Holy Bible Online 
There are many ways to begin reading the Bible. Each person can choose their own path according to their situation. However, if you want to start your Bible reading journey and understand its content better, we suggest beginning with simpler and more easily comprehensible books.
Start by reading the Gospel of Mark, then read the Gospel of John, alternating with Psalms and Proverbs. Continue reading from Genesis to the end of the Bible. You will surely be edified at each step of this journey!
Step 1 - Read the Gospel of Mark
Read 1 chapter per day, and in 16 days you will have completed your first book of the Bible.
If your goal is to start understanding the Holy Bible better, there is no better way than to get to know its central theme and the most important figure: Jesus Christ. The book of Mark is a good choice because it is the simplest and shortest of the four biographies of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Through this reading, you will get to know the life and work of Christ better, the only way to God (John 14:6).
The vivid and original style of the book will help you focus on the person of Jesus and His fundamental role in the history of humanity. Although it summarizes many speeches, Mark's narrative is rich in unique details about Jesus. It is worth checking out all 16 chapters, which cover the most significant moments in the Lord's life.
Step 2 - Read the Gospel of John
This book has 21 chapters that will encourage you to know God even more. Read 1 chapter per day, and in 3 weeks you will have completed it.
After establishing a good foundation with the short book of Mark, you are ready to advance to a deeper and more personal reading of Jesus' life. The book of John is considered the most profound and spiritual book of the Bible. It provides the account of an eyewitness, the apostle John, who saw and participated in many of the Lord's events and miracles. It presents a message of life that will inspire your faith in Jesus as the Son of God, our Savior.
Step 3 - Read the Old Testament (OT) and then proceed to the New Testament (NT)
- Start by reading Genesis, the first book of the Bible, and then continue with the other books of the OT. Follow the initial advice: read the simpler books first and leave the more complex ones for last. Books that tell stories often have a simpler narrative and can be read earlier. For example, if you find Leviticus and Numbers too difficult, you might skip them for now and come back to them later.
- Move on to the NT and complete the reading of the Gospels - read Matthew and Luke to continue learning about the story of Jesus, now with the foundation and concepts obtained from the OT reading.
- Then proceed to the book of Acts and the remaining books of the NT - continuing the story and teachings about faith and Christian practice up to the book of Revelation.
- Alternate your Bible reading with the books of Psalms and Proverbs. These two books have a literary style that is quite accessible and easy to understand. They are excellent for reading (and re-reading!) multiple times. They can even be read alongside other books of the Bible, whether from the OT or the NT. Read small portions daily, reflect on them, and use them in your devotional moments.
Note that the order of Bible reading can be a personal choice. However, reading from the beginning is crucial to understanding what is taught in the rest of the Bible. Many divine principles are recorded from the start, and knowing them will help you understand the meaning of many biblical concepts such as sin, death, life, love, forgiveness, and salvation, or why Jesus needed to die, for example. It is worthwhile to read the entire OT.
To Conclude
We suggest that you first become well-acquainted with the life and work of Jesus Christ, and then understand God's purpose throughout human history. In other words, starting with Jesus, discover how God created and began to relate to humanity. Learn how He gradually revealed Himself and the biblical foundations of the Christian faith. Following the progressive order of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, will be a great path to take.
Although the Bible is divided into two parts (the Old and New Testaments) and contains different books, it has a logical unity in its content. There is a wealth of knowledge in the Old Testament that is fundamental for understanding the New Testament and vice versa. They are complementary pieces of knowledge.
For this reason, it is important to read the sequence of books from the beginning to the end of the Bible. This will help you extract knowledge and understand the course of God's history through the ages.
8 Other Ways to Start Reading the Bible
The Bible can be read in numerous ways, depending on the reader's intention, disposition, and perseverance. You might read it out of curiosity, necessity, for research (literary or theological), or as a source of inspiration. Regardless of the intention, the Scriptures will provide greater knowledge about God and establish the foundation for your faith and Christian practice. Here are some alternative ways to read the Bible:
1. Complete Reading
The Bible is an inexhaustible source of faith and wisdom! All Christians should develop an interest in personally knowing the biblical text. Having access to the Scriptures is a wonderful privilege that not all Christians have had or can enjoy, even today.
Commit to reading the entire Bible at least once. The entirety of this divine work contains precious teachings for all who read it. It is indeed a blessing and privilege to have the complete text in our language. Take advantage of this! If you are interested in reading the Bible from "cover to cover," you might choose to:
2. Canonical Order Reading
Read according to the order in which the books appear in the index, known as the canonical order. The advantage of this method is having a more linear sequence of the books. The disadvantage may be encountering highly descriptive narratives early on, such as those in Leviticus and Numbers, which may require more effort from beginner readers. However, it is worthwhile to continue for a panoramic view of the entire Bible.
3. Chronological Reading
The biblical books do not appear in the historical order of events. The records of events and teachings revealed by God are not linear. Scholars have made attempts to align the texts with the most likely historical context of the episodes. Reading in chronological order allows for a clearer understanding of the development of history in the Bible.
If you wish to get a general sense of the order of events in the Bible, look for a "Chronological Reading Plan," or chronological Bible studies and courses. There are also Bibles available in this format.
4. Diversified Reading Order
Diversified reading involves mixing different plans and is more flexible. It can include more or less intensive readings, alternating between the Old and New Testaments, either randomly or in a coordinated manner. The goal is always to lead the reader to a lighter and more enjoyable reading of the Bible. Despite its flexibility, the plan still aims for a complete reading of the Bible.
Choose a plan that fits your daily pace and start! Whether you read the entire Bible in 1, 2, or 3 years, it doesn’t matter! Do it according to your time and availability, and see the benefits in your life.
5. Partial Reading
Partial reading of the Bible is more common. This is when we naturally read a passage, chapter, or book at a time. It facilitates the directed study of a topic, allowing for greater attention to details of the text and context.
Reading in parts will help you observe and appreciate the books more attentively than in a complete (panoramic) reading. If you have already read the entire Bible or if you want to deepen your understanding, try a more in-depth reading of the Scriptures. Plan readings of specific books, important events, or particular authors.
6. Book-by-Book Reading
This method involves dedicated reading of one biblical book at a time. It facilitates a deeper understanding of the text, context, and subject matter of the book. Read and re-read the book until you are able to:
- Understand its central message,
- Remember key verses,
- Memorize important passages,
- Apply what you've learned to your life, and
- Share this knowledge with others.
Understanding is always gradual and will be progressive if you are diligent in your Bible reading. There are many supplementary materials to support this method, such as biblical commentaries, overviews, and available studies.
7. Thematic Reading
In this approach, biblical reading is guided by a particular subject. The reader searches the Bible for their topic of interest, trying to discover what it says by exploring stories and passages related to the chosen theme. Examples of themes include:
- Characters,
- Important events,
- Authors and works,
- Key words, subjects, and other general themes, etc.
To assist in this type of reading, there are various resources available in books or online, such as study Bibles, concordances, biblical keys, commentaries, etc.
8. Devotional Reading
This type of reading is for meditation, prayer, and worship. It combines reading, reflection, and practical devotion through the Bible. Reciting and praying the Scriptures is a way to communicate with God, drawing closer to the devotion of inspired texts. Pray and worship through the Scriptures!
"Praying reading," for example, is a way to read and pray the Psalms and other prayers in the Bible. This will help you memorize and internalize these biblical passages more easily. There are many biblical texts that are prayers, poems, or proverbs with wise teachings. Read and be inspired during your moments of communion with God.
Before you start
If you are a beginner reader, you should keep in mind that the Bible is a book inspired by God, in which He Himself revealed Himself to mankind. The Holy Scriptures have taught billions of people around the world for centuries. It is a collection of 66 books with different genres, written in different times and languages. Therefore, it is worth considering:
a) Read with support - Pray, note down your questions, and review them with someone.
It is always beneficial to accompany your Bible reading with prayer and study. Ask for help from God and others (such as a mentor, Sunday school teacher, pastor, or another experienced Christian) to assist you during your reading. It is important to have someone who can explain any questions that arise over the week, for example.
b) Type of Bible - Choose a translation that is most understandable for you
There are several translations of the Bible. The best translations are those that stay true to the original texts while also facilitating readability. Versions like NIV (New International Version), ERV (Easy to Read Version), NKJV (New King James Version) or NLT (New Living Translation) are quite reliable and have language that is easy to understand. Choose the one that works best for you.
c) Objectives - What do you intend to learn?
It is important to be clear about what you want to achieve when you start reading the Bible: understanding the central message? Learning the history of God? Studying specific topics? There are various paths to achieve your goals, so think about them and plan your reading journey.
d) Disposition - What is your availability for will, time, and place for Bible reading?
Read in your own way! Routines vary from person to person, so define the best environment and time of day for your reading. Fight against distractions, laziness, and other difficulties that may arise to disrupt this time. The most important thing is to maintain a consistent reading pace and not give up.
e) One step at a time
Starting any practice involves important decisions, especially related to the knowledge of God. Therefore, follow your pace, but don’t be discouraged! Understand that starting to read the Bible is a crucial step for those seeking to follow the path of faith. And continuing to read is important for ongoing growth. Remember:
"... faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
- Romans 10:17
Faith in God is acquired through knowledge of His Word. Therefore, it is important to begin the journey of discovering the most important message in the world. Read the Bible!