10 Best Books of the Bible to Start with as a New Believer

1. John

Most pastors and seasoned Christians recommend the Gospel of John as the best place to start when reading the Bible. And for good reason, since John gives a clear view of Jesus, the Word, entering our dark world to save us by becoming a man (see John 1:1-14).

We read about His darkness-shattering work throughout the book as He performs miracles, heals people, and teaches His disciples. Salvation is emphasized, both through explicit statements, like the one found in John 3:16, and implicitly through stories such as the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42) or the blind man (John 9). All this moves to the grand climax in which Jesus is betrayed and handed over to be crucified, bearing our sins. But even then, the darkness could not overcome Christ, the Light of the world. He rose to life and appeared to His disciples.

The central purpose of this Gospel is “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). For new believers, reading John for the first time will give them assurance of their salvation solidly based on Jesus’ death and resurrection. They can know with certainty that they are children of God and possess the gift of eternal life.

John is a great place to start and a book that Christians will continually turn back to in their lifelong study of Scripture.

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2. Mark

Why is Mark second on our list, when Matthew is the first of the four gospels? There is a purpose to these listings, as we will see by the end. However, Mark is a preferable choice for new readers because of its size. With only sixteen chapters, a person can easily read through the book in a few intervals, or even in one sitting.

Also, the original audience for Mark was Gentile Christians. The book does not require as much background knowledge of the Old Testament. Rather, it succinctly presents the life, ministry, and saving work of Christ in ways that we can easily understand through a fast-paced narrative that grips our attention.

Mark shows us that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (see Mark 1:1). He presents a portrait of Jesus as the Suffering Servant who came to save us (Mark 10:45). Our Lord already knew that He would be handed over to be crucified and killed – dying to save humankind is the reason He entered the world. Yet, in these predictions, He also mentioned His resurrection on the third day (Mark 8:31; 9:30-31; 10:32-34).

We need not think, though, that because Mark is the shortest that it is simple or without spiritual vitality. For example, this book’s unique portrait of Jesus as the Suffering Son of Man who came to save us shows the importance of serving others. Individuals who want to be “great,” should seek to follow Christ’s example of being a servant to others (Mark 10:42-45). In Mark, we receive practical insights into what it means to follow Jesus.

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3. Luke

Luke was a doctor and set out to write an orderly account of Jesus’ life and ministry. He addressed the Gospel to Theophilus with the intention “that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:4, NIV). All believers can benefit from this book since we, too, can be certain that the events recorded were researched and confirmed.

In this account, we receive a detailed look at the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. We read about the virgin Mary whose faith sustained her during the tumultuous time of her pregnancy and the miraculous birth of Christ (see Luke 1:38). From the first announcement of Jesus’ coming to the blessing given by Simeon at the temple, His identity as Savior and King was emphasized (Luke 1:31-33; 2:29-32).

A unique aspect of Luke’s Gospel is the reiteration of Christ’s innocence during His trial and crucifixion (Luke 23:4). Jesus was and is the sinless Son of God. The flogging and painful death He experienced were undeserved, but He endured the suffering for our benefit.

New readers will find the book helpful in introducing them to the truth that all Scripture points to Christ (Luke 24:27). The Son of God fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.

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4. Acts

Both Luke and Acts have the same author and were intended to be read together. Readers learn further details about Jesus’ commands before His ascension and the Apostles’ period of waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. After the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in tongues of fire, the church began to grow (Acts 2:1-4).

Acts is a page-turner, inviting us into the early days of the church as the Apostles obeyed Jesus’ command to take the good news to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and all the world (Acts 1:8). Not only do we read about familiar people like Peter and John, we also meet new individuals: Barnabas, the encourager, who sold a part of his property and laid all the money at the feet of the disciples (Acts 4:36-37); Stephen, one of the seven, a young man who stood firm in the faith and was martyred (Acts 6-7); and Saul (Paul), a zealous persecutor turned follower of Christ, who became central to the church and the spread of the gospel (Acts 9:1-30).

Luke was a close friend of Paul and personally recorded his travels with the Apostle in the latter half of the book (Acts 16:10-17; Colossians 4:14).

Believers who have never read the Bible before will find Acts exciting, but also convicting. We read about Christians who loved and served the Lord wholeheartedly. They continued following Jesus even when doing so brought persecution. Like them, we can obey Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The book of Acts challenges us to a greater level of discipleship while also providing us with an essential foundation for studying the rest of the New Testament, especially the letters of Paul.

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5. Genesis

Turning back to the beginning of the Bible may feel jarring after exploring most of the Gospels and the book of Acts. However, Genesis is an important part of Scripture. The New Testament includes frequent references to the people and events in this book. It is also vital throughout the Old Testament narrative.

The first book of the Bible opens with the Lord creating the universe and everything in it (Genesis 1:1). All He created was very good, and God took time to rest from His creative work to delight in what He made (Genesis 1:31; 2:2-3).

Despite the goodness of creation, humans introduced something that corrupted and stained the world – sin. The Lord had told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). They disobeyed Him, and in so doing, brought sin and death to all creation (Genesis 3:6-19). From these first three chapters, we can understand why there is such beauty in our world, but also deep sorrow and evil.

All creation that was once good is now broken, including humans. We no longer have the close relationship that we once had with the Creator. Yet even in this part of Scripture, which is filled with shame and loss, we find hope of the one who will crush the serpent’s head – Jesus’ defeat of sin and death (Genesis 3:15).

Later in Genesis, God sends a worldwide flood but preserves a remnant because of His servant Noah (Genesis 7:1-7). People spread across the world, and the Lord calls out Abraham and makes a covenant with Him (Genesis 11:8-9; 12:1-3). The rest of the book follows the other patriarchs: Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

At the end of the book, Joseph reiterates the promise of God to bring his people into the land He swore to give them (Genesis 50:24-25). This assurance that the Lord would bring them out of Egypt into the land of promise introduces an important theme that continues in the next book of the Bible: Exodus.

Throughout Genesis, readers learn the history of the world and God’s chosen people. These stories are necessary for understanding the rest of the Old Testament and large sections of the New Testament.

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6. Exodus

One event in Israel’s history stands out as representative of God’s redemptive work – the exodus from Egypt. The Old Testament biblical writers constantly returned to the awesome power of the Lord freeing His people from slavery. New Testament writers also drew from this event when detailing the life of Christ.  

The book of Exodus introduces us to Moses and his family, including his brother Aaron and sister Miriam. This man, who was fearful of speaking in front of Pharaoh, was used mightily by God to lead Israel out of bondage. In this book, we learn about the plagues the Lord sent on the Egyptians to prove that He alone is God (Exodus 7:5), as well as amazing miracles, such as the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14).  

Some sections in Exodus are more difficult to understand, including aspects of the Law given to Moses. However, reading the requirements the Lord gave to Israel helps us grow our understanding of the Lord’s holiness and glory. He is the one true God, holy and perfect in every way (Exodus 15:11). The Israelites could only approach Him from a distance because of their sin. Yet, as believers, we can have a direct relationship with the Father because of Jesus’ saving work.

Related Resource: Join the Your Daily Bible Verse Team as They Make Their Way through Exodus!

Your Daily Bible Verse is one of the most popular podcasts for daily Bible reading. Join the team as they make their way through the book of Exodus! Listen to today's episode then be sure to subscribe to Your Daily Bible Verse on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!

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7. Joshua

The other parts of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible, including Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) come before the account of Joshua. Reading this narrative next, though, is a wise choice for first-time readers of the Bible. In the book of Joshua, the Israelites take possession of part of the land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph.

Like Acts, Joshua is a captivating story that compels us to keep reading. We read about Joshua, Moses’ assistant, who takes leadership of the Israelites and guides them into the Promised Land. They cross the Jordan in a similar way that their parents had crossed the Red Sea (Joshua 3), and God miraculously delivers the fortified city of Jericho into their hands (Joshua 5:13-6:27). Through these events and other great acts, the Lord displays His power and upholds His covenant promise.

By the last chapter, we encounter a crossroads. Joshua is about to die and tells the Israelites that they have a choice: Serve the Lord or forsake Him. “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Although this message was given to Israel, believers today can also learn from Joshua’s words.

Alone, we cannot serve a holy God, but since we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, we can walk in obedience and holiness. Like Joshua, we can proclaim that “we will serve the Lord."

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8. Psalms

Unlike the previous books, Psalms is not a narrative. It’s a collection of poetry, written by numerous authors as prayers and praises to the Lord. Though new readers have not yet become acquainted with one of the main authors, David, they can still glean much from this book.

I recommend going through the Psalms slowly, a few at a time. One of the Hebrew words that occurs multiple times throughout this book is “Selah,” which most scholars believe encourages a thoughtful pause. We can stop frequently in our reading to think about the words, offering our prayer or praise to God.

As we read, we will encounter specific Psalms that point forward to Christ. For instance, Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 while He was on the cross. The rest of the psalm also applies to His experience, such as being mocked, feeling thirsty, and having his clothes divided by lots (Psalm 22:6-8, 15, 16-18).

The Psalms also encourage us to express our emotions honestly to the Lord. The sons of Korah wrote of feeling downcast in their souls (Psalm 42-43). At times, the psalmists even expressed intense feelings of sorrow and anger (Psalms 88 and 109). We can learn from these biblical prayers since they show us that we should not be afraid to tell God about our emotions – including the difficult ones that we are prone to avoid.

Psalms is the Christian’s prayer and hymn book combined in one. Whenever we need inspiration to pray or want to worship our Savior, we can open this book and find a psalm that applies to our situation.

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9. Proverbs

Reading Proverbs after Psalms is a strategic choice. Not only have we grown accustomed to a poetic section of Scripture, but we have learned to slow down in our reading. This is vital for studying Proverbs, as there is a substantial amount of teaching packed into thirty-one chapters.

The book of Proverbs is known as wisdom literature. It includes pithy statements of general truths that encourage thoughtful reflection. Often, the ways of the wise (righteous) are contrasted with the ways of the foolish (wicked). Solomon, the main writer of Proverbs, wrote to impart wisdom to his son, and by extension, his readers (Proverbs 1:1-6). All wisdom and knowledge begin with a fear or reverential respect of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7).

When reading this book, though, we must remember that the individual sayings convey blessings that are generally true. We should not take them as steadfast, unbreakable rules. Consider Proverbs 10:6, which says “Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” Those who follow the Lord do receive great spiritual blessings and the promise of future rewards, but this does not mean that believers will have an easy life. We cannot take this verse as a foolproof promise that we will be rich and comfortable, for example. If we think back to what we read about our Lord’s earthly ministry in the Gospels and the lives of early Christians in Acts, then we know that persecution and hardships are to be expected.

Keeping this in mind as we read, we can benefit from the wisdom that this book offers. For it is, at its core, a book that encourages the application of wisdom.

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10. Matthew

Reading the first book of the New Testament after delving into the Old Testament may seem odd, but I placed Matthew as the tenth book for a reason. This Gospel is the most Jewish of the four and is better understood with a background of key Old Testament events.

Matthew traces Jesus’ earthly genealogy to Abraham, the patriarch who received the covenant promise of God (Matthew 1:1-2). He also describes how the virgin Mary and Joseph fled with Christ to Egypt to avoid the murderous intentions of Herod (Matthew 2:13-15). Only after Herod died did Joseph receive the instruction from an angel to return to Israel (Matthew 2:19-21). This fulfilled a prophecy from Hosea but also held the imagery of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Additionally, multiple other areas of Jesus’ life fulfilled Old Testament imagery.

Ending our initial list of Scripture reading with Matthew reemphasizes the preeminent place that Jesus has in the Bible. He is the One whom all the prophecies and redemptive images of the Old Testament point towards. He is the promised seed of the woman, the Messiah, and the King spoken of long ago. He is our Savior whose nail-scarred hands prove His love. He is truly God with us, the One who has saved His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21-23).

Our journey is far from complete, as we will continue to study the Bible throughout our lives and grow in knowledge. Yet these “starting places” have provided a foundation for when we read the other books of the Bible. We will have a solid basis for understanding the story that God is unfolding – one of hope, joy, and redemption of all creation.

As we continue with the Bible in hand, may we not forget to share with others what we learn, telling them about the good news of salvation in Christ. In doing so, we obey Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).

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