Thanks for the question on Bible reading, “For someone who wants to start reading the Bible again after having not read it since they were a child, where should they start, at the beginning with Genesis or another book?”
Reading the Bible is not as simple beginning with Genesis an concluding with the Book of Revelation. The Bible is an unfolding revelation of God’s redemptive plan for mankind primarily through the descendants of Adam and Eve, through Abraham, Moses, David and ultimately to Jesus. The Old Testament points forward to the coming reigning Messiah for Israel while the New Testament points backward to the suffering Messiah to redeem the people who can and will enter the Kingdom of God. The Gospels brings the Old Testament books and New Testament epistles into focus with Jesus in the Gospels as Immanuel and Israel’s promised Messiah who must suffer before he can reign in order to redeem people into his Kingdom.
I would recommend starting with the Gospel of John and then the Gospel of Matthew which will give a person a very good understanding of the God-Man, Jesus and his teachings. Thus as one reads Genesis, Exodus, Numbers and the historical books, the Gospels will give hindsight into the plan of God as it’s unveiled in those books. As one grows in one knowledge of the Gospels and the Old Testament, the question of salvation in the Old Testament will arise. Reading in Romans and Galatians will answer that question. As one wonders about the Christian life, reading in James, Ephesians and Philippians will answer that question.
SUMMARY: The Bible is the greatest book ever written with the greatest story to be read and believed.
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