Since this has come up a few times in conversation, I thought I’d mention it on here. What order do you read the New Testament books in? Here are four options that might offer some variety either for your personal reading, or for an 18-hour reading marathon in a group:
1. The Canonical Order – let’s start with the obvious. Start in Matthew and read through to Revelation in the order they are printed. If you start to find the back-to-back Gospels to be an issue, then try one of the next two approaches…
2. The Gospel-Clusters Order – I made up that title. This approach reads the books naturally associated with a Gospel after it in order to separate the Gospels from each other as you read:
Matthew followed by Hebrews and James (highly Jewish in feel and James has been called the Sermon on the Mount in Epistle form).
Mark followed by 1 & 2 Peter and Jude (Peter is associated with the Gospel of Mark, and there are overlaps between 2 Peter and Jude).
Luke followed by Acts (same author), and then Romans-Philemon – all the epistles of Paul (flowing out of the Acts story).
John followed by 1, 2, & 3 John and Revelation.
3. The Historically-Grouped Gospel-Clusters Order – This approach just changes the Luke cluster by taking Paul’s letters in order and in their historical setting:
Luke is followed by Acts 1-14, then Galatians.
After Acts 18:22, then 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
After Acts 21:16, then Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians.
After Acts 28, then Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon.
Then 1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy. (This structure reads letters associated with a missionary journey at the conclusion of the narrative concerning that particular journey.)
There is also the date of composition approach, which would be similar to option 3, but with the Gospels coming later, mixed in with most of the General Epistles (so the reading order would begin with James, Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, etc.)
One last approach to mention:
4. The Personal Preference Order – No rule states that you have to follow a pre-prescribed order. It may be beneficial to do so, especially in a group reading event, but for personal reading you can chart your own course. Read what you are motivated to read and then pick the next book you are motivated to read until you have finished them all.
It goes without saying, but let me end by saying it … whichever approach you take, be sure to keep diving in, looking to know Jesus more and growing in your appreciation of God’s heart towards you!
FAQs
See also Bible and biblical literature.
- Gospel According to Matthew.
- Gospel According to Mark.
- Gospel According to Luke.
- Gospel According to John.
- Acts of the Apostles.
- Letter of Paul to the Romans.
- Letters of Paul to the Corinthians. I Corinthians. II Corinthians.
- Letter of Paul to the Galatians.
It's all about Jesus
These Gospels are made up of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. While you may be tempted to start with Matthew, you should first try starting with the book of John. Reading John will give you a great glimpse of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
How do you read the New Testament in chronological order? ›
Chronological Order Of New Testament
- James – 50 A.D.
- First Thessalonians – 52-53.
- Second Thessalonians – 52-53.
- Galatians – 55.
- First Corinthians – 57.
- Second Corinthians – 57.
- Romans – 57-58.
- Philippians – 62-63.
Matthew is the perfect book to read for the first time, if you're Jewish, and have a strong understanding of the Old Testament. If not ehhhhh. John is perfect if you believe there is a God. It's one of the most important books in my opinion, but you have to first believe that there is a supernatural God.
What order should I read the Bible in? ›
This is the order to follow:
- Genesis.
- Exodus.
- Numbers.
- Joshua.
- Judges.
- 1 Samuel.
- 2 Samuel.
- 1 Kings.
What Are the 27 Books of the New Testament in Order?
On the matter of the New Testament, the total time needed to read it is about eighteen hours total, if read as an average reading speed.
How should a new believer start reading the Bible? ›
Begin a project of reading a gospel and let it start with Luke. In the first verses of his gospel, Luke details his purpose to his disciple Theophilus “so that you will know the certainty of the things you've been taught.” This concept catapults the reader straight to the current day.
What do you say before reading a Bible verse? ›
Dear Lord, all the Scriptures proclaim your story and your nature. Thank you, God, for making way for my salvation. May you open my mind to understand how there is no contradiction in your story of reconciliation. Help me have the faith to believe your word and do what it says even when it's hard.
What is the true chronological order of the Bible? ›
Contents
- 4.1 Adam to the Flood 4246–2590 BC.
- 4.2 The Flood to Abram 2589–2211 BC.
- 4.3 Abraham to Joseph 2198–1936 BC.
- 4.4 Egypt to the Exodus 1914–1577 BCE.
- 4.5 The Wilderness Period to the Conquest of Canaan 1576–1505 BC.
- 4.6 The Judges to the United Monarchy 1505–1018 BCE.
The New Testament has 260 chapters, so if you read an average of three chapters of it a day, you can easily finish it within three months, even if you miss a few days. The suggested reading schedule will be a helpful tool to help you reach your goal of reading the entire New Testament in 90 days.
How to read New Testament in one year? ›
Consider that by reading just five chapters a week, you can read the whole New Testament in a year: There are 260 chapters in the New Testament. If you read 5 chapters a week for 52 weeks, you get 260 chapters.
What Bible do Catholics use? ›
The New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE) is a Bible translation approved for use by the Catholic Church, receiving the imprimatur of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1991.
What book of the Bible should I read for strength? ›
Romans 8
Romans 8 is one of the most foundational, powerful, and encouraging chapters in the Bible. It provides hope and assurance for all believers, reminding us of God's love and faithfulness. Reading and meditating on this chapter can provide you with comfort and strength during difficult times.
What book in the Bible should I read for anxiety? ›
1 Peter: The first letter of Peter addresses suffering and encourages believers to cast their anxieties on God, knowing that He cares for them. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Which New Testament book was written first? ›
The first New Testament books to be written down are reckoned to be the 13 that comprise Paul's letters (circa 48-64 CE), probably beginning with 1 Thessalonians or Galatians. Then comes the Gospel of Mark (circa 60-75 CE).
In what order were the New Testament gospels written? ›
The order most commonly accepted is Mark, then Matthew (from a Jewish perspective), and then Luke from the perspective of a follower of Paul and a Gentle, followed by John. Matthew and Luke have a lot in common with Mark, which is why the three together are known as the “synoptic gospels."
How are the New Testament letters arranged? ›
In the traditional canonical ordering of the New Testament, these fourteen books are arranged in a block following Acts, and separated into three groups: the nine letters addressed to communities, the four letters addressed to individuals, and Hebrews.
Is the New Testament written chronologically? ›
The Bible is indeed a well-organized collection of writings penned by more than two dozen authors spanning thousands of years. Instead of being organized chronologically, it is organized by literary genre. For example, books from the prophets are all together in one section, while books of history are in another.
Since this has come up a few times in conversation, I thought I’d mention it on here. What order do you read the New Testament books in? Here are four options that might offer some variety either for your personal reading, or for an 18-hour reading marathon in a group: