In some ways, because the Bible works as a whole document, you can start wherever you like, as long as you are prepared to ask questions and keep reading until you get the answers. I know that this is not a usual response to the ‘where to start?’ question but I am thinking of a certain Ethiopian official who had attended a Jewish feast and according to Acts 8 was returning from Jerusalem, riding in a chariot and reading the writings of Isaiah.
Now the Old Testament prophetic books are not usually the recommended starting point for reading through the bible, but look at what happened. He was soon joined by someone who could explain it and he trusted in Christ and lived a changed life. Theoretically, then, you could start by reading what the official was reading in Isaiah 53 or start by reading his story in Acts 8.
Both are in the bible and both could lead you to a life-transforming encounter with God. But I guess the question is more about ‘where do I start if I want to read the bible cover-to-cover?’ and here is a story that I think will help.
“Where do I start if I want to read the bible cover-to-cover?”
Some years back when on holiday with my grandchildren, they decided I needed a Star Wars binge in order to bring me into their world. They discussed whether I should experience the six films then available in the order they had been released or with the prequels first.
Sadly they chose to give me the prequels first and I have regretted it ever since. There is something in me that would have loved to have dived in and filled in the backstory later, but they weren’t to know. Evidently, grandfathers need Star Wars served up chronologically in case we get confused as to where we are on the timeline. Well, some grandfathers may be like that, but not this one.
Such differences are legitimate and, as the bible is arranged in a library style, it can cater for all tastes. You just need to know what is on each of the notional library shelves in order to make an informed choice.
For those who like to begin with the backstory
If we go cover-to-cover, the Old Testament takes us through from creation to the arrival of Jesus. There are 39 books in the Old Testament. The first section is history, pretty much in date order with a few reruns. Chronicles covers the same timespan as Samuel and Kings and that is pretty much true for Exodus and Numbers too, with Leviticus and Deuteronomy joining them roughly in the same time slot.
If you read from Genesis to Esther you will have seen a lot that God sowed into history to prepare for the coming of Christ as our Saviour, Mediator, High Priest, Sacrifice, Judge, Champion, King, Kingdom builder, Victor and Restorer. That could be a good starting point.
If you start in the middle of the Old Testament, you’ll have plenty to get your head around with Job and Ecclesiastes, but you will find much to identify with in the Psalm, Proverbs and perhaps even the Song of Solomon. Knowing the history will help you with the context of these books but starting with Job could work for the poets among us.
I’ve already referred to Isaiah and his book is the first of the prophetic books. The early prophetic books of Isaiah Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel are roughly in chronological order, relating to the time of the Kings, the exile and restoration.
The others you have to work a bit harder to fit in chronologically, but they all provide amazing insights into God’s heart, and the last prophetic book, Malachi, is well positioned to set the scene for the New Testament.
For those who like to dive straight into the main action
The New Testament only has 27 books so it is shorter. It is roughly chronological and has reruns, in that the four gospels all cover the same time period. After they have set out the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the book of Acts moves us on to the early life of the church.
This is also reflected in the letters sent out by the early church leaders. Paul’s longer letters come first, followed by his shorter ones (including the ones he wrote from prison), and his ones addressed personally. After Paul’s letters, we have one to the Hebrews, one from James, two from Peter, three from John and one from Jude before we get to the Revelation.
Now, since watching my first six Star Wars films I have been taken to the cinema by the grandchildren on a number of occasions to see sequels. When we get to Revelation you will realise that you have reached the end of what God wants to say in written form, as in its final chapters Revelation sets out God’s ultimate plan of total victory and total restoration.
You won’t have to go around looking for the bible volume 2! Just read it all over again, and then again and again, because it’s that kind of book. In fact, it’s more ‘that kind of book’ than any book you’ll ever find because every time you read it you’ll learn something new, and, more importantly, what it says will go in deeper
For those who want to gain the most
So wherever you start on your journey with the bible I want you to travel with an open heart and mind. Remember the man in the chariot. He could have read as a know-all, thinking back to where he’d come from as a highly regarded Ethiopian official who had just visited Jerusalem. Instead, he reached out and found life.
I am more interested in where you end up than where you start. There are some important words of Jesus recorded in John 5:29-40 ‘You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life’.
Enjoy the bible and come to Jesus for the LIFE!