Abingdon Bible Handbook

Plot

""It is not enough for us to read the Bible; we must know how to interpret what we read," says author Edwrd P. Blair. Almost anyone can read the Bible today and find in it a great source of inspiration. But on many points of interpretation there is often tragic confusion. And the confusion lies not in external matters, but in the meaning of the Scriptures, which have great bearing on how one lives his life. The Abingdon Bible Handbook is an up-to-date resource to help the lay person and student interpret the Bible for themselves. It encompasses a broad scope of interpretation within the basic fundamentals of the Christian faith, often presenting more than one point of view. It is, therefore, to be read along with the Bible--and possibly a Bible commentary--for its greatest value. The Abingdon Bible Handbook is an informative and readable guide which gives the Bible reader the solid background he needs to become his own interpreter. The Handbook is divided into three major sections" "The Bible Today" (Part 1) presents pertinent information about the makeup of the Bible as we know it: how it was written; ancient and modern translations; the differences in Jewish, Protestant, and Roman Catholic versions; basic principles for interpreting the Bible; and practical suggestions for Bible reading. "The Bible in History" (Part II) sets each book of the Bible, including the Apocrypha, in the time in which it was written, including cultural and religious backgrounds, the purpose of the authors, the structure and central emphases of each book. "The Bible and Faith and Life" (Part III) is a unified summary of what the Bible says about God, the world, mankind, Satan, the way of salvation, the second coming of Christ, and many other topics. A final essay deals with the question of the Bible's inspiration and authority for Today's readers. The handbook is illustrated throughout with photographs, up-to-date sketch maps, and charts. A beautiful sixteen-page, full-color insert offers maps and contemporary portraits of the Bible lands. Suggested readings are included at the end of each chapter, and, for quick reference, there is a complete index."