Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Introduction / Philip Johnston -- Introducing the Bible / Mark Strauss -- Introducing the Old Testament. Old Testament story / Desmond Alexander. Old Testament background / Jamie Grant. Old Testament theology / Philip Johnston. Old Testament interpretation / Jamie Grant -- Pentateuch / Desmond Alexander -- Historical books / Philip Johnston -- Poetic books / Tremper Longman III -- Prophets / Ernest Lucas -- Between the testaments / Carl Mosser -- Introducing the New Testament. New Testament story / Ian Paul. New Testament background / Carl Mosser. New Testament theology / Mark Strauss. New Testament interpretation / Brian Rosner -- Gospels / Howard Marshall -- Acts / Mark Strauss -- Letters / Ian Paul, Brian Rosner, Carl Mosser -- Revelation / Carl Mosser -- Reading the Bible.

Millions of Christians through the ages and across the world have treasured it as their most valued possession, often insisting that anyone can pick up the Bible and read and understand it for themselves. But many of the details remain fuzzy until we find out more about their historical or literary setting. The IVP Introduction to the Bible is intended to reduce the fuzziness, in two ways: First, by providing background information to the whole Bible and each testament, as well as the gap between the testaments. Second, by introducing all the main sections of the Bible and each biblical book in turn. So the great biblical panorama is brought to life, first with broad brush strokes and then with fine art work. This Bible introduction is written by an international and interdenominational team of evangelical scholars. - Publisher.