The Bible freely accessible in our own language is a treasure, yet too few read it regularly in its entirety.  Obstacles to that (and excuses for not doing so) include its intimidating length and the confusing literary variety among the books, especially in the Old Testament. Cultural differences and historical ignorance complicate our understanding of the stories, not to mention that scripture’s truth makes us uncomfortable.  We tend to focus on bits and pieces we find applicable but miss the grandeur and astounding coherence of the big picture.  How can ordinary Christians become more familiar with God’s Word?

The Ultimate Bible Guide provides the encouragement and help needed for anyone to start reading the whole Bible.  Author Kendall Easley’s introduction includes a Bible overview and a summary in one sentence: “The Lord God through His Christ is graciously building a kingdom of redeemed people for their joy and His own glory.” (Introduction, p. v)

Each book outline of six to seven pages follows the same format. Easley explains the title, lists key verses and terms, and gives a one-sentence summary.  Readers can see where the book fits into the big story as well as its main message, historical setting, literary features, and “Christ in…[the book].”  Maps, charts, famous artwork, and photos add the traditional thousand-words’ worth without actually weighting the book with them.  (PG-13 alert: not all artistic figures model Sunday-go-to-meeting attire.)

There could be numerous ways of classifying the biblical narrative; Easley divides it into a prologue, six chapters, and an epilogue.  The prologue covers Genesis 1-11: “The Need for Redemption.”  The six divisions are as follows: God Builds His Nation; God Educates/Disciplines His Nation; God Keeps a Faithful Remnant; God Purchases Redemption and Begins the Kingdom; God Spreads the Kingdom through the Church; and God Consummates Redemption and Confirms His Eternal Kingdom.  The epilogue covers “New Heaven and New Earth” (Revelation 21-22). Eschatological enthusiasts may wonder what position Easley favors; he comments briefly on the possibilities but wisely refrains from partisan declarations.

This pocket-sized edition is obviously designed for frequent use—the pages are quality paper and turn easily; the book feels solid, has a heavy-duty binding, and lies open without needing to be held down.  The print is small, as could be expected from a book this size, yet distinct.  Sections are clearly labeled and noted with symbols (no key is given, but the icons are fairly intuitive and soon become familiar). 

For would-be readers who lack access to theological libraries and Bible study resources, the Ultimate Bible Guide can prove an excellent starter course, helpful to new scholars as well as those already familiar with the Bible’s structure.  I discovered it late in the process of preparing for a children’s Sunday school overview of the Bible, book by book—frequently it had, in summary form, information I had found in much wider searching and reading. Highly recommended for individual readers of the Bible, school-aged and up, as well as families and teachers!