The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Jr., James Stuart Bell (Author), Stan Campbell (Author), James S. Bell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Complete Idiot's Guide to | Publication Date: July 31, 2002

This audio walks both experienced Bible readers and those seeking it out for the first time through a chronological, story-by-story and person-by-person experience.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James S. Bell Jr. is the owner of Whitestone Communications and has served as executive editor of Moody Press and director of religious publishing at Doubleday. He is co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guides to the Bible, the Book of Revelation, and the Reformation and Protestantism. He also serves as editor of the Christian Family Guide series from Alpha Books.

Stan Campbell has been a full-time writer in Christian publishing for 10 years and in a church ministry for 15 years. Among his almost three dozen books are an eight-book through-the-Bible series and other Bible-related books for teenagers and adults.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From AudioFile

Like most of the Idiot's series, this guide to the Bible is user-friendly. Key terms are defined, and the authors make repeated attempts to illustrate every complex point, down to explanations of literary techniques used. However, they often do so by incorporating cheesy puns and references to ephemeral pop culture, such as cartoons. As a result, this is a dogmatic explanation of the Bible, but one that mostly lacks dignity. John Ratzenberger's narration fits this text perfectly, switching from a joking tone to a judgmental quality when making pronouncements about doctrine. The result is a schizophrenic listening experience. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 2 edition (July 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028643828
• ISBN-13: 978-0028643823
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #876,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Biblical Highlights Without All The Thees and Thous..., April 22, 2006

By 

Book Knurd "You'll Poke Your Eye Out!" (Paradise) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

If you were ever interested in reading the bible from front to back but never did because it can be such a daunting task, then this book might be your answer.

It's an easy to read Reader's Digest version of the Bible that reads like a modern/popular novel. Consequently most of the significant events, figures and some of the intrepretions are covered, but don't expect alot of detail. For that kind of discussion, you're going to have to go to the bible or a more scholarly based reference source.

Which brings up a great point...This book was not intended as a stand-alone replacement for the Bible. On the contrary, to get the most from this book I suggest you read it in conjunction with the Bible. As you complete a section in Idiot's, read the corresponding material in the Bible. From Idiot's you get a simplistic understanding that can then be used to help digest the related passages in the Bible.

A word of warning, the author's make light of many situtations so if you're a Bible purist this may put you off a bit. Its all done in the name of good fun, but sometimes it seems a bit out of place. Not a big issue...

I found the book to be of real value to me from the standpoint that by reading it I gained a perspective that I hadn't had in a long time. Like most people, I've read the Bible but it's been a long time since I've tackled it from front to back. By reading Idiot's I was able to get a better understanding of the flow of the book. A nice side-benefit for me.

This is a nice book for someone with a limited knowledge of the Bible and looking to get their feet wet. Also, it will work well for someone who is in the early stages of a study of the Bible. The authors take care in providing an objective recounting of biblical stories and events, so don't expect an analysis of the meanings. But what is provided can serve as a starting point in a quest to give a critical interepretation of the bible.

68 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best I've seen, June 7, 1999

By 

Thomas W. Craighead (Clio, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiots Guide to The Bible (Paperback)

I'm pastor of a church reaching out to folks who have only been Christians for a short time, and who have tons of problems. I have been searching for something to introduce them to the Bible quickly. This book is it! I love it. People will read it, discuss it, use it. I am going to standardize on it, presenting a copy to every convert during our New Christians' Training program we call First Class. I had a hard time putting it down, myself, and I have two graduate degrees, the better part of another, and have been a pastor in mission situations for more than 40 years.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible made me an idiot no more, April 9, 2000

By 

STEPHEN J. SMITH - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiots Guide to The Bible (Paperback)

This book is wonderfully written in a somewhat humorous vein that made the Bible a very interesting story. This book answered many, many questions that I had over the years and brought the Bible to me in a more objective and practical viewpoint. I highly recommend this book for everyone who is or has been confused by the Bible and for anyone who is seeking faith. A VERY well put together book that should be a textbook for Sunday Schools everywhere.