The Catholic Bible Study Handbook

Jerome Kodell, OSB
300 pages
Servant Publications, 2001
Retail Price: $10.99
See Amazon's discounted price

Review
This book could almost be subtitled: " A Beginners Guide To the Bible For Catholics." It will be of immense help to those just starting to read and study the Bible. It is the second revised edition of the original 1974 first edition that had its origin in the Little Rock Scripture Study Program, a program that the author helped to start. Written in a clear fashion by a respected Benedictine Abbot and Scripture scholar, the book includes a praise-filled forward by George Martin the founding editor of God's Word Today.

While this second revised edition of the Handbook makes very few changes and updating to the chapters of sections one and two it does provide a myriad of new material in section three.

Section three, entitled "How to Study and Pray The Bible," contains three chapters. One on personal Bible study, one on group Bible study and a third on Bible prayer. In the chapters on Bible study a user -friendly five step approach to studying a Gospel story is provided along with an eight step approach to studying a psalm. Group dynamic techniques are provided for Bible study groups along with hefty bibliographies.

The final chapter, which is a guide to Bible prayer includes explanations of Lectio Divina, a way of reading and praying the Bible as well as methods for meditating, imaging, and contemplating with the Bible. These are all helpful aids for those who want to use the Bible both as a foundation for and a launch pad to prayer.

The book offers a helpful glossary of technical terms as well as two appendices: one on Bible study tools, the other on how to contact Catholic publishers in the United States giving both the 800 number and web page address of each.

In sum, the Handbook is a very basic and beginners' level introduction to the Bible -its content, message and meaning - with a variety of practical suggestions. For Catholic adults who may be afraid of the Bible or who do not know where to begin when approaching the Bible, this book will be helpful. They will appreciate its clarity and pastoral approach. It is an easy read. It can be easily recommended by parish directors of adult faith formation to adults and RCIA candidates alike.

—Arthur E. Zannoni is an award winning freelance writer, teacher, theologian and Biblical scholar. His most recent book is Tell Me Your Name: Images of God in the Bible.




			The Catholic Bible Study Handbook A Popular Introduction to Studying Scripture (Second Revised Edition) Jerome Kodell, OSB 300 pages Servant Publications, 2001 Retail Price: $10.99 See Amazon's discounted price Review This book could almost be subtitled: " A Beginners Guide To the Bible For Catholics." It will be of immense help to those just starting to read and study the Bible. It is the second revised edition of the original 1974 first edition that had its origin in the Little Rock Scripture Study Program, a program that the author helped to start. Written in a clear fashion by a respected Benedictine Abbot and Scripture scholar, the book includes a praise-filled forward by George Martin the founding editor of God's Word Today. While this second revised edition of the Handbook makes very few changes and updating to the chapters of sections one and two it does provide a myriad of new material in section three. Section three, entitled "How to Study and Pray The Bible," contains three chapters. One on personal Bible study, one on group Bible study and a third on Bible prayer. In the chapters on Bible study a user -friendly five step approach to studying a Gospel story is provided along with an eight step approach to studying a psalm. Group dynamic techniques are provided for Bible study groups along with hefty bibliographies. The final chapter, which is a guide to Bible prayer includes explanations of Lectio Divina, a way of reading and praying the Bible as well as methods for meditating, imaging, and contemplating with the Bible. These are all helpful aids for those who want to use the Bible both as a foundation for and a launch pad to prayer. The book offers a helpful glossary of technical terms as well as two appendices: one on Bible study tools, the other on how to contact Catholic publishers in the United States giving both the 800 number and web page address of each. In sum, the Handbook is a very basic and beginners' level introduction to the Bible -its content, message and meaning - with a variety of practical suggestions. For Catholic adults who may be afraid of the Bible or who do not know where to begin when approaching the Bible, this book will be helpful. They will appreciate its clarity and pastoral approach. It is an easy read. It can be easily recommended by parish directors of adult faith formation to adults and RCIA candidates alike. —Arthur E. Zannoni is an award winning freelance writer, teacher, theologian and Biblical scholar. His most recent book is Tell Me Your Name: Images of God in the Bible. † Back to the Top
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