One of the greatest challenges of our day is biblical illiteracy. At first it may seem like nearly every person who attends church has a Bible in North America. People having Bible’s isn’t the problem. People reading their Bible’s is. To help address this issue, Dr. George Guthrie has composed Read The Bible For Life Your Guide to Understanding and Living God’s Word. The book is structured around sixteen conversation with sixteen of Dr. Guthrie’s friends who are scholars in their fields.
The book has four sections. In part one the author considers the foundational lens for how to read the Bible as a guide for life, in context, in translation and for transformation. In part two the authors help readers to understand the Old Testament stories laws, Psalms, Proverbs and Prophets. Part three focuses on the New Testament and will help people understand the teaching of Jesus, the New Testament letters and Revelation. Part four explores how to read the bible for personal devotion, in times of sorrow and suffering, with the family and with the Church.
The book as I noted earlier is arranged around conversation with leading scholars. These conversations are intended to help the lay person on up to know what the Word says and how every passage fits into the powerful Bible’s powerful overarching story. While I’ve read quite a few books on this topic, I believe Reading The Bible For Life is better than How To Read The Bible For All it’s worth. This book addresses a very real problem in biblical illiteracy head on and will help its readers not only understand the various genres in the Bible but how they should read them. I highly recommend Read The Bible For Life and encourage you to not only read it but as you read it to pick up your dusty Bible and read it. As you do you’ll discover who God is and what He is like from His Word—His love letter to His people. Whether you’re a lay person or a serious Bible student, this book has something for you. It will help you not only understand what the Bible is saying but also what the Bible aims to do in your life—that you would no longer be a hearer only but a doer by His grace.
Title: Read The Bible For Life; Your Guide to Understanding and Living God’s Word
Author: George H. Guthrie
Publisher: B&H (2011)
I received this book for free from B&H for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
