How to Start Reading the Bible

If you have never read the Bible before—or want a fresh start—this guide suggests where to begin and how to use Pro Bible to read online, free and without signing up.

You do not have to start at page one

The Bible is a collection of books, not one long story from start to finish. Many people start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), which tell the life and teaching of Jesus. They are in the New Testament. Others begin at Genesis, the first book, which describes creation and the early history of Israel. Both are valid. Choose based on your interest: the Gospels if you want to meet Jesus first; Genesis if you prefer to follow the order of the books.

On the Read page, select your language and version, then pick the book and chapter. You can change book and chapter anytime.

Reading a little each day

You do not need to read for a long time. Even one chapter—or a single verse—each day can build a habit. Try opening the Daily Verse page each morning for a short passage, or pick one book (e.g. John or Psalms) and read one chapter per day until you finish. Pro Bible lets you use the "Prev" and "Next" links to move through chapters without re-selecting from the dropdowns.

If you miss a day, simply continue from where you left off. The goal is steady, gentle engagement with the text, not speed.

Choosing a translation

Different translations use different wording. The King James Version (KJV) uses older, formal English. The New International Version (NIV) uses modern, everyday language. Both are widely used. If you find one hard to follow, try another from the Translations page. There is no single "best" version—pick one that you can read comfortably.

For more on this, see our guide Understanding Bible Translations.

Using Pro Bible to read

Pro Bible is free and does not require an account. Go to the Read page, choose language, version, book, and chapter, then click Go. You can change the font size or print a passage. For a full walkthrough, see How to use Pro Bible. If you have questions, check our FAQ or contact us.