Tag Archives: Biblical reference

Book Review: The Quick-Start Guide to The Whole Bible

2 Sep

211280A Friendly Overview of Every Book of the Bible

Reading the Bible can be intimidating. Made up of sixty-six “books” ranging in subject matter from history to instruction, from poetry to prophecy, this all-time bestseller is frequently misunderstood, even by those who read it regularly.

In this easy-to-read handbook, two respected Bible professors will help you make sense of the Bible, book-by-book. Using a conversational tone, they cut right to the heart of the matter, focusing on two main questions: “What does it say?” and “Why does it matter?”

Whether you’re a seasoned reader of Scripture or reading it for the first time, you’re sure to come away with a better understanding of what the Bible is all about and why it is the most important book you’ll ever read.

 

15183Dr. William H. Marty is professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He teaches and writes on both the New and Old Testaments and is the author of the bestselling The Whole Bible Story and The World of Jesus. Dr. Marty lives with his wife in Chicago, Illinois.

14643Dr. Boyd Seevers is professor of Old Testament Studies at University of Northwestern, St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Seevers studied and lived in Israel for eight years and is the author of Hidden in Plain Sight and Warfare in the Old Testament. He lives with his wife and four children in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

 

My Impressions:

The Quick-Start Guide to The Whole Bible is a basic reference book providing brief overviews of each book of the Bible. Each chapter includes information on setting (including probable authors), a brief summary and the significance of each book in the biblical canon. The chapters range from 2 pages for the Minor Prophets to 7 pages for longer books of the Bible. I am currently teaching a study of Song of Solomon and made sure to read the chapter featuring that book. The information provided summed up just about everything I had read from numerous sources. I found the content interesting and helpful; a good addition to your reference library.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Bethany House for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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Book Review: 100 Tough Questions about God And The Bible

6 May

100-Tough-Questions-About-the-Bible-cover-141-px-highStraightforward answers to questions Christians and skeptics alike ask about God and the Bible.

Let’s be honest–the Bible can be hard to understand. It’s full of weird laws, apparent inconsistencies, and tales of a God who often doesn’t do what we expect. You may have asked about some of these things and been brushed off or given trite, unconvincing answers.

But serious questions deserve thoughtful responses, especially when opinions of Bible experts clash. Stephen M. Miller pulls insight from a wide range of Bible experts to report their answers to the tough questions. He does so with a touch of humor and no preaching, allowing you to draw your own conclusions.

Questions include:
· Would a loving God really put a good man like Job through horrible suffering just to test his loyalty?
· If God knows everything, why did he test Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his own son?
· How could there be just one God, yet three?
· Since Jesus told people to turn the other cheek, why aren’t more Christians pacifists?

 

Stephen-M-Miller250-wStephen M. Miller is an award-winning, bestselling Christian author of easy-reading books about the Bible and Christianity.

His books have sold over a million copies and include The Complete Guide to the Bible and Who’s Who and Where’s Where in the Bible.

A former newspaper reporter, Miller has a bachelor’s degree in news journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in biblical studies from Nazarene Theological Seminary. He describes himself a journalist who covers the Bible as his beat.

He launched his full-time freelance writing career in 1994, after working as a news reporter and later as an editor of Christian books, magazines, and Bible curriculum for a group of Christian denominations in the Wesleyan theological tradition.

Miller lives in the suburbs of Kansas City with his wife, Linda, a registered nurse. They have two married children who live nearby: Rebecca Eck with her husband Jonathan, and Brad Miller with his wife Jill.

My Impressions:

Notice that the title of this book is 100 Tough Questions about God And The Bible, not 100 Tough Questions and Answers. There is reason for that. Stephen Miller presents some really thought-provoking questions believers and especially non-believers puzzle over. He lets the reader know what scholars think about the issue and then lets him decide on his own. I really liked that. Not all Christians agree on why something occurred or just why God acts the way He does. By presenting the most popular and plausible thoughts on the matter, Miller allows the reader to ponder and explore a little deeper on their own. When used under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I think this book can be a sure winner to answer those things that have bothered us all and help those who are seeking for truth to find their way to God. Miller’s style is great too. The concepts may be hard, but Miller’s approach is direct and witty. Weighty matters are lightened up with a little chuckle.

So if you’ve ever wondered why Job suffered or why Joshua had a man and his whole family stoned or other things that might seem a bit inconsistent in the Biblical text, pick up this book. Or if you think you’d like to be able to speak to those who doubt or question, definitely pick up 100 Tough Questions about God And The Bible.

Recommended.

(Thanks to Bethany House for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

To purchase this book, click on the image below.

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