Customer Reviews

Asimov's Guide to the Bible: Two Volumes in One, the Old and New Testaments

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book covers what Asimov calls in the introduction the "secular aspects" of the bible. As a result the book pays little attention to the spiritual meaning of the bible, and I wouldn't advise buying this if that is your main interest.

However, whether you are Christian or not, Asimov does an excellent job of placing the events of the bible in a historical context. There are dozens of maps, which I found invaluable--for example he provides a sequence of maps that cover from 1 Samuel through 2 Kings that show the changing boundaries of Israel and Judah from the reign of Saul through David and Solomon and onwards. He also provides a chronology of important events in biblical times, covering primarily biblical events but also other historical events.

Although Asimov was not a Christian, there is little here that can be construed as a direct attack on Christianity, unless you feel that a secular approach to the bible is already an attack. Occasionally his approach highlights points which an atheist will be happy to see, such as the fact that the later gospels ascribe more miracles to Christ than the earlier ones do, or the fact that the gospel of John has many inconsistencies with the other three. For the most part, however, Asimov sidesteps the question of Christian truth.

The book is now thirty years old, and as a result does not contain the latest scholarship. However, it is not intended as a scholarly work: instead it's a very readable presentation of a great deal of the fascinating background to the most influential book in Western civilization.

This book is an excellent read if you are looking to learn more about the background of names, places, and events described in the Bible from a secular-historical standpoint. It doesn't pretend to be a work of original scholarship. It is what it's titled: a 'Guide' to the Old and New Testaments. Asimov emphasizes chronology and context, which gives the reader the sense that the things depicted as occurring in the various books of the Bible aren't just a collection of disconnected and discordant events. It is an extremely interesting history book in and of itself, and I learned more from it than from any other book about the Bible I've read of narrower topical scope. This was an ambitious project even for Isaac to attempt to tackle, and the range of his 'general overview' is as informative and fascinating as anything else he ever wrote.

If you have an interest in understanding the historical background, religious and political motives, fulfilled and unfulfilled prophecies, and vague allusions concerning the events and characters which fill the Bible; this secular review contains a wealth of knowledge as well as being entertaining. Each book of the Jewish Bible and New Testament are covered as well as several non-canonical books. The evolution of contemporary Judaism and Christianity thought can be traced through the mythical stories of genesis, the Yawists of ancient Israel, the influence of Babylonian, Persian, and Greek beliefs as well as the Babylonian exile and Roman persecutions which inspired biblical apocalyptic writings. Great watershed events such as the invasion and conquest of Canaan by the Hebrew tribes, the establishment of the Davidic dynasty by Samuel, the splitting of the Israel/Judah confederacy due to Solomon's policies in building the first temple, the conquest of Israel by the Assyrians, the conquest of Judah and destruction of the first temple by the Babylonians, the return from the Babylonian exile and construction of the second temple, the destruction of the second temple by the Romans, the life and crucifixion of Jesus, and the establishment of the Christian religion through Paul's efforts are all covered in this 1200+ page tome. Asimov's book reads like a historical novel which is more readable and easier to understand than reading the bible cold. After reading through this book, I feel confident in engaging my Christian and Jewish friends in discussions about the bible and in most cases, am more knowledgeable about their holy book than they are.

I love Asimov's writings. His Science Fiction has helped create the genre. His History works are always insightful.

I also love the Bible, and knowing old Issac is an Athiest I bought this book with a degree of trepidation.

My trepidation was unfounded. Asimov treats the Bible with respect and understanding. He recognises many of the Old Testament Prophecies about Jesus (another point that concerned me, knowing of Asimov's Jewish heritage).

He puts the Bible into its wider historical perspective.

This isn't the first book I will refer to to understand a part of the Bible, but it is one to which I will often refer.

In terms of intellect, he could do almost anything and master it. He was the Voltaire of our time. And, still, his intent was to provide information that a thinking mind might utilize to make its own determinations. In this small aspect of his study, when he focused his considerable energy in this direction, his own words must express his motives:

"Imagine the people who believe such things and who are not ashamed to ignore, totally, all the patient findings of thinking minds through all the centuries since the Bible was written. And it is these ignorant people, the most uneducated, the most unimaginative, the most unthinking among us, who would make themselves the guides and leaders of us all; who would force their feeble and childish beliefs on us; who would invade our schools and libraries and homes. I personally resent it bitterly..."

-- Isaac Asimov, Canadian Atheists Newsletter, 1994

Understand first, unlike Asimov, I am a true believer. As such I feel it is incumbent to gain a true understanding of just exactly what it is God wants of us and for us.

This means that as I read any given passage of the Holy Bible that I not get myself caught into the trap of so many other believers - in other words,, I will not say to others that such and such is true simply because, "...it says so in the Bible."

I am frequently annoyed that so many Christians don't understand Jesus's purpose. He wanted us to understand and live to the intent of God's Commandments and not to simply follow the letter of the word with ceremonies in precisely this way or that.

I found Asimov's treatise to give me a terrific understanding and especially appreciate his explanation of the meaning of names for various people and places.

Asimov makes a very good point to many of us who falsely believed the first Jews were slaves building the pyramids in Egypt. He does so without malice but with a matter-of-fact discussion of the fact that the structures were not once mentioned in the Bible.

He also enlightens us as to precisely where in Egypt Moses and his followers lived and, perhaps most crucially, explains the simultaneous transfer of the first Philistines to roughly the same region as Moses's followers and the fact that at that time neither group seems to have been antagonistic towards one another.

Only later, as each group grew in population and as the various outside intruders dissipated (Hyksos, Hittites, Egyptians) did the two come to despise each other.

Asimov also especially provides a good insight into several New Testament stories that seem to have been rehashed Old Testament stories.

It is natural for many to disagree with me. I respect those of you who do. My point is that my belief and faith depends not on miracles or the words of the Bible. It depends on my belief in the goodness of mankind. It depends on my belief in forgiveness of sins that came when He sacrificed Himself on the cross. It depends on all of us seeking His truth so we can do His will. THAT depends on us searching all avenues to find TRUTH. Asimov has done a terrific job!

He remains my favorite writer. I only have some 410 books of his yet to read!

Ok, he was not Frank Moore Cross or E.P. Sanders. He took for granted facts that are now widely questioned (like Solomons' Israel's great power and wealth, or the crowd demanding Jesus' crucfixion). But in this book he gives you the fundamental basis of knowledge for really placing biblical books and events in their historical contest. His comments are a rare
example of clear and unbiased historical analysis. Though dated, is still a good introduction to biblical lore.

over the past few years i've begun to critically evaluate my faith and position on christianity. as part of this "quest", i wanted to read a secular history of the bible to help me understand the historical context that the books of the bible were written in. this book fit the bill perfectly and was an interesting and entertaining read to boot. it took me a while to read (in small chunks), but i feel i have a much deeper understanding on the bible now.

that said, asimov is an avowed atheist, and there is a clear bias against christianity. but that's fine- i don't mind having my beliefs challenged, and his points are food for thought.

if i have any complaints, it's that asimov rarely cited his sources, and i would have liked to read some of those books as well.

Isaac Asimov was a literary giant, and his science fiction is among the very best. So you won't be too surprised when you find that he turned his considerable intellect to the Bible with equal acumen, and the result is a reference book which belongs in the library of any biblical scholar. Asimov digs through the Old and New Testaments and supplements the text with explanations, diagrams, and cross references which bring the sometimes obscure biblical stories to new life. True, at times he can be pedantic and will drone on for pages about the source of a river, or the evolution of a city, but by-and-large he is spot on and his excursions, even when long, are always informative. My only regret is that Asimov did not revisit this book before his death. In the renewed attention paid to non-traditional interpretations of the New Testament, his opinions would have been enormously enlightening. Nonetheless, he left us a true classic. If I could chose only one book about the bible, this would be it.

The amount of research that must have gone into this work is astounding. Paragraph after paragraph makes one stop and think, reading passages in the Bible that correspond to what Asimov has said, referring to other sources to see what THEY say. A mind expanding book, stimulating and informative... I've learned something new every time I opened it.