What order should I read the Bible in? Four reading orders compared, with a plan for each
What order should I read the Bible in? Compare canonical, chronological, New Testament first and blended orders, each with a one-year plan and daily pace.
In this article
There are four good orders to read the Bible in: canonical (Genesis to Revelation, as printed), chronological (events in the order they happened), New Testament first (then the Old), and blended (some Old and some New Testament every day). Beginners usually do best with New Testament first or blended. Canonical is the simplest to follow. Chronological is best for understanding history, ideally on a second read-through.
No order is "the right one." All 66 books are Scripture whichever way you read them. The best order is the one that fits your goal and that you'll actually keep going with.
Below, each order is explained with its strengths, its weak spots, and a concrete one-year plan with the daily pace. The numbers come from the King James Version: 1,189 chapters, 929 in the Old Testament and 260 in the New.
The four Bible reading orders at a glance
| Order | How it works | Strengths | Watch out for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canonical | Genesis to Revelation, as printed | Simple, no plan needed, follows the Bible's own structure | Long stretches of law and prophecy in the first months | Second-time readers, people who like simple rules |
| Chronological | Books and chapters rearranged by when events happened | Shows how history, prophets and psalms fit together | Requires a plan; dates are often debated | Understanding the story and history |
| New Testament first | All 27 New Testament books, then the Old Testament | Meets Jesus first; early sense of progress | Old Testament later can feel like a long second half | Beginners, new Christians |
| Blended | Some Old and some New Testament every day | Variety every day; never stuck in a hard book for weeks | Two places to track | Busy readers, people who stalled before |
Whatever you pick, a plan helps. The app sets one up at 1 to 5 chapters a day, puts it on a calendar, and keeps your place across books.
Canonical order: Genesis to Revelation
Canonical order means reading the books in the order they appear in your Bible. In Protestant Bibles that's 39 Old Testament books, Genesis to Malachi, then 27 New Testament books, Matthew to Revelation.
This order isn't by date. It's by type: law, history, poetry and wisdom, major prophets, minor prophets, then Gospels, Acts, letters and Revelation. The Hebrew Bible arranges the same Old Testament books differently, in three sections: the Law, the Prophets and the Writings. Jesus refers to a similar threefold shape:
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Strengths. No plan to look up. You always know what's next. You read each book whole, the way it was written.
Weak spots. The first three months are almost entirely Old Testament law and history. Leviticus starts at chapter 91 overall, which is day 31 at three chapters a day. And you don't reach Matthew until chapter 930, more than nine months into a one-year plan.
A one-year canonical plan. Read 3 chapters a day, and 4 chapters on 94 of the days (for example every fourth day). That covers all 1,189 chapters in 365 days, at about 9 to 11 minutes a day. See how many chapters a day to read the Bible in a year and the Bible in a year reading plan.
Chronological order: the story as it happened
Chronological order rearranges the Bible so you read events in the order they took place. Job might come after Genesis 11, Psalms appear alongside David's life, and the prophets are read alongside the kings they addressed.
Two honest caveats. First, many dates are approximate, and scholars and Christian traditions date some books differently (Job and Daniel are common examples). Second, every chronological plan makes its own choices, so two plans won't match exactly. That's fine. The goal is to see how the pieces fit, not to settle every date.
Here's a simplified chronological plan in 13 blocks. Day ranges assume about 3.26 chapters a day to finish in one year.
| Block | Read | Chapters | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginnings | Genesis 1–11 | 11 | 1–4 |
| Job | Job (placed early by many plans) | 42 | 4–17 |
| The patriarchs | Genesis 12–50 | 39 | 17–29 |
| Exodus and the law | Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy | 137 | 29–71 |
| Into the land | Joshua, Judges, Ruth | 49 | 71–86 |
| Saul and David | 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, Psalms | 234 | 86–158 |
| Solomon | 1 Kings 1–11, 2 Chronicles 1–9, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs | 71 | 158–179 |
| Divided kingdom and the prophets | 1 Kings 12–22, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles 10–36, with the prophets before the exile (Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Joel, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Obadiah) | 233 | 179–251 |
| Exile | Ezekiel, Daniel | 60 | 251–269 |
| Return and rebuilding | Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, Esther, Nehemiah, Malachi | 53 | 269–286 |
| Jesus | Matthew, Mark, Luke, John | 89 | 286–313 |
| The church | Acts, with Paul's letters inserted where they fit | 115 | 313–348 |
| Later letters and the end | Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1–3 John, Jude, Revelation | 56 | 348–365 |
This is block level. A detailed chronological plan goes further: it splits the Psalms across David's life and beyond (not all Psalms are David's), interleaves Kings and Chronicles chapter by chapter, and places the prophets next to specific kings. For Acts, a common arrangement reads 1 and 2 Thessalonians after Paul reaches Thessalonica (Acts 17:1) and 1 Corinthians after he reaches Corinth (Acts 18:1).
Strengths. The Bible's history finally makes sense: you read Jeremiah while Jerusalem falls, and Haggai while the temple is rebuilt. See the divided kingdom, the fall of Jerusalem and the return from exile and the new temple.
Weak spots. You need the plan open every day. Some days you'll read parts of three books. And you don't reach Jesus until about day 286.
For a full day-by-day version, see the chronological Bible reading plan.
New Testament first: start with Jesus
This order reads all 27 New Testament books first, then goes back to Genesis. It's the most common advice for beginners, because Jesus is the center of the whole Bible and the New Testament is the shorter part: 260 chapters, about 12 h 40 min at average reading speed.
Strengths. You meet Jesus in week one. You get an early sense of finishing something real, and when you reach the Old Testament, you recognize the promises the New Testament says Jesus fulfills.
Weak spots. The Old Testament then becomes a long second half: 929 chapters. It helps to treat it as its own goal, with its own finish line.
Two New Testament first plans:
| Plan | New Testament | Old Testament | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steady: 3 chapters a day throughout | 87 days | 310 days | 397 days (about 13 months) |
| One year: 3 chapters a day, then 3 to 4 | 87 days | 278 days at about 3.3 a day | 365 days |
A variation that many readers like: read the New Testament in Gospel-Acts-letters order, but start with Mark, the shortest and fastest Gospel. Our New Testament reading plan has day-by-day options, and how long does it take to read the New Testament gives the time for each book.
Blended order: a little of both every day
A blended plan reads from the Old and New Testament every day, sometimes with a Psalm or a chapter of Proverbs too. Robert Murray M'Cheyne's 19th-century calendar is a famous example of the approach, and many modern one-year plans work the same way.
Strengths. Variety. When you're in a hard stretch, like the second half of Ezekiel, your New Testament reading keeps the day from feeling heavy. You see Old and New Testament themes side by side.
Weak spots. You track two (or more) places. Some readers find switching books every day makes each one harder to follow.
Here's a blended one-year plan built from the real chapter counts, so it comes out exactly:
| Track | When | Pace | Finishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Testament (929 chapters) | Every day | 3 chapters on 199 days, 2 chapters on 166 days | Day 365 |
| New Testament (260 chapters) | Monday to Friday | 1 chapter | Week 52 |
It works because a year has 260 weekdays, exactly the number of chapters in the New Testament. Most days take between about 5 and 11 minutes at average reading speed: longer on weekdays with a New Testament chapter, shorter on weekends.
A simple way to schedule the Old Testament track: read 2 chapters every day, plus a third chapter on four days of the week (say Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). That's about 938 chapter slots in 52 weeks for 929 chapters, so you'll reach Malachi 4 a few days early. Or let an app do the counting.
Which order should you choose?
Answer three questions:
- Have you read the Bible through before? If not, start with New Testament first or blended. If yes, try chronological for a fresh view.
- Do you like simple rules? Canonical needs no plan. Blended needs a simple one. Chronological needs a detailed one.
- What's your main goal? To know Jesus: New Testament first. To understand history: chronological. To keep going through hard books: blended. To read every book whole: canonical.
| If you are… | Try this order |
|---|---|
| Reading the Bible for the first time | New Testament first, starting with Mark |
| Coming back after stalling in Leviticus | Blended |
| Reading through for the second or third time | Chronological |
| Wanting the simplest possible plan | Canonical, 3 to 4 chapters a day |
| Reading as a couple or small group | Blended or canonical (easiest to stay in sync) |
If you're not ready to commit to a whole-Bible order yet, start smaller. Our guides on where to start reading the Bible and how to read the Bible for beginners give a first book and a first month.
Tips that work with any reading order
- Read the book summary before each new book. Two minutes of context on who wrote it and why. The book summaries cover all 66.
- Skim lists, don't skip books. Genealogies and census lists matter, but on a first read you can skim them and keep the story moving.
- Keep a one-line log. After each reading, write one sentence: what happened or what stood out. After a year, you'll have 365 lines of your own commentary.
- Test what you read. A few questions after each book show what stuck. Try the Bible quizzes by book, starting with the Genesis quiz.
- Plan for missed days. Every plan breaks at some point. Decide now: when you miss, you pick up today's reading, not yesterday's.
Paul says the Old Testament was written "for our learning," which is a good reason to read all of it, in whatever order:
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
If you're starting at the beginning, here are three questions on Genesis:
Quick quiz: Genesis
How long did the rain of the flood fall on the earth?
“The rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.” The hundred and fifty days are the time the waters prevailed upon the earth (7:24). Genesis 7:12
What did the LORD count to Abram as righteousness?
“He believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” This comes before circumcision, which does not appear until chapter 17. Genesis 15:6
What new name does Jacob receive after his wrestling at the ford of the Jabbok?
“Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast struggled with God and with men.” Edom is Esau’s nickname (36:1). Genesis 32:28
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start free, no card needed.
If you'd rather not do the counting yourself, the app's reading plan takes you through all 1,189 chapters: choose 1 to 5 chapters a day, follow the calendar, and take a short quiz after each reading.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best order to read the Bible?
There is no single best order. For first-time readers, New Testament first or a blended plan (some Old and some New Testament daily) usually works best. Canonical order, Genesis to Revelation, is simplest to follow. Chronological order is best for seeing how the history fits together, and many people enjoy it most on a second read-through.
Should I read the Bible in chronological order?
Chronological order is a great choice if you want to understand the history: you read the prophets alongside the kings they spoke to, and Psalms alongside David's life. It requires a plan, dates are sometimes debated, and you don't reach the Gospels until late in the year. It's often best after you've read the Bible once.
Is it better to read the Old Testament or the New Testament first?
For beginners, the New Testament first is usually easier. It's shorter (260 chapters against 929), focuses on Jesus, and takes about 87 days at 3 chapters a day. Reading Genesis 1–11 early is still helpful, because the New Testament assumes you know about creation, sin and Abraham.
Is it okay to read the Bible out of order?
Yes. The books of the Bible are arranged by type, not by date, so reading them in a different order doesn't break anything. What matters is reading whole books, not random verses, and eventually covering the whole Bible. A plan helps you see what you've read and what's left, whatever order you choose.
How many chapters a day do I need to read the Bible in a year?
About 3.26 chapters a day: 1,189 chapters divided by 365 days. In practice, read 3 chapters a day plus a fourth on 94 of the days. At an average reading speed of 238 words per minute, that's about 9 minutes a day, or about 11 minutes if you read the KJV more slowly.