General Bible Study

This book is a popular introduction to each of the 73 books of the Bible designed to help the reader grow in the knowledge and love of God's Word.  The introduction to each book includes the time frame and author, the theme, a summary of the contents and some comments about the context in which it was written, the theology of the book, an outline, and a prayer taken from the book.  By giving this concise introduction to each book of the Bible, Fr. Baker provides quick access to essential information the daily or occasional reader of sacred scripture should find helpful. In addition to being directed to readers of the Bible who are not experts, the book may also be of help to more advanced students who wish to refresh their memory of a particular book of the Bible.  By carefully reading Inside the Bible one can have a thumbnail summary of each book of the Bible at his fingertips. "Many Catholics revere the Bible without reading it.  They recognize it as the Word of God, but they hesitate to open its pages.  They find themselves paralyzed, not knowing where to start reading, confused by ancient modes of writing, unsure of interpretations.  Fr. Kenneth Baker comes to the rescue.  In brief synopses of the 73 books he guides new readers through the threshold and shows them how they can move forward on their own.  Inside the Bible will transform almost-readers into avid readers of the sacred text." - Karl Keating, Author, What Catholics Really Believe Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J., is the well-known editor of Homiletic and Pastoral Review, the premiere magazine for clergy and laity interested in pastoral issues for today's Church.  He is also the author of Fundamentals of Catholicism, a three volume series on the Catholic faith.  

In order to promote the Church’s ongoing efforts "to share the boundless riches of the divine Word with the faithful entrusted to its care" (Dei Verbum 25), The Scripture Documents reproduces in one volume, key documents that record recent Catholic teaching on the interpretation of the Bible.

Intended as a reference work, this collection of conciliar, papal, and curial documents on sacred Scripture, includes for each official document a brief historical introduction which facilitates a contextual understanding of each document; a running annotation; and a select bibliography of available commentaries and related works.

Like the Canon of Scriptures itself, this collection includes various kinds of documents authored by different Roman ecclesiastical authorities within the Church’s Teaching Office and expressed in several different literary forms. Each document addresses issues and problems peculiar to the historical situation in which it was written.

The Scripture Documents provides easy access to those official documents that record some of the Church’s recent efforts to promote and guide the study of the Bible among the faithful. The teaching these instructions convey is helpful for all who seek to read and interpret the Scriptures in the light of faith.

Reading in Christian Communities: Essays on Interpretation in the Early Church (Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity Series, Volume 14), edited by Charles A. Bobertz and David Brakke. Series edited by Gregory E. Sterling. 2002 paperback published by University of Notre Dame Press.

Biblical Foundations of Spirituality is a timely and important book that invites readers to 'touch a finger to the flame' of the sacred text of the Bible by offering guidance on what to read, how to read, and why to read the Bible as a source of spiritual nourishment. It begins by exploring the nature and meaning of that all-too-difficult word spirituality and then leads readers through the entire Bible--from Genesis to Revelation--to develop a biblical spirituality that can serve as a guiding light in this age of spiritual seeking. Informed by the latest scholarship, this book makes the Bible more intelligible and 'user friendly' for contemporary audiences by stressing the spiritual dimension of the search for God evident in our biblical ancestors and showing how the Bible can be a friend and companion in our search for God today. It illustrates the continuity of the Old and New Testaments and the progression of faith and insight about God--the turns and dead-ends, the mistakes and successes, the struggles and challenges--that reflect in some way our own contemporary experience and search for God. By showing readers that the biblical authors were real people who struggled with life's puzzles and challenges in the same way that we do, Biblical Foundations of Spirituality reveals the rich treasure of spiritual wisdom that the Bible contains and connects the wisdom and witness of Scripture with everyday life and spirituality. Complete with a historical chronology, reflection questions, a glossary, and extensive notes and bibliography, this book is ideal for classroom and parish use as well as for individual readers.