The IVP Introduction to the Bible
Pages
292
Publisher
IVP Academic
Published
4/1/2007
ISBN-13
9780830828289
The Bible is a truly wonderful book. Millions of Christians through the ages and across the world have treasured it as their most valued possession, often insisting that anyone can pick up the Bible and read and understand it for themselves. But many of the details remain fuzzy until we find out more about their historical or literary setting. The IVP Introduction to the Bible is intended to reduce the fuzziness, in two ways: First, by providing background information to the whole Bible and each testament, as well as the gap between the testaments. Second, by introducing all the main sections of the Bible and each biblical book in turn. So the great biblical panorama is brought to life, first with broad brush strokes and then with fine art work. This Bible introduction is written by an international and interdenominational team of evangelical scholars, among them
* Desmond Alexander, author of From Paradise to the Promised Land
* Tremper Longman III, author of How to Read the Psalms and How to Read Proverbs
* Howard Marshall, author of New Testament Theology
* Mark Strauss, author of Four Portraits, One Jesus All are involved in teaching biblical studies at a theological college, seminary or university, and each writing in their area of specialization. As they guide you expertly through the details, your understanding of the Bible and its message will be greatly enhanced. Readers of all stripes, from curious non-Christians to serious students of the Bible, will find The IVP Introduction to the Bible a helpful and enjoyable resource.
- Introduction / Philip Johnston --
- Introducing the Bible / Mark Strauss --
- Introducing the Old Testament.
- Old Testament story / Desmond Alexander.
- Old Testament background / Jamie Grant.
- Old Testament theology / Philip Johnston.
- Old Testament interpretation / Jamie Grant --
- Pentateuch / Desmond Alexander --
- Historical books / Philip Johnston --
- Poetic books / Tremper Longman III --
- Prophets / Ernest Lucas --
- Between the testaments / Carl Mosser --
- Introducing the New Testament.
- New Testament story / Ian Paul.
- New Testament background / Carl Mosser.
- New Testament theology / Mark Strauss.
- New Testament interpretation / Brian Rosner --
- Gospels / Howard Marshall --
- Acts / Mark Strauss --
- Letters / Ian Paul, Brian Rosner, Carl Mosser --
- Revelation / Carl Mosser --
- Reading the Bible.
Inner Books
This physical volume has several internal sections, each of which has been reviewed independently
- Gospels by I. Howard Marshall
- Pentateuch by T. Desmond Alexander
- Historical books by Philip S. Johnston
- Poetic books by Tremper Longman III
- Prophets by Ernest C. Lucas
- Between the testaments by Carl Mosser
- Acts by Mark L. Strauss
- Letters by Ian Paul, Brian S. Rosner, and Carl Mosser
- Revelation by Carl Mosser
- Introducing the Bible by Mark L. Strauss
Reviews
Review of Biblical Literature (RBL) (Douglas Estes)
July 1, 2008
July 1, 2008
Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Pp. xii + 292. Hardcover. $26.00. ISBN 0830828281. Douglas Estes Western Seminary-San Jose San Jose, California The IVP Introduction to the Bible is a concise and easy-to-read overview of the Bible, written “so the great biblical panorama is brought to life, first with broad brush strokes and then with fine art work” (ix). The editors of the Introduction designed the book primarily for the general reader, with the stated goal to “reduce the fuzziness” resulting from a lack of details such a reader may have in areas such as historical or literary setting. For this reason, the book tackles two main areas: “There are four general chapters … dealing with overall background issues to the whole Bible and to each testament, as well as filling in the gap between the testaments … [and then] there are eight chapters … dealing with all the main sections and each biblical book in turn.” Eschewing any technical jargon and possessing very few endnotes, the book is simple, clear, and does not sacrifice much in the way of depth. The book also does not assume any specialist knowledge of the Bible and is written from a broadly international and evangelical perspective. The Introduction opens with Mark Strauss’s synopsis of the Bible: origin, inspiration, transmission, translation, and criticism.
[Full Review]