Where Do I Start Studying the Bible?

The other day I got a new Bible that I was wanting to study from. Then I came across a problem, “Where do I start studying the Bible?” I’m sure you’ve had the same question. So, I asked around and did some research to find the common places that people start. This is what I found.

The best place to start studying the Bible is wherever you feel most comfortable and engaged. That said, if you do a quick poll of your Christian friends you’ll get responses like: Matthew, John, or Genesis. There are pros and cons to each book. Personally, I believe Matthew to be a great place to start studying the Bible.

Why Study the Bible

Before we discover the best place to study the Bible, we ought to ask why we need to study the Bible in the first place.

First, we can study the Bible because that is how God chooses to reveal Himself to us.

There are two types of ways that God reveals Himself to us. One is through what scholars call general revelation. This is things about God’s character and nature that we can see through creation. His power, omnipotence, omniscience, etc. Psalm 19:1 reads,

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

The second type of way that God chooses to reveal Himself is through what’s called special revelation. Specifically, His word and Jesus.

God has taken the time in history to speak to us through His word. Hebrews 1:1-2 reads,

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 

Hebrews 1:1-2

Scripture are the recorded words and stories of the prophets, of Jesus and of His followers. So, we ought to study the Bible because that’s how God has chosen to reveal Himself.

Second, we should study the Bible because it helps us grow in faith and love for God. Because the Bible is how God reveals Himself, we can grow closer to God when we spend time with Him in His word.

Our faith can grow when we see the examples of the faith and righteousness of those who have gone before us. Hebrews 12:1 reads,

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

We have the privilege and honor of seeing historical people’s relationship with God on display through the Bible. We get to study their relationship with God, to see how grew closer to God. Their faith was challenged like our faith can be challenged, but we can see how they persevered in faith and love for God. And this can be a great encouragement to us.

Third, we can study the Bible for ourselves. God created us to be in a relationship with Him. This means that the best version of ourselves is who we are when we are in a close and intimate relationship with God.

God uses His word to guide us and teach us to become the best versions of ourselves, to become more and more like Christ. The Bible says that God’s word is living and active and sharper than a two edged sword, judging attitudes and thoughts (Hebrews 4:12).

The Bible is also profitable for teaching and training in doing right (2 Timothy 3:16-17). So, we can study the Bible to grow more like Christ.

So, now we see why it is important to study the Bible. Because it’s how God reveals Himself to us, how we grow in faith and love toward God, and it’s how we become the best version of ourselves (who God made us to be).

Now, I bet you are wondering where do I start? Where do i start studying the Bible?

Where to Start Studying the Bible

If you were to go around and ask your Christian friends where the best place to start studying the Bible is you would get a variety of responses and opinions. So, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of a few of the common responses you may get.

Matthew

Undoubtedly some of your friends will recommend you start with the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew is one of four gospels that tell the story of Jesus and His followers. Matthew provides a great overview of Jesus life and teachings. Some of Jesus’ most famous teachings are found in Matthew, such as the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew is the first of the four gospels so it would make sense to start there. However, Matthew was written to a Jewish audience. So, Matthew wrote with the understanding that his readers would have some Jewish background and knowledge. This can make Matthew a little harder of a place to start if you are completely new to Christianity.

PROS:

• Comprehensive: Matthew covers the entire life of Jesus from His birth to His death and resurrection. It’s a great comprehensive introduction to Jesus and the Christian faith.
• Easy to Read: Matthew is written in an easy to read style that is simple and clear, making it a great starting point for new believers.
• Familiarity: Many of the famous stories or teachings of Jesus are found in Matthew. This makes Matthew a great place to start, because it is a familiar starting point for those who have some knowledge of Christianity.
• Chronological: The book of Matthew follows a chronological order of Jesus’ life and teaching. This makes it easy to follow along.

CONS:

• Lack of perspective: Matthew is only one of four gospels. Each gospel presents the life of Jesus in a different way (Matthew presents Jesus as a King).
• Jewish Audience: Mattew was written to a Jewish audience. This means he writes with the understanding that his audience will automatically see certain connections to the life of Jesus that a non-Jewish person would not catch.

Genesis

Other Christian friends would recommend you start with Genesis.

Genesis is the first book in the Bible. It’s a book of beginning. The beginning of life, marriage, nations, etc. Starting with the book of Genesis could be helpful in understanding the overall narrative of the Bible and the origins of humanity.

Genesis is where we are introduced to why we need Jesus in the first place–our sinfulness. Throughout Genesis we see God promise a solution.

PROS:

• Foundation: Genesis is the foundation of the rest of the Bible. If you are going to read a book, where do you start? At the beginning, right?
• Rich in Stories: Genesis is full of stories that people who’ve grown up in church are familiar with: Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, etc.
• Historical Context: Genesis helps provide historical context to the rest of the Bible. Genesis can help us think the way someone in the ancient near east would.
• Relatable Themes: Genesis deals with relatable themes like family, relationships, temptation, etc making it relevant to readers today.

CONS:

• Complex themes: Genesis does contain some complex themes and stories that could make it a harder place to begin studying. These concepts may include: How and why Adam and Eve’s sin affects us all and the story of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.
• Literary Style: Genesis is an old, old book. It was not written in a more modern literary style. There is poetic language and symbolism that could be hard to interpret.
• Cultural Context: Because Genesis is so old the its cultural context is completely different than what we have in the western world. Thus, it could be difficult to relate to the ancient customs and practices.

John

Lastly, your friends may recommend the book of John. John is another of the four gospels, that tell the story of Jesus’ life and ministry.

The first three gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are what is called synoptic gospels. This means they describe Jesus’ life and ministry from a similar approach. John, however, takes a completely different approach.

John is writing to the whole world in order to testify to the truth that Jesus is our Savior. A lot of famous and memorable verses from the Bible come from the gospel of John.

PROS:

• Focus on Jesus: John is hyper focused on the person and teachings of Jesus. This makes John a great place to start in studying the Bible for the first time.
• Clear and direct: John uses simple metaphors to make it easy to understand complex theological topics. For example, Jesus says I am the good shepherd.
• Theological insights: John is very theologically focused, exploring topics such as Jesus’ divinity, the nature of God, the meaning of life, etc.
• Spiritual Growth: Many people find that the gospel of John helps them grow spiritually and provides guidance for living a more fulfilling life.

CONS:

• Lack of historical context: John is so focused on theological themes and ideas that he is less concerned with historical details. This can make it harder for someone studying John to grasp the often significant historical and cultural context.
• Challenging concepts: John addresses a lot of heavy and challenging concepts. These can include, the trinity, abiding with Christ, eternal life, etc, that can be more difficult to understand.
• Confusing language: There are parts of the gospel of John that has confusing language that could be difficult for readers.

These are the three most frequently mentioned books in the Bible that your friends will recommend as a good starting place to begin studying the Bible.

Where would I start?

The best place to start studying the Bible depends on your personal preferences and goals. Also, you familiarity with Christianity will play a part in the best place to begin.

For me, I’ve grown up in church. I’ve grown up hearing all the bible stories. So, when I sat down to study the bible on my own for the first time, I started with Matthew.

Here’s why: Matthew is the first gospel, it’s easy to read, and it had the Sermon on the Mount in it. I wanted to meditate on the gospel, and how it applies to my life. I also wanted to spend some time studying Jesus’ sermon on the mount. So, that’s where I’d start. But what’s the best place?

The absolute best place to start studying the Bible is where you are interested

Start where you are interested.

Ultimately, the best place to start studying the Bible is wherever you feel most comfortable and engaged. The goal of Bible study is to grow closer to God. So, if we stop studying the Bible, then we quit growing. So, it’s important to start where you are interested. For me, that was Matthew and the Sermon on the Mount.

How to Study the Bible

An easy method to use when starting to study the Bible for the first time is the SOAP Bible Study method. So, let’s take a quick look at it now.

Scripture

First is Scripture. When reading through the passage or chapter of the book you are studying, simply choose a verse that stands out to you. This could be a key verse in the passage or one you want to know more about. Then write it down.

Observation

Second is to make observations. Who’s writing? Who are they writing to? When are they writing? What words or ideas are repeated throughout the passage? What does this passage say about God, people, ourselves?

Application

Third is application. Now we take the overall meaning of our verse that we’ve discovered through making observations, and we apply it to our lives. Is there a sin, we need to confess? A promise we need to remember? Something we need to change in our behavior? Our applications should be specific and achievable.

Prayer

Fourth is prayer. We close out our Bible study time in prayer with God. We can talk to God and thank Him for His word and ask for His help in applying what He’s taught us.

If you want a more in-depth look at the SOAP Bible study method and see an example in how it’s used, then you’ll want to check out this great article I wrote: The Amazing SOAP Bible Study Method Made Simple.

The Amazing SOAP Bible Study Method Made Simple article will walk you through the SOAP Bible study method in more detail and give you an example of what it looks like using a passage of Scripture. There are also some free worksheets you can use at the bottom.