Zondervan Handbook to the Bible

Rating:
Summary: Scholarly without being dry
Review: I found this book to be fascinating and highly readable. It is both scholarly and well-balanced. The book does not seem to push either a fundamentalist or liberal theology. It is well organized, giving the reader a helpful overview of each book of the Bible, chapter by chapter. It also pulls together interesting historical information aided by graphs, maps, and wonderful photographs. I consider The Handbook to the Bible an invaluable aid to anyone wishing to increase their understanding of and appreciation for the Bible.

Rating:
Summary: Scholarly without being dry
Review: I found this book to be fascinating and highly readable. It is both scholarly and well-balanced. The book does not seem to push either a fundamentalist or liberal theology. It is well organized, giving the reader a helpful overview of each book of the Bible, chapter by chapter. It also pulls together interesting historical information aided by graphs, maps, and wonderful photographs. I consider The Handbook to the Bible an invaluable aid to anyone wishing to increase their understanding of and appreciation for the Bible.

Rating:
Summary: Good starting point
Review: I have given a lot of Bibles to my friends. Unfortunately, most will fall asleep after reading the first page. This handbook served as an excellent icebreaker. It has interesting historical backgrounds and informative general articles. The colorful pictures helped to keep the interest burning. Currently, I have a handful of friends who were successful in reading the Bible from cover to cover.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction
Review: I haved owned a number of Bible handbooks over the years, but this is by far the best of the lot. Certainly the new pictorial layout is the best feature of this new revision. The pictures are simply stunning. But a lot of other useful information is contained in the book.

Although there appears to be a liberal slant to whatever theology is presented in this work, I personally do not use a bible handbook to study theology, but only for a very general overview of the Bible. And in this respect, I believe that Zondervan's Bible Handbook is the best out there!

Rating:
Summary: The Best Bible Handbook I've Ever Owned
Review: I haved owned a number of Bible handbooks over the years, but this is by far the best of the lot. Certainly the new pictorial layout is the best feature of this new revision. The pictures are simply stunning. But a lot of other useful information is contained in the book.

Although there appears to be a liberal slant to whatever theology is presented in this work, I personally do not use a bible handbook to study theology, but only for a very general overview of the Bible. And in this respect, I believe that Zondervan's Bible Handbook is the best out there!

Rating:
Summary: Over Two-Million-Copies sold!
Review: Previously published as Eerdman's Handbook to the Bible, the Zondervan Handbook to the Bible has been completely revised-text, photographs, illustrations, maps, and charts-and expanded by over a hundred pages. The with information and insight-colorful, exciting, authoritative, readable, and often challenging and inspiring-written by those who have discovered the riches of the Bible for themselves and want to share them with others. Over 500 color photographs and illustrations, vividly portraying the world of biblical characters and events. 119 articles by leading international scholars on the setting and use of the Bible, and subjects of special interest including character studies and interpretation. A section-by-section guide to the Bible, explanatory notes on key words and issues of meaning and interpretation. Copious color maps & charts of historical and background information in a helpful visual format. A comprehensive Rapid Fact-Finder to the Bible-its key people, places, events, and teachings-and to the Handbook as a whol

Rating:
Summary: Sadly liberal
Review: This book, although full of fascinating pictures, is surprisingly full of liberal theology. Quoted on the back cover are Charles Colson, John Stott, Kay Arthur, and Jerry White. All of them have wonderful things to say about the book, but you have to wonder how much the "completely revised and expanded edition of the three-million-copy bestseller" has changed since the said these nice things. Overall, this book is a disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Sadly liberal
Review: This book, although full of fascinating pictures, is surprisingly full of liberal theology. Quoted on the back cover are Charles Colson, John Stott, Kay Arthur, and Jerry White. All of them have wonderful things to say about the book, but you have to wonder how much the "completely revised and expanded edition of the three-million-copy bestseller" has changed since the said these nice things. Overall, this book is a disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction
Review: This is an excellent introduction to the Scriptures. Contrary to the other reviewer, I did not find this book to be liberal at all. If anything, it makes a determined effort to take a more "catholic" (universal) approach that avoids sectarian views. I heartily recommend it to anyone wanting an overview of the Bible.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction
Review: This is an excellent introduction to the Scriptures. Contrary to the other reviewer, I did not find this book to be liberal at all. If anything, it makes a determined effort to take a more "catholic" (universal) approach that avoids sectarian views. I heartily recommend it to anyone wanting an overview of the Bible.