A Reader's Guide to the Bible
Overview
Approaching the Bible for the first time can be intimidating. At sixty-six books, nearly 800,000 words, and numerous kings, prophets, and deliverers, as well as priests and apostles, where should you begin? In what order should you read it? Why are there narratives here and over there, but other things mixed between? And is there an alternative to reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation?
In A Reader’s Guide to the Bible John Goldingay places the biblical books in their times and settings, and then lays out a memorable pattern for understanding the Bible. Three categories of biblical books—story, word, and response—form three doors into the cathedral that is the Bible: the story of God and his people, the word of God to his people, and the people’s response to God.
Whether you are a person of Christian faith or other faith, or no faith at all, here is a reliable guide to exploring the Bible. Written by a highly accomplished biblical scholar, A Reader’s Guide to the Bible joins a clear and direct style with a maestro’s touch.
Key Features
- Accessible big picture overview of the Bible
- Guidance for understanding the people and places of the biblical narrative
- Provides a practical paradigm for approaching Scripture that is easy to understand
Contents
- God's Story and God's Word in God's World
- The Events of the Bible
- The Land of the Bible
- The Story of God and His People
- Beginnings: Genesis to Numbers
- From Triumph to Defeat: Deuteronomy to Kings
- The Story of the community: Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah
- Sort Stories: Ruth, Esther, Jonah, and Daniel
- The Story of Jesus and the Church: Matthew to Acts
- The Word of God to His People
- The Instruction of the Priests: Exodus to Deuteronomy
- The Message of the Prophets: Isaiah to Malachi
- The Letters of the Apostles: Romans to Jude
- The Advice of the Experts: Proverbs and Song of Songs
- The Visions of the Seers: Daniel and Revelation
- Israel's Response to God
- Prayer and Praise: Psalms and Lamentations
- Doubts and Certainties: Ecclesiastes and Job
- Epilogue: The Bible Today
Top Highlights
“Antiochus Epiphanes (175–163), sought to unite his empire by imposing Greek religion and culture on all his subject peoples. He banned the Jewish religion and had the Jerusalem temple turned into a shrine to Zeus; this is the original ‘abomination that makes desolate’ referred to in Daniel 11:31. Among some of the people this provoked at first passive resistance and then armed revolt. These rebels, called the Maccabees, proved too much for the Seleucids, who never regained control of Palestine. As Daniel promised (Dan 8:25), the ‘little horn,’ Antiochus, was broken. The people of Yahweh had their independence for the first time since the rise of Assyria six centuries previously.” (Pages 16–17)
“Babylonian policy was to remove only the leaders of troublesome nations, not to transport whole peoples, and the Judahite politicians, princes, and priests were able to lead a tolerable life in Babylon.” (Page 13)
“not, but rather, whether the world was created in a purposeful way at all” (Page 42)
“The story of creation introduces the story of redemption” (Page 40)
Praise for the Print Edition
For readers who really don't know the Bible well (and hate to admit it), John Goldingay's well-written, concise outline is utterly accessible and complete. It's just the tool we need. As a skilled teacher of the Old Testament, he knows how often everyone can be overwhelmed by the details. This reader's guide provides the brief summaries we need to grasp the larger story arc and its essential teachings. I can imagine this book being widely used in churches or as a review for students who need to complete what they're missing.
—Gary M. Burge, professor of New Testament, Wheaton College and Graduate School
John Goldingay pours the wisdom of years of scholarship and teaching into this primer on the Bible. He invites us into the world of this ancient text to hear how it tells the story of God and God's people. A Reader's Guide to the Bible provides a straightforward and succinct point of entry for anyone desiring better acquaintance with the Bible. I cannot recommend this little volume highly enough.
—Jeannine K. Brown, professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary
The Bible can be overwhelming for the first-time reader. There's so much to take in, so much to fill in ('Where in the story does this prophet fit in?'), and so much to coordinate (like two versions of the story of Israel's monarchy and four versions of the story of Jesus). Having devoted his career equally to the scholarly study of Scripture among academics and to the communication of its message to 'normal' people, Goldingay now offers a primer for those furthest from being at home in the pages of the Bible. This book provides a winsome overview of the story of the whole and how all the parts fit together. It's an ideal tool for the person standing at the threshold of his or her first time reading through the Bible itself.
—David A. deSilva, author of Day of Atonement
- Title: A Reader’s Guide to the Bible
- Author: John Goldingay
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2017
- Logos Release Date: 2019
- Pages: 192
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Bible › Introductions
- ISBNs: 9780830892860, 9780830851744, 0830892869, 0830851747
- Resource ID: LLS:READERSGUIDEBBL
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:38:13Z