Bible Guide

Andrew Knowles

Description

The Bible Guide is comprehensive in its scope and yet easy to read and enjoyable to use. Here in one volume is a detailed and illuminating guide to every book of the Bible. Unlike traditional commentaries, The Bible Guide is self-contained; readers do not have to cross-refer to Bible texts. The fact that it is written by one author gives the guide a continuity of approach not found in multi-contributor books. The Bible Guide explores, explains and brings to life the history, stories, culture and message of the world's most influential book.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: Lion Hudson
• Date de parution: 07 mars 2013
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780745957401
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Bible Guide

For Penny Whiting, and in honour of G.R. Buchanan
Copyright 2001 Andrew Knowles This edition copyright 2001 Lion Publishing
The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
Published by Lion An imprint of Lion Publishing plc Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road, Oxford, OX2 8DR, England www.lionhudson.com
ISBN 978 0 7459 5189 8 e-ISBN 978 0 7459 5740 1
First edition 2001 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
All rights reserved
Acknowledgments The scripture quotations have been taken from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission; all rights reserved; and from the Holy Bible, New International Version , copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Limited. All rights reserved. NIV is a registered trademark of International Bible Society. UK trademark number 1448790.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Typeset in 10/12 Goudy Oldstyle
Contents

Author s Preface

What is the Bible?

The Old Testament

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 and 2 Samuel

1 and 2 Kings

1 and 2 Chronicles

Ezra and Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

The Deuterocanonical Books

The New Testament

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 and 2 Thessalonians

1 and 2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter and Jude

1, 2 and 3 John

Revelation

Index
Author s Preface

It was Michael Ramsey, a great archbishop of Canterbury, who said, We must study to be simple. This is what I have tried to do in preparing this companion guide to the Bible.
Many people who need access to the scriptures have little background scholarship or time to read. They are teaching or leading study groups and sometimes require a resource which will quickly give them their bearings and provide some essential information. I hope that my colleagues in ministry - clergy and pastors - will also find this book useful when time for preparation is short and something straightforward and immediate is appropriate.
This book is the product of many hearts and minds and hands. Its roots are in the ministry of my own Bible-class teacher, Gordon Buchanan, who first showed me the labour, reverence and reward of Bible study. It was conceived by a chance remark of my commissioning editor, Becky Winter, late in 1992. It was gestated by the dedicated scholars on whose books and articles I have relied. I have often found myself on giants shoulders .
In particular I am indebted to two friends from my student days, Dr Chris Wright of All Nations College, Ware, and Dr Stephen Travis of St John s College Nottingham. They read the Old and New Testament sections respectively and made many important amendments, covering my ignorance with their fine understanding and gentle tact. I am also grateful to Dr John Bimson and Revd Mike Butterworth, who provided me with valuable notes on the Old Testament. Martin Manser gave painstaking attention to a myriad of tiny details and encouraged me to fill many gaps. David Winter, an outstanding communicator, read the entire manuscript to challenge me with his keen perceptions. For Lion Publishing, Angela Handley has overseen the project with the greatest care, patience and goodwill, Nick Rous has been the genius behind the design and illustration, and Jenni Dutton has made the final preparations for publication.
I would like to thank those who have shared the labour pains of bringing this book to birth. Peter and Fiona Beer provided generous hospitality and much-needed sanctuary in their successive homes at Innsworth and Southmoor. Derek Osborne loaned his study at Lee Abbey through two summer vacations. Becky Winter s promptings and Jo Dale s prayers revived the project when all vital signs were absent. And Gwen Potter, my co-leader of the Normandy Crusaders, typed the manuscript with infectious enthusiasm and skill.
Finally my family, Diane, Hannah and Matthew, have sustained me with the love and forbearance that I so greatly need, whether writing a book or not. For everyone, and to the Lord, who provides, I give my heartfelt thanks.

Andrew Knowles
Chelmsford
Easter 2001
What is the Bible?

The Bible began with a collection of stories, passed on by word of mouth. They were stories of how God chose and blessed a nomadic group of people, the Israelites, and gave them a land of their own.
In due course, the history of Israel and the messages of her prophets were written down. These scriptures became a treasured library of Jewish literature: history, folklore, wisdom and prayers, written on parchment and stored in rolls. This was the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament.

BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
The Old Testament
Law
History
Poetry and wisdom
Prophecy
The New Testament
Gospels and Acts
Letters and Revelation
If the Old Testament is the history of the Jews, then the New Testament is the story of the Christian church. It begins with the four Gospels, each of which narrates the life and significance of Jesus of Nazareth. Then follows an account of how the gospel (the good news) of Jesus spread from Jerusalem to Rome in a single generation. There are also letters which were written in those early years.
Eventually, the Bible documents were collected together, transcribed on vellum (calf or sheep skin) and bound in books. The volumes were rare and precious, kept in the libraries of monasteries or chained in churches. Then, in the 15th century, the printing press was invented. The Bible was finally released from the limitation of being copied out by hand, and embarked on mass production.
Now the Bible has been translated into a multitude of languages and taken to every part of the world. It is stored on microchip, recorded on tape, produced on CD-ROMs and accessed via the Internet. There are versions to suit all sorts of people and groups, and levels of understanding.
Wherever and however the Bible is read, people find it to be the word of God. Here, more than anywhere else, we discover what God is like and what it is that he offers us. He is our creator, Saviour and judge. He is righteous and merciful and loving. He is perfectly portrayed in the life, death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Bible is made up of two main parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Both these parts are themselves collections of books.
In a remarkable way, all the books in the Bible contribute to the same overall story and message. Although written at different times by a number of authors, each book contributes its own perspective to the others. Together they build a complete picture of God s holiness and love, our human rebellion against him, and his wonderful plan to rescue us from sin and death and to restore us to eternal life.
The Old Testament story
In the beginning
The earliest stories in the Bible are of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah s flood and the tower of Babel (Genesis 1-11). They have much in common with myths, as they portray the ages before recorded history. They deal with how things began and depict the tension between God s holiness and human sin.
Then comes the story of Abram who became Abraham - the ancestor of the nation of Israel. Abram responds to God s call to leave his home and become a wandering shepherd. By a solemn covenant, God promises to make Abraham the father of a great nation and to bless the world through his descendants. He also promises to give him the land of Canaan. It is because Abraham believes God against all odds that he is known as the father of the faithful .
The whole Bible story flows from God s covenant with Abraham, to bless him and the whole world through him (Genesis 12-36).
Abraham s son is Isaac and his grandson is Jacob. They are the promise-bearers, the heirs of the covenant, the ancestors of the nation of Israel. It is Jacob who is given the name Israel.
Jacob has twelve sons, who become the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. One of these sons is Jacob s favourite, Joseph. Joseph becomes a slave and prisoner in Egypt, but rises to become the country s first minister (Genesis 37-50).
Let my people go!
In Egypt, the Israelites (Hebrews) sink into slavery. God rescues them through the leadership of Moses, who is a Hebrew brought up as an Egyptian prince. God inflicts a series of plagues on the Egyptians, climaxing in the death of all their first-born sons in a single night. The Hebrews are spared when the angel of death passes over their homes - hence the night and its special meal are called Passover .
Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt across the Red Sea (or Sea of Reeds). This is the exodus - the dramatic escape from slavery by which God rescues his people and begins to make them a nation (Exodus 1-15).
Moses is to lead the Israelites to their Promised Land of Canaan. It is a short journey, but it takes forty years. God gives the people his law (the Ten Commandments) at Mount Sinai, but they rebel by making and worshipping a golden calf.
An entire generation dies in the wilderness and even Moses himself is not allowed to enter the Promised Land. He does, however, receive God s instructions for the building of the tabernacle. This is a tent where God dwells among his people, surrounded by an enclosure where they offer sacrifices. The tabernacle is a forerunner of the temple (Exodus 16-40).
God s plans