Product Description

Adam and Eve. The Tower of Babylon. Moses. Reigns of David and Solomon. Herod the Great. The birth and death of Jesus. This guide brings readers to the fascinating world of the Old and New Testaments, and helps them understand this classic as literature and history. Features the famous stories, parables, and personalities of the Bible; detailed maps of the journeys of its most famous figures; and descriptions of the Bibles everyday life-including customs, clothing, music and social life. Also contains an overview of Bible making, translation through the ages, and historical findings related to the stories. Those searching for a deeper understanding of the Bible as sacred text and its relevance today will find this down-to-earth guide especially useful.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2059934 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-15
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Binding: Audio Cassette

From Amazon.com
At first glance, The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible seems irreverent at best, but as the saying goes, "Judge not ... a book by its cover." This little addition to the Complete Idiot's series tackles one of the most intimidating and misrepresented subjects of the past 2,000 years and succeeds in producing a competent and thorough guide to the world's all-time bestseller.

Jim Bell and Stan Campbell's success is largely due to their humorous and conversational writing style, as well as candid snapshots of what's actually in the Bible. Their treatment of the Old Testament in particular is both an intriguing and hilarious ride through the drama of biblical history. With chapter headings like "Abraham: the not-so-accidental tourist" and "Tell-a-Vision Personalities (Isaiah Through Malachi)," the authors provide a memorable picture of the goings-on in the first 39 books of the Bible. The Abraham chapter includes, among other noteworthy (and entertaining) facts, how Israel became the Hebrew "Promised Land," the origin of the phrase "fire and brimstone," and some of the less illustrious deeds of the so-called "man of faith".

In addition to the movie-traileresque treatment of biblical content, the Idiot's Guide is supplemented with an extensive index, advice on buying a Bible, and a day-by-day plan for reading the Bible in a year. Whether you need a quick overview or are considering some in-depth study but don't know how to begin, The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible is a momentum-building first step. --Benjamin Gebhardt

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

From the Back Cover
Youre no idiot, of course. You know what the Book of Genesis is, or at least that it is about Adam, Eve, and an apple. But when it comes to sitting down and understanding the full significance of the Bible, you feel as helpless as Noah without an Ark. Dont try swimming for shore just yet! The Complete Idiots Guide to the Bible offers accessible summaries and interpretations of everything youll find in the Bible, from "In the beginning" to the last "Amen." Youll learn all about patriarchs and matriarchs, kings and kingdoms, prophets and losses, and the good news of Jesus Christ. In this Complete Idiots Guide, you get-