Explore the Bible

explore the bible

First steps

The Bible can feel like a big and sometimes confusing book, but it is really a wonderful place to begin a journey with God. The word “Bible” means “book,” yet it is more than a single book. It is a library of 66 books, written by many different people over hundreds of years.

The first 39 books are called the Old Testament, and the last 27 are called the New Testament. Within these books you will find history, poetry, letters, and stories of faith. The Old Testament tells how God made the world, cared for his people, and promised that one day he would send Jesus. The New Testament tells us about the life of Jesus and what it means for us today and for the future.

Finding a Bible

There are many different versions of the Bible. Some use older language that can feel beautiful but may be hard to understand. Others are written in more everyday English, which makes them easier to read.

If you do not already have a Bible, you can find one for free online. A good place to begin is Bible Gateway, which lets you search for passages and compare different versions. Another helpful option is the Easy English Bible, which has been written in simple language so that anyone can follow the story.

Some people enjoy having a printed Bible to hold and mark with notes. Others prefer using a phone, tablet, or computer. There is no right or wrong way. The important thing is to find a version that helps you hear God speaking to you.

Begin with the gospels

A good place to begin is with the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are called the Gospels. They tell the story of Jesus’ life on earth—his teaching, his healing, his birth, which we celebrate at Christmas, and his death and resurrection, which we remember at Easter.

The Gospels help us see who Jesus is. They show us that he is God’s Son, sent to reveal what God is like and how much he loves us. Jesus came so that we need not be far from God anymore. He gave his life so that our sins could be forgiven, and so that we might know God as our Father and friend.

Mark’s Gospel is often the easiest way in. It is the shortest of the Gospels and moves quickly through the story of Jesus. You might like to read a few verses each day and take time to think about what they mean.

Going Deeper

For many of us, the Bible is not new. We may have read parts of it for years. Yet the Bible is a book we can never finish exploring. It is like a well that never runs dry. Every time we return, God has something fresh to show us.

There are different ways of reading the Bible that can help us go deeper. Sometimes it helps to read slowly, just a few verses, allowing the words to sink in and speak to our hearts. At other times it is good to read larger sections to see the bigger picture and how the story of God unfolds.

Some people like to imagine themselves inside the story, asking, “What would it feel like to be here with Jesus?” Others find it helpful to look at the background and explore who wrote this book, when, and why? Then see how that sheds light on its meaning today.

There are wonderful books that can guide us in this, such as How to Eat Bread by Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, which explores creative ways to approach Scripture. Writers like Tom Wright open up the Bible with wisdom and clarity, showing how it points us to Jesus and to the hope of God’s kingdom.

The key is not to feel that there is only one right way to read the Bible. It is God’s gift to us, and he meets us through it in many ways. As you read, take time to ask, “What is God saying to me here, and how might I live it out?”

Practical ideas to try