How to Study the Bible and Gospel Accounts of Jesus

A step-by-step method for reading the four Gospels with context, comparison, and reliable tools.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 11, 2026

Quick take

Begin with one Gospel at a time before comparing all four.
Pay attention to historical setting, literary style, and parallel passages.
Use a study Bible, concordance, and atlas to fill in background details.
Return regularly to the text itself rather than secondary interpretations alone.

Studying the Bible and the Gospel accounts of Jesus means reading the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—together with supporting passages from the rest of Scripture in order to understand the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Choosing a Translation and Basic Tools

Select a clear, accurate translation such as the ESV, NIV, or NASB and keep the same one for sustained reading so wording remains consistent. Add a study Bible with footnotes, a concordance for word searches, and a simple Bible atlas for first-century geography. These resources supply dates, locations, and cross-references without replacing the text itself.

Reading the Gospels in Sequence and in Parallel

Read one Gospel straight through to grasp its distinct portrait of Jesus before turning to parallels. Mark is shortest and fastest; Matthew emphasizes teaching; Luke highlights compassion for outsiders; John focuses on identity and signs. Once each book is familiar, lay the accounts side by side using a harmony or four-column chart to notice what each writer includes, omits, or arranges differently.

Placing Events in Historical and Literary Context

Note the political setting under Roman rule, Jewish religious groups, and everyday customs such as synagogue practice or purity laws. Observe literary features: parables, miracle stories, pronouncement sayings, and Old Testament quotations. Ask what the original readers would have heard and why the evangelist shaped the material this way.

This disciplined reading matters whenever someone wants to move beyond second-hand summaries and encounter the actual claims made by and about Jesus. It applies in personal devotion, small-group discussion, teaching preparation, or historical inquiry, and it guards against lifting verses out of their narrative setting.

Which Gospel should a beginner start with?

Many begin with Mark for its brevity and action, then move to Matthew or Luke for longer teaching sections.

How should apparent differences between Gospels be handled?

Treat them as complementary perspectives rather than contradictions; note each writer’s purpose and audience before harmonizing details.

Do I need to know Greek or Hebrew?

Not at first; a good English study Bible and occasional use of interlinear tools are enough for most readers.

How often should the Old Testament be consulted?

Whenever a Gospel quotes or alludes to it, because those references explain claims about Jesus as Messiah and Son of God.

What if questions remain after careful study?

Keep a notebook of unresolved issues and return to them after reading the whole New Testament; many answers appear in later letters or in Acts.