Which book of the Bible should I read next?
It’s a common question among believers. And we tend to make our decision based on two factors.
First, we want to avoid boredom. How do we keep the desire for God’s Word aflame when it becomes increasingly familiar? Familiarity breeds contempt, so we’ve heard. That may not always be true, but familiarity can breed other vices like thoughtless skimming or an “I already know this” attitude. Perhaps choosing a less familiar book, we think, will stoke our desire to consume the Bible.
Second, we want to make sure we’re well-rounded students of Scripture. Each of us, when faced with so many books-within-a-book, will prefer some to others. We may enjoy certain genres while unintentionally neglecting others. We recognize this inclination could leave us biblically unbalanced. So we might lean against preference when choosing which book to read.
But what if you’ve finished the whole thing before? Now what? The choice can feel daunting. If you’re paralyzed by “where-to-go-itis,” let me offer a cure.
Bear with Me
I’ll confess from the outset that you may roll your eyes at my suggestion. Just bear with me. Ready? Here it is: read the Bible. All of it.
If you don’t know which part to read next, commit to reading the whole thing. Now, I’m not saying you must do it in one year (even if it takes longer, a plan can provide a helpful framework to ensure you don’t miss anything). I’m simply saying consider the Bible as one book and read it as a whole, in whatever time frame is doable for you.
I’m convinced there are two massive reasons to choose the whole Bible as your next reading project.
1. Read It for Your Own Joy
Reading the whole Bible will clarify and deepen your knowledge of God—that is, your relationship with him.
Reading the whole Bible will clarify and deepen your knowledge of God—that is, your relationship with him. We know that God is the Bible’s main character. We also know that the Bible isn’t an end in itself—it’s the means by which we know him (John 5:39; 17:3). The triune God speaks to us through his Word.
Say you’ve known a friend for years. You can list her interests, quote her insights, even recount anecdotes from various eras of her life. But you’ve never heard her tell her own story from beginning to end. Perhaps you can name an ambition or two of hers, but you’re not certain where she hopes her future takes her.
Often, this is how we relate to God. We know bits about him, but we’ve never taken the time to hear him out on his plans from beginning to end.
Now, back to your friend. Imagine the benefit to your relationship if you sat down to hear her life story. So many of the scattered fragments would fall into place, organized around the big narrative.
When we read the whole Bible, we hear the story God tells about the world from beginning to end. We see his character in the way he promises, purposes, and delivers. His grandeur opens up into a breathtaking vista as we see how all the biblical “bits” create one beautiful whole. And as our vision of who he is and what he’s done expands, by the power of the Spirit, our enjoyment of him will too.
2. Read It like a Good Student
Here’s the second reason to read the whole Bible: it’s the only way to truly grasp it.
Have you read The Odyssey? If so, perhaps you can name some of Homer’s main characters. You may recall something about a Cyclops and a hero who eventually makes it home, but that’s pretty much it. You certainly don’t know the order of all the parts. Now, do you think any English teacher would give you credit for reading the whole book?
Reading Scripture as a whole enables us to understand its parts and grasp their relation to the overarching themes of redemptive history. Nailing the narrative allows the wise reader to apply biblical truth to life’s biggest questions. Instead of cherry-picking from isolated portions, reading the whole thing arms you with a full arsenal as you fight for faith and share gospel hope with those who have yet to believe.
Nailing the narrative allows the wise reader to apply biblical truth to life’s biggest questions.
Some of us grew up in churches that treated the Bible like an encyclopedia. But the more I’ve grown in my faith, the more I recognize the vital importance of reading it as one big story that teaches us who God is, who we are, what he’s done in Christ to redeem, and what that good news demands.
Never Too Late to Start
None of what I’ve said should make you feel guilty. If you’ve read any part of Scripture, praise God. He can do abundantly more than we ask or imagine, no matter how little we’ve internalized (Isa. 55:8–9; Eph. 3:20).
Personally, though, I’ll never forget the revolution that took place when my freshman Old Testament professor showed me how to read the Bible as one book. Finally, isolated stories like David and Goliath made sense as building blocks ultimately culminating in Jesus Christ, the cornerstone. When hard times have come, I’ve been able to remember how every page of God’s Word testifies to his unwavering goodness.
Read the whole Bible, friend. It’s never too late to start. And you’ll never regret it.
The Gospel Coalition