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How to read the Bible: a simple beginning with a Gospel

If you are opening the Bible for the first time, you do not need to begin with a year-long reading plan. Start with one Gospel, read in order and leave room for questions. This guide offers a practical rhythm for getting to know Jesus through the biblical text.

Where should I start?

We suggest beginning with the Gospel of Mark. Open chapter one and continue in order. This is a reading suggestion, not a rule everyone must follow. If you have already begun John or another Gospel, you can continue where you are.

Choose a Bible translation you can understand and note which one you are using. Our existing Bible page links to reading resources. When a word is unfamiliar, first look at the surrounding sentences. One difficult phrase does not need to stop your reading.

How do Bible references work?

Mark 4:35–41 means the Gospel of Mark, chapter four, verses 35 through 41. The number before the colon is the chapter; the numbers after it are the verses.

A reference helps you find a passage, but a verse boundary is not always the end of a thought. Read the neighbouring verses too, especially when a sentence connects back to something already said.

Four steps for each reading

1. Read. Choose a passage short enough to give it your attention. Reading aloud may help.
2. Notice. Who is present? What do they say and do? Write what the passage gives you without filling gaps with guesses.
3. Reflect. What does this passage show about Jesus? Which questions deserve more study?
4. Respond. Bring a question, prayer or expression of thanks to God. Consider one practical response connected to what you have read.

A plan for your first seven readings

Read Mark 1, then Mark 2, continuing through Mark 7. One chapter can be one day’s reading, but you can divide a chapter into shorter passages. Attention matters more than speed.

After each reading, write down one observation from the text, one question and one sentence of prayer or thanks. At the end of the seventh reading, review your notes. Have later chapters helped answer an earlier question? Which questions still need attention?

Continue with Mark 8 rather than starting over every time. If you miss a day, simply return to the place where you stopped. The plan is there to help you build a habit, not to become another burden.

What if I do not understand a passage?

Read the paragraph before and after it. Notice whether you are reading a narrator’s explanation, a person’s speech or a question. A statement made by someone in the story is not automatically the conclusion of the author.

If you compare translations, compare the whole sentence rather than one isolated word. You do not need to resolve every difficulty immediately. Mark the passage and discuss it with someone who knows the Bible, asking how their explanation connects to its context.

From reading to everyday faith

When a verse becomes especially meaningful, learn its reference as well as its wording. Read the surrounding passage first so that the words stay connected to their meaning. Return to the passage when you pray or reflect on how to respond.

For a focused study, explore seven miracles of Jesus and their Gospel references. To continue with foundational questions, read Sin, the Good News, and Baptism.

Adapted from the existing Isus je Gospod Serbian guide Kako čitati Bibliju. The seven-reading schedule is an editorial suggestion. Biblical example: Mark 4:35–41.