The Bible For Dummies

by Jeffrey Geoghegan, Michael Homan

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

Discover the world's all-time bestseller in an entirely new light. 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.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Christian, Reference, History, Christianity, Theology

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2002

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember being told in English literature class at school that the bible is an important book to read because it informs so much other literature. I tried to read the bible but didn't get past genesis. So I thought I'd give this a try.

I feel I have an overarching understanding of the books of the bible, and in part the history of Christianity and judaism. I particularly enjoyed parts where they would discuss "hot topics" e.g. what is the mark of beast... what are the competing theories out there. Also there was quite a bit of etymology which I also enjoyed. I now know where the words Armageddon and pandemonium originate from. This will surely come in handy in a pub quiz one day.

The authors are well versed and insightful and it's a good starting point. Although it was less interesting from chronicles onwards but perhaps that's the subject matter rather than the fault of the authors.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really was a dummy when I started reading this, and perhaps I still am, but at least now I am a dummy who knows something about the Bible. The "Dummy" books are a bit annoying at times but I find them useful when you REALLY don't know much about a subject. There are no assumptions, which is what I like best about them. And they refer back to things you've already covered, which is great for a person with a bad memory. I liked that they broke down the Bible in chronological (time) order so it made easier reading (it read more like a regular book). I also liked the end parts that explains the major influences the Bible has had on art, literature, and culture in general. I am now interested to read Religion for Dummies. I might read the "real" Bible someday too...

[Michael S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really hard to get through. It was extremely boring, even though the tone of the book is very silly. I think they got the worst of both worlds by somehow being boring and not presenting the material seriously. Their little jokes after every other sentence didn’t help keep me engaged. I think that the authors could learn a thing or two from the Head First books on how to keep material engaging.

I also wish they had gone more into the differences between the Abrahamic religions because I’m still missing a lot of that.

That said, I learned a lot from this book! The fact that satan took the form of a seven headed dragon with ten horns and Jesus flew down from heaven with a sword coming out of his mouth to fight him is just metal AF. I also never knew how dark Passover was!

I think this book is totally worth reading if you don’t know shit about the Bible like I did, but it will be a grind until you get to Revelations.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty decent outline and a few notes...

[Catty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and fun read. It shows that even if you're not religious at all, the bible is good literature. And if you're religous, the additional information gives a lot to tell off irritating "I-don't-believe-in-anything-and-you-should-do-that-too"-people.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great treasure trove of information about the Good Book.

[Carol A · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn't matter if you're an atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Jew, Wiccan, Buddhist, Hinduist, Unitarian Universalist, etc., or Christian--well some stricter Christians might take issue--you will both enjoy and get education from this book. As the introduction states, the book's aim is not to hammer the Bible into the pulpit and preach the Gospel until you submit, but rather to give you a chronological (to the best scholars and scientists can tell) regaling of its events as they've been told for centuries. I took a course called "The Bible as Literature" in college, and this reminded me very much of that, except my course included the Apocrypha and this book doesn't. You do get educated, though, on the original text of some words and how it's been changed back and forth via interpretation like a children's game of telephone/operator/whispers.

The narrator is a perfect combination of dry and unbiased with the slightest touch of "I can almost see the upturned mouth corner and raised eyebrow" sarcasm. You really have to be listening closely, though, to catch some of the sarcastic remarks. Others? If you miss them--well, maybe you might want to find another time or place to listen to the book. *chuckle* (I encourage listening to this during an activity you can pay attention to the narrator instead of falling asleep, yelling at kids or traffic, etc. Maybe during your morning "me time" before anyone else gets up? Trust me: You will not regret it.)

I recommend: The Audiobook. There are a lot of big complicated names of people and places that trip up the average reader who has not studied Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, Egyptian, Syrian, etc. Let the narrator deal with them (and he does without skipping a beat). I mean, say "Mahershalalhashbaz" or "Chushanrishathaim"--correctly--five times fast. Go ahead, I'll wait. :)

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are Christian and are looking for a book to help you understand part or parts of the Bible that confuse you, this book is unlikely to help. Those questions are usually handled quite well by your priests, pastors, ministers, and Bible study leaders. Two Bible scholars I highly recommend, who put their subject matter in the title or subtitle of their books, are Amy-Jill "A.J." Levine (a Jewish scholar of Jesus's life and the Gospels), and Bart D. Ehrman. Wonderfully insightful and fearless contemporary Bible scholars.

[ragaa ishak · Rating 1 out of 5]

table of contents missing!!!!

This version is bad and missing many pages. Please return. Please return and download the updated version. Bad unreadable. What’s wrong?

[Lee Harmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m reading another book now that highlights the sad state of America’s Bible illiteracy. Even as we continue to sell more Bibles and religious titles every year, the Bible is actually being read less and less. I doubt if anyone who regularly reads my blog falls into this category, but a number of my friends do, and I’d like to find an easy introduction to the stories in the Bible. What better choice than a Dummies book, right?

I’m a huge fan of the Dummies series! Since they introduced their trademark fun and attractive layouts for computer-related topics years ago, I’ve accumulated quite a collection. I even included a Dummies book in the “suggested reading” appendix of my book about Revelation! Scholarly suicide, you think? Fact is, I find most of them well-researched and generally unbiased.

Turns out this one was a bit of a disappointment. The reading is a bit dry, there’s too much discussion of general topics rather than Bible stories, too much emphasis on introducing every book in the Bible instead of just the basics, and too much of a religious bent. The authors feel obligated to explain the stories, adding meaning, which is not only unnecessary but I often found myself disagreeing with their interpretations. So this one didn’t do it for me, and I’m still looking.

Anybody have any suggestions?

[Gineke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. It's not an easy read, because/but it is jam-packed with information. The jokes tend to be on the corny side, but they're a welcome break from all the serious, but interesting facts that fill this book. Though obviously written from a Christian perspective, modern theories about authorship and interpretation are discussed without prejudice.

I would definitely recommend this book to people who are interested in learning more about the Bible but who feel daunted by the challenge of reading the book cover to cover. Start with this dummies book and look up the passages that interest you. I have discovered many interesting stories that I would have missed without this additional information.

[Debi Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the "For Dummies" series when it 1st came out. Over the years, I've used it for may diverse subjects, from accounting to opera, lol.

As the great-granddaughter of a Methodist minister, Sunday School was a regular part of my life, so I knew my Bible stories pretty well. I thought. But as I grew older & read more (and more!), there were references to stories I wasn't familiar with. I thought this book would be a good way to brush up on old favorites & learn more about the ones I wasn't familiar with. I was right!! This is a great source for anyone interested in the Bible. And I love how it doesn't favor ANY religion!

[Marc]

I feel a need to address the subjects for which i am ignorant. Subject number one, RELIGION. I'm trying to answer the WHO, WHAT and WHY's of life. I realize I cannot find all the answers in one book, but this is a good start.

I'm struggling with the whole concept of faith and how do I get myself to have any. Hoping this book will at least begin to uncover some of the basic questions I have in life. This is a continual read (several months, a chapter hear and there).

[Tina Guo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a pious Christian for five years so far, I feel most versions of bibles — King James or NIV — are daunting. This one is pretty witty and joyous. You still remember lots stories both from the Old Testament and the New Testament due to the author’s writing style. Deserves a 2nd!

[JOSH KNOLL · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book ... you just have to get a little meek about it first, but that is what you're supposed to do anyway right? This brought into clearer light many stories I was shrugging about. I can say, I was disappointed by the behavior of our ancestors.

[Matthew Dimick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to prep for PCUSA ordination exams!

[Ryan Gillam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty basic stuff, but since I am not religious I didn't need much more. Just wanted a quick introduction. Good coverage of the main points of the Bible. Sums up the stories really well.

[Noraa Sii · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The term Old Testament refers to those sacred texts that Christianity shares with Judaism, while Jews call this same corpus the Hebrew Bible or the Tanak."

"We translate straight from the original languages of the Bible, which are Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek."

"It's important to point out that we don't possess any of the original writings of the biblical texts - Jewish or Christian."

"The Bible is a big book. After all, it covers everything from the beginning of Creation to the end of time."

"Three of the world's major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - trace their origins to the traditions found in Genesis."

"We are our "brother's keeper," and we must do all that we can to protect and assist our fellow human beings in their journey through this life."

"Thus, in the Bible, a woman need not be a mother to be of value, but if God wants you pregnant, nothing can prevent it."

"In short, the authors of Samuel and Kings demonstrate that God did not abandon His people, but His people abandoned Him by breaking His commandments and following after other gods."

"Yet, this is part of the message of Job. Life is complicated, and there will always be unanswered questions, inexplicable suffering, and unthinkable tragedy."

"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,
for your love is better that wine...
Take me with you, let us hurry,
Let the king take me into his bedchambers."

"Herod is extremely pleased to finally meet this wonderworker from Galilee. In fact, Herod asks to see a miracle. Unfortunately for Herod, he falls under the 'I-don't-do-miracles-for-people-who-have-no intention-of-believing-in-me' clause of Jesus' miracle contract."

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

As you might expect, Jeff Geoghegan's book "the Bible for Dummies" is just that, an easy-to-read handbook for everything you might want to know about the Holy Bible. From the book of Genesis to Revelations, and everything in between, this book provides a very thorough review of western civilization's most read book.
In parts of the book, though, I thought the summary was too thorough. I don't need all the details about "Saul got mad at David and wanted to kill him, so Saul launched a spear at David to kill him, but the spear missed him, and David ran off, and Saul pursued David" and on and on. I don't need a summary that is that detailed. Just give me the gist of it. I almost wanted a Cliff Notes version of "the Bible for Dummies", as the "for dummies" version seemed too long for me.
On the upside, though, Geoghegan places the Bible in historical context, against the backdrop of what society considered normal at the time (for example, animal sacrifices). This was very interesting, as was his description of the influence that the Bible has had on Western culture since then.
Overall, though, I just thought the book was too long, for what it tried to accomplish. No blasphemy intended.

[Charlene Hios · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a total joy received from this ink. Many folks are insulted by the "For Dummies" in the title. any true reader / scholar knows to also read the subtitle. In this book's subtitle it reads, "a reference for the rest of us".

And yes, it truly is a great reference to not only the 66 books of the Protestant reader but also for the Jewish reader and the Catholic reader as it includes the hidden books also know as the Apocrypha.

This book is like a modern day commentary that any one can utilize. It reminded me a lot of a combination of Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the entire bible and J. Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible series.

On a personal note, I love the fact that the author agrees with my belief that Eve was not from Adam's rib but from basically Adam's side. Literally, the word translated 'rib' means side. Look anywhere in the bible and you will see this word translated everywhere else as 'side'.

I hope you will get yourself a copy of this enjoyable informative and at times funny book..

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I even bother reviewing these For Dummies books. They're for reference so are worth owning if the subject matter is of interest to you. And the more you are interested in the subject matter I would think the more you should get the book.

Don't be intimidated by all the ground these books can cover. If it's a reference book and it's yours not borrowed, you can take all the time you want.

I'm in the category of just casually curious. I admit I skimmed a lot over stuff I don't know anything about but as a Christian should be interested in, like the Old Testament but since the core of the bible is Christ's birth, death and resurrection which is in the New Testament of course then that's what I focus on. I paid attention more to the New Testament stuff. Interesting, learned things I didn't know.

Worth reading or at least skimming and paying more attention to what specifically catches your eye. Worth owning if you are a Christian and/or have an interest in the bible.

[Cloak88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive overview of the bible. 4 stars

As the title implies, this book is an introductory guide to the content of the bible. The author goes book, by book through the bible and gives an overview of the major themes, characters, stories and historical context in which they were written. The book is written with a humorous bend with witty asides and a light writing style.

As someone neither versed in bible-reader or the deeper insight of Christianity beyond the major teachings, I found this to be an accessible and interesting read. And though personal interpretation may vary wildly, I do feel that my understanding of both Christianity and the bible has grown reading this book.

A good book and a recommendation from me.

[Shilo Parcel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it does a reasonable job of providing an overview of the Bible and its history, this book is marred by a number of shortcomings. The text tends to simplify certain topics too much. New readers may find the content to be simpler and easier to comprehend as a result of this, but it may lack depth and nuance. It's possible that the writers' attempts at humor and lightheartedness take away from the serious nature of the subject matter. There are some sections of the Bible that are examined in greater detail than others. Lastly, although the book does a good job of providing a historical context for the Bible, it does not delve thoroughly enough into the theological implications of what the Bible says. Purists in Bible study might be disappointed by this.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light-hearted exploration of the Bible, with the keyword being 'light-hearted': this Dummies book adopts a jovial tone throughout, with every page filled with wordplay, puns and other bad humour. It's very US-centric, and some naysayers might say that a serious subject shouldn't be treated so lightly, but I didn't mind it; it helps make some of the more unpalatable stuff more readable. The bulk of the book is a condensed narrative of the main events of both the Old and New Testaments, written in a much more accessible style than the Bible itself. It's an easy read, a lot easier than when you sit down and read the Bible itself from beginning to end, and the notes and asides are always interesting.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never liked the word "Dummies" being used in the titles of these books, but I didn't take off any rating points for that. This is a good little book for anyone who is interested in learning the basics about the Bible. It serves as an introduction to the history of the Bible as well as the people and events found within its pages. What I disliked about this mini-version of a longer book is the fact it focuses mainly on the New Testament. It would have been better if it had been split equally between the Old and New Testaments.

[Robin Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een informatieve samenvatting van de Bijbel. Naast een samenvatting van de verhalen (met verwijzingen naar de boeken, hoofdstukken, en verzen), gaat het over de verschillende auteurs, tijden en contexten waarin delen van de Bijbel zijn geschreven. Ook worden er verschillende mogelijke interpretaties gegeven voor bepaalde stukken. Als je op zoek bent naar een verhalende samenvatting is dit niet het boek voor jou.

[Feodora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es ist ein gutes Buch umstrukturiert in die Geschichte und die Geschichten aus dem alten und dem neuen Testament einzusteigen. Man kann sich auf die Hinweise oder die in grauen Kästen gestalteten Zusammenfassung beschränken oder wirklich das ganze Buch lesen. Es werden immer wieder auch durch Verweise Zusammenhänge dargestellt zwischen den einzelnen Büchern und Geschichten zwischen dem alten und dem neuen Testament.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so very well done. It tells all the Bible stories, book by book, in a respectful manner. The authors don't assume you know anything, so whenever a character i s referenced - Moses, Paul, David - they refer the reader to their own chapter on the subject, and to the relevant Bible source. So you can read it straight through, like I did, or if you are seeking specific information you can look it up and learn about that. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Michael E. Schulte Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully Informative and interesting as well as entertaining

You are never too old to learn something. I found many answers to questions I always felt "too dumb " to ask. The information is brought into view thourough and humorous and delightful writing and teaching technique. I thoroughly enjoyed the read which to my delight was quick and refreshing.

[Geoffrey Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy overview of the Bible

Not half bad! I read this in one day. Obviously it’s not designed for bible scholars to use as a reference lol! I think any young Christians who are just beginning their journey should read this. It will give them a simple, in plain English view of the things they’re probably confused about in the Bible.

[Lydia Nolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the actual Bible. The problem with “commentaries” are that it’s ONE PERSON’S PERSPECTIVE. I am a true believer in the Word I believe to be the inspired word of God, and I choose to trust my personal relationship with Jesus to instruct my well-being. But thanks, anyway. The format proves what little value it has for me (“Dummies?”)