The New Testament Made Easier- Series [Part 1 & 2] - Complete Bible Text of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts Through Revelation - LDS Favorite - Great Gift - Latter-day Saints Love It - Ridges Author of Many Best-selling Books
Key Never before has so much LDS-based information and facts on The Gospels been compiled in one volume. Readers receive immediate answers through in-the-verse notes and quotes from leading gospel authorities. This follow-up to the author’s best-selling book Isaiah Made Easier is even more dynamic and readable. Understand the New Testament as Never Before! Noted teacher and gospel scholar, David J. Ridges, makes the New Testament come alive in The New Testament Made Easier New Edition. The Savior's mortal ministry and atoning sacrifice are felt as well as studied. In-the-verse notes provide a unique teaching tool which allows you to read the complete Bible text of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John while being taught the meaning of difficult Bible words and phrases, symbolism, doctrine, culture and setting. Notes between the verses clarify and alert you to major concepts and messages. Gain instant, basic understanding as you read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John with the help of in-the-verse notes. Matt. 5:29 And if thy right eye (symbolic of specific temptation, bad environment, friends, bad habit, specific sin, etc.) offend thee (puts you in spiritual danger), pluck it out, and cast it from for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (JST Matthew 5:34. And now this I speak, a parable concerning your sins; wherefore, cast them from you, that ye may not be hewn down and cast into the fire.) Transfer these notes into your own scriptures to help now as well as in the future. Better understand the symbolism in the Savior's parables. Quickly look up a specific verse or chapter. Review for a lesson, talk or family night discussion. Part I Part II 978-1-59955-001-5, 6" x 9" LDS Non-Fiction
David J. Ridges taught for the Church Educational System for thirty-five years. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University and taught adult religion and Know Your Religion classes for BYU Continuing Education and spoke at BYU Campus Education Week for many years.
Ridges has served as a curriculum writer for Sunday School, seminary, and institute of religion manuals. His callings in the Church include Gospel Doctrine teacher, bishop, stake president, and patriarch. He and his wife, Janette, have served two full-time Church Educational System missions. They are the parents of six children and are enjoying a growing number of grandchildren. They reside in Springville, Utah.
I always us David Ridges "Made Easier" books when I study the scriptures. Along with the text from the scriptures, he includes lots of other information that aids in my understanding. I finished just in time to start over in January.
I read this book as part of my come follow me study this year. It was very helpful. one thing i missed is he doesn't bold as many words in the scriptures as he does in his other books. I kindof got used to his style from his other books and the change disturbed me a bit. overall, though its a great book. I slotted it into my reading challenges under the htoopt flourish and blotts 2022 prompt read a book with page 394
David Ridges is an excellent teacher and he clarifies and explains many things in the scriptures. This book has opened the scriptures to me and helped me understand the things I don't understand about the cultures of that day. (I have also read his Old Testament and Doctrine and Covenants study guides.) I'm so glad I found his works.
Good for help with basic understanding and some definitions. Definitely didn’t agree with all of his “interpretations.” It’s good for a seminary-student-level of inquiry. I would recommend Skinner or Welch for deeper scholarship.
I always feel like, in my busy life, I don't have the time or patience to use a study guide along with the scriptures. But this book includes the original KJV text along with the study content and makes learning new insights about the New Testament and the Gospel so much easier.
These books have changed my reading of the Bible! I understand and now love to read about our past prophets and apostles. The life of Christ truly is remarkable.
Very helpful in understanding the KJV New Testament! I loved reading this alongside my Come Follow Me study and look forward to using the next two volumes as well.
Such amazing insights—I loved listening to this along with the come follow me lessons. I will say I wish he would’ve narrated them, like he did the Book of Mormon books, but it was still great.
David Ridges is the perfect companion to study of religious scripture. He provides so much context and important cross references. I prefer to study any scripture with his “Made Easier” books.
I love David Ridges' study guides. He shares so many beautiful insights.
In John 7:37. Jesus is attending the Feast of the Tabernacles. In the Bible dictionary it says that at this Feast,"The sacrifices prescribed by the law were more numerous than for any other feast, and impressive ceremonies were added in later times; that is, (1) the drawing of water from Siloam and its libation (a drink poured out as an offering to a deity) on the altar (of this it was said that he who has not seen the joy of the drawing of water at the Feast of Tabernacles does not know what joy is)"
In John 7:37 it says, 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (JST) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive, for the Holy Ghost was promised unto them who believe, after that Jesus was glorified.)
David Ridges explains, "Picture if you will, throngs of Jews crowding the grounds around the temple, watching in rapt attention as water from the stream of Siloam (symbolic of water drawn from the wells of salvation) was carried to the altar and then poured upon it, flowing down off it onto the ground, in a great ritual show symbolic of the living waters, including the Holy Ghost, which flow from the altar of God onto the earth to quench the spiritual thirst of the faithful. Perhaps at that very moment, Jesus stood, and with a loud voice, spoke to the onlookers saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." There could not have been a more dramatic setting. Jesus was openly claiming to be the Messiah who had promised to give 'living waters' to the faithful."
I absolutely loved this commentary at first. As I studied my way through Matthew I found all the gospel insights so meaningful, and appreciated the way the author made each verse so clearly understandable. But as I made my way through the other gospels I found that there was so much repetition. I realize that the synoptic gospels cover a lot of the same events, but the commentary seemed to be literally copied and pasted from the earlier section, sometimes 3 or 4 times. I also began to be weary of the modern English trans-literation in parenthesis that broke every single verse into pieces; what began as helpful ended up feeling tedious.
My complaints are splitting hairs, however, and wouldn't be noticed if one were just going to this commentary for help on a certain passage. It was studying it straight through that revealed the things I perceive as weaknesses. Overall the content is excellent. 4 solid stars.
My father-in-law gave me this book for Christmas last year, and I was excited to use it. I have always wanted a study guide that goes verse-by-verse through the scriptures, and this series does just that. It read a little like a BYU religion professor's notebook or something (and since the author works for CES, maybe that's not too far off the truth). The first half was a little cumbersome (I didn't like all the bold type to show where to highlight -- it was just a little overzealous to me, to the point of being distracting even). But I found the second half (without the highlighting) a lot more readable. Not since reading Jesus the Christ have I learned more from the New Testament gospels; I'm glad I read this. And even if I don't read it again, I know this will be a good reference for our family.
I just finished the Book of Mormon Made Easier series and I like this a lot. The format of this one is a little confusing because it will give a KJV of a verse and then repeat with JST of the same verse so it can sometimes be repetitive. But after awhile you learn to scan the page for the info you want. The author points out some obvious things and I have found many editing errors in the text. That being said, the author also has a lot of great and useful in sites. He gives quotes what General Authorities have said about specific verses and topics. I like that a lot. He also gives helpful cultural context to verses in the New Testament. Overall worth reading. This book makes me think while I read the scriptures instead of just going though on auto pilot.
This year I had a goal to read the gospels before Christmas. Let's not mention how many years I have had this goal. This year I finally did it! I loved reading the gospels to usher in the Christmas holidays. And I learned so much. I am pretty sure I could repeat this ritual every year. This is a resource that I used that I found helpful. Sometimes the organization is a little hard to follow, but overall, the notes on translation issues, cultural elements, and comparisons between the books is helpful. I used this in conjunction with several other sources as well as the New Jerusalem bible (another translation). I read the KJV however.
I loved these books! I'm not only enjoying my study of the New Testament but I'm finally able to fully grasp the real meaning and intent of the passages. David J. Ridges has created a comprehensive work with the inclusion of many different sources. These "extras" add a richness and depth to each chapter that help me more fully appreciate the Savior, his apostles and the timeless truths these books contain.
These books are EXTREMELY rudimentary. Filled with translation and clarification, as opposed to doctrinal insights.
That being said, it's a great place to start if your biblical knowledge is weak. PLUS, he includes the verses within the book, so you could just read from this text if you need to simplify.
David Ridges knows his scriptures and I am grateful he has written these books to share with us. I learn so much from his insights. I love that he helps the reader understand the symbolism that I sometimes miss. I got so much more out of the New Testament Gospels by reading this along side the actual scriptures.