What is the best way to read the Bible for beginners?

Start with the Gospel of John in a modern translation like the NLT, read one assigned passage a day at a consistent time, and follow a structured plan rather than reading at random. Small daily readings beat occasional long sessions.

Is it better to read the Bible in order or follow a plan?

A plan. Straight cover-to-cover reading stalls for most people in the Old Testament's middle books. Good plans either re-order readings (chronological) or mix genres daily (OT + Psalm + Proverb) so every day has something devotional.

What is the SOAP method of Bible reading?

SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer: read the passage, note what it says, ask what it changes about today, then pray it back to God. It takes 5 extra minutes and turns reading into reflection.

How many minutes a day is best for Bible reading?

Whatever you can sustain daily — 10–20 minutes is the sweet spot for most readers. A consistent 10 minutes every day builds more understanding over a year than an occasional hour.

The Best Way to Read the Bible (What Actually Works)

Search “best way to read the Bible” and you’ll find two kinds of answers: deep study methods that assume you already read daily, and vague encouragement that doesn’t survive a busy Tuesday. Here’s the honest version — the method that works for real people with real schedules.

The one principle that beats everything else

A small reading you complete daily beats a big reading you complete occasionally. Ten minutes every day is 60+ hours of Scripture in a year — more than most Bible studies cover in five. Every other decision (order, translation, method) matters less than protecting the daily rhythm.

That’s the whole secret. The rest is making it easier.

Read in the right order (not page order)

The Bible is a library of 66 books, not a novel — starting at page one and pushing through is the most common way people quit. Better orders:

New to the Bible? Start with the Gospel of John, then Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, and Proverbs. (Full reasoning in our where to start reading the Bible post.)
Want the whole story to connect? Read chronologically — events in the order they happened. See the chronological Bible reading plan guide.
Want the whole Bible this year? Use a one-year plan that mixes a main reading with a psalm and proverb daily — our read the Bible in a year guide compares the formats.

Pick a translation you don’t have to fight

Understanding beats tradition. The NLT reads at a modern 6th-grade level without sacrificing accuracy; the NIV balances readability and precision; the ESV suits word-for-word study; the KJV is beautiful but takes work. Compare them in our translations by reading level guide — and remember you can change your mind mid-plan.

A simple method: read, reflect, pray

You don’t need seminary tools. After reading the day’s passage, take five minutes for SOAP:

Scripture — one verse that stood out; write it or re-read it slowly.
Observation — what is actually happening or being said?
Application — what does this change about today, specifically?
Prayer — pray the passage back to God in your own words.

Manna nudges you toward this rhythm automatically — after you finish a reading, it prompts you to take a moment to pray and reflect before you close the app.

Remove every decision except “read now”

Here’s where most advice fails: it adds steps (journals, cross-references, study guides) when the real enemy is friction. The best way to read the Bible is the way with the fewest decisions:

What to read? Decided — your plan assigns today’s passage.
How much? Decided — one day’s reading, 10–20 minutes.
When? Decided once — anchor it to coffee, commute, or bedtime, and let a reminder do the remembering.

This is the entire design of Manna. One passage a day from your chosen plan. Tomorrow’s reading unlocks when today’s is done — no bingeing ahead, no silent falling behind. A streak counter and a home-screen mascot make your consistency visible. Nothing else: no feeds, no notifications about what others are reading, no forty features between you and the text.

Put it into practice this week

The best way to read the Bible is the way you’ll still be reading in October. Download Manna (free 1-week trial), pick a plan that fits your season, and let the app handle everything except the reading itself. If you’re still deciding how to begin, our how to read the Bible every day guide covers the habit side in depth.