Where Should I Start Reading the Bible?

There is no required book that every new reader has to begin with, but if you want one straightforward recommendation, Mark is a strong place to start. It follows Jesus as He teaches, heals, forgives sins, and calls people to follow Him. As the story unfolds, His words and actions raise questions at the heart of Christian faith: Who is Jesus, why did He die, and what does it mean to follow Him?

Those questions give your reading a purpose. If much of what you know about Jesus comes from a few familiar verses or stories, reading a Gospel brings those pieces together. You see what led to a conversation, why someone challenged Him, and how He responded. His teaching becomes part of an account of His life, with people, conflicts, and consequences around it.

Mark is one of the four Gospels, along with Matthew, Luke, and John, at the beginning of the New Testament. All four tell us about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Mark is the shortest, with 16 chapters, and moves quickly into His ministry. That makes it a helpful first book, with enough of the story to give you a foundation for what follows.

What you'll find in Mark

Early in Mark, four people bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. The house is so crowded that they cannot get through, so they open the roof and lower the man on his mat. Before telling him to get up, Jesus says something that draws an objection from the religious teachers who are there:

“Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

Mark 2:5, World English Bible

They question His right to say this, asking themselves, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7, WEB). Jesus then tells the man to get up, carry his mat, and go home. He explains that the healing demonstrates His authority on earth to forgive sins (Mark 2:1–12).

The story shows Jesus responding to a person's need, but it also asks us to consider who He is. His compassion and His authority appear together. In the next scene, He calls a tax collector to follow Him and shares a meal with tax collectors and sinners. When that draws criticism too, Jesus explains that He has come to call sinners to repentance, to turn from sin toward God. Forgiveness and the call to a changed life are already becoming central to the story.

This is why beginning with a Gospel is helpful. Words such as faith, forgiveness, and repentance can sound abstract until we see how Jesus deals with people. We see Him responding to suffering, confronting wrongdoing, and calling people into a life of following Him. Reading through the book gives those words meaning through the encounters it describes.

Follow the story through to the cross

Partway through Mark, Jesus asks His disciples who they say He is. Peter recognizes Him as the Christ, the Messiah. Yet when Jesus begins explaining that He will suffer, be killed, and rise again, Peter objects. He recognizes something true about Jesus while still resisting what Jesus says He has come to do (Mark 8:27–33).

That moment matters for the rest of the book. The disciples have seen Jesus' power, but His coming suffering challenges their understanding of Him. Later, Jesus explains that He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). His death belongs to the purpose He describes for His life.

Reading through to His crucifixion and resurrection helps explain why Christians place their trust in Him. The forgiveness He offers and the life He calls His followers into are connected to His giving Himself for others. Stopping with a collection of His sayings would leave out the events that give Christian faith its central hope.

As you read Mark, pay attention to how people respond to Jesus. Some come to Him for help. Some oppose Him. His own followers sometimes misunderstand Him. Those responses bring a personal question into the reading too: what do we make of what Jesus says about Himself, and how will we respond to Him?

What about starting with Genesis?

Genesis is a good place to begin for a reader who wants to follow the Bible's history from creation onward. Starting with Mark introduces Jesus first, giving you a reason to explore the earlier Scriptures He draws on.

The Old Testament begins with creation and humanity's rebellion against God, then follows God's promises and dealings with Israel. Alongside its historical accounts are laws, poetry, wisdom, and prophetic writings. Jesus and His followers draw on these Scriptures throughout the New Testament. Knowing them helps explain the world of the Gospels and the significance of what Jesus says and does.

For example, the meal Jesus shares with His disciples before His death is a Passover meal. Exodus describes the first Passover in Egypt, when God spared the Israelite households before bringing His people out of slavery. During the meal in Mark 14, Jesus speaks about His own body and blood. Knowing the earlier account gives you a fuller understanding of the setting in which He speaks about His approaching death.

Genesis and Exodus help answer questions that arise as you read: Who are the people of Israel? What did God promise Abraham? Why do Moses and the Passover matter? The two parts of the Bible are closely connected.

What to read after Mark

For more of Jesus' life and the beginnings of the church, Luke followed by Acts is a useful next step. Luke includes accounts such as Jesus' parables of the good Samaritan and the lost son, along with encounters and teaching that add to what you've read in Mark. Acts continues the story after Jesus' resurrection and return to heaven, as His followers receive the Holy Spirit and carry the good news to others.

Together, these books help connect Jesus' ministry with the beginnings of the church. You see believers learning how to live together, caring for people in need, facing opposition, and working through disagreements. That gives you background for the letters later in the New Testament, many of which address the faith and conduct of Christian communities.

For the earlier history behind the Gospels, turn to Genesis and Exodus. Genesis introduces Abraham and his family; Exodus follows Israel's deliverance from Egypt and God's covenant with His people. With the Gospels already familiar, you'll begin recognizing connections between those accounts and the life of Jesus.

When something is unclear, bring the specific passage to a pastor or trusted Christian who can help explain it. A question such as “Why does Peter object when Jesus talks about His death?” gives you something substantial to explore together.

You can also explore the passage with the Bible Companion to help identify context, related passages, or questions worth looking into further. Its responses are meant to support your study, not replace careful reading of Scripture or guidance from trusted Christian leaders.

You do not need to understand the whole Bible before you begin. Start with Mark 1, keep reading the story around each passage, and let the questions that arise give you somewhere to go next.

Continue in Scripture

• Begin the Gospel of Mark, the starting point recommended in this article.
• Read Mark 2:1–17 for the healing, forgiveness, and meal discussed above.
• Read Mark 8:27–33 for Peter's recognition of Jesus as the Messiah and his objection when Jesus begins speaking about His suffering and resurrection.
• Read Mark 10:35–45 for Jesus' teaching about service and giving His life for others, in response to His followers' desire for places of honor.