Suffering With Joy

Inside the Bible – Book Review

May 26, 2010

Inside the Bible: An Introduction to Each Book of the Bible by Father Kenneth Baker, S. J. is a handy book to have around to expand your understanding of each book of the Bible.  Father Baker is an old-time Jesuit – one of those whose theology is rock solid. I put him in the same category as Father John Hardon, S. J., whose cause for beatification is already in progress.

Father Baker is the editor emeritus (over 40 years as editor) of the Homiletic and Pastoral Review, a monthly magazine published by Ignatius Press aimed at helping priests preach and counsel parishioners better, as well as understand and celebrate the liturgy better.

Each chapter of the book is a quick and easy read in Father Baker’s clear and organized style.  The chapter sections are: Place in the Bible, Date and Author, Theme, Summary, Theology, Outline, and Reflection which contains a quote from the book for a quick meditation. I found this arrangement very helpful in understanding the meaning and purpose of each book of the Bible as it relates to salvation history.  When we read the Bible with better understanding of the mysteries revealed we cannot help growing closer to God, and even understand today’s events much better from a biblical perspective.

Many of us would like to attend Bible study classes, but are unable to because of various types of limitations.  A book like this can’t take the place of a good study group, but it can help those of us who want to read the Bible on our own with greater understanding.

This book is helpful in another way, too.  I like to look ahead to the Scriptural quotes for the coming Sunday Mass, all of which are linked to the particular season we are celebrating.  Reading the appropriate chapter from Inside the Bible helps me understand the lessons each quote is illustrating better, along with the links between each.

This book is available at a very reasonable price from Amazon.  Just click on the link above or on the image of the book.

Tags: Bible, Catholic Church