The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible, Third Edition

“Campbell and Bell have done a masterful job of introducing readers to the Bible.”
—James T. Dyet, author of over 30 bible study courses

This revised edition continues to walk both experienced Bible readers and those seeking it out for the first time through a chronological, story-by-story and person-by-person experience. Complete with maps of journeys and explanations of the acts and epistles, this book includes:

• The journeys of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, and the law from Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, and Kings, including David and Goliath, Gideon and Samson, and King Solomon
• The captives, the women, the poets, the prophets, and more through the Old Testament
• The story of Jesus as told in the four Gospels
• The acts of the Apostles as they spread the word of the new church; the letters from Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude on a variety of topics; and John’s apocalyptic Revelation
• The Apocrypha including Maccabees 1 and 2 along with other books included for other practices
• An all new reference glossary featuring names and places with descriptions and cross-references to their discussion in the Bible

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