Best Bible Reading Plans for Beginners in 2026

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time and one of the least-finished. For beginners, its 66 books, ancient culture, and varied literary genres can feel like stepping into a foreign country without a map. But with the right plan, it becomes the most alive and relevant book you've ever read.

1. Start With the Gospels

The single best advice for any Bible beginner: start with the Gospel of Mark. It's the shortest of the four Gospels, written with fast-paced urgency, and puts you immediately in the presence of Jesus. Read a chapter a day and you'll finish in sixteen days.

After Mark, move to John — the most theological of the Gospels and one of the most beautiful books ever written. Then Luke (for the most complete narrative), then Matthew (for the Jewish context).

2. The Bible Project Reading Plan

The Bible Project offers a structured, academically informed reading plan that walks you through all 66 books with literary and theological context. Each section is paired with their excellent animated video explainers, making even difficult books like Leviticus or Revelation accessible and engaging.

3. Chronological Bible Reading Plan

This plan rearranges the Bible's content into roughly historical order, helping you see the grand narrative arc from creation to new creation. It takes a year at about fifteen minutes a day and gives you the richest overall view of scripture.

4. One Chapter a Day

For absolute beginners, there is no shame in the simplest possible plan: one chapter a day, starting at Genesis or Matthew. The entire Bible is 1,189 chapters. At one chapter a day, you finish in just over three years. Every chapter is a win.

5. Topical Reading Plans

Many beginners find it easier to enter the Bible through a topic that's personally relevant — anxiety, prayer, relationships, identity, purpose. Topical plans curate passages around a single theme, letting you see what the whole Bible says about what matters most to you right now.

Tips for Sticking With Your Plan

• Read at the same time every day to build automaticity
• Don't try to understand everything — some passages take years to appreciate
• Use a modern translation like the NIV, ESV, or NLT for readability
• Journal one sentence about what you read — it dramatically improves retention
• Use an app like Scripture Mate to get a daily verse as a warm-up before your reading plan