How do you use the Bible?

To look up a book of the Bible, you can check the table of contents at the front of the Bible. Each book of the Bible is divided into chapters. These are indicated by bold numbers. Each chapter is further divided into sections with a number in front of them. These are the ‘verses’.

Example I: The first chapter and the first verse are noted as follows: Genesis 1 : 1. If you look this up, you read: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Example II: If you look up the fourth book in the New Testament, you will find ‘John’. If you then look up the third chapter and the sixteenth verse, you will find one of the most well-known verses in the Bible: ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ This is noted as John 3 : 16.

Some books of the Bible have two or even three with the same name. In the Old Testament, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and in the New Testament even three books. These books are distinguished by putting a number in front, such as 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel; and 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John.

1 Peter 1 : 21 then means: The first book of Peter, chapter 1 : 21. There you read: ‘Who by Him (Jesus) do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.’

In our free Bible you will also find a guide at the front to help you read the Bible. Or download the guide, including a reading plan and more background information.