An invaluable book for Catholics who want to experience the Old Testament, not just read it.
To read and understand the forty-six books of the Old Testament is a daunting challenge for most Catholics. The Old Testament can seem overwhelmingly lengthy, and the books that comprise it are a diverse and often confusing collection of poetry, prophecies, fables, and historical texts, written in a style and form unfamiliar to modern readers.
Jim Campbell's The Stories of the Old Testament turns this otherwise intimidating task into an eminently achievable and highly enjoyable journey. Campbell gently leads the reader through the central texts, essential stories, and major figures of the Old Testament in one hundred carefully selected readings, each designed to be completed in just one sitting. He provides a guide for each reading, and, throughout the book, dozens of short supplemental essays supply the background and commentary needed to properly understand the stories from Genesis to Malachi.
By reading this book, the reader will not only gain an understanding of and appreciation for the people and events of the Old Testament, but also come to see his or her own place in the ongoing and ever-growing story of God's providence and grace.
Jim Campbell has been writing about the Bible for Catholic adults and young people for more than thirty years. He is the general editor of the Harper's New American Bible Study Program and is the coauthor of the Finding God religious education program, published by Loyola Press. He has three post-graduate degrees, including masters degrees
in theology and history, and a doctorate in Ministry in Christian Education from the Aquinas Institute of Theology. He is the staff theologian at Loyola Press.
