Best order to read the new testament

While there's no one "right" order to read the New Testament, here are a few popular approaches to help you navigate the 27 books:

  1. Chronological order: Read the New Testament in the order the events occurred. This can help you follow the timeline of Jesus' life, the early church, and the spread of Christianity.
    • Start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to learn about Jesus' life and teachings.
    • Then, read the Acts of the Apostles to see how the early church grew and spread.
    • Follow with the Epistles (letters) of Paul, James, Peter, and John, which were written to specific churches or individuals.
    • End with the Book of Revelation, which is often considered the final book of the New Testament.
  2. Canonical order: Read the New Testament in the order the books were written. This can help you see the development of Christian theology and the growth of the early church.
    • Start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the Acts of the Apostles.
    • Then, read the Epistles of Paul (Romans to Philemon), which were written to specific churches or individuals.
    • Follow with the General Epistles (James, Peter, John, and Jude), which were written to broader audiences.
    • End with the Book of Revelation.
  3. Thematic order: Read the New Testament by theme or topic. This can help you see the connections between different books and understand the broader message of the New Testament.
    • Start with the Gospels and focus on Jesus' teachings and miracles.
    • Then, read the Epistles of Paul and focus on his teachings about salvation, justification, and the nature of God.
    • Follow with the General Epistles and focus on the importance of faith, love, and community.
    • End with the Book of Revelation, which explores the end times and the ultimate triumph of God.
  4. Author order: Read the New Testament by author. This can help you see the unique perspectives and styles of each author.
    • Start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and read each one separately.
    • Then, read the Epistles of Paul (Romans to Philemon) and focus on his teachings and writings.
    • Follow with the General Epistles (James, Peter, John, and Jude) and focus on their unique perspectives and teachings.
    • End with the Book of Revelation, which is often attributed to John of Patmos.

Ultimately, the best order to read the New Testament is the one that works best for you and your personal goals. You may want to try a combination of these approaches or explore different study Bibles and devotionals to help you navigate the New Testament.