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How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens: A Guide to Christ-Focused Reading of Scripture Paperback – January 24, 2012

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 157 ratings

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Many Christians today experience Bible teaching in isolated, unconnected pieces, receiving little or no guidance into how these pieces form a coherent picture in Christ. How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens presents Christ as the central focus of each biblical book and the primary way the Bible relates to contemporary circumstances. It shows how each book of the Bible has an identifiable theme ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Christ.

Williams provides the following for his readers:

  • A succinct statement of the theme of every biblical book
  • An explanation of how that theme finds its focus in Christ
  • A brief discussion of how the New Testament treats that theme as fulfilled in Christ
  • Suggestions for contemporary implications
  • Scripture memory electronic flashcards
  • A convenient summary chart

An excellent tool for Bible teachers, ministry leaders, and students, How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens facilitates other Christian disciplines such as Bible reading, Scripture memory and evangelism. By demonstrating how each theme relates to living the Christian life, this book promises to be an invaluable guide for reading and understanding the Bible.

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From the Publisher

How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens
How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens Book

Covers Every Book of Bible in the Tradition of "How to Read the Bible Book by Book"

  1. Its aim is to help you understand the Bible's narrative in a very specific way--how each book of the Bible ultimately points to Jesus Christ.
  2. The author, Michael Williams, is an experienced seminary professor of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary and a member of the NIV Committee on Bible Translation who strongly believes in understanding, obeying, and applying biblical text as carefully as possible.
  3. Perfect for everyday readers of the Bible who want to understand how each book of the Bible works as a whole and how reading it in this manner changes our life now.

Essential Bible Reading and Teaching Resources For Any Christian's Library. Discover More...

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth: Fourth Edition
How to Read Theology for All Its Worth
How to Read Theology for All Its Worth
How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth
How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth
How to Read the Bible Book by Book
How to Read the Bible Book by Book
How to Preach and Teach the Old Testament for All Its Worth
How to Preach and Teach the Old Testament for All Its Worth
Customer Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars 2,801
4.6 out of 5 stars 33
4.6 out of 5 stars 168
4.7 out of 5 stars 853
4.6 out of 5 stars 162
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About the Book A companion to How to Read the Bible Book by Book. Helps you accurately understand the different parts of the Bible — their meaning for ancient audiences and their implications for you today. Introduces students to the basic skills of intelligent reading, applied to theological works. With so many Bible translations available today, how can you find those that will be most useful to you? Brings clarity and insight to the debate over Bible translations and translation theories. For each book of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then expand the view to help you better understand its message and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. Covering the History, Law, Prophets, Psalms, and Wisdom Literature, interspersed with practical checklists, exercises, and sermons, this book provides an essential guide on how to preach the Old Testament responsibly.
Authors Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart Karin Spiecker Stetina Gordon D. Fee and Mark L. Strauss Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart Christopher J. H. Wright

Editorial Reviews

Review

“To understand God we look to his Word, and to understand his Word we are dependent on the Old and New Testaments. What we discover is that amid the many stories is an underlying Story, which leads us to Jesus, Immanuel. Michael Williams ably goes book by book, offering suggestive and stimulating ways for us to see Christ as the climax of the Story; from this vantage point he then offers contemporary implications that should inform our lives. Let Williams begin to shape the way you read the whole Bible, seeing it all in light of Jesus the Messiah.” -- Kelly Kapic, Professor of Theological Studies, Covenant College -- Kelly Kapic

About the Author

Michael Williams (PhD, University of Pennsylvania) is Professor of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary and a member of the NIV Committee on Bible Translation. He is the author of Deception in Genesis and The Prophet and His Message, and editor and contributor of Mishneh Todah. His passion is to equip students with knowledge of the Old Testament and its languages so that they may grow in their comprehension and appreciation of redemptive history and be adequately prepared to promote and defend the faith through word and action. Michael resides in Grand Rapids, MI, with his wife, Dawn.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Zondervan Academic (January 24, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031033165X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0310331650
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.33 x 0.6 x 7.98 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 157 ratings

About the author

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Michael James Williams
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After I became a Christian while serving in the U.S. Navy (in a submarine beneath the North Atlantic!), I entered Columbia International University, where I received a B.A. (1985). This was followed by an M.A. in Religion at Westminster Theological Seminary (1987) and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania (1999). In 2000, I was ordained in the Christian Reformed Church, and taught Old Testament and ancient Near Eastern languages and literature at Calvin Theological Seminary from 1995-2018. I have also taught courses at Westminster Theological Seminary; the University of Pennsylvania; and brief stints in Limuru, Kenya; Donetsk, Ukraine; and Warsaw, Poland. In addition to articles on Old Testament topics in various reference works and academic journals, I have authored several books, including “The Prophet and His Message: Reading Old Testament Prophecy Today” (2003); “How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens: A Guide to Christ-Focused Reading of Scripture” (2012); and, most recently, "30 Old Testament Passages with Deeper Meaning: The Surprising Significance of Seemingly Ordinary Verses" (2023). My amazing wife, Dawn, and I enjoy hiking and all things outdoors.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
157 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book helpful for Bible study. They appreciate the brief summary of each book and contemporary application. Readers enjoy the hook questions for answering and discussion. The introduction provides a good overview for beginners and seasoned readers alike.

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16 customers mention "Bible study"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for Bible study. They say it helps them understand God's message through Jesus better. The book is a great supplement to their NKJV Women's Bible and provokes lively discussions in their groups. It serves as a good reminder for seasoned Christians to keep the central point of Scripture in mind. Readers mention it can be used for individual or group Bible study, and that it encourages Christ-focused reading of Scripture.

"...It's an easy read. It could also be used for individual or group bible study. Each short chapter ends with personal application questions...." Read more

"This is a helpful book in a good" Read more

"...You'll enjoy this read if you're wanting insight and a deeper understanding of God's message through Jesus...." Read more

"arrived very quickly in great condition. this book is required for my bible study group and is a great supplement to my NKJV Women's Life..." Read more

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and understand. It provides a brief summary of each book in the Bible, with a contemporary perspective. They find it helpful for learning about individual books and the overall Bible story. The application paragraphs and questions help readers apply what they learn. Readers appreciate the clear overview and how it helps them spread and explain the Word of God. Overall, customers find the book informative and easy to locate specific categories of information.

"...It's an easy read. It could also be used for individual or group bible study. Each short chapter ends with personal application questions...." Read more

"...The back of the book has a helpful series of charts containing five sections of each book of the Bible with a title for each book, the theme, the..." Read more

"...This one has great application paragraphs and actually has you answer questions after each book of the Bible...." Read more

"...to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens offers a great perspective on the entire Bible message...." Read more

3 customers mention "Answer questions"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's questions for answering and discussion. They find the questions in each chapter and after each book of the Bible useful for small group discussions.

"...great application paragraphs and actually has you answer questions after each book of the Bible...." Read more

"...Jesus' lens for that book, a memory verse and hook questions for answering and discussion." Read more

"...I enjoyed the hook questions in each chapter. Ideal for small group discussion." Read more

3 customers mention "Introduction"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a good introduction to the Bible for beginners and seasoned readers.

"...It's a great beginner or introduction to reading the bible and learning about each individual book of the bible...." Read more

"This book provides a good intro to every book, and is a good reminder to seasoned Christians to keep the central point of the Bible central." Read more

"Good intro to reading the bible with Jesus as the center. It is not a very deep book but gives a good enough overview to get the big idea...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2016
    I purchased this for a seminary course and watched videos by the author which I enjoyed just as much. It's a great beginner or introduction to reading the bible and learning about each individual book of the bible. I really appreciated learning how to find Jesus in the OT, in particular. It's an easy read. It could also be used for individual or group bible study. Each short chapter ends with personal application questions. I was pleasantly surprised by this book! It is not an in-depth study of the books but gives more than an introduction of each. A gem of a book!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2012
    I have been waiting for a book like this to be written for a long time. In 1999 in a Doctor of Ministry course at Westminster Theological Seminary I was convicted and convinced that all Bible study, teaching, counseling, discipleship, and preaching must be done with Christ at the center of it all, if it's to be deemed "Christian." Jesus Himself said, "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them the things concerning himself" in Luke 24:27 on the road to Emmaus. Ever since that time I have sought to read resources that would help me understand and interpret the Scriptures in light of the fact that all of the Scriptures - according to Jesus - are about Him. Yet, the mind-blowing thing to me is how few preachers and Bible teachers ever even get to Christ - unless he is a "tag on" at the end of a lesson or sermon (if that).

    I am really excited about this book. Michael Williams has written an easy to read guide that is focused on how to read the Scriptures with a focus on Jesus. In 62 short chapters (about 4-6 pages per chapter) Williams covers the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. In each chapter there is an introduction to all the Scriptures showing the historical redemptive development that leads us to Jesus. He then gives a short theme for each book. Each chapter has a Scripture memory passage, followed by "the Jesus lens" section, and then contemporary implications from the book discussed, and "hook questions."

    The back of the book has a helpful series of charts containing five sections of each book of the Bible with a title for each book, the theme, the Christ-focus of the book, the implications, and the key questions that "hook" you. I am going to make it one of my goals to memorize the charts, along with the memory verses for each book of the Bible by putting them on flash cards. I will be consulting this book regularly and can already say with almost absolute certainty that this will be in my top ten for 2012 (of the 150 books I will read and review this year).

    Thank you Michael Williams for your gift to everyone who has been waiting for a book like this: a book that answers what the key theme of each book of the Bible is; a book that shows how all of the Scriptures point to Jesus; and a book that gives us the practical implications of Jesus at the center of the Bible and our very lives. I hope that this book will launch a plethora of books in this genre that help lovers of Christ see Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, and passionately worship and declare Him so much more from the Scriptures than is currently practiced.
    44 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2023
    This is a helpful book in a good
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2012
    A book that takes the reader through every book of the bible showing them how to understand the one grand plan of redemption, and how the bible is all about Jesus could be so good. I had very high hopes for this book. But I've been very disappointed in reading it. To be honest, I wonder if some of the glowing reviews are written about the actual book, or just about the idea of the book. I love the idea of this book, but I think the execution is poor.

    I found the structure of the book to be needlessly restrictive. Each book of the bible is given one chapter, and with very few exceptions, each chapter is four pages long. (which means for a book attempting such a grand goal, its actually quite small) Each chapter gives two pages to an introduction/summary of the book, half a page to "the Jesus lens", half a page to "contemporary implications", and half a page to "hook questions." So the reality is that for each book, there are only two short paragraphs explaining how to read it through "the Jesus lens." It seems a bit arbitrary to impose such a strict template on the book. Why should a chapter explaining Isaiah be the same length as one explaining Ruth?

    Secondly, and more seriously, the author never explains what exactly it means to read a book of the Bible "through the Jesus lens." Does it mean finding "types and shadows" in each book? Finding ways that each book "predicts" Christ? Or just finding a theme in each book that relates to Jesus? I believe wholeheartedly in the task of reading the OT (and the NT, for that matter) in a Christ-centered, Christ-exalting way. But I think separating each book into its own chapter without any bigger picture overview can actually distort the overall story of the bible rather than help us see it. I believe we read the OT "through the Jesus lens" by situating each book within the grand overarching narrative, but for Williams, many of the "Jesus lens" connections seemed tangential to the movement of the story.

    Giving only two paragraphs to "the Jesus lens" for each chapter seems like an unfortunate choice. How can one explain how to read Exodus or Isaiah in a Christ-centered way in two paragraphs? Why does the Jesus lens for Genesis not include any mention of Genesis 3:15? Why does the chapter on Exodus not mention the passover lamb? Or Moses as lawgiver/mediator? Why does the chapter on Daniel not mention the son of man, or the stone cut without hands? In too many places, the Jesus lens seems only to pick up one theme from a book, relate that theme to Jesus, then move to application. This over-simplification doesn't really help the reader appreciate how the OT is part of Jesus' story, and teaches us about him.
    124 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2019
    Great book, different than the other bible Overview books. This one has great application paragraphs and actually has you answer questions after each book of the Bible. Recommend before you go out and buy a bible overview book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2019
    How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens offers a great perspective on the entire Bible message. You'll enjoy this read if you're wanting insight and a deeper understanding of God's message through Jesus. And you may be surprised that Jesus shows up in the Old Testament! Enjoy this read!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2016
    arrived very quickly in great condition. this book is required for my bible study group and is a great supplement to my NKJV Women's Life Application Bible. it has a brief summary of each book in the bible followed by a contemporary application (what the scripture means and how it applies to our life today), a view through Jesus' lens for that book, a memory verse and hook questions for answering and discussion.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Wendie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Study Book
    Reviewed in Canada on May 12, 2018
    Our Bible Study group is doing one chapter a week and we are now into the New Testament. Michael does an excellent summary of each book...brings the Bible together in a unique interesting way.
  • O H C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2016
    Gives such clarity to the message of Christ in the Old Testament.
  • Katie Jane
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2016
    Excellent study material that we using with our ladies group.
  • E
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2015
    Really good book, comprehensive sections made study easy.