Customer Reviews

Saints of the Bible: Exploring Scripture with Holy Men and Women

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I am a convert to the Catholic faith, and the few months spent in preparation for the Rite of Christian Initiation did not include much about the lives of the saints. So, when I was asked to choose a patron saint for my Confirmation, the Saints of the Bible were the ones with whom I was most familiar.

I had always been taught in the Protestant denominations whose services I attended that the Word of God was Sola Scriptura, but I have learned through the Catholic faith that the lives of the saints testify to God's goodness and mercy just as much as Scripture does. Without the Church tradition we would lose much of the richness of these saints' stories as the Bible mentions many of their names only briefly. Theresa Doyle-Nelson, in her book Saints of the Bible has combined the scriptural evidence with the stories passed down for nearly two millennia by the traditions of the Catholic Church. She reminds us that each of these characters, with roles important enough to be mentioned alongside the life of Christ, has a rich tale of conversion and each exemplifies a life that was changed by their deep faith in Jesus. They give us hope that as Jesus enters our lives, we can be similarly changed.

Doyle-Nelson gives common ground to those who believe that Scripture is the sole source of authority and those of us who draw from the deposit of faith passed to us from the Apostles. We can all agree that these saints' tales of conversion, witness, and sacrifice are examples to us all.

Doyle-Nelson's book is a concise, well-organized reference that is straight-forward enough for beginner students of the saints, but informative enough that even more experienced students of Scripture and the lives of the saints will find some surprises. It is conveniently organized by date, so you can easily reference it all year long as you study Scripture alongside these "holy men and women".

I would definitely recommend buying this book for adult Catechumens and Candidates, as well as high-school youth in preparation for Confirmation. It may even be a nice gift for Protestant friends who have questions about Catholicism and its teaching and traditions.

I was especially touched by the last entry in the book which describes the slaughter of the Holy Innocents by King Herod the Great. It resonates deeply with the current issue of abortion in our country and in our world today.

This is a quick, easy read. I purchased the book to give as a gift to a friend....now I want to keep it for myself! The book provides a quick synopsis on each of the saints - hits the high points, gets the point across. The book has been good breakfast conversation with my teenager.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book! What a great idea to chronicle all the saints that are mentioned in the Bible! It is a terrific Biblical reference and a continuing source of inspiration.

This was a very interesting book. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the Catholic Saints. It was very informative and easy to read.

Check this out: Catholic feast day saints listed chronologically with a superior matrix of the saints in the back. This book is extremely well researched but NOT "snooty academic" and it stays on point. I maintain a religious book shelf in my office and this is a superb quick reference. And at a perfect price, Saints of the Bible makes a great gift for Catholic teachers, kids approching confirmation, friends and family. Order three and save on shipping!

What I love about this book is the brief explanation of each saint. I'm a short story fan, so this book is MY kind of reading--one or two pages dedicated to each saint. I am impressed with the author's clear and flowing language--and with the engaging stories of these holy people. Her respect for her faith shines through every page, but the book is not preachy. I highly recommend!

Theresa Doyle-Nelson has given us a unique insight into the early saints of the church casting them in a very human light. It is interesting, easy to read and inspiring. I whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone seeking knowledge of the early church as well as those seeking to be inspired by men and women who lived their lives according to the Christian ideal.

This is a clearly-written book that would make a good gift for anyone who wants to know more about the saints of the Bible. The book is inspirational in the way it helps us to follow the examples of the saints' lives. This would make a good home devotional guide. I especially liked reading about the women saints of the Bible. A friend of mine who has taught in Catholic school says that this book would make a great classroom companion for teachers in Catholic schools. The book would be very useful to Catholic teachers seeking to help their students discover the saints.

This great book enlighten me on many saints that I was not aware of.
It has caused me to do further reading of the Bible. I am greatful to the Author.

As a spiritual director, I am always looking for new ways to pray for myself and for others. I spent a month praying with Doyle-Nelson's Saints of the Bible as my daily devotional.

The text offered me a great balance of scripture, reflection, and a focal point for my prayer through the journey of a particular saint. The book opened my eyes to many Biblical figures I don't usually think of as saints, and a couple I hadn't heard of despite a seminary education. I love how Doyle- Nelson separates the scripture from Church tradition to give a historical view on the saint's life as well. Each saint comes alive for the reader in prayer through the scriptures.

I would have liked a special blessing or prayer along with each saint, so that Theresa's voice could have been a part of my prayer time, or a snippet from a prayer attributed to or connected with each saint in the life of the Church. I understand, however, that such an addition may have turned off readers interested in the lives of the saints rather than praying with them, but historical prayers could have enhanced readers understanding of saint's role in Church Tradition beyond the Bible.

I've never seen a work like this one that focuses so keenly on the personal lives of Biblical saints, and it makes an excellent addition to reference and devotional libraries alike. I recommend Saints of the Bible to spiritual directees looking for a fresh perspective on the earliest and often forgotten saints, those of the Bible. I also recommend Doyle-Nelson's saints via blog or Facebook for anyone wanting to enjoy a human side of all the saints usual and unusual as the Church year progresses.