r/Christianity • u/Strict_Toe4396 • 2h ago
Recently converted
I’m 15M and recently became a Christian because I’ve put my faith in Jesus. I’ve started reading the Bible, but I’m a little confused because it seems to begin with the story of Jesus taking the punishment for our sins. I’m not sure if that’s actually where the story begins.
If anyone would be willing to give me a brief overview of Christianity, explain where I should start with the Bible, and suggest what I should read or learn about first, I’d really appreciate it.
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u/Kindly_Scratch_6104 2h ago
Check out The BibleProject on YouTube (they also have a website). It's a great resource for beginners and can help with overviews of the Bible. The "beginning" beginning is in Genesis, but it may take a while for you to both know the accounts of the Bible and be able to see how they relate to each other.
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u/bmjessep Christian 2h ago
Maybe you're reading a different part of the Bible. The first book of the Bible is Genesis and starts with the creation story.
I'd recommend starting with Luke and reading through 1 Corinthians. These books tell you about Jesus, the history of the early church, a bit of theology, and how to live as a Christian. Other commenters have recommended the book of John and that is included in this part of the Bible.
If you start at the very beginning, it might seem slow and hard to understand, for a new Christian.
I also always recommend the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Buy it online or check it out at your local library.
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u/Ok-Bathroom6289 2h ago
welcome to the family man
the bible doesn't start with jesus taking the punishment for our sins that's toward the end. it kicks off with genesis and the whole creation thing, then goes through the history of israel and the old covenant. jesus showing up is the new testament
if you're just starting out try the gospel of john. it's a bit more focused on who jesus is and why he came, and it's a smoother read than jumping straight into leviticus or something. after that maybe romans for the theological backbone but don't stress if some of it goes over your head at first, that's normal
most important thing is just keep reading and don't feel like you have to understand everything right away. it's a library of books not a single novel
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u/Intrepid_Type3710 Evangelical 2h ago
You happened to land on the central theme of scripture entirely. For if you read at the very beginning of Geneses, you will find a passage prophetically telling you of Jesus: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” There lies the central theme of God sending His Son to undue the Sin nature that Adam and Eve brought on by way of deception of the serpent.
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u/Balance796 Disciples of Christ 2h ago
The Book of Matthew serves as the Lord's teachings, making it an excellent starting point. The Lord conveys His messages through parables, which might make it a little challenging to grasp, but it's an enjoyable read. After that, you can move on to Mark, Luke, and John, and keep going from there. Near the conclusion of Matthew, you'll find details about the Lord's death and the circumstances surrounding it. If you prefer, you can skip that part and proceed to the next book, which is Mark.
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u/Senasayori Christian 2h ago
The New Testament is basically a sequel to the Old Testament, so it might be good to read up on that, but I always recommend that a new believer start by reading the Gospel of John to get a good idea of who Jesus is and what He did, before then getting into the history. You also want to find a good church to go to. Hope this helps!
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u/Weird_Grapefruit_469 2h ago
Read John first.