God's Library: Introducing Catholics to the Bible [Paperback]

Joe Paprocki (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Twenty-Third Publications (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089622970X
• ISBN-13: 978-0896229709
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,265,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press. He has 30 years of experience in ministry and has taught at the high school, college, and general-adult levels. He is the author of several books, including the best sellers The Catechist's Toolbox and A Well-Built Faith. His latest book, The Bible Blueprint: A Catholic's Guide to Understanding and Embracing God's Word, was released in August 2009 and is available in English and Spanish. Joe, who is currently an eighth-grade catechist, blogs about his catechetical experiences at www.catechistsjourney.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basic Training, March 5, 2001

By 

Gregory Moore - See all my reviews

This review is from: God's Library: Introducing Catholics to the Bible (Paperback)

This book is intended for those who have little or no previous experience in using the Bible, either for prayer or study. Mr. Paprocki makes no assumptions of the reader's knowledge of the Bible and so guides the novice from "square one" (breaking the Bible into two testaments, then into appropriate groupings of Pentateuch, Prohets, Gospels Letters etc.) to understanding abbreviations, footnotes, cross-references, commentaries, concordances. He then addresses Catholic understanding of Scripture in relation to historical fact versus inspired truth (using many examples from well-known Bible "stories") and finally discusses various forms of criticism used to assist us in properly interpreting Scripture and applying it's teachings to our lives today. Paprocki does all of this in easy-to-understand language, with great examples, and good humor. I highly recommend this little volume to those who have a desire to begin reading the Bible but have fears ("bibliaphobia") of not knowing how to begin or are afraid or incorrectly interpreting Scripture. As a catechist for RCIA I encounter people with all levels of experience with the Bible. I will not hesitate to recommend this book to those who are just beginning their journey with God's Word.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Review, April 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: God's Library: Introducing Catholics to the Bible (Paperback)

I think that Joe Paprocki basically does a good job in introducing the Bible, but I am a little bit concerned about some of the things he states. For example, if I remember correctly, he says that the Catholic Church ADDED the seven deuterocanonical books (Tobit,Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabbees, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, & Baruch, as well as parts of Esther and Daniel) to the Bible in the 16th Century, which is totally untrue. The fact is that the canon of the Bible was largely in place by the end of the 2nd Century, and the present Canon of Scripture (the official list of books determined to be part of the Bible) affirmed by the Councils of Hippo (A.D. 393) and Carthage (A.D, 397). The Canon of Scripture that the Christian Church had used for 15 centuries was again solemnly reaffirmed in the 1500s during the Council of Trent in response to the Prostestants' adopting a different Canon that did not include the seven "apocryphal" (deuterocanonical) books. Someone listening to Mr. Paprocki, however, might get the impression that the Catholic Church just decided to add books to the Bible that were never before in the Bible in the 16th Century, which is a view that many misinformed Prostesants have of the Catholic Bible already. I think that "Catholic Guide to the Bible" by Oscar Lukefahr is a better choice to introduce the Bible to those Catholics who are looking for a basic introductory book about the Bible. Just my two cents.