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Reading your Bible - a starter's guideBetween two stoolsREADING YOUR BIBLE - A STARTER'S GUIDE We wanted to welcome this book warmly, as we would anything that encourages the reading of God's Word; however, it does seem to fall between two stools. The credentials of the writers, and the book's format and cartoon illustrations make it look suitable for children but its vocabulary is more for adults. Words like 'tabernacle' and 'ascension' are explained, but 'testament', 'sin', 'saved' and 'communion table' are not. The foreword states it is suitable for young believers which seems to mean adults with some church background. The page-per-book summary of the Bible that is the meat of this short book is excellent, simple and clear, but let down by omissions from the supporting sections that are too brief and sketchy for adult readers. The introduction makes no mention either of how the Bible was translated into English or of the many literal and dynamic translations currently available; nor of the wealth of scientific and archaeological validation of Scriptural accounts. In the example used in the 'Approaching a Passage' section (p.86), the book overlooks its own application question: 'What does it mean to me now?' and the availability of Bible reading notes is ignored. This book seems to be neither simple enough in language for children, nor robust enough in content and guidance for adults, but we would love to see a child-friendly version that draws attention to the Good News in the Bible, as well as to the need for obedience and heeding its warnings. Steve & Kay Morgan-Gurr, © Evangelicals Now - December 2004 |