Are you a new Christian who wants to start reading the Bible? Or maybe you have been a Christian for a while and you think it’s time to know what God says in His Word.
You may be wondering what’s the best order to read the Bible for the first time or what’s the best way to read the Bible for better understanding?
Well, you have come to the right place because that’s what I’m discussing today. I will also share with you some tips to help you along the way.
But first, let’s talk about what’s the best way to read the Bible.
Best Way To Read The Bible
The best way to read the Bible depends on your goal.
1) Do you want to read the entire Bible in the order in which the events actually took place?
Then the best way to do this is to read the Bible in a chronological order. This will help you to have a better understanding of what happened throughout history.
2) Do you want to read the whole Bible based on themes or subject matters?
Then the best way is to read it as it is written. This is referred to as the canonical order.
3) Or do you want to read all of the Bible based on when the books were actually written?
Then the best way to read the Bible is by following the historical Bible reading plan.
Personally, I prefer to read the Bible in the Chronological order because it makes way more sense in that order.
I think it’s the best way to read the Bible for better understanding and the best order to read the Bible for the first time.
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Why I Prefer the Chronological Order
So here is the fact. The books of the Bible are arranged based on their subject matter and this is often referred to as the canonical order.
As a result the Bible is not arranged chronologically which means that it is not arranged in the order in which the events occurred.
The Old Testament contains 39 books and it is canonically arranged in this order:
- The Law (Genesis – Deuteronomy)
- Historical books (Joshua -Esther)
- Poetry (Job- Songs of Solomon)
- Major Prophets (Isaiah-Daniel)
- Minor Prophets (Hosea-Malachi)
The New Testament contains 27 books and it is canonically arranged in the following order:
- The Gospels (Matthew-John)
- Historical book (Acts)
- The Letters (Romans – Jude)
- The Book of Vision (Revelation)
If you read the Bible as it is written, you will realize that you’re reading the same stories in different books.
Example
For example, some of the accounts of historical events recorded in 1 Kings are also in 2 Chronicles. If you read it in the canonical order, you may get confused because you may think that the same event happened twice.
But that’s not the case. It’s just that there are two different records of the same event.
When you read the Bible chronologically, it will be much easier to realize that it’s the same event but different authors.
This is more evident in the New Testament because the first four books (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are focused on the life of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, you will read the same accounts in some of the books because all four authors are writing about the same person….Jesus!
However, some authors are more detailed in their accounts. Hence reading it chronologically will help you to compare their accounts and get additional details which will help you to understand the context more.
Shocking Discovery
One of the most shocking things that I discovered while reading the Bible chronologically is that Ezra and Nehemiah should be the last two books that you read in the Old Testament.
However, in the canonical order, they are placed 15th and 16th respectively out of the 39 books.
Ezra and Nehemiah cover the events that happened after the destruction of the first temple and the Babylonian captivity.
Consequently, they will only make sense after reading about the prophetic warnings of judgment, the destruction of the temple and the Babylonian captivity.
These events are captured in the books that come after Ezra and Nehemiah if you follow the canonical order.
So if you want to read the Bible chronologically instead of canonically, here is a link to a Chronological Bible Reading Plan taken from Bible Study Tools website.
And if you want to start reading the entire Bible, here are my top tips to help you along the way.
Top Tips For Reading The Whole Bible
If I could go back and give my younger self some advice on reading all of the Bible, this is what I would want to know.
1) Choose a translation that you understand
You may have heard that the King James Version is the best translation or the translation that every Christian should read.
It is believed that it is one of the most accurate translations. However, it is written in Old English which can be quite hard to understand.
The truth is that if you don’t understand what you’re reading, you’re going to get bored and lose interest and motivation.
Because you won’t get much benefit from it and you won’t see the point of doing it. Also how will you be able to apply the Word if you don’t understand what it’s saying.
Remember God wants us to be doers of the Word not just hearers.
Reading the Bible is not just about ticking off a goal or completing something on your bucket list. The purpose is to know God and to live according to His way which is the best way.
That’s why you need a translation that you can understand.
Here are some translations you can read. You can try reading them online to see if you understand them before purchasing physical copies.
Alternative translations to King James Version
- New King James Version (NKJV)
- New International Version (NIV)
- English Standard Version (ESV)
- New Living Translation (NLT)
- Amplified Bible (AMP)
I absolutely love The Message Version but I don’t recommend that you read it if it’s your first time reading the Bible. It is highly paraphrased but very easy to understand.
So it’s best to start with one of the translations above and then you can read The Message version alongside or afterwards.
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2) Decide on a specific time to read the Bible
My next tip is to choose a specific time of day to read the Bible and stick to it.
This will help you to cultivate a habit that you can stick to.
You can also use an alarm to remind you that it’s time to read the Word.
I like to read the Bible first thing in the morning before the distractions start to pop up.
But you may find it easier to read during your lunch time or in the evening.
It depends on your schedule and level of alertness. You want to choose a time that you will be alert and awake so you can pay full attention.
Related Article: 25 Best Bible Verses To Memorize
3) Choose a Bible reading plan
My next tip is to choose a Bible reading plan. This will help you to know exactly what to read each day.
If you want to read the entire Bible then you can choose one of the following plans:
You can also look for other reading plans that are focused on topics or books of the Bible. Here are a few:
If you want to see more reading plans then you can visit the Bible Study Tools Website by clicking here.
4) Be consistent
My final tip is to be consistent. If you miss a day, keep going.
You don’t have to read the entire Bible in 1 year. You can take 16 months or even 24 months.
Remember the goal is to know God and live according to His way.
You can even ask a friend to keep you accountable if that will help you to stay consistent.
If you want to learn more about my experience of reading the entire Bible and the unique lessons I learned, then make sure to check out this YouTube video.
Takeaway
I hope you got some tips that will help you to read the Bible.
If you really want to get to know God and grow your faith in Him then reading your Bible is essential.
If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior but you believe that He died for your sins and you’re ready to accept His free gift of eternal life, say this prayer:
Dear Jesus,
I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that You died for my sins and that God raised You from the dead. Forgive me of all my sins; come into my heart today and live forever. Give me a home in Heaven when I die. Help me to obey you. Amen.
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, welcome to the family of God.
And if you would like Bible Study Sheets to help you study the Bible in a simple yet effective way, you can download these FREE SOAP Bible Study Sheets.
