Topic 1 of 33 - Your Place in the Learning Journey
Intro: The Purpose of These Guides
I've prepared these guides to help non-scholars (typical church attendees and non-academically trained lay preachers, church pastors, Sunday School teachers, and Bible Study leaders) to understand the Bible more fully. They're especially intended for those who have not had either formal biblical education nor in-depth biblical background study. By biblical background I mean the relevant cultural, historical, linguistic and religious background that helped shape the Bible.
I've tried to write each topic to be understandable to the general reader. But, honestly, the Bible is not a simple topic. Its content is not always easy to understand. Often there is a kind of tug-of-war between scholarly known facts, findings and conclusions on one hand and applied faith on the other. There are several points at which I will address this tug-of-war. However, I will reserve much of that for Topic 25 which will consist of 66 subtopics - for the 66 books of the Protestant Bible. Nevertheless, I've tried to prepare this material to be as understandable as possible. I hope I've succeeded.
For the most part, you can move through the topics in order or jump to whatever interests you most. All 33 of the current topics are listed as clickable links on the left side of the screen. Additionally, I've included a topic progress bar near the top of the screen. I'm contemplating adding some fun quizzes if I can figure a good way to create them and integrate into the site. At any rate, the goal that you should have for this site is to eventually complete each topic and to simply gain a better understanding of what I believe is the most fascinating book about the most fascinating story of God and humanity that has ever - and will ever be written. I hope this blesses you.
Pastor James Palmer, III.
What You Will Find in Each Topic
| Element | What It Is | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | A plain-language overview of the topic in roughly 100 words | Gets you oriented before diving deeper |
| Visual | A table, diagram, or timeline that organizes the key information | Some things are easier to see than to read |
| Sub-topics | Six to seven focused pages that go deeper on one aspect of the topic | Lets you explore what interests you most without reading everything |
| Scholarly note | Where relevant, a note on what scholars debate or where traditions differ | Honest about the limits of certainty |
| Audio | A spoken summary of the topic introduction | For those who prefer listening to reading |
Explore these Subtopics
How to Use This Guide
A brief orientation to the 33 topics, how they are organized, and the best way to move through the material at your own pace.
Read more →Beginning Readers of the Bible
Practical guidance for new readers - where to start, what to expect, and how to avoid the most common traps that discourage first-time readers.
Read more →Which Bible Translation Should I Use?
There are dozens of English Bible translations, but three primary interpretation objectives. This guide explains the differences between formal equivalence, dynamic equivalence, and paraphrase translations and when each is useful.
Read more →A Note on Scholarship
What academic scholarship means, why it matters for Bible study, and how these guides handle the differences between what scholars know and what faith affirms.
Read more →Faith and Biblical Study
Some people rely only on an experiential faith. However, experience isn't always the best teacher. This is certainly true in matters of faith. The scriptures are the best teacher. Ground your faith in your biblical knowledge. This will please God and serve you and others well.
Read more →Recommended Resources
A list of commentaries, study Bibles, reference works, and online tools that I recommend for productive and rewarding study.
Read more →