratives, then wisdom books like Psalms, and finally the prophets. Pierre-Henry adds two key passages to connect the two Testaments: Genesis 3 to 11 (the human condition apart from God) and Isaiah 53 (the prophecy of the suffering servant who foreshadows Jesus). If a passage stumps you, do not get discouraged: our article How to understand a difficult Bible passage gives you a simple method.
Three reading plans to get started well
Based on the five guides we analyzed, here are three practical plans. Choose the one that matches your profile, and stick with it: as Stephane Guillet puts it with his sports analogy, it is all about progressiveness, consistency, and perseverance.
Plan 1: New Testament first
- Mark, for a quick overview of Jesus' life.
- John, to go deeper into who Jesus is and what he claims.
- Acts, to discover the birth of the Church.
- One or two letters of Paul: Philippians or Ephesians to start, Romans next.
Plan 2: alternating between both Testaments
- Luke, then Acts (the same author tells the story of Jesus, then the Church).
- Genesis, to go back to the story from the very beginning.
- One more Gospel (John or Matthew), then Exodus 1 to 20.
- Psalms in parallel, a few each week, to nourish your prayer life.
Plan 3: a structured reading plan
If you prefer a ready-made framework, reading plans offered by Bible publishers guide your progress day by day, often with commentary. David Houstin reminds us that there are one-year and three-year plans, and that it takes about 50 hours to read the entire Bible: one chapter a day gets you through it in about three years. To learn more, read our article Bible reading plan for one year.
Four tips so this start lasts
Which book you pick first matters less than how you read. The five sources converge on a few simple habits:
- Choose a translation you can understand. David Houstin mentions, for example, the NIV or the NLT; Pierre-Henry recommends a simplified version for absolute beginners. Our article Which Bible translation should you choose helps you decide.
- Pray before you read. Several sources insist: ask God to enlighten you through his Spirit, because the Bible is not just any book; it is his Word.
- Read with a pencil, in a quiet place, without your phone. Underline, write down your questions and what strikes you.
- Accept that you will not understand everything right away. Reread difficult passages rather than avoiding them, take the historical context into account, and talk about it with other Christians: Bible reading is also a community experience.
Key takeaways
- The Bible is a library of 66 books: it is not meant to be read from the first page to the last like a novel.
- The best starting point is a Gospel, because the entire Bible points to Jesus: Mark (short and direct), John (focused on Jesus' identity), or Luke (detailed and well-researched account).
- Genesis reads well, but save it for after your first Gospel, and do not continue linearly into the law books.
- Approach the Old Testament in stages: historical narratives first, then Psalms, then the prophets.
- Consistency and perseverance matter more than speed: a reading plan and a clear translation will help you stay the course.
Personal application
- Which Gospel best matches your reading style: Mark, John, or Luke? Decide today and note your start date.
- What time of day can you set aside for reading, even just 10 minutes, to build consistency?
- Do you have a Bible translation you truly understand? If not, which one will you get this week?
- Who could you share your reading questions with: a Christian friend, a small group, a leader at your church?
Verses cited
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
Which Gospel should you read first: Mark, John, or Luke?
All three are good starting points. Mark is the shortest and most direct: ideal for a quick first overview of Jesus' life. John focuses on Jesus' identity and the meaning of his mission. Luke, written after careful research, is well suited for those who enjoy detailed narratives. Choose one and read it all the way through before moving on to the next.
Is it a mistake to start the Bible with Genesis?
No, Genesis remains an accessible book, especially its early chapters on creation and the patriarchs. The risk appears if you continue linearly: many readers give up in Leviticus or Numbers, which are more challenging law books. It is better to meet Jesus first in a Gospel, then return to Genesis to understand the origins of the biblical story.
How long does it take to read the entire Bible?
It takes about 50 hours of reading to get through the entire Bible. At one chapter a day, you can finish it in about three years. With a one-year reading plan, expect about ten minutes a day. What matters is not speed but consistency and applying what you read.
to take notes and ask questions.