Ninety percent of Americans own a copy of the Bible, and while it’s the most widely read book, it’s also the least understood. Regardless of your religion, understanding the Bible brings much of Western art, literature, and public discourse into greater focus—from Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” painting to the Wachowski brothers’
The Matrixmovies. People have historically turned to religion to deal with tragedy and change, and with the right insight, the Bible can be an accessible, helpful guide to life’s big questions.
The Bible For Dummiesappeals to people of all faiths, as well as those who don’t practice any particular religion, by providing interfaith coverage of the entire Bible and the often fascinating background information that makes the Bible come alive. You’ll find answers to such questions as:
- Where did the Bible come from?
- Who wrote the Bible?
- How is the Bible put together?
Follow the history of the Bible from its beginning thousands of years ago as tattered scrolls to its status as the bestseller of all time. The Bible For Dummiescovers these topics and more:
- Ten people in the Bible you should know
- The Hebrew Bible
- The Apocrypha’s hidden treasures
- What’s new about the New Testament
- Israel’s wisdom, literature, and love poetry
- The Bible’s enduring influence
- The prophets: more than fortunetellers
Discover the world’s all-time bestseller in an entirely new light. Whether you’re interested in broadening your spiritual horizons, uncovering the symbolism of Western culture, or gaining a deeper understanding of the book you grew up reading, The Bible For Dummieshas all the information you need to navigate this ancient and fascinating book.
Ninety percent of Americans own a copy of the Bible, but in trying to understand the book as a whole, it's difficult to know where to begin. This engaging guide explains in plain English what's in the Bible, how it's organized, who wrote it, and what it's all about. Illustrations & maps.
Jeffrey Geoghegan, PhD and Michael Homan, PhD have authored and coauthored numerous books and articles about the Bible.
Introduction.
Part I: What the Bible Is All About.
Chapter 1: From Moses to Modernity: Introducing the Good Book.
Chapter 2: Lights, Camera, Action! Previewing the Bible's Stage and Storyline.
Part II: Exploring the Hebrew Bible-The Old Testament.
Chapter 3: Creation, Paradise Lost, and Other Mysteries of Life (Genesis 1-3).
Chapter 4: The Fallout from "The Fall" (Genesis 4-11).
Chapter 5: The Babylonian Hillbillies: The Adventures of Abraham and His Family (Genesis 12-25:18).
Chapter 6: The Birth of a Nation: Isaac, Jacob, and Their Many Children (Genesis 25:19-50).
Chapter 7: Holy Moses! Exploring Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Chapter 8: An Experiment in Theocracy: Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.
Chapter 9: The King and "I Am": 1 and 2 Samuel.
Chapter 10: A Tale of Two Kingdoms: 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles.
Chapter 11: Strangers in a Strange Land: Israel in Exile with Daniel and Esther.
Chapter 12: Home for the Holidays: Returning to the Promised Land with Ezra and Nehemiah.
Chapter 13: More Than Mere Fortune-tellers: The Prophets.
Chapter 14: Israel's Wisdom Literature and Love Poetry: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.
Chapter 15: Rockin' the Temple: Music in Ancient Israel (Psalms).
Part III: Revealing the Bible's Hidden Treasures in the Apocrypha.
Chapter 16: Rebels with a Cause: The Books of 1 and 2 Maccabees.
Chapter 17: The Apocrypha's Other "Hidden Treasures".
Part IV: Discovering What's New About the New Testament.
Chapter 18: From Birth to Baptism: Jesus Prepares for the Ministry (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
Chapter 19: Jesus Christ Superstar: Jesus' "Ministry Years" (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
Chapter 20: The Early Christian Church (Acts 1-8,10-12, and 15).
Chapter 21: The Traveling Salesman of Tarsus: Paul's Life and Letters.
Chapter 22: Wait a Minute, Mr. Postman: The New Testament's General Letters.
Chapter 23: The Beginning of the End: The Revelation of John.
Part V: That Was Then, This Is Now: Discovering the Bible's Enduring Influence.
Chapter 24: The Bible and the Abrahamic Faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Chapter 25: Michelangelo, Milton, and Movies: Art, Literature, Life, and the Bible.
Part VI: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 26: Ten+ People You Should Know from the Bible.
Chapter 27: Ten Holidays You Can Take Thanks to the Bible.
Index.
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