What Is the Bible?: Summary Review
This is a summary review of What Is the Bible? containing key details about What Is the Bible?.
What is What Is the Bible? About?
"What is the Bible?" is a book written by Rob Bell, an American author, speaker, and pastor. The book offers an accessible and thought-provoking look at the Bible, challenging many traditional interpretations and inviting readers to form their own connections with its stories and teachings.
What Is the Bible? provides insights and answers that make clear why the Bible is so revered and what makes it truly inspiring and essential to our lives. The author takes us deep into actual passages to reveal the humanity behind the Scriptures. You cannot get to the holy without going through the human, he tells us. When considering a passage, we shouldn’t ask ‘Why did God say ...? To get to the heart of the Bible’s meaning, we should be asking: ‘What’s the story that’s unfolding here and why did people find it important to tell it?
Summary Points & Takeaways from What Is the Bible?
Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:
* A Collection of Stories: Bell emphasizes that the Bible is not a single book, but rather a collection of 66 books written by many different authors over thousands of years. He argues that it is important to understand the context and background of each book in order to fully grasp its meaning and significance.
* A Story of Love: Bell asserts that the central message of the Bible is one of love and compassion, and that all of its teachings and stories should be seen in this light. He argues that the Bible is not about imposing a set of rules and regulations, but about inspiring people to live lives of love and kindness.
* A Book of Questions: Bell sees the Bible as a book of questions rather than a book of answers, and encourages readers to approach its stories and teachings with a spirit of curiosity and exploration. He argues that the Bible should not be seen as a set of fixed, unchanging answers, but as a dynamic and evolving text that continues to inspire and challenge people in new ways.
* A Book of Paradox: Bell notes that the Bible is filled with paradoxes and contradictions, and argues that these should be seen as a strength rather than a weakness. He believes that the contradictions and complexities of the Bible are what make it a rich and inspiring text that can be interpreted in many different ways.
* A Book of Mystery: Bell emphasizes the mystery at the heart of the Bible, and argues that this mystery is one of its most powerful aspects. He believes that the Bible is not meant to be understood in a straightforward, literal way, but rather as a mysterious and poetic text that invites readers to delve deep into its teachings and stories.
* Overall, "What is the Bible?" is a thought-provoking book that offers a fresh and accessible perspective on one of the world's most important texts. Whether you are a seasoned biblical scholar or a newcomer to the world of the Bible, Rob Bell's insights and perspectives are sure to challenge and inspire you.
Who is the author of What Is the Bible??
Robert Holmes Bell Jr. is an American author, speaker and former pastor. Bell founded Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, and pastored it until 2012. Under his leadership, Mars Hill was one of the fastest-growing churches in America.
Book details
- Print length: 336 pages
- Genre: Nonfiction, Religion, Theology
What are the chapters in What Is the Bible??
Chapter 1. Moses and His Moisture
Chapter 2. Somebody Wrote Something Down
Chapter 3. Stoners and Swingers
Chapter 4. Who Paid Jesus's Bills?
Chapter 5. Anakephalaiossathai
Chapter 6. The Importance of Altitude
Chapter 7. Smoking Firepots
Chapter 8. And the Fat Closed In Over the Sword
Chapter 9. The Thing About Pearls and Pigs
Chapter 10. Turning the Gem
Chapter 11. Larry in the Airport
Chapter 12. Flood
Chapter 13. Fish
Chapter 14. Son
Chapter 15. He Had No Idea What I Was Talking About
Chapter 16. All That Violence
Chapter 17. Do What to Our Whats?
Chapter 18. Give It Up for Sidon!
Chapter 19. He Can't Even Say His Name
Chapter 20. The Whole Melchizedek Thing and Why You Love It and Know It's True
Chapter 21. So How Did Jesus Read the Bible?
Chapter 22. The Sheeeeeeeet Factor
Chapter 23. All Things Are Yours
Chapter 24. The Human and the Divine
Chapter 25. Babel
Chapter 26. Two or Three Kinds of Apocalypses
Chapter 27. The Book of Revelation, of Course
Chapter 28. Why Americans Often Miss the Major Themes of the Bible
Chapter 29. Why Are There All Those Genealogies?
Chapter 30. Why Is Leviticus in the Bible?
Chapter 31. What About All Those People Falling Over Dead?
Chapter 32. Did Jesus Have to Die?
Chapter 33. What About Predestination?
Chapter 34. What About All That Wrath?
Chapter 35. What About Sin?
Chapter 36. Is It the Word of God?
Chapter 37. Is It Authoritative?
Chapter 38. What About the Contradictions?
Chapter 39. Is It Inerrant?
Chapter 40. Is It Inspired?
Chapter 41. What's the Best Question to Ask When You're Reading the Bible?
Chapter 42. What's the Worst Question to Ask When You're Reading the Bible?
Chapter 43. What's the Other Best Question to Ask When You're Reading the Bible?
What do critics say?
Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: "Rob Bell is at it again. Love him or loathe him, the theological provacateur says it’s time to rethink the Bible.” — Relevant
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you're interested in furthering your personal growth, you may want to explore my list of favorite self-improvement books. These books, which have had a significant impact on my life, are carefully curated and come with summaries and key lessons.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
