A question worth asking first
Where Did the Bible Actually Come From?
The Bible is not one book written by one person in one sitting. It is a library — 73 books in the Catholic Bible — written by dozens of different human authors across more than a thousand years, in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Prophets, kings, poets, a physician, fishermen, a tax collector — an enormous range of people, from vastly different times and circumstances, contributed to what we now call the Bible.
The Old Testament records the history, law, poetry, and prophecy of the Jewish people and their relationship with God, written mostly in Hebrew over roughly a thousand years before Christ. The New Testament, written in Greek in the first century after Christ, tells the story of Jesus' life through the four Gospels, the early Church's growth in the Acts of the Apostles, letters from Paul and other apostles to early Christian communities, and the Book of Revelation.
Catholic teaching holds that God inspired these human authors — not by dictating words to them like a stenographer, but by working through their individual minds, personalities, cultures, and historical moments to communicate divine truth in human language. This is why the Bible can feel so strikingly human — full of poetry, argument, history, and raw emotion — while Catholics believe it carries something more than merely human origin.
How the Books Were Chosen
The Hebrew Scriptures take shape
Over roughly a thousand years, the books of what Christians call the Old Testament were written, copied, and gathered by the Jewish people. By the time of Jesus, a Greek translation called the Septuagint was in wide use, including by the Apostles themselves.
The New Testament is written
In the decades after Jesus' death and resurrection, the four Gospels, the letters of Paul and other apostles, and the Book of Revelation were written by eyewitnesses and their close associates, then copied and circulated among early Christian communities.
The Church formally recognizes the canon
A series of Church councils — Rome in 382, Hippo in 393, and Carthage in 397 and 419 — formally identified the 73 books that make up the Catholic Bible, affirming what had already been in wide use in the Church's worship and teaching for generations.
The Council of Trent reaffirms the canon
In response to changes made during the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Church's Council of Trent formally and definitively reaffirmed the full 73-book canon, including the books sometimes called the deuterocanonical books.
Why does the Catholic Bible have 73 books instead of 66? Seven Old Testament books — Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, plus portions of Esther and Daniel — were part of the ancient Greek Septuagint used by Jesus and the Apostles, and were affirmed as Scripture by the early Church councils. These are sometimes called the deuterocanonical books.
"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
— St. Jerome
Doctor of the Church, Translator of the Vulgate
"The Scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning, and deep enough for theologians to swim in without ever touching the bottom."
— St. Gregory the Great
Doctor of the Church
"Take up and read. In the Scriptures you will find the voice of God speaking directly to your heart, wherever you are."
— St. Augustine of Hippo
Doctor of the Church
Not where you'd expect
Where Should I Start Reading the Bible?
Most beginners assume they should start at page one with Genesis and read straight through. This is one of the most common reasons people give up within the first few weeks — Genesis is followed by Exodus, then Leviticus, which is dense with ancient religious law and can feel like an immediate wall.
A far better approach: start with the story of Jesus Himself.
Gospel of Mark
The shortest, fastest-moving account of Jesus' life. A great first read that takes only a few sittings.
Gospel of John
More reflective and poetic, revealing who Jesus is in a deeper way once you know the basic story.
Psalms
150 short prayers and poems covering nearly every human emotion — joy, grief, fear, gratitude, doubt. Read a few whenever you need words for how you feel.
Letter to the Philippians
A short, warm, encouraging letter from St. Paul — a great introduction to the New Testament letters.
Book of Genesis
Come back to the beginning once you're comfortable. The famous stories — Creation, Noah, Abraham — read differently once you already know how the whole story ends.
For whatever you're carrying
Bible Verses for Every Season
On Hope
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13
On Forgiveness
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:9
"Bear with each other and forgive one another... Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Colossians 3:13
On God's Love
"Neither death nor life... will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness."
Zephaniah 3:17
On Starting Over
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
2 Corinthians 5:17
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning."
Lamentations 3:22-23
For Anxiety
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God."
Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Matthew 6:34
For Depression & Sorrow
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:18
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Psalm 147:3
A few practical tips
How to Actually Read the Bible
Read a little, often
Ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week. Consistency matters more than length.
Use a Catholic edition
The NAB or RSV-CE include all 73 books and helpful footnotes explaining historical context.
Don't worry about understanding everything
Even scholars spend lifetimes studying Scripture. Reading for the sake of encountering God matters more than mastering every detail.
Follow the Sunday Mass readings
The Church provides a structured cycle of readings every Sunday — a built-in way to read Scripture alongside millions of Catholics worldwide.
Common questions
Questions About the Bible
Where should a beginner start reading the Bible?
Start with the Gospel of Mark. It is the shortest and most direct of the four Gospels, telling the life of Jesus in fast-moving, accessible language. From there, most people move to the Gospel of John, then the Psalms, which are short prayers and poems that speak directly to almost any emotional state.
Do I need to read the Bible cover to cover, starting with Genesis?
No. Reading straight through from Genesis is actually one of the most common reasons people give up. The Bible is not one continuous story told in order; it is a library of 73 books written over more than a thousand years. Skipping around, starting with the Gospels, is a far better approach for beginners.
What Bible translation should Catholics use?
The New American Bible (NAB) is the translation used in Mass readings in the United States. The Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (RSV-CE) is also excellent and widely used for personal study. Either is a solid, faithful choice for a beginner.
Why does the Catholic Bible have more books than some other Bibles?
The Catholic Bible contains 73 books; some Protestant Bibles contain 66. The difference is seven Old Testament books (and portions of two others) called the deuterocanonical books, which were part of the ancient Greek Septuagint used by early Christians, including the Apostles, and were affirmed as Scripture by the Church at the Council of Rome in 382 AD and reaffirmed at the Council of Trent in the 1500s.
Who actually decided which books belong in the Bible?
The Catholic Church, through a series of regional councils in the late 4th century — Rome (382), Hippo (393), and Carthage (397 and 419) — formally recognized the 73 books that make up the Catholic Bible. This list, called the canon, was later reaffirmed at the Council of Trent in the 16th century in response to changes made by the Protestant Reformation.
Is it true the Bible was written by many different people?
Yes. The Bible is a collection of 73 books written by dozens of different human authors — prophets, kings, fishermen, a physician, a tax collector — across more than a thousand years, in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Catholic teaching holds that God inspired these human authors, working through their individual personalities and historical circumstances, to communicate divine truth.
A prayer before you begin reading
A Prayer Before Reading Scripture
Lord, open my mind and my heart
to what You want to say to me.
I don't need to understand everything.
I just want to hear Your voice
in these ancient words.
Speak to me.
I am listening.
Amen.
The Word is waiting for you.
Open the Book. Start Today.
You don't need expertise. You just need to begin. Pair your reading with prayer, and consider joining a parish community to go deeper.