Help With Understanding The Bible
How familiar are you with the Bible? If you met someone who had never read the Bible before, where would you tell them to begin? Would it make a difference if they had never even thought much about God and weren’t sure if he existed?
Could you tell the main story of the Bible? If someone wanted to get the main story, where in the Bible would you tell them to read?
I have come to appreciate four tools that have helped me in my own study and in my own attempt to help others understand the Bible.
This new study Bible, just released in September 2007, is different from any other study Bible that I have used. There is a website where you can learn more and even view the study Bible on-line (free for 30 days).
The Bible is an anthology of sixty-six literary works, each written by an individual, for a purpose, in a given historical context. But while the Bible is sixty-six books, written over a 1,600 year span of time, it is also a book with a central story. This study Bible has helped me to read with that in mind. The following is from the website:
“You’ll explore in detail the Bible’s story lines, complex characters, historical settings, literary genres, motifs, theological themes, imagery, and important terms, making the Bible come alive with greater clarity and impact.”
Ryken’s Bible Handbook by Leland Ryken, Philip Ryken, and James Wilhoit
This handbook was written by many of the same individuals involved with the ESV Literary Study Bible. It can be used with any Bible, but is also a useful supplement to the ESV Literary Study Bible.
“This book gives students of the Bible a quick overview of every book in the Bible. Leland Ryken’s distinctive trait is a literary approach to the Bible–understanding the Bible as literature. The three authors help shed light on understanding the Bible as the inspired Word of God and as literature by looking at the Bible’s different literary genres: poetry, narrative, wisdom literature, story, parables, and more.” from books.google.com, where you can preview the book.
The Drama of Scripture by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen
“The story of the Bible and its account of God’s action in the world give meaning to our lives and provide us with the foundation for our actions. “The Drama of Scripture” is an introduction to the basic story line and theology of the Bible. In considering the biblical story, the authors emphasize the unity of the whole, viewing the Bible as a drama in six acts–creation, sin, Israel, Christ, church, and new creation. Two overarching themes tie the biblical story together–covenant in the Old Testament and kingdom in the New Testament. Throughout, the authors suggest, God is revealed through the story and calls us to participate in his drama.”
According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible By Graeme Goldsworthy
“Concise, pithy chapters with dozens of charts, highlighted summaries and study questions make Graeme Goldsworthy’s introductory text enormously useful for understanding how the Bible fits together as the unfolding story of God’s plan for salvation.”
You can read a review at the website beginningwithmoses.org.
Take up and read!
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