The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible: Time Lines, Photographs, Paintings, and Maps to Enhance Your Understanding of God's Word

by Michael E. Wittmer

Want to read the Bible but find it daunting?
Wish there was a guide to simplify the overall storyline?
Think it would help to “see” the people, places, and events?
 
The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible is designed to make scripture easier to approach. . .and come alive when you do. This brand-new guide keys beautiful, full-color illustrations—classic paintings, landscape and artifact photos, maps and charts—to a helpful chronological time line of God’s Word.

Inside, you’ll find clear, succinct descriptions of of God’s Word, along with numerous related references if you’d like to study further.
 
The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible will point you to the most important, interesting, and inspiring aspects of scripture, helping you to get more from your time in God’s Word.
 

304 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2021

About the author

Michael Wittmer is currently Professor of Systematic Theology at GRTS in Grand Rapids, MI. He is the author of Heaven Is a Place on Earth, Don’t Stop Believing, The Last Enemy, and Despite Doubt. He and his wife, Julie, live in Grand Rapids, Michigan with their three children: Avery, Landon, and Alayna.

Reviews

[Connie Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you a visual learner? Do pictures and illustrations help you better understand what you are reading? If so, this new book from Barbour Publishing is the perfect addition to your Bible study and devotion time. The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible covers all of The Holy Bible, from the Creation to Jesus' Return, and it is filled with timelines, photographs, paintings, and maps that truly enhance Michael Wittmer's interesting narrative. I especially like that there are two pages devoted to each topic: one of text plus one of visual material, and I also appreciate the Scripture Index in the back.

The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible is a unique resource and I recommend it to all who want to increase their knowledge and understanding of God's Word!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. These are my own thoughts.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Barbour Publishing for send me this FREE COPY to read and review for them as part of their Review Crew a few years ago.

I started this Devotional in January as a "Reread" of The Bible and i have to say i really enjoyed this one especially with how in depth this was with Background and Bibical Verses from Creation to The 2nd Coming.

If you're looking for a Guide to go along with your Daily Bible Study i HIGHLY Recommend this one.
Can't wait to read more by Michael in the future!!

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful addition to your daily Bible study and devotion time. It gives an overview of different Biblical areas and gives 3 bullet points on each with photographs, paintings, maps, etc to help you visualize and gain a better understanding of God’s word. There is also a scripture index in the back that makes it easy to find the story to go with a particular scripture. My husband is not a lover of reading but he has picked this up several times and enjoyed the ease of understanding the Word of God. I will use this on a regular basis.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars



This is a fantastic book that gives an overview of the Bible. I enjoyed that while I was reading in the minor prophets, I could turn to the section about the minor prophets and understand more about what was happening in Amos. I also really enjoyed how the author put a Scripture index in the back of the book to help the reader find out more information quickly. The pictures are also stunning throughout the book.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking to enhance your Bible study, devotions, or just want to study some of the main points of the Bible, then this book would be a very helpful reference. It is not a big book and it has 134 sections. Each section consists of usually two pages- a synopsis of a key Bible subject, main points, and a painting, photograph, map, etc. to enhance the reading material.

I found this book quite beautiful in the way it was set up. It is very concise and I enjoyed the artwork, maps that went along with the passages. This is not really for an in-depth study, I would use it more for another quick reference or as a starting point before going into greater depth. It is also a good way to get younger kids a quick study. Like it is called, it only really would take 5 minutes to go through and then let the kids talk about it and ask questions.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...

[Cheri Swalwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible because my husband loves to study all the places of the Bible, visualizing where Jesus walked, the disciples lived and just what life was like then and now in the Middle East. This was a great book and I highly recommend it. Professionally done. This book is one that I will be thinking about using as gifts for relatives and friends. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Sunnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thinking this book would be different than it was. I had envisioned that it would be more instructive in explaining more difficult to understand Bible verses, rather it was somewhat of a Bible retelling in a modern vernacular way. The artwork was very good but perhaps there should have been more.
The premise of a helpful book to guide people through the Bible is good.

I received a complimentary version of this book from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. All thoughts are my own.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this looked like a cool book, so I requested it to review. It is not a huge book, coming in at 294 pages, but there is a lot packed into those pages. It covers from Creation up through Jesus' return, and has a lot of short informational facts about each person or topic.

The book is also filled with a lot of pictures. There are artists' versions of Bible characters and other things along with a lot of photographs of the Holy Land and other subjects and places. At the end of the book is a few pages of all of the Scriptures referenced and used throughout the book.

I found the book interesting and informative, and also enjoyable with all of the pictures and photographs. If one knows their Bible very well, this may seem an elementary kind of book, yet even the most knowledgeable Bible scholar should be able to enjoy a book such as this. I found it interesting to have so much of the Bible visualized in the pictures, and it would make a great tool to keep handy when reading and studying the Bible. It is definitely an attractive and far from boring book, and is one I would recommend......especially to new Christians and/or those not too familiar with the Bible.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Kristen Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the Bible is complex for anyone to comprehend, I was excited in the potential this book held. Visually the book featured some phenomenal artistry; however, fell short everywhere else.

From the start, the cover fell below expectations compared to the various artists’ interpretation within the book, and feels like a missed opportunity to catch the readers’ eye.

The breathtaking art/photography found throughout the book, left with me with the impression there should be a more prominent acknowledgment to the artists as it only appeared in a small clip, easily overlooked.

Overall, the concept is a great idea, with the benefit of a reader being able to see three specific references to the Bible in a wide selection of topics. The opportunity fell within the introduction/summary on each chapter being ambiguous leaving the content needing validation. The book has potential, however, falls short of expectations.

[G. Salter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept is similar to Zondervan's "A Visual Theology Guide to the Bible," but with different graphics and a more chronological approach to the material. Solid investment if you're looking for something that explains the ideas visually in a way that doesn't feel like a kids' Sunday School book.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sample of the book. It’s a really bite size gem of a book of stories from the bible along with some beautiful illustrations as well. I can’t wait to read the full book.

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bible contains lifetimes of wisdom and teachings about God and his plan for the world, but its story is simple enough for even a child to understand. Still, modern readers in western civilization often need help with the chronology, historical context, geographical settings, and cultural background of the Biblical narrative. This colorful guide does that in an easy-to-understand and visually appealing way.

The guide works through the Bible chronologically, beginning with Creation and its foundational concepts, all the way through the historical books of the Old Testament, including the wisdom and poetry books and how the prophets fit into the story.

The book then dives into the four gospels and breaks down what the gospel writers tell us about Jesus' birth and life, his miracles and teachings. Following is another section of history that discusses the events of Acts and how the early church developed. Paul's conversion and his missionary journeys and letters are explained. And finally, the last few pages explore Jesus' Return and the hope and promise of righteous judgment and the new heaven and earth.

I admit this beautiful full-color guidebook would take much more than five minutes to read cover to cover, but each page of valuable information takes five minutes or less to understand. You may wish to linger a little longer over some of the artwork, or pause to ponder some of the insights as well. I was absolutely delighted with the brilliant photos, beautiful artwork, and clear concise summaries of important events and teachings from Scripture. This is a book that is a valuable quick reference for personal Bible study, an introduction to the Bible for family reading, or as a guide to beginning an in-depth Bible study.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Valerie HappiestWhileReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you best learn?
- reading printed words on paper/screen
- viewing charts, maps, photos, etc.
- listening to spoken words
- combination of the above

The 5-Minute Visual Guide to the Bible by Michael Wittmer is a great resource for people (like me) whose study is enhanced by viewing images along with reading words. The full-color guide is brimming with time lines, photos, paintings, and maps to supplement Biblical study, and the detailed index makes it easy to find the images on any topic.

I knew I’d appreciate this resource when I read these words in the intro regarding the inclusion of classical paintings: “Of course, nobody knows exactly how Bible characters looked, but they most certainly had darker skin, eyes, and hair than many European artist portrayed them with. Please enjoy such illustrations while recognizing the historical limitations.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Sally Mander · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars, Awe Inspired Learning

THE 5-MINUTE VISUAL GUIDE TO THE BIBLE
By Michael Wittmer

For such a small book, this one packs a significant punch in helping you to easily learn about the Holy Bible. Everything about it is nice and inspiring. The entire Bible is tastefully simplified for you to tackle reading and comprehending God's handbook for all of humanity. I like the heading on each title page, it draws your eye there first. The next thing I see is the uplifting illustrations and artwork, each image is accompanied by a short text discussing the chapter. Here's a list of each section.

Introduction
Creation
Fall
Israel
Exile
Jesus
Church
Jesus' Return

Each chapter simply takes 5 short minutes to read and think about. Highly recommend.

I am extremely blessed because #BarbourPublishing gifted me a complimentary copy of #the5minutevisualguidetothebible I was under no obligation to post a review.

[Leslie McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book. It's purpose is to help people understand the Bible a bit better. I was expecting a bit more from the book, but I do think it was well done, overall. The cover is a bit lackluster compared to the vibrant pictures throughout the book.

It's divided into the following sections: Introduction, Creation, Fall, Israel, Exile, Jesus, Church, and Jesus' Return. Scripture verses are used throughout to highlight key points in the Bible. A Scripture Index is included, as well.

This could be a helpful book for those just getting started with Bible reading or for those who find the Bible a bit daunting.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

[Edi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly what you would expect in a visual guide to the Bible. There are some nice graphics but I was a little taken aback with some of the descriptions and relating events to modern day life. Maybe I'm too old fashioned but it bordered on disrespectful but I suppose that is the way the author views a relationship with Jesus. It may appeal to some but not to my taste.
I received an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author,publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book.

[Sherry Greene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a concise book of information about the Bible. It is broken down into short excerpts of events, people, and places in the Bible. It does contain very nice pictures throughout the book.

I found the contents to be geared more to someone who perhaps is new to studying the Bible. I think someone who is a Bible scholar and has studied the Bible a lot would find this somewhat disappointing.

I appreciate receiving a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing.

[Marie Pinkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this guide to be a great resource to use for my Bible study time. Lots of great information and beautiful photos bring people, places, and events from the Bible to life. I received it as I was beginning a study on the life of Jesus, and loved the way it added to my time in the Bible. Highly recommended! I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing but was under now obligation to post a review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I only received a sample of this book to read (Creation thru Joshua).

From what I was able to read of this book, I found it informative. I feel as though I can only review the part of the book I was given and not the entire book. I’m am interested in reading the complete book and reviewing it if able. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read part of the this book. (This review is also on GoodReads.)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Bible resource to use along with reading the Bible. Lots of pictures, timelines, maps, etc. to help you study the Bible. It's very easy to use too.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

[Jed Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

As biblical literacy continues to decline, resources like this become increasingly helpful. Also points the reader to trace the larger narrative of Scripture.

The photos are helpful; the selected artwork is occasionally distracting.