START READING THE BIBLE
The Bible is an incredible book, or a small library of books, through which God speaks to us and reveals his love for us. In essence, the Bible is one long story of God’s love for the world that finds its resolution in Jesus. That’s why when starting to read the Bible it’s best to begin with Jesus.
Below we’ll help you get started reading the Bible. The goal is to meet Jesus in the pages of the Bible.
Consider Jesus words at the end of Luke’s gospel to his disciples:
Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:25-27)
That’s the big goal - meet Jesus in the Scriptures. They are about him. You might like to check out 1 Corinthians 1:20 or John 5:46 to see the same idea.
First, we’ll share what to read, but then some tips on reading.
Where to start when reading the Bible?
If you’re beginning with the Bible or restarting we recommend you start by reading these four books of the Bible in this order: Mark, Colossians, Luke and Philippians.
Here they are and here’s why.
Mark’s Gospel - It is short and action packed and focuses on Jesus’ power, authority and death.
Colossians - Short but centred absolutely on Jesus. Paul the writer has the goal of making Jesus clear.
Luke’s Gospel - Luke interviews the eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life and writes this beautiful account so we might see Jesus as the Servant King.
Philippians - A short book all about the joy we can have in Jesus even in the midst of hardship.
For the first 3 recommendations above, we’ve produced reading guides. Click on the link or see the buttons below.
If you don’t have a Bible and you live in Brisbane, Australia. Hit us up. We’d love to give one to you. Or a copy of Mark’s Gospel or Luke’s Gospel if you prefer.
Below is some help on how to start or restart reading the Bible:
How to (re)start reading the Bible?
It doesn’t matter how much you read each time you open the Bible. It could be a few sentences, a few paragraphs or a whole chapter.
Our hot tips spell CCCOP. Or just COP for short.
Coming to know Jesus
The key character in the Bible is Jesus. The focus in the New Testament is Jesus - who he is and why he came? If you are reading the New Testament, for any passage a great question is ask is ‘What does this part tell me about Jesus?’
In the Old Testament, the story of Jesus is still being revealed. But God is at work. So the best question to ask of any passage is ‘What does this part tell me about God?’
The Bible is one long story about the one God, making himself known and saving us, in Jesus.
Context
When reading, the key to understanding is usually the context. And most mistakes in reading the Bible come from ignoring the context!
To find the content, just ask, ‘What did the previous sentences or paragraph or chapter say?’ The previous parts are the context.
And then, we try and think through, ‘How does the part I’m reading connect with what was said before?’
Context matters because the words of the Bible, be it narrative or a letter or a poem are making a point. When we speak we have something to say. And so does God. By paying attention to the context we are listening closely to what God is saying and what he isn’t.
The other crucial idea in reading the Bible depends on the type of thing you are reading.
Consistency
Just be consistent. Like getting exercise (sorry) or eating your vegetables (sorry!) a bit every day adds up to a big difference.
Start by reading for 5-10 minutes a day. Or, if you think in sections, half a chapter to a chapter of the Bible a day.
With just a chapter a day and you’ll have read the whole Bible in 2 and a half years.
Original Hearers
All of the Scriptures were written to other people before us. They were written for the Original hearers. Moses words in Deuteronomy were first for the people escaping Egypt. Paul’s letters really were to Roman cities and towns.
So, one really important question to ask as we read is ‘What would this have meant for the original hearers?’
This question will mean some hard thinking but it takes us deeper into the Scriptures and more carefully into the Scriptures. What it means for us will be inline with what it means for the original hearers.
Pray
And, of course, pray. Each time you come to read the Bible ask God to help you listen to what he has to say. This is the kind of prayer he loves to answer.
In summary: CCCOP
Coming to know Jesus: Ask yourself, what does this part tell me about Jesus?
Context: What was said before and after this passage?
Consistency: Stick at it
Original Hearers: What did this mean for the original hearers?
Pray: It’s God’s Word. Ask him to give you understanding.
Another question people often have is ‘What translation or type of Bible?’
There are lots of excellent English translations of the Bible. Our English Bibles are a translation because the Old Testament is written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek. Translations usually follow a pattern of thought for thought or word for word.
Thought for Thought Bibles are NIV, New Living Translation
Word for Word Bible are ESV, NASB.
Most people find thought for thought translations smoother to read. But word for word allows for more careful study.
What matters most is that the translation was translated by a group of scholars (rather than just an individual) and it is readable!