New here? Start gently, in your own time.
Maybe you've never picked up a Bible before, or maybe it's been years. Maybe you feel a little bit spiritual and aren't sure what to do with that. None of that needs sorting out today. This page is here to ease you in, gently, at whatever pace works for you.
Which Bible translation should I read?
Every Bible you'll find is a translation from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and different translations make different choices about how literal or how readable to be. None of the well-known ones is "wrong" — they're aimed at different readers.
- KJV — King James Version (1611). Beautiful, historic English, the version used throughout this website. Some find its old-fashioned language (thee, thou, wherefore) makes it harder going at first, but many love its poetry.
- NKJV — New King James Version. The same King James text updated into modern English, while keeping much of its style.
- ESV — English Standard Version. A fairly literal, word-for-word style translation, popular for study, that stays close to the original wording.
- NIV — New International Version. A balance between literal accuracy and natural, modern English — probably the most widely read translation today, and a good all-rounder for a first Bible.
- NRSV — New Revised Standard Version. Widely used in academic and many mainline church settings, aiming for accuracy and inclusive language.
- CSB — Christian Standard Bible. A modern translation aiming for a middle ground between literal accuracy and easy reading.
- NLT — New Living Translation. A thought-for-thought translation in very natural, easy modern English — often the gentlest entry point if you find other versions heavy going.
If you're just starting out, the NIV or NLT are usually the easiest first reads. If you'd like something with beautiful, classic language (and don't mind a bit of "thee" and "thou"), the KJV — used across this site — is a wonderful choice, and free public-domain copies are everywhere. There's no wrong door in through which to start.
Where should I actually start reading?
Starting at Genesis and reading straight through is a common instinct, but it isn't always the easiest route in — the middle books of the Old Testament (Leviticus, Numbers) are heavy on law and lists. A gentler path many people take:
- The Gospel of John — a warm, accessible introduction to Jesus.
- Genesis chapters 1-3 — where it all begins.
- The Psalms, a few at a time — prayers and songs for every mood.
- Acts — the story of the very first Christians.
You can search any of these directly in the TTS Bible Player and have them read aloud to you.
Common abbreviations you'll see
Bible references are usually written as Book, Chapter:Verse — for example, John 3:16 means the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 16. You'll often see short-forms for book names too. Some of the most common:
- Gen. — Genesis · Ex. — Exodus · Ps. or Psa. — Psalms · Prov. — Proverbs
- Isa. — Isaiah · Matt. — Matthew · Mk. — Mark · Lk. — Luke · Jn. — John
- Rom. — Romans · 1 Cor. / 2 Cor. — 1st/2nd Corinthians · Gal. — Galatians · Eph. — Ephesians
- Rev. — Revelation
You'll also see translation abbreviations like KJV, NIV, ESV, NLT, NRSV, CSB next to a verse — that just tells you which translation is being quoted, as listed above.
A word about Christian charity
Scripture doesn't treat generosity as optional extra credit — it's woven right through it: "whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17). Christians around the world act on that call in enormous, practical ways — running food banks, hospitals, disaster relief, orphan care, clean water projects, and refugee support, often in some of the hardest places on earth, frequently through organisations linked to churches and denominations of every kind. As you grow more familiar with your faith, you may want to look into charitable causes connected with a local church or denomination near you — it's one of the most concrete ways this faith has always been lived out.
Where to go next on this site
Whenever you're ready, here's where the rest of biblestudy.fyi can take you:
- Test what you're learning with the five-minute quiz
- Listen to any passage read aloud in the TTS Bible Player
- Read (or hear) some well-known prayers, plus a simple guide to prayer
- Download a worksheet to work through a book at your own pace
- Consider visiting a church near you, when you feel ready