Customer Reviews

Knowing the Bible 101: A Guide to God's Word in Plain Language (Christianity 101®)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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As the title implies, the "101" would mean "beginner level". Indeed, in this book, Bickel and Jantz wrote a really good introduction to the Bible. They start with the authorship and brief history of the Bible, why Bible is so interesting, and then moving to explain the Bible part by part -- in a Christian perspective.

This book is aimed especially for new converts or for those who are not well acquainted with the Bible but desire to learn more. Even seasoned Christians, in a way, can learn on how they should teach the Bible to beginners from this book.

The explanation in the book isn't terribly deep for scholarly / apologetic purposes, but not too shallow either. I personally feel that they wrote much more than just the basics. They did some cross reference and give a bit of historical background when appropriate, like the year of Israel / Jehuda kings reign. Even, they outline some different interpretation on certain books / passages, like how current Bible scholars differ on the book of Revelation and why.

There are ample diagrams, pictures, maps, tables, and other visual aids to enhance the learning experience. The language is so simple that reader with little or no exposure to Christianity can follow it. The book even includes yearly Bible reads and popular passages for devotional purposes. Also, they mention how Christian stands on several sensitive topics like abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, and so forth by citing appropriate verses in the Bible. Although some interpretation on some issue varies greatly from church to church, I believe that the authors tried to represent the view of the Christian "majority". I believe that the authors are not deeply apologetics in this book, many "advanced reader" would feel that the authors are glossing over too much on certain issues.

All in all, this book is intended for beginner Bible studies, but there is far more than just "basics". I agree that this book is not enough for apologetics, but if you're just curious about the Bible and never take much studies but desire to learn more, this book is for you. Note that if you are not Christian, but desire to learn more about the Bible, this book isn't for you because the authors' inherent bias on the interpretation of Biblical verses may throw you off. However, if you think you can handle that, then this book is a good investment.

This book is excellent for the beginner. It's basic, easy to understand style is a definite plus! If you're looking for a good book to teach you the basics, and take you on a fun trip to understand and knowing the bible, this is it!

Any teacher who likes to supplement a bible lesson, Sunday school lesson, etc., needs to have this book. It is a great addition to any library of Christian study tools.

Really helped me to understand about the Bible. Very easy reading. Perfect for teenagers as well as adults.

This book is a perfect investment before you start in on the bible. This book has helped me tremendously. A must have.

I was looking for a book that would give a good overview of the Bible - Old and New Testaments, and I found it in Knowing the Bible 101. It was written by lay people, an attorney and a market consultant. Yet, people who have studied the Bible for many years as well as those who are new to Bible Study will find a wealth of information in this book. It will help to bring about a new appreciation for the study of God's word. Part 1 talks about how the Bible came to be, explains why we can trust that the Bible is the word of God, and shares information about the many different translations and how to find the one that speaks to you. Bickel and Jantz also point out that the entire Bible can be read in a year by reading 15 minutes a day. Part 1 also gives a 22 minute synopsis of the entire Bible. Part 2 covers the Old Testament and Part 3 the New Testament. It also contains timelines, and a wealth of helpful information. I especially like the "One hour cram plans" covering different sections of the Bible that highlight important texts. The book is very easy to read, yet has a lot of depth. I highly recommend it for individual or group study.

This book is excellent. It gives the reader an overview of the Bible and timelines for Biblical events and what was happening in the secular culture in the same period. This is a great book for people at any stage of their spiritual walk.

I'm currently using this book for a women's study group. There are many "baby" Christians there and we are using this to build a solid foundation for our goal of daily Bible reading. The unification of the old and new testaments as a continuing story of God and mankind will be beneficial in teaching the importance of the old testament to new testament believers. End of chapter questions make facilitaing a group so much easier as a source for weekly discussion and for promoting introspection on the weeks reading. I highly recommend for any person or group who wants to educate new believers, a house only stands on a solid foundation and this is great blueprint!

highly recommended for both those that are beginning to make a serious study of the bible and those that just want a basic biblical foundation for sunday church service.

I enjoyed this book so much that I ordered 12 to give to family and friends! It is well written, easy to understand and realy DOES make the Bible easier to understand.