We believe the Bible is God’s word – and that as his people, everything we believe should be shaped by it – but it can be a hard book to get going with. We’d love to help you read and engage with God’s word, so on this page we’ll be pointing you in the direction of some resources to help you do that.
Which translation do I use?
Every English Bible we have is translated from the Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew that it was originally written in. Good translations will all aim to get across the meaning and content of the original, although they may vary in style and phrasing.
We would recommend both the English Standard Version (ESV) and New International Version (NIV). They are both written in plain, modern English, and as well as printed books, both have an app you can download and read on your phone or listen to the Bible read out.
There are some versions – like ‘the Message’ or ‘the Amplified Bible’ – which can be helpful to read alongside another translation, but which aren’t best used as a Bible themselves. If you’re going to use a different translation, we suggest that you do a little research or ask around to make sure it’s legitimate, as some versions may present themselves as being genuine, but aren’t actually faithful translations.
Where do I start?
You can start where you like! We believe that the Bible is written for all people – and that whatever you read in it can do you good, even where it’s hard to get your head around. That said, there’s lots of things you can do to help you get the most out of it.
For many people, the most straightforward place to start is to read one of the four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. These are eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus, recording things that he did and said, including his death and resurrection.
Study Guides
We often find it helpful to use study Bibles – where you have the full text of the Bible, but with some notes to help explain what the passage is talking about. They can help you learn more about when that part of the Bible was written, where it is set, where it sits within the bigger story of the Bible and more. You can buy a study Bible for both of the translations we recommended above.
Overviews
The Bible isn’t just a set of disconnected passages and letters – it’s actually one incredibly put together piece of writing that tells us the one big story of God, his creation, our rebellion, and his plans throughout all of history to restore all things through his son, Jesus. If all you read is the New Testament, you’ll miss out on so much – but it can be hard when you start out to find your place in that big story. A study Bible is a great help, as is the experience of those who are more familiar with the Bible than you are.
Another helpful resource are the videos that the Bible Project have put together – the following two videos give an overview of the big story of the Old and New Testament – but they’ve got lots of other videos which will help you explore and appreciate the Bible.
Watch: TaNaK / Old Testament / Hebrew Bible Overview Video | BibleProject™
Watch: New Testament Book Overview Video | BibleProject™
Different kinds of book?
One other thing to be aware of is that the Bible is made up of lots of different types of writing – historical accounts, poems, prophetic visions, even something called apocalyptic writing. If you read a poem as if it’s a historical account, you can get in a muddle – so here’s some more helpful videos from both Adam and the Bible Project to help you find your footing.
How to Read the Bible? Why is it important that we learn how to read the Bible? (Part 1) – YouTube
Watch: How to Read the Bible Video Series | BibleProject™