10 Questions New Bible Students Often Ask—And How to Get Started

#1 – Where should I start reading the Bible? 

The Bible is a collection of 66 books written over the course of almost 1,500 years. When we first begin reading the Bible, we have to ask: Where should I even begin? Do we start at the beginning? Do we start in the middle—at the New Testament? Should we pick a practical book, or do we read for the greater story? 

The honest answer is: You can begin wherever you wish. The Bible isn’t a novel that requires you to read it from beginning to end. Here are some ideas to get you started: 

• Begin with Genesis if you’d like to learn how God created the world and established His purposes and promises with humanity. 
• Begin with Mark if you’d like a short, punchy overview of the life and teachings of Jesus. 
• Begin with John if you’d like a deeper understanding of who Jesus is as the Messiah and Son of God. 
• Begin with Romans if you’d like a broad introduction to the gospel—the good news about Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. 

Don’t worry about missing out on parts of Scripture. One of the beauties of Bible study is that it is meant to last a lifetime. 

#2 – How is the Bible Organized? 

If you are completely new to Scripture, it’s helpful to understand how it’s structured. The Bible isn’t one homogeneous book—it includes six to eight primary literary genres, including historical narrative, law, poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, Gospels, letters (also called epistles), and apocalyptic literature. These different genres appear throughout the Bible, with some books containing multiple genres. 

It is organized into two groups called the Old and New Testament—testament being another word for covenant or promise. The Old Testament, containing 39 books in the Protestant Bible, chronicles God’s covenant with the Israelite people. This group includes the Torah, or law of Moses, the historical narratives of Israel, the psalms and wisdom literature, and a large section of prophecy. The New Testament, containing 27 books, records the ministry of Jesus, the establishment of the Church, and the teaching of the apostles concerning the new covenant. This group includes the Gospels, the epistles of Paul and other early church leaders, and the book of Revelation. 

Each book of the Bible has since been divided up into chapters and verses for ease in locating specific passages. Chapters were added in AD 1205 and verses in AD 1448 through AD 1551. The first Bible with both was the Geneva Bible published in AD 1560. 

#3 – Who Wrote the Bible? 

The Bible was written by about 40 people over the course of roughly 1,500 years. This doesn’t mean that it is a collection of random thoughts, opinions, and stories. God was working through each author, inspiring them to write according to His purposes. This is why the Bible is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV).

#4 – Can I trust the Bible? 

It’s reasonable to ask whether the Bible we have today accurately reflects what was originally written. The Bible was written by many authors over hundreds of years and was copied and passed down long before the printing press existed.

Fortunately, we have thousands of ancient biblical manuscripts and fragments that allow scholars to compare copies and study how the text was transmitted. While manuscripts contain some differences, the vast majority are minor variations such as spelling, word order, or copying mistakes, and the evidence gives us a strong basis for understanding the biblical text. 

Historical and archaeological evidence can also help us evaluate people, places, and events described in Scripture. Manuscript, historical, and archaeological evidence can help us understand how Scripture has been transmitted and confirm details of its historical setting. These tools can strengthen our confidence as we study, but our faith rests ultimately on God and His revealed Word.

If you want to explore these questions more deeply, Disciple Collective’s “Can I Trust the Bible?” course examines the historical reliability, manuscript evidence, translation, and other questions surrounding the Bible’s trustworthiness.

Want to go deeper?

Can I Trust the Bible? — a free, eight-module online course from Disciple Collective exploring questions about the Bible’s historical reliability, scientific skepticism, translation, contradictions, morality, inspiration, and authority. → Register here

#5 – What Translation of the Bible Should I Use?

The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. In the 2,000 years since Jesus walked this earth, the Bible has been fully translated into at least 805 languages. Portions of the Bible have been translated into almost 4,167 (!) languages out of roughly 7,396 known languages worldwide. There are 450 to 900 distinct English translations, revisions, and paraphrases of the Bible created since William Tyndale’s New Testament of 1526. 

When it comes to English translations, where do we even begin? 

Most modern-day translations are very accurate. Translators start with the original manuscripts and meticulously translate each phrase in collaboration with scholars. So we can choose our translation based on our goals for reading the texts. Translations can be placed on a sliding scale from word-for-word to thought-for-thought. 

Word-for-word translations focus on translating each word with an emphasis on fidelity to the original meaning of each word rather than readability. Thought-for-thought tries to strike a balance between the overall meaning of the passage and modern-day readability. 

Existing outside this spectrum are paraphrases—which are just that. Paraphrases are more likely to have the specific author’s biases come through the text. 

Some excellent translations to choose from are: 

• New International Version (NIV) is a good choice for readers who prioritize smooth, accessible English. It is especially approachable for someone who is newer to Bible reading.
• Christian Standard Version (CSB) is a good middle-ground option, aiming to balance accuracy to the original languages with natural, readable English. This translation is good for both personal study and everyday reading (and is the one I personally use).
• English Standard Version (ESV) is a good choice for readers who want a fairly literal translation while still having readable modern English. It is often useful for careful study and memorization. 
• New American Standard Bible (NASB) is a good choice for readers who want a more word-for-word translation for close Bible study. Its more literal approach can make it useful when you want to pay attention to the wording of a passage.

If you’re new to Bible study, choose a reliable translation that you can understand and read consistently. When studying an important or difficult passage, compare more than one translation and, when possible, consult the underlying Hebrew or Greek through a trustworthy study resource.

#6 – How Do I Know What a Passage Means?

When you open up your Bible, you may feel lost in a sea of words. How are you supposed to take what you are reading and learn something from it—and internalize it so that it changes your life? 

When we read the Bible, we are interpreting it. This means we need to ask ourselves some basic questions that help us to understand the passage better. This list will get you started: 

• What does the passage say?
• What does it mean in its context?
  • Who wrote it? 
  • To whom? 
  • Why? 
  • What comes before and after? 
  • What kind of writing is it? 
• How should I respond?
  • What does this teach me about God?
  • What does this teach me about His purposes?
  • How should this shape my faith and obedience?

By asking yourself these questions, you will better understand the context of the passage. This will help you to draw out the meaning of the passage.

#7 – What Do I Do When the Bible Is Difficult to Understand?

Some passages of the Bible are fairly straightforward, but others are difficult to understand. And that’s okay.

When you come to a Bible passage that you don’t understand, it’s helpful to remember these points: 

1. The Bible is not primarily a book about us. It is God’s revelation of Himself, His purposes, and His plan for humanity.
2. The Bible is a book that we can study for a lifetime and still learn something new. We’re not meant to understand everything on our first pass through. 
3. The Bible isn’t just a static book. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) says the word is “living and active.” Scripture continues to speak to us because God’s truth does not change, even though our circumstances do.

When you don’t understand a passage, you can slow down, read the surrounding context, compare related passages, use good study resources, and ask mature believers. Consistency in study will bring about deep understanding when done over the years. 

#8 – Does the Bible Contradict Itself?

At times, it may seem like the Bible contradicts itself. When we are involved in deep study, seeing these contradictions can be scary: Can I trust the Bible? How can the Bible be true if there are contradictions?

We don’t need to be afraid of apparent contradictions. Often, what initially appears to be a contradiction may have a reasonable explanation when we examine the context, language, historical setting, and purpose of the passage. Rather than avoiding these places in Scripture, we can investigate them. 

The Disciple Collective 8-module course, “Can I Trust the Bible?”, dives deeper into these apparent contradictions and will give you the tools you need to analyze those portions of Scripture more deeply. 

#9 – How Do I Build a Consistent Bible Study Habit?

If you are a new Bible student, you may be trying to learn as much content about the Bible as you can. But consistency is what matters in the long run. 

How can you build a consistent Bible study habit? Here are some tips to help you get in the Word every day: 

1. Find a plan to read through the Bible a little each day. 
2. Gather your Bible and maybe a journal, some pens, and other Bible study tools in one place. 
3. Make an appointment each day at the same time to do the next day’s reading. 

One great resource for a plan plus excellent devotions to go along with each day’s readings is SeekGrowLove, a site dedicated to helping you grow by reading the Bible in a year. 

Inevitably, something will happen that may make you miss your daily Bible study time. If that happens, don’t give up! Just do the next day’s reading on the next day you can. 

#10 – Where Can I Go to Learn More About the Bible?

After you begin to study your Bible, you may start to desire more. You may want to understand not only what the Bible says, but how its teachings fit together and how they shape the way you live as a follower of Jesus. If you want to go deeper in your study through a structured Bible education, consider Atlanta Bible College. 

Atlanta Bible College, based in McDonough, GA, offers in-person and online classes on doctrine and theology, biblical studies, and pastoral ministry. Atlanta Bible College offers students the opportunity to study Scripture carefully, develop sound methods of Bible study, and build a stronger understanding of biblical theology. Students can explore the Bible’s teaching about the Kingdom of God, understand Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, and grow in their ability to read and understand Scripture within its larger story.

Whether you choose to get your bachelor’s degree, obtain a Foundation Year Certificate, or just take a few courses, you will walk away from your time with the skills and knowledge you need to be a careful student of Scripture who can faithfully live out the truths of Scripture—and train others to do the same. 

Looking for more structured Bible education?

Atlanta Bible College offers Bible and theology courses designed to develop biblical knowledge and sound methods of Bible study. → Learn more here. 

Or, explore The Disciple Collective’s course, Can I Trust the Bible?