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Is It Really the Good Book?: Restoring Your Faith in the Bible by Questioning Your Assumptions About It
Ever surprised by the Bible? This book is for you.
Why should I allow an ancient book to tell me how to live in the 21st century?
Why is the God of the Old Testament so vengeful?
Is the Bible really a good book?
Biola professor John Marriott and ministry veteran Shawn Wicks have met a lot of people who are troubled by the Bible. Whether it is apparent contradictions in Scripture or the violence depicted in the Old Testament, Scripture presents itself as an obstacle to faith. Many former Christians consistently report that the number one reason they no longer identify as Christians is the Bible itself. Raised in the church but having only a Sunday School level of familiarity with the Bible, former Christians were shocked when they picked it up and read it for themselves. Distressed at the inconsistency of the Bible with modern science, troubled by its “errors”, embarrassed at the mythical-sounding nature of many Bible stories, outraged at the strange and even barbaric laws it contains, and ashamed that much of what it teaches is at odds with their modern moral sensibilities, former Christians could no longer accept the Bible as a wise guide for life, let alone as the Word of God.
The authors of Is It Really the Good Book? face these questions head-on in a quest to understand and appreciate the Bible better. What they discovered is assumptions matter when it comes to the Bible, and too many of us approach Scriptures with doubts and assumptions that we have picked up in our culture. Is It Really the Good Book? identifies and responds to the most common misunderstandings of what the Bible is, along with the inaccurate and harmful assumptions that distort what it teaches.
Whether you’re a new Christian or a longtime believer, in this apologetics book you Scriptures through new eyesexplore 8 common false assumptions concerning God’s Word that can lead to a faith crisis or deconstructionanalyze why the Bible does not fit the modern genres for science textbooks, historical accounts, or social justice policy manualsrediscover the beauty and coherence of the Bible as you challenge your assumptions
Why should I allow an ancient book to tell me how to live in the 21st century?
Why is the God of the Old Testament so vengeful?
Is the Bible really a good book?
Biola professor John Marriott and ministry veteran Shawn Wicks have met a lot of people who are troubled by the Bible. Whether it is apparent contradictions in Scripture or the violence depicted in the Old Testament, Scripture presents itself as an obstacle to faith. Many former Christians consistently report that the number one reason they no longer identify as Christians is the Bible itself. Raised in the church but having only a Sunday School level of familiarity with the Bible, former Christians were shocked when they picked it up and read it for themselves. Distressed at the inconsistency of the Bible with modern science, troubled by its “errors”, embarrassed at the mythical-sounding nature of many Bible stories, outraged at the strange and even barbaric laws it contains, and ashamed that much of what it teaches is at odds with their modern moral sensibilities, former Christians could no longer accept the Bible as a wise guide for life, let alone as the Word of God.
The authors of Is It Really the Good Book? face these questions head-on in a quest to understand and appreciate the Bible better. What they discovered is assumptions matter when it comes to the Bible, and too many of us approach Scriptures with doubts and assumptions that we have picked up in our culture. Is It Really the Good Book? identifies and responds to the most common misunderstandings of what the Bible is, along with the inaccurate and harmful assumptions that distort what it teaches.
Whether you’re a new Christian or a longtime believer, in this apologetics book you Scriptures through new eyesexplore 8 common false assumptions concerning God’s Word that can lead to a faith crisis or deconstructionanalyze why the Bible does not fit the modern genres for science textbooks, historical accounts, or social justice policy manualsrediscover the beauty and coherence of the Bible as you challenge your assumptions
288 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This well-intentioned book missed the mark for me. Unlikely to be of much help for the actual deconstructing (probably good as the authors pretty much think you are as good as lost by considering the term) it will be of most use to the devout with questions, but not much actual curiosity, as it will actually leave you with as many questions as you came with.
I am bothered by the authors' dissing of other authors such as Richard Rohr, and even Bart Ehrman doesn't really deserve the negativity the authors treat him with. If you come with real questions you are likely to be deterred by some odd logic (the authors first emphasize that the Bible is made up of many books, written by many authors, of many genres, and across a long time, but then later simply assert that the Bible testifies that itself is true). Then there is the waving away of objectionable content with sleight of hand--for instance, that pesky story about Elisha unleashing bears on tormenting kids. Actually, we are informed, those weren't actually kids, but priests of Baal who were inexperienced, and in fact Elisha wasn't naturally bald but had shaved his head in mourning, and doesn't that make you feel all better about it? Uh, no, not really.
The authors just take a different view of "inspiration" than I have had to accept in order for my sanity. But that does not mean I have lost all faith, although I'm not sure the authors would agree. This all just felt like the same stuff I've had offered to me for years about my questions.
I am bothered by the authors' dissing of other authors such as Richard Rohr, and even Bart Ehrman doesn't really deserve the negativity the authors treat him with. If you come with real questions you are likely to be deterred by some odd logic (the authors first emphasize that the Bible is made up of many books, written by many authors, of many genres, and across a long time, but then later simply assert that the Bible testifies that itself is true). Then there is the waving away of objectionable content with sleight of hand--for instance, that pesky story about Elisha unleashing bears on tormenting kids. Actually, we are informed, those weren't actually kids, but priests of Baal who were inexperienced, and in fact Elisha wasn't naturally bald but had shaved his head in mourning, and doesn't that make you feel all better about it? Uh, no, not really.
The authors just take a different view of "inspiration" than I have had to accept in order for my sanity. But that does not mean I have lost all faith, although I'm not sure the authors would agree. This all just felt like the same stuff I've had offered to me for years about my questions.
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July 30, 2025I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts!
This was incredibly thought-provoking. There were parts that felt validating/encouraging to me, but I also thought multiple times, “Do I agree with that?” And the answer is, I’m still not sure!
Also, as someone who grew up hearing a lot of misapplied and out-of-context Scripture, I think greater/equal emphasis on these practices would be more effective than referring almost exclusively to the way secular critics misinterpret Scripture. This isn’t unique to me and most believers I know have experienced far more doubt and discouragement from “inside” teaching than, say, the work of someone like Richard Dawkins.
Overall, I enjoyed this and am still pondering and processing a lot of ideas, so I can appreciate that.
This was incredibly thought-provoking. There were parts that felt validating/encouraging to me, but I also thought multiple times, “Do I agree with that?” And the answer is, I’m still not sure!
Also, as someone who grew up hearing a lot of misapplied and out-of-context Scripture, I think greater/equal emphasis on these practices would be more effective than referring almost exclusively to the way secular critics misinterpret Scripture. This isn’t unique to me and most believers I know have experienced far more doubt and discouragement from “inside” teaching than, say, the work of someone like Richard Dawkins.
Overall, I enjoyed this and am still pondering and processing a lot of ideas, so I can appreciate that.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews