Bible For Dummies
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Discover the world’s all-time bestseller in an entirely new light
Ninety percent of Americans own a copy of the Bible, and while it's the most widely read book, it's also the least understood. Regardless of your religion, understanding the Bible brings much of Western art, literature, and public discourse into greater focus—from Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" painting to the Wachowski brothers' The Matrix movies. People have historically turned to religion to deal with tragedy and change, and with the right insight, the Bible can be an accessible, helpful guide to life's big questions.
The Bible For Dummies appeals to people of all faiths, as well as those who don't practice any particular religion, by providing interfaith coverage of the entire Bible and the often fascinating background information that makes the Bible come alive. You'll find answers to such questions as:
- Where did the Bible come from?
- Who wrote the Bible?
- How is the Bible put together?
Follow the history of the Bible from its beginning thousands of years ago as tattered scrolls to its status as the bestseller of all time. The Bible For Dummies covers these topics and more:
- Ten people in the Bible you should know
- The Hebrew Bible
- The Apocrypha's hidden treasures
- What's new about the New Testament
- Israel's wisdom, literature, and love poetry
- The Bible's enduring influence
- The prophets: more than fortunetellers
Whether you're interested in broadening your spiritual horizons, uncovering the symbolism of Western culture, or gaining a deeper understanding of the book you grew up reading, The Bible For Dummies has all the information you need to navigate this ancient and fascinating book.
Introduction 1
Part 1: What the Bible Is All About 7
Chapter 1: From Moses to Modernity: Introducing the Good Book 9
Chapter 2: Lights, Camera, Action! Previewing the Bible’s Stage and Storyline 25
Part 2: Exploring the Hebrew Bible — The Old Testament 35
Chapter 3: Creation, Paradise Lost, and Other Mysteries of Life (Genesis 1–3) 37
Chapter 4: The Fallout from “The Fall” (Genesis 4–11) 53
Chapter 5: The Babylonian Hillbillies: The Adventures of Abraham and His Family (Genesis 12–25:18) 67
Chapter 6: The Birth of a Nation: Isaac, Jacob, and Their Many Children (Genesis 25:19–50) 87
Chapter 7: Holy Moses! Exploring Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy 109
Chapter 8: An Experiment in Theocracy: Joshua, Judges, and Ruth 135
Chapter 9: The King and “I Am”: 1 and 2 Samuel 153
Chapter 10: A Tale of Two Kingdoms: 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles 175
Chapter 11: Strangers in a Strange Land: Israel in Exile with Daniel and Esther 197
Chapter 12: Home for the Holidays: Returning to the Promised Land with Ezra and Nehemiah 209
Chapter 13: More Than Mere Fortune-tellers: The Prophets 219
Chapter 14: Israel’s Wisdom Literature and Love Poetry: Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs 237
Chapter 15: Rockin’ the Temple: Music in Ancient Israel (Psalms) 251
Part 3: Revealing the Bible’s Hidden Treasures in the Apocrypha 261
Chapter 16: Rebels with a Cause: The Books of 1 and 2 Maccabees 263
Chapter 17: The Apocrypha’s Other “Hidden Treasures” 271
Part 4: Discovering What’s New About the New Testament 281
Chapter 18: From Birth to Baptism: Jesus Prepares for the Ministry (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) 283
Chapter 19: Jesus Christ, Superstar: Jesus’ “Ministry Years” (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) 301
Chapter 20: The Early Christian Church (Acts 1–8, 10–12, and 15) 333
Chapter 21: The Traveling Salesman of Tarsus: Paul’s Life and Letters 347
Chapter 22: Wait a Minute, Mr Postman: The New Testament’s General Letters 371
Chapter 23: The Beginning of the End: The Revelation of John 383
Part 5: That Was Then, This Is Now: Discovering the Bible’s Enduring Influence 397
Chapter 24: The Bible and the Abrahamic Faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 399
Chapter 25: Michelangelo, Milton, and Movies: Art, Literature, Life, and the Bible 407
Part 6: The Part of Tens 419
Chapter 26: Ten+ People You Should Know from the Bible 421
Chapter 27: Ten Holidays You Can Take Thanks to the Bible 429
Index 437