Did you know that Bible Gateway Plus isn’t just for pastors and scholars? It also has excellent options for Bible beginners who’ve never seriously read Scripture before.
But with dozens of resources from Study Bibles and commentaries to encyclopedias and dictionaries available for instant access, it can be overwhelming for a new user. Especially if you’re new to studying the Bible.
This guide will help you sort through all the resources available to Bible Gateway Plus subscribers for some of the best options for Bible beginners. Whether you’re a new convert encountering the Bible for the first time, a lifelong Christian looking to deepen your engagement with God’s Word, or just curious about how to understand some confusing passages, Bible Gateway Plus can help you orient yourself with the Bible.
First, two quick points to remember:
- Once you find your favorite resources, you can pin them for easier access.
- You can use any resource with any Bible translation. So if you want to use the NIV Application Bible notes with the NKJV, you are free to do so!
Now, here’s where to start.
Best Study Bibles for Beginners
In general, Study Bibles are the best place to start for most new Bible students. They tend to have a wide variety of different content, most of it tied directly to particular verses of the Bible, as well as explanatory introductions to each of the Bible’s 66 books.
Here are some great Study Bibles for beginning Bible readers to bring you into the world of the Bible.
NIV Application Bible
One of the newest additions to Bible Gateway Plus, the NIV Application Bible features study notes drawn from the extensive, bestselling NIV Application Commentary series published over the past three decades. It bridges the world of the Bible and contemporary times by helping you connect what you’ve learned directly with the modern world.
Why it’s good for beginners: The NIV Application Commentary series is wildly popular, and the NIV Application Bible streamlines it into digestible — yet nourishing — pieces for all experience levels. It utilizes trusted evangelical scholarship to bridge insights and meaning about biblical times with how this connects with modern times.
NIV Quest Study Bible
Designed to answer common questions about the Bible, the NIV Quest Study Bible features over 7,000 Q&A-style notes alongside articles, charts, and sidebars for curious readers.
Why it’s good for beginners: The Q&A format of the Quest Study Bible makes it a perfect introductory resource. If you have questions about the Bible — from who a certain character is to how to interpret an obscure passage — you can probably find the answer in here.
NIV Storyline Bible
A major stumbling block for beginning Bible readers is how to contextualize individual books with the overarching storyline of the Bible. The NIV Storyline Bible solves this problem by highlighting how each book of the Bible contributes to the grand narrative of redemption. It’s a heavily visual resource, full of visual timelines, infographics, and theme summaries to trace Scripture’s cohesive storyline.
Why it’s good for beginners: It will help you understand exactly why what you’re reading matters in the grand scheme of things, both within the narrative arc of the Bible and the larger arc of history.
NKJV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible
Max Lucado’s Encouraging Word Bible features devotions, study notes, and reflections in Lucado’s signature warm, pastoral style focused on hope, encouragement, and God’s promises.
Why it’s good for beginners: If you’re a Max Lucado fan, this is the perfect jumping-off point to get deeper into the Bible. If you’re not already familiar with him, his gentle, encouraging approach will be welcome for anyone experiencing a season of discouragement or difficulty.
Best Bible Commentaries for Beginners
Most Bible commentaries will be too extensive and academic for beginning Bible readers. But there are a few important exceptions, which are instead designed specifically to provide important context and clear guidance to help you understand what you’re looking at.
Essential Bible Companion
Just as the name implies, the Essential Bible Companion truly is an essential resource for beginners, with a single-note system for each book of the Bible that includes image-heavy notes and orienting data, including timelines, charts, maps, and brief book outline.
Why it’s good for beginners: It’s a super convenient resource that’s easy to manage for beginners, comprised of a single short, illustrated introduction to each book of the Bible.
How to Read the Bible Book by Book
This handy resource provides guided tours of Bible books and key insights on how each book fits into the grand narrative of the Bible.
Why it’s good for beginners: The next step up from the Essential Bible Companion, this commentary contains more content and goes deeper into each book — but still keeps things manageable with just a few paragraphs for each chapter of every book in the Bible.
Best Bible Encyclopedias and Dictionaries for Beginners
Although dense and extensive, Bible encyclopedias and dictionaries actually make perfect reference materials for those new to the Bible. They’re designed to provide succinct, clear summaries of anything from characters and places to important events to important terms and concepts you’re likely to encounter as you read through the books of the Bible.
New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters
A comprehensive guide to more than 3,000 biblical personalities, both major and minor, this character encyclopedia provides background, historical context, and theological insight into each person’s role in Scripture.
Why it’s good for beginners: With so many different people in the pages of the Bible, often with similar-sounding (or exactly the same) names, this is an indispensable resource. If you’re having trouble separating Simon from Simeon and Uriah the Hittite from Uriah the Priest, this will set you straight.
Essential Bible Dictionary
A concise and user-friendly Bible dictionary designed for laypeople, covering over 1,000 entries on people, places, events, and theological terms with full-color illustrations and maps.
Why it’s good for beginners: With short, simple definitions of critical and commonly encountered names and concepts from the Bible, this truly is an indispensable resource for anyone learning the ropes of Bible reading.
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary
An exhaustive, richly illustrated dictionary covering over 7,000 entries related to the Bible’s people, places, customs, and theology, this illustrated dictionary Includes maps, charts, and photos from archaeology and biblical geography.
Why it’s good for beginners: Although its number of entries may seem overwhelming at first, visual learners will feel right at home using this dictionary to look up unfamiliar words as they read through the words of the Word.
Devotionals
Don’t forget, Bible Gateway Plus doesn’t just give you Bible study resources — it also gives you access to premium devotionals that can provide direction and guidance in your life through a biblical lens. You can browse both free and premium options at Bible Gateway’s Devotionals page.
Conclusion: Welcome to the Bible — and to Bible Gateway Plus!
Armed with your Bible Gateway Plus membership and these recommendations of beginner-friendly resources, it’s time to put on the armor of God and go forth prayerfully into the pages of the Bible.
As you grow in your familiarity with the Bible’s storyline and concepts, Bible Gateway Plus is there to grow with you, guiding you into everything from biblical history to theology to pastoral leadership.
Not a Bible Gateway Plus subscriber yet? What are you waiting for? Sign up today for a free trial to start exploring these and dozens more Bible study tools and resources.
Bible Gateway is the internet's premier Bible reading and research tool. With more than 200 versions of the Bible in over 70 languages freely available to read, research, and reference anywhere — plus a library of audio Bibles, mobile apps, devotionals, email newsletters, and more — Bible Gateway equips you not only to read the Bible, but to understand it.