You may open Genesis 1 intending to read the Bible, only to stop when genealogies and unfamiliar names begin to appear. It is not because the Bible is simply too difficult, but because it has been approached like a novel that must be read straight through from start to finish.
Key point If you are new to the Bible and want to see how it points to Jesus, begin with one Gospel. Mark and Luke are practical starting places, though the Bible does not require this order and churches may suggest another.
What to remember
- Choose Mark or Luke, then read one short portion at a time on a schedule you can keep.
- Follow whom Jesus meets and what he says before stopping to study every detail.
- Mark passages you do not understand, finish the larger story, and then come back to your questions.
What the Church of England says about the Bible
The Church of England’s public statement says that God revealed himself through the Bible and most clearly through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Open Mark 1 or Luke 1
The Korean Bible Society links provide the biblical text of Mark 1 and Luke 1.
Pick one Gospel and stay with it
Mark moves quickly through Jesus’ public life. Luke gives more space to his teaching and to the people he meets. Either can give a first-time reader a clear way into the story; this choice is simply our reading suggestion.
After choosing one, follow whom Jesus meets and what he says to grasp the major storyline first.
Make the daily reading small enough
A chapter may fit one day; on another day, a paragraph is enough. Attach the reading to a time that already repeats, such as breakfast or bedtime, so you do not have to make a new plan each day.
After reading, write down even one sentence that stayed with you. When short notes accumulate, you begin to see what touched you.
Leave a mark and keep reading
When you read for the first time, there will be passages you do not understand. If you stop every time to seek explanations, you lose momentum and get exhausted. If you just mark a question mark and keep reading, the following sections often clarify earlier doubts.
After seeing the overall flow once, return to the marked passages with official guidance from your church. The first goal is not completion at any cost, but following the main flow without treating an unclear interpretation as fact.
Bring your questions to another reader
Personal reading gives you room to notice your own questions. A church Bible study or a group with a trustworthy leader gives you a place to test what you think the passage means.
There is no prize for finishing quickly. Return to the text often enough that its people, events, and questions become familiar.
Notes
- Bible translations and interpretation can differ by denomination and tradition, so compare this guide with your church’s official guidance.
- Mark and Luke are two useful places to begin. If another Gospel helps you keep reading, start there instead.
Sources and further reading
- Checked on
- 2026-08-05
- How this guide was prepared
- The linked sources support the statements about Scripture and the Bible passages. The practical reading steps are suggestions from HolyHoly.
- What this guide does not cover
- Use this beginner’s plan alongside your church’s teaching or a Bible study when you need help with doctrine and interpretation.