What Is the Bible?

How well do you know the Bible? Do you know the stories? Do you know how the Bible is organized and how those texts were chosen? Have you ever thought about all the different ways people approach the Bible and decided for yourself what to think? If you said "no" to any of these questions, you need What Is the Bible?
This six-week study in basic biblical literacy assumes no prior knowledge of the Bible and is not biased toward any particular Christian tradition. It is the first course in the popular set of Bible studies Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series.
A detailed Leader's Guide for this study is sold separately. You can learn more about the series and how you can earn a Certificate in Biblical Literacy at exploringthebible.org.
Other volumes in the series include:
Volume 1: What Is the Bible?
Volume 3: Introducing the New Testament
PRAISE FOR EXPLORING THE BIBLE: THE DICKINSON SERIES
"Here is the most readable, complete, fair and accurate aid to the study of the Bible now available. I recommend it highly."
Dr. Harvey Cox
Hollis Research Professor of Divinity
Harvard Divinity School
"Exploring the Bible: The Dickinson Series is a magnificent Bible study resource. The questions we all have about the Bible are addressed in clear, accessible, and often witty language, and questions we didn't even know to ask are introduced in lively and provocative ways. Those who have studied the Bible for years will find their understanding deepened, and those for whom the Bible is a new and unfamiliar land will find a reliable roadmap. The Leader's Guides are filled with stimulating teaching suggestions."
Dr. Thomas G. Long
Bandy Professor of Preaching
Candler School of Theology
Emory University
"Fortunate will be the readers who take up the study of these materials. These books constitute a compelling introduction to serious study, with intentional pedagogy and fresh articulation. They are accessible without dumbing down, reaching those who want to know about the Bible without compromising either their faith or their wise judgment. Holding such a resource in one's hands is the beginning of a fresh exploration that holds great promise."
Dr. Walter Brueggemann
Professor Emeritus of Old Testament
Columbia Theological Seminary
"Combining solid information with wit and humor, this series is an ideal tool for any church community wishing to attain a deeper understanding of the Bible, its origins, and its significance for today."
Dr. Justo L. González
Retired Professor of Historical Theology
Author of the History of Christian Thought
"This series of Bible studies offers the readers a comprehensive and refreshing introduction to the Bible. Written in accessible language, it will help individuals and groups to engage in meaningful dialogues about the Bible, which continues to shape Christian imagination and values of the wider society. I highly recommend it."
Dr. Kwok Pui-lan
William F. Cole Professor of Christian Theology and Spirituality
Episcopal Divinity School
"I am much impressed by the comprehensive, accessible, and engaging quality of this series. If you have been intimidated by the Bible, if you have been reluctant to launch a study of the Bible, then Exploring the Bible offers a grand introduction to Scripture. Here the wisdom of the Bible is not only explored and explicated but also applied. Exploring the Bible is easily adaptable to churches and Bible study groups of all sizes and inclinations. Here's a wonderful addition to our tools for helping Christians grow in their faith."
Bishop Will Willimon
Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry
Duke Divinity School