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The Whole Bible Story: Everything That Happens in the Bible in Plain English
Sometimes readers just want to know what happens next. Dr. William Marty presents the entire narrative of the Bible in chronological order from creation to the New Testament Church. The action moves smoothly from story to story without slowing down for law, poetry, prophecy, or instruction. The Whole Bible Story is perfect for new Christians looking to understand the overall flow of the Bible or seasoned believers wanting a refresher course. It can be read straight through or used as a reference tool for better understanding of specific biblical events.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2011
1914 people are currently reading
2685 people want to read
About the author
William H. Marty
16 books27 followersDr. William H. Marty (ThD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is Professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute and has published two textbooks, Surveying the New Testament and Survey of the Old Testament. He is unique among Bible college professors in that he teaches and writes on both the New and Old Testaments. Dr. Marty lives with his wife in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
February 23, 2025
The secret history of the Bible is a private history of the long process of freeing our moral consciousness from its bondage to Chthonic powers.
And that is the meaning of its vast spectrum of stories - from the Fall of mankind in Exodus to its final declaration of a New Heaven and New Earth in Revelation.
Freedom.
You know, our desires seem so endlessly compelling to us nowadays.
But we‘re stuck in a moral quagmire - darned if we do, darned if we don’t. So our self-help books promise us clear thinking. We’ll never find true freedom any other way.
Why can’t we find a way out of our mess?
The widespread misinformational doubletalk of our media, our computers and ergo, our entire modern system, have totally erased moral truth.
If you were to google it expecting straight talk, good luck, kid.
If we went looking now for moral truth amidst the rubble of our current values, we’d be right outta luck there too, my friends.
Moral truth checked out ages ago. And it left no forwarding address!
But it’s in our Scriptures.
There, it stares us in the face and DARES us to be good human beings.
What is the most widely-referenced, yet probably the dustiest and least-read book in our collection?
The Bible!
We just can't seem to find the time these days to follow its labyrinthine path, much less attempt to read all of it.
Duh.
And why not?
We’re not looking at it from the POV of simple moral truth, is why - because we’ve forgotten what that is.
***
Whether you’re used to the majestic cadences of the King James Version or the less exalted Street Talk of The Message, it’s such a HUGE book.
But moral truth’s the guiding thread.
I know, I know, it’s so hard these days to get the necessary peace & quiet in your life in this time of harried, scrambled brains, to pin down in your mind exactly who did what to whom!
Here's a quick fix to that.
Dr. Marty guides us straight to the salient points of each of its many, many stories, and - with years of scholarship under his belt - succeeds in doing it extraordinarily well.
And it reads quite easily and without stress to its audience - you! AND it’s inexpensive.
Reading the neutral, plain English text with which he makes these stories flow effortlessly, you'll catch many connections and recognize a multitude of forgotten characters...
And you’ll arrive at a simple overview of this monumental book you thought you'd never attain.
That's it, plain and simple: just the whole overview of the individual tales of the Bible, in simple story format.
A quick read and well worth it.
And each tale perfect for an evening bedtime story!
And that is the meaning of its vast spectrum of stories - from the Fall of mankind in Exodus to its final declaration of a New Heaven and New Earth in Revelation.
Freedom.
You know, our desires seem so endlessly compelling to us nowadays.
But we‘re stuck in a moral quagmire - darned if we do, darned if we don’t. So our self-help books promise us clear thinking. We’ll never find true freedom any other way.
Why can’t we find a way out of our mess?
The widespread misinformational doubletalk of our media, our computers and ergo, our entire modern system, have totally erased moral truth.
If you were to google it expecting straight talk, good luck, kid.
If we went looking now for moral truth amidst the rubble of our current values, we’d be right outta luck there too, my friends.
Moral truth checked out ages ago. And it left no forwarding address!
But it’s in our Scriptures.
There, it stares us in the face and DARES us to be good human beings.
What is the most widely-referenced, yet probably the dustiest and least-read book in our collection?
The Bible!
We just can't seem to find the time these days to follow its labyrinthine path, much less attempt to read all of it.
Duh.
And why not?
We’re not looking at it from the POV of simple moral truth, is why - because we’ve forgotten what that is.
***
Whether you’re used to the majestic cadences of the King James Version or the less exalted Street Talk of The Message, it’s such a HUGE book.
But moral truth’s the guiding thread.
I know, I know, it’s so hard these days to get the necessary peace & quiet in your life in this time of harried, scrambled brains, to pin down in your mind exactly who did what to whom!
Here's a quick fix to that.
Dr. Marty guides us straight to the salient points of each of its many, many stories, and - with years of scholarship under his belt - succeeds in doing it extraordinarily well.
And it reads quite easily and without stress to its audience - you! AND it’s inexpensive.
Reading the neutral, plain English text with which he makes these stories flow effortlessly, you'll catch many connections and recognize a multitude of forgotten characters...
And you’ll arrive at a simple overview of this monumental book you thought you'd never attain.
That's it, plain and simple: just the whole overview of the individual tales of the Bible, in simple story format.
A quick read and well worth it.
And each tale perfect for an evening bedtime story!
October 19, 2011
I really dislike giving negative reviews of books, especially when it's a book that has been "gifted" to me by a publisher. Unfortunately, I have to warn people away from The Whole Bible Story. An equally distressing fact is that I lost the note card I was using to write down places where the author presented information contradictory from the Bible.
The three biggest contradictions that I can recall:
1 - The author writes that "because the people had worn flashy jewelry and clothes while worshiping the golden calf, Moses said they were prohibited from ever dressing like that again" (pg 49). This instance is referring to Exodus 33:5 and 6 where God tells Moses to "'say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.' And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb."
Nowhere in this text does God or Moses say it is a permanent ban on jewelry and flashy clothing. As a matter of fact, God talks in Isaiah about dressing Israel in jewels as a sign of His favor.
2 - The author implies that the Bible itself commands a change of worship from Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday. Nowhere in the Bible does God or the early Christian church advocate such a change. The change to Sunday worship began several hundred years after Christ died (Council of Laodicea, Canon 29, 363–364 AD).
From the book: "In Troas, the church met on Sundays to honor the day that Jesus rose from the dead. They shared a meal together, which included the celebration of the Lord's Table, also known as Communion" (pg 281).
This meal, and Paul's sermon, was actually on the Sabbath and last until after midnight on Saturday evening/Sunday morning. The Bible does not state that Sunday is the Sabbath, nor does it state that worship should be on Sunday to honor the day Jesus rose from the dead. The Sabbath was instituted at Creation, as a memorial to the work God completed. It was established as an everlasting covenant with God's people, not a day that could be changed at will by man.
3 - The author states that "David eventually married Saul's oldest daughter, but he fell in love with Saul's other daughter, Michal" (pg 94).
However, the Bible says: "but it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife" (1 Samuel 18:19). The Bible never states that Merab and David were married, only that they were supposed to have been.
The premise of this book is interesting - "The purpose of this book is to tell the story of the Bible" (pg 11). It is not a paraphrase or a translation. It merely attempts to tell the story of the Bible while leaving out Old Testament laws, Psalms, Proverbs, the epistles, and the book of Revelation. The purpose of the book is to allow someone who is not familiar with the Bible stories to become acquainted with them while avoiding getting bogged down in some of the "more difficult" sections. That's all well and good, but in stripping the Bible of the Psalms, the epistles, and other books, The Whole Bible Story lacks a soul. The reading was extremely dry, "just the facts, ma'am."
Thank you, Bethany House, for allowing me to read and review this book. However, I cannot in good conscience recommend it.
The three biggest contradictions that I can recall:
1 - The author writes that "because the people had worn flashy jewelry and clothes while worshiping the golden calf, Moses said they were prohibited from ever dressing like that again" (pg 49). This instance is referring to Exodus 33:5 and 6 where God tells Moses to "'say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.' And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb."
Nowhere in this text does God or Moses say it is a permanent ban on jewelry and flashy clothing. As a matter of fact, God talks in Isaiah about dressing Israel in jewels as a sign of His favor.
2 - The author implies that the Bible itself commands a change of worship from Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday. Nowhere in the Bible does God or the early Christian church advocate such a change. The change to Sunday worship began several hundred years after Christ died (Council of Laodicea, Canon 29, 363–364 AD).
From the book: "In Troas, the church met on Sundays to honor the day that Jesus rose from the dead. They shared a meal together, which included the celebration of the Lord's Table, also known as Communion" (pg 281).
This meal, and Paul's sermon, was actually on the Sabbath and last until after midnight on Saturday evening/Sunday morning. The Bible does not state that Sunday is the Sabbath, nor does it state that worship should be on Sunday to honor the day Jesus rose from the dead. The Sabbath was instituted at Creation, as a memorial to the work God completed. It was established as an everlasting covenant with God's people, not a day that could be changed at will by man.
3 - The author states that "David eventually married Saul's oldest daughter, but he fell in love with Saul's other daughter, Michal" (pg 94).
However, the Bible says: "but it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife" (1 Samuel 18:19). The Bible never states that Merab and David were married, only that they were supposed to have been.
The premise of this book is interesting - "The purpose of this book is to tell the story of the Bible" (pg 11). It is not a paraphrase or a translation. It merely attempts to tell the story of the Bible while leaving out Old Testament laws, Psalms, Proverbs, the epistles, and the book of Revelation. The purpose of the book is to allow someone who is not familiar with the Bible stories to become acquainted with them while avoiding getting bogged down in some of the "more difficult" sections. That's all well and good, but in stripping the Bible of the Psalms, the epistles, and other books, The Whole Bible Story lacks a soul. The reading was extremely dry, "just the facts, ma'am."
Thank you, Bethany House, for allowing me to read and review this book. However, I cannot in good conscience recommend it.
June 17, 2022
4 Stars ✨
Definitely not the “whole story”. But I really enjoyed this. It’s like a sort of cliff notes version. I can see how it would be very helpful to put things into perspective. I think it would be great to use as a study tool but definitely not a replacement for the original.
Definitely not the “whole story”. But I really enjoyed this. It’s like a sort of cliff notes version. I can see how it would be very helpful to put things into perspective. I think it would be great to use as a study tool but definitely not a replacement for the original.
September 3, 2011
I've recently been working my way through The Whole Bible Story: Everything That Happens in the Bible in Plain English by Dr. William H. Marty. It's a unique book with a goal that I really appreciate: to tell the "one big story" of the Bible. As he explains in the introduction, reading the Bible from cover to cover is a daunting task. It's long, the books are not arranged chronologically, and there are a variety of literary forms. So he set out to tell the story of the Bible as simply as he could to hopefully motivate and encourage people to read God's Word for themselves.
In 19 chapters plus an epilogue, Dr. Marty narrates the entire story of redemptive history, from Creation to the Consummation, arranging events chronologically. Each chapter begins with a list of main characters and settings and ends with a brief chapter summary, which recaps the major events covered. The writing is simple and direct, with no particular theological slant that I could determine. It's a straightforward "just the facts" retelling.
Anyone who's read my blog for long knows that I think understanding the "big picture" of the Bible...how it tells one big story of redemption rather than a collection of morality tales...is very important! I think The Whole Bible Story could be a valuable tool in this quest. I've suggested several other resources to help with this, like Grandpa's Box, the What's In the Bible DVDs, and of course The Jesus Storybook Bible. Most of these are aimed at children, although any age, even adults, can and will benefit from them (I know that both my husband and I have!).
Since it's aimed at an older audience, The Whole Bible Story would serve as a great introduction to the major events and flow of redemptive history for older children and teens, and of course adults who aren't familiar with the Bible. It would serve as a great "bridge" from the previously mentioned resources to diving into more in-depth study and reading, and could be good for an older child who is reluctant about some of the other options I've suggested. I've also found it to be a valuable resource to read alongside my Bible in 90 Days reading, helping me keep chronology straight and sort out events.
The Whole Bible Story is definitely a unique, handy resource for anyone to have on hand! Thanks so much to Bethany House for the review copy.
Read more: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/#...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
In 19 chapters plus an epilogue, Dr. Marty narrates the entire story of redemptive history, from Creation to the Consummation, arranging events chronologically. Each chapter begins with a list of main characters and settings and ends with a brief chapter summary, which recaps the major events covered. The writing is simple and direct, with no particular theological slant that I could determine. It's a straightforward "just the facts" retelling.
Anyone who's read my blog for long knows that I think understanding the "big picture" of the Bible...how it tells one big story of redemption rather than a collection of morality tales...is very important! I think The Whole Bible Story could be a valuable tool in this quest. I've suggested several other resources to help with this, like Grandpa's Box, the What's In the Bible DVDs, and of course The Jesus Storybook Bible. Most of these are aimed at children, although any age, even adults, can and will benefit from them (I know that both my husband and I have!).
Since it's aimed at an older audience, The Whole Bible Story would serve as a great introduction to the major events and flow of redemptive history for older children and teens, and of course adults who aren't familiar with the Bible. It would serve as a great "bridge" from the previously mentioned resources to diving into more in-depth study and reading, and could be good for an older child who is reluctant about some of the other options I've suggested. I've also found it to be a valuable resource to read alongside my Bible in 90 Days reading, helping me keep chronology straight and sort out events.
The Whole Bible Story is definitely a unique, handy resource for anyone to have on hand! Thanks so much to Bethany House for the review copy.
Read more: http://homewithpurpose.blogspot.com/#...
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
August 28, 2017
The Whole Bible Story: Everything that Happens in the Bible in Plain English by Dr. William H. Marty is a book that endeavors to give you a summarized version of the narrative history in the Bible. The book starts from the book of Genesis and goes all the way to Paul's captivity at the end of Acts.
I didn't particularly like this book. First of all, It isn't the whole story, it is merely a summary of the history given in the Bible. Much, or rather most, of the recorded dialogue is missing and it is not the most accurate summary of Biblical history. For instance, in the account of Abraham pleading with the Lord not to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the account omits God's graciousness in assenting to Abraham's repeated request gradually reducing the number of righteous people in the city required to spare it. It just says, "Abraham knew Lot and his family will still living in Sodom, so he pleaded with the Lord to spare at least ten people. The Lord graciously agreed." Abraham pleaded that the CITY would not be destroyed if ten righteous people were found in it. There were not even ten righteous people in the city and so the Lord destroyed the city. The book accurately goes on to point out that He spared Lot, his wife and daughters. But four people were dragged out of the city before it was destroyed, not ten. And Lot's wife looked back and was destroyed, so that brings it down to three. The quotation above does not give an accurate description of the dialogue between Abraham and the Lord.
As another example, in speaking of when Jesus ignored the extrabiblical restrictions the religious leaders set up in relation to the Sabbath it says, "Because Jesus was more concerned about people than rules, he disregarded their Sabbath restrictions." This is a grossly misleading statement. I hope that Marty didn't mean that the way it sounds. Christ was not against rules, He was against misapplying them and misinterpreting the law of God. If Christ were more concerned about people than about rules then nobody would be in danger of facing eternal condemnation for breaking God's law. But Christ was very concerned about rules, God's Rules. Jesus Christ came to fulfill God's law in the way it was supposed to be fulfilled, and to show us what obeying God looks like and what God's rules mean. Christ said, "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."(Mat 5:17-19)
To add to that, there were translations that are not accurate and misleading partial quotations. When Christ rebukes Peter by saying, "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men. "(Mat 16:23 ASV) This book changes it to, "Get away from me, Peter, ' he ordered. 'Though you don't realize it, you are setting a satanic trap for me…" That sure takes away a lot of the seriousness and the shock of the statement.
Another part the book states, "'Of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John,' said Jesus." And…….? They left out what He said after that! "For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."(Luk 7:28 KJV) Kind of changes the whole statement, doesn't it?
My dislike of the book began before I even read it, I looked at the back cover which says that "The events of the Bible are exiting, tender, and at times awe-inspiring, but often the story can get lost among the laws, genealogies, poetry, and instructions." Those things are an ESSENTIAL part of the "story"!!!! And God is the One who ordained that they be a part of His Holy book. Who are we to consider them as being hindrances to understanding what God has given us to learn in His Word? And this overlooks the fact that learning what God says of Himself and learning His commands are just as important, if not more, than even the narrative history!
Things like the above make me strongly hesitate to recommend this book.
Thanks to Baker Books blogger program for sending me a free review copy of this book (a favorable review was not required)
I didn't particularly like this book. First of all, It isn't the whole story, it is merely a summary of the history given in the Bible. Much, or rather most, of the recorded dialogue is missing and it is not the most accurate summary of Biblical history. For instance, in the account of Abraham pleading with the Lord not to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the account omits God's graciousness in assenting to Abraham's repeated request gradually reducing the number of righteous people in the city required to spare it. It just says, "Abraham knew Lot and his family will still living in Sodom, so he pleaded with the Lord to spare at least ten people. The Lord graciously agreed." Abraham pleaded that the CITY would not be destroyed if ten righteous people were found in it. There were not even ten righteous people in the city and so the Lord destroyed the city. The book accurately goes on to point out that He spared Lot, his wife and daughters. But four people were dragged out of the city before it was destroyed, not ten. And Lot's wife looked back and was destroyed, so that brings it down to three. The quotation above does not give an accurate description of the dialogue between Abraham and the Lord.
As another example, in speaking of when Jesus ignored the extrabiblical restrictions the religious leaders set up in relation to the Sabbath it says, "Because Jesus was more concerned about people than rules, he disregarded their Sabbath restrictions." This is a grossly misleading statement. I hope that Marty didn't mean that the way it sounds. Christ was not against rules, He was against misapplying them and misinterpreting the law of God. If Christ were more concerned about people than about rules then nobody would be in danger of facing eternal condemnation for breaking God's law. But Christ was very concerned about rules, God's Rules. Jesus Christ came to fulfill God's law in the way it was supposed to be fulfilled, and to show us what obeying God looks like and what God's rules mean. Christ said, "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."(Mat 5:17-19)
To add to that, there were translations that are not accurate and misleading partial quotations. When Christ rebukes Peter by saying, "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men. "(Mat 16:23 ASV) This book changes it to, "Get away from me, Peter, ' he ordered. 'Though you don't realize it, you are setting a satanic trap for me…" That sure takes away a lot of the seriousness and the shock of the statement.
Another part the book states, "'Of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John,' said Jesus." And…….? They left out what He said after that! "For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."(Luk 7:28 KJV) Kind of changes the whole statement, doesn't it?
My dislike of the book began before I even read it, I looked at the back cover which says that "The events of the Bible are exiting, tender, and at times awe-inspiring, but often the story can get lost among the laws, genealogies, poetry, and instructions." Those things are an ESSENTIAL part of the "story"!!!! And God is the One who ordained that they be a part of His Holy book. Who are we to consider them as being hindrances to understanding what God has given us to learn in His Word? And this overlooks the fact that learning what God says of Himself and learning His commands are just as important, if not more, than even the narrative history!
Things like the above make me strongly hesitate to recommend this book.
Thanks to Baker Books blogger program for sending me a free review copy of this book (a favorable review was not required)
May 12, 2011
When Bethany House sent me an e-mail offering to let me review Dr. Marty's “The Whole Bible Story,” I was immediately interested. Back in January I started using a new Bible-reading system which I have absolutely loved – and among other benefits, it has fostered in me an even greater hunger to know more about the Bible. Especially the chronological order of everything. I mean, most of it is pretty straightforward but I've always been a little fuzzy on things like where Daniel and Esther fit into the captivity. What about Jeremiah? So I was thrilled when I had the chance to read and review this title.
One thing I'd like to stress is that this is not a Bible translation, nor is it at all intended to replace Bible reading. This is meant to be a help for those who want to know the Bible in a more linear fashion.
Dr. Marty takes us through the events of the Bible, but he does not focus on any books related to law, prophecy, poetry, or the epistles. It's more like an action account, or as the back cover tells us, “A Bible story book for grown-ups.” The flow is smooth and very easy to read. I've read some reviews that complained there was not more cultural information included – well, no, this pretty much takes any Bible account and condenses it into a few paragraphs, stringing it together in chronological order. That how it presents itself and that is exactly what it is.
I have grown up in a Christian home and the Bible has been taught to me my whole life but I still learned some new things as I read here. Tales that I hadn't quite grasped or details that had escaped my notice. It also answered most of the questions I had, such as I listed above. Those it didn't answer I felt it gave me enough information that I could now go look in my Bible and be satisfied.
As ever, you know it's a good book on the Bible when it motivates you to stay in the Bible yourself. That's the true test, and this one passes with flying colors!
Thank you to Bethany House for my copy of this book.
This review originally appeared at http://wwww.reviewsbyerin.livejournal...
One thing I'd like to stress is that this is not a Bible translation, nor is it at all intended to replace Bible reading. This is meant to be a help for those who want to know the Bible in a more linear fashion.
Dr. Marty takes us through the events of the Bible, but he does not focus on any books related to law, prophecy, poetry, or the epistles. It's more like an action account, or as the back cover tells us, “A Bible story book for grown-ups.” The flow is smooth and very easy to read. I've read some reviews that complained there was not more cultural information included – well, no, this pretty much takes any Bible account and condenses it into a few paragraphs, stringing it together in chronological order. That how it presents itself and that is exactly what it is.
I have grown up in a Christian home and the Bible has been taught to me my whole life but I still learned some new things as I read here. Tales that I hadn't quite grasped or details that had escaped my notice. It also answered most of the questions I had, such as I listed above. Those it didn't answer I felt it gave me enough information that I could now go look in my Bible and be satisfied.
As ever, you know it's a good book on the Bible when it motivates you to stay in the Bible yourself. That's the true test, and this one passes with flying colors!
Thank you to Bethany House for my copy of this book.
This review originally appeared at http://wwww.reviewsbyerin.livejournal...
June 22, 2013
I grew up going to a Catholic school. I have since pulled away from traditional religion and the "fear of God". But recently for some reason wanted to read a little bit about the bible stories. I found this book at one of those book sales that are done by companies to raise money for other companies. This is like it says "Everything that happens in the Bible in Plain English". Doesn't go into the thees, and thous and repent and all the stuff that's hard to read in a regular bible. This is the story presented chapter by chapter from the beginning with the characters, location and just the basic stuff. Written by a religous professor of the bible so it's not just from Joe off the street. Starts with Adam & Eve and goes from there all thru the birth of Jesus including ancestry. (It caused me to actually do search on family tree)
Now I know why I pulled away from traditional religion. There was sooooo much corruption, murders, beheadings, lust, men not only having more than one wife but also comcubines which are women they sleep with but not married to, prostitutes, etc. Talk about loose sex! but no where in the book does it talk about the hatefull things people say these days about how loving someone that is not "traditional" marriage wrong (i.e., mixed or gay marriage)
it was so bad in the beginning that God got fed up with it and that's why he commanded Noah to build the Ark. His family was the only one that survived that because the rest of the people where so corrupted. But after Noah & the ark things got bad again
A question that came to mind after this:
-- There was the first people - Adam & Eve, they had 3 sons - Cain, Abel & Seth. First corruption, Seth was killed by his brother. Then Cain took a wife to produce kids. My question is, where did the wife come from if Adam & Eve were the first people?
in this book there was so much bad stuff going on worse than a lot of wars we have today, makes me wonder.
It is an interesting book to read though to make you think
Now I know why I pulled away from traditional religion. There was sooooo much corruption, murders, beheadings, lust, men not only having more than one wife but also comcubines which are women they sleep with but not married to, prostitutes, etc. Talk about loose sex! but no where in the book does it talk about the hatefull things people say these days about how loving someone that is not "traditional" marriage wrong (i.e., mixed or gay marriage)
it was so bad in the beginning that God got fed up with it and that's why he commanded Noah to build the Ark. His family was the only one that survived that because the rest of the people where so corrupted. But after Noah & the ark things got bad again
A question that came to mind after this:
-- There was the first people - Adam & Eve, they had 3 sons - Cain, Abel & Seth. First corruption, Seth was killed by his brother. Then Cain took a wife to produce kids. My question is, where did the wife come from if Adam & Eve were the first people?
in this book there was so much bad stuff going on worse than a lot of wars we have today, makes me wonder.
It is an interesting book to read though to make you think
April 29, 2011
Dr. William H. Marty in his new book, "The Whole Bible Story" published by Bethany House Publishers writes about "everything that happens in the Bible in plain English
Well it is not really "everything" that happens in the Bible, Dr. Marty has deliberately left off the Epistles and Revelation. What Dr. Marty has intended to do with this book is to provide a Biblical narrative that is the story of mankind and salvation. "The Whole Bible Story" is not a paraphrase or another translation this is a prose story of the events in the Bible up to the end of the book of Acts.
If you have never read the Bible or if you feel that reading the Bible is very difficult, especially the "begats" and most of the laws (that seems to be where most readers bog down) then reading this book will be a big help for you. Dr. Marty has given us a clear narrative of the events that caused the need for salvation and the events that led up to the coming of Jesus. Then he takes us through the life of Jesus, his death and the birth of the Church. Once you read this book it will give you a real taste to read the actual Bible and then understand the true richness of the Bible. Once you get started you will not want to stop. I recommend this book highly.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Well it is not really "everything" that happens in the Bible, Dr. Marty has deliberately left off the Epistles and Revelation. What Dr. Marty has intended to do with this book is to provide a Biblical narrative that is the story of mankind and salvation. "The Whole Bible Story" is not a paraphrase or another translation this is a prose story of the events in the Bible up to the end of the book of Acts.
If you have never read the Bible or if you feel that reading the Bible is very difficult, especially the "begats" and most of the laws (that seems to be where most readers bog down) then reading this book will be a big help for you. Dr. Marty has given us a clear narrative of the events that caused the need for salvation and the events that led up to the coming of Jesus. Then he takes us through the life of Jesus, his death and the birth of the Church. Once you read this book it will give you a real taste to read the actual Bible and then understand the true richness of the Bible. Once you get started you will not want to stop. I recommend this book highly.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
did-not-finish
January 21, 2020From the introduction:
From Chapter 1:
From the King James Bible:
From the Common English Bible:
I am just an ignorant atheist who hasn't attend a scripture class since I was a child, but it seems to me that this is not a 'just-the-facts' summary of the bible. It looks a lot like a insertion of interpretation. The actual text of the bible doesn't seem to say anything about this 'spiritually dead but not actually dead' malarkey?
It is not a direct translation of the Bible; instead, it tells the story in plain, simple English. With very little commentary, I'm trying to give "just the facts" - to tell the story as it is recorded.
From Chapter 1:
The Lord gave man permission to eat from all the trees in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He warned Adam that if he disobeyed by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would immediately die spiritually and eventually die physically.
From the King James Bible:
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
From the Common English Bible:
The Lord God commanded the human, “Eat your fill from all of the garden’s trees; 17 but don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because on the day you eat from it, you will die!”
I am just an ignorant atheist who hasn't attend a scripture class since I was a child, but it seems to me that this is not a 'just-the-facts' summary of the bible. It looks a lot like a insertion of interpretation. The actual text of the bible doesn't seem to say anything about this 'spiritually dead but not actually dead' malarkey?
dnf
June 20, 2023Well, I should start off with a kudos to Dr. Marty for taking over a 1000 paged book and condensing it down to under 350 pages. (Hint sarcasm)
This will be my third year studying the Bible in its entirety. If I had read this in 2020 I probably would have enjoyed it better seeing as that was the start of my walk with Christ. I didn’t know any better.
The reason I am DNFing is due to some reviews I’ve read brought to attention things the author wrote that have many issues. The more I think about what I read, I’m not happy with it. He skips important details. He gives Moses more credit for doing things that God did. He waters down the story of the Bible too much.
We have to study the laws because that is part of who the Hebrew people became to be in Jesus’s time. If we don’t understand the law, some things in the New Testament get confusing. The genealogies are important as well. Since they didn’t have last names they were introduced as son of. Example: Joshua son of Nun. The Israelites were very particular when it came to the genealogies. They needed to know what family, what clan, and what tribe they came from. This was extremely important with the return of exile. The poetry he says you can get lost in is straight malarkey.
The “illustrated” part of this book I have in my archeological study bible. There were maybe two pictures I haven’t seen before.
As I stated in my opening sentence, he took a 1000-page book and put it in well my Kindle version was 325 pages long. There is much missing. I have around 12 Bibles. Each one is 1066 pages or more. There is no possible way to get everything that happens in the bible in plain English in 325 pages. No way, no chance, no how.
I’m highly disappointed. Read some of the other reviews. They read the whole book and point out more of what else he got wrong.
This will be my third year studying the Bible in its entirety. If I had read this in 2020 I probably would have enjoyed it better seeing as that was the start of my walk with Christ. I didn’t know any better.
The reason I am DNFing is due to some reviews I’ve read brought to attention things the author wrote that have many issues. The more I think about what I read, I’m not happy with it. He skips important details. He gives Moses more credit for doing things that God did. He waters down the story of the Bible too much.
We have to study the laws because that is part of who the Hebrew people became to be in Jesus’s time. If we don’t understand the law, some things in the New Testament get confusing. The genealogies are important as well. Since they didn’t have last names they were introduced as son of. Example: Joshua son of Nun. The Israelites were very particular when it came to the genealogies. They needed to know what family, what clan, and what tribe they came from. This was extremely important with the return of exile. The poetry he says you can get lost in is straight malarkey.
The “illustrated” part of this book I have in my archeological study bible. There were maybe two pictures I haven’t seen before.
As I stated in my opening sentence, he took a 1000-page book and put it in well my Kindle version was 325 pages long. There is much missing. I have around 12 Bibles. Each one is 1066 pages or more. There is no possible way to get everything that happens in the bible in plain English in 325 pages. No way, no chance, no how.
I’m highly disappointed. Read some of the other reviews. They read the whole book and point out more of what else he got wrong.
November 16, 2024
I knew before I even started this book that it couldn't possibly be anything more than the author's own biased and self-serving interpretation of the Bible; being willing to bet good money that it would be the American Evangelical Protestant interpretation. And within the first three minutes of the first chapter, my suspicions were confirmed. With (to give only two examples for the sake of brevity,) the serpent in the Garden being declared to be Satan. And before that, the author clarifying that God 'Meant' to say that Adam would die a spiritual death, followed by a much later physical death if he ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge; literally re-writing the text to say what he wanted it to say. So while this book isn't 'Bad' or 'Wrong' in any objective sense of the term, that's literally only because the issues at hand are entirely subjective in every possible sense of the term!
After all, the reason why there are more than 30,000 denominations of Christianity in the U.S. alone is that it's possible to interpret every verse of the Bible in radically different ways. And that isn't even mentioning Judaism, with ancient Rabbis believing that a piece of scripture was 'Dead' if you couldn't glean any new interpretations from it. So while I don't actively dissuade anyone from reading this book, I do beg you all to remember that this is only a single, incredibly narrow and heavily politicised interpretation. And the arrogant conceit that 'Your' interpretation of your sacred text is the only true and correct one is the reason why the history of organised Religion is a history of Genocide.
After all, the reason why there are more than 30,000 denominations of Christianity in the U.S. alone is that it's possible to interpret every verse of the Bible in radically different ways. And that isn't even mentioning Judaism, with ancient Rabbis believing that a piece of scripture was 'Dead' if you couldn't glean any new interpretations from it. So while I don't actively dissuade anyone from reading this book, I do beg you all to remember that this is only a single, incredibly narrow and heavily politicised interpretation. And the arrogant conceit that 'Your' interpretation of your sacred text is the only true and correct one is the reason why the history of organised Religion is a history of Genocide.
November 18, 2025
have you ever finished the bible recap or any other “read the bible in a year” plan and thought, “wow, that was… a lot”? well, strap in, because finishing the whole bible story was just as hard, but with far less payoff than, you know, actually reading the scriptures themselves.
all jokes aside, this book really is a solid resource if you’re just trying to get the basic plotline of the bible without committing to every genealogy and lamentation. i will say the title is a little off-putting because it’s definitely not “the whole bible,” and sometimes the summaries feel a bit too tidy for a story that is anything but. some parts felt rushed, and a few theological moments got flattened out in a way that made me go “hmm… okay, i guess.”
but! if what you want is a clear, plain-english walkthrough that helps you get your bearings in the bigger narrative arc, this does that well. it’s a good companion read, not a replacement for scripture (nothing ever will be), and it’s helpful for historically grounding what’s happening as the story moves along.
overall, a helpful reference, a mildly confusing title, a few “wait that's all?” moments, and some genuinely clarifying ones.
3 stars.
all jokes aside, this book really is a solid resource if you’re just trying to get the basic plotline of the bible without committing to every genealogy and lamentation. i will say the title is a little off-putting because it’s definitely not “the whole bible,” and sometimes the summaries feel a bit too tidy for a story that is anything but. some parts felt rushed, and a few theological moments got flattened out in a way that made me go “hmm… okay, i guess.”
but! if what you want is a clear, plain-english walkthrough that helps you get your bearings in the bigger narrative arc, this does that well. it’s a good companion read, not a replacement for scripture (nothing ever will be), and it’s helpful for historically grounding what’s happening as the story moves along.
overall, a helpful reference, a mildly confusing title, a few “wait that's all?” moments, and some genuinely clarifying ones.
3 stars.
April 20, 2023
Listened to the audiobook on 2x speed to study for credentialing exam. Would recommend if you really want to get an overview of the metanarrative of scripture!! Super cool to hear the entire Bible narrative summarized so quickly and I feel like I understand it deeper but also more broadly. I feel like this should be in the CMIT or CMITe reading honestly @nate
October 7, 2024
This is a great book. It goes from the front of the Bible to the back of the Bible. The author leaves out the details and just gives you the main events of the Bible. It's very good. Especially for new believers and the youth.
September 21, 2017
The Whole Bible Story: Illustrated Edition by Dr. William H. Marty is the new edition from the original The Whole Bible Story, and now includes many illustrations and pictures to enhance the experience for readers. I haven't read the original edition, but being a visual person, I think without comparison, this illustrated edition would be more worthwhile for me.
The Whole Bible Story isn't the Bible word for word, but a chronological account of what goes on. It doesn't include any of the "Old Testament poetry (wisdom literature) and prophecy, and it does not include the New Testament Epistles." (16) That being said, what the author hopes to achieve is to encourage and motivate people to read the Bible. And in that, I do believe the goal is accomplished. At least for me, I think reading this account instills in me the desire to look up the actual Bible. As the author mentioned earlier, The Whole Bible Story is not a replacement, and readers should not expect that. I appreciate the thought into this book. I remember when I was a new believer, reading the Bible, trying to keep straight the chronological events that happened was difficult. So I believe The Whole Bible Story will be great for those that want an understanding of an uninterrupted account the events in the Bible. It will also be a great resource for Sunday School or Bible class for a younger group, such as middle grade through teens' youth groups. I also want to point out the start of each chapter notes the characters and setting that will be discussed which gives readers a nice basis. If you want to know where in the Bible each section is found, a handy list can be found in the Table of Contents.
In all, I think The Whole Bible Story have merits and is a great supplemental resource for the study of the Bible.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
The Whole Bible Story isn't the Bible word for word, but a chronological account of what goes on. It doesn't include any of the "Old Testament poetry (wisdom literature) and prophecy, and it does not include the New Testament Epistles." (16) That being said, what the author hopes to achieve is to encourage and motivate people to read the Bible. And in that, I do believe the goal is accomplished. At least for me, I think reading this account instills in me the desire to look up the actual Bible. As the author mentioned earlier, The Whole Bible Story is not a replacement, and readers should not expect that. I appreciate the thought into this book. I remember when I was a new believer, reading the Bible, trying to keep straight the chronological events that happened was difficult. So I believe The Whole Bible Story will be great for those that want an understanding of an uninterrupted account the events in the Bible. It will also be a great resource for Sunday School or Bible class for a younger group, such as middle grade through teens' youth groups. I also want to point out the start of each chapter notes the characters and setting that will be discussed which gives readers a nice basis. If you want to know where in the Bible each section is found, a handy list can be found in the Table of Contents.
In all, I think The Whole Bible Story have merits and is a great supplemental resource for the study of the Bible.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
December 30, 2013
Dr. William H. Marty, a professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute, has taken on the challenge of presenting the Bible as a narrative in his The Whole Bible Story in everyday language, and for the most part, succeeds. He focuses on the main details, forgoing the laws, genealogies, prophecies and other fine points that can often detract from the mesmerizing stories contained within the Bible. Each of the familiar accounts such as, Exodus, Noah, Esther, Daniel, and the birth and ministry of Jesus are retold with both simplicity and depth.
Despite its slim presentation of three hundred pages, Marty manages to recount many of the more important Bible events and stories; however, he does not actually live up to the subtitle of “everything that happens in the Bible.” He breaks down the retellings in plain English to the point stories are reminiscent of Cliff Notes summaries, leaving a feeling of incompletion. The book’s format is chronological beginning with Genesis and moves through the Old Testament up to Exodus and from there it goes right into birth of Jesus, concluding with Acts, allowing a brief summarization of the epistles and Revelation. A consideration as a Bible companion or teaching resource, this might be a disappointment for those who want to study the Bible more thoroughly. For those interested in a quick refresher or retelling to some of the more popular or widely known accounts, this is an inexpensive resource to consider.
Despite its slim presentation of three hundred pages, Marty manages to recount many of the more important Bible events and stories; however, he does not actually live up to the subtitle of “everything that happens in the Bible.” He breaks down the retellings in plain English to the point stories are reminiscent of Cliff Notes summaries, leaving a feeling of incompletion. The book’s format is chronological beginning with Genesis and moves through the Old Testament up to Exodus and from there it goes right into birth of Jesus, concluding with Acts, allowing a brief summarization of the epistles and Revelation. A consideration as a Bible companion or teaching resource, this might be a disappointment for those who want to study the Bible more thoroughly. For those interested in a quick refresher or retelling to some of the more popular or widely known accounts, this is an inexpensive resource to consider.
April 21, 2011
The Bible is a wonderful book filled with the miracles, power, and love of God. But many people don't pick it up because they think it is difficult to read and/or understand. In his new book, "The Whole Bible Story," Dr. William Marty takes the reader through the Bible story using, as he puts it, plain English. The book breaks down the Bible's 66 books into 19 sections plus an Epilogue. Each section points the reader to a part of the story, listing the main characters and settings to fill out each piece. When read as a whole, the reader gets an easy to understand synopsis. It can also be used in conjunction with the Bible because Dr. Marty also includes the Scripture passage(s) for each chapter.
I found this book a little hard to read because I love to read my Bible, and at times I thought the language here was too plain, too simplistic. The facts also didn't pull in a lot of the message and flavor of the Bible, the richness of the times. But, when I think of the many people who don't read the Bible but hunger for the story, I find this book could be useful to get them started. My fear is that they might never delve into a real Bible to find the complete story. Dr. Marty is extremely knowledgeable and his love for the Bible story is clearly seen through these pages. I want to thank Bethany House for my copy of the book. The opinions here are mine.
I found this book a little hard to read because I love to read my Bible, and at times I thought the language here was too plain, too simplistic. The facts also didn't pull in a lot of the message and flavor of the Bible, the richness of the times. But, when I think of the many people who don't read the Bible but hunger for the story, I find this book could be useful to get them started. My fear is that they might never delve into a real Bible to find the complete story. Dr. Marty is extremely knowledgeable and his love for the Bible story is clearly seen through these pages. I want to thank Bethany House for my copy of the book. The opinions here are mine.
March 16, 2013
I have heard the stories of the Bible all my life. I have considered them, learned from them, and appreciated their timeless lessons. But, they have never been presented this way. Marty pares down the Bible into a sequential, easy to read format that tells just the story. He makes it clear in the introduction that this is not a replacement for the Bible. After all, presenting it as a replacement or using it as such would be a direct contradiction of the Bible. But, if the reader approaches it like an extended outline, a sort of Sparksnotes-esque summary, then it is a great read.
However, let the reader beware- anytime a brilliant work is pared down to remove elegant language, something important is lost. Also, some of the translation can become a bit far from the original story. In particular, my reading of David and Merab is that they never married, where the author says they were. There is also a part about jewelry that seemed a bit off too.
However, let the reader beware- anytime a brilliant work is pared down to remove elegant language, something important is lost. Also, some of the translation can become a bit far from the original story. In particular, my reading of David and Merab is that they never married, where the author says they were. There is also a part about jewelry that seemed a bit off too.
June 14, 2011
The Whole Bible Story, Everything That Happens in the Bible in Plain English, by Dr. William H. Marty, Bethany House Publishers, 2011, 300 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-0764208294, $12.99
Dr. William Marty, Moody Bible Institute Professor tells the “true story of creation from God’s perspective” in his new release, The Whole Bible Story…” The stories follow a chronological biblical narrative and are written in “plain, simple English with very little commentary.” His purpose is to “just give the facts—to tell the story as it is recorded.”
Unlike a Bible translation or a paraphrase, Marty’s focus is on the people and their stories which doesn’t include biblical laws, instructions, poetry and genealogies that discourage many from reading the Bible. Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/3bct4s7
Dr. William Marty, Moody Bible Institute Professor tells the “true story of creation from God’s perspective” in his new release, The Whole Bible Story…” The stories follow a chronological biblical narrative and are written in “plain, simple English with very little commentary.” His purpose is to “just give the facts—to tell the story as it is recorded.”
Unlike a Bible translation or a paraphrase, Marty’s focus is on the people and their stories which doesn’t include biblical laws, instructions, poetry and genealogies that discourage many from reading the Bible. Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/3bct4s7
November 28, 2016
It wasn't terrible, I was just expecting more. I like the premise of the book - compile all the stories of the Bible into one book in plain English, without interpretation or description of the Laws but it does so to a fault. For example, the Ten Commandments are merely referred to in the book as the God's rules for for obeying him that were written on stone tablets. The commandments themselves are not actually defined in the book. I think this a a fault because they are so pivotal to the context of the story, never mind their relevance both socially and culturally today, that they should have been included.
May 19, 2014
Things I appreciated about this book is the story approach, especially through all the kings of Israel and Judah, and through Paul's journeys. This was one book I wrote and marked in for future references and will use it some in study moments down the road. However, don't use this as a complete substitute for the Bible. One glaring omission as well is the story of Job; that was disappointing. Overall, good information and it could help someone jump start their Bible awareness and study.
November 22, 2014
The Whole Bible Story gives you an overview of the Bible in plain english, not a substitute for reading the Bible but a good telling of what went on in approximately three hundred pages.
Well worth reading in my opinion, like I said William Marty gives an overview that helps you to understand the Bible, a little easier to read once you get into the new testament area but the same is true for the Bible.
I would recommend this book for everyone.
Well worth reading in my opinion, like I said William Marty gives an overview that helps you to understand the Bible, a little easier to read once you get into the new testament area but the same is true for the Bible.
I would recommend this book for everyone.
Currently reading
March 30, 2012What I've read so far I question page five! Mr. Marty you stated that Cain married, and his wife had a son, Enoch. Jared was Enoch's father. Read Genesis 5:18. I would like to know where you found your information on Enoch.
P.S. PLEASE RESPOND
P.S. PLEASE RESPOND
July 17, 2012
I loved this! Yes it leaves out the poetry, psalms, and some of the most beautiful parts of the Bible, but if you want to read the events of the Bible from beginning to end in plain English, I highly recommend this book.
January 15, 2014
"When Elisha left Jericho for Bethel, a group of young boys ridiculed him, chanting, “Go away, you bald-headed man.” Elisha announced divine judgment on them, and two bears came out of the woods, mauling forty-two of them.”
...and in whose name did the bears maul?
...and in whose name did the bears maul?
April 30, 2015
Ehh.. A third of the way through the book and I'm not enjoying it that much. But I started it because I want to know more of the Bible so I'm continuing on. I'm saved sometimes because the book has nice chapter summaries at the end.
January 22, 2015
The Story of God
The whole Bible presented chronologically from the beginning. It's so much easier to see God at work this way. It is the greatest story ever told - how Jesus came to set us free. How great His love toward us.
The whole Bible presented chronologically from the beginning. It's so much easier to see God at work this way. It is the greatest story ever told - how Jesus came to set us free. How great His love toward us.
August 3, 2021
Untrue verses added
I grabbed this for a quick refresher. The more I tried to read the more confused I got; it was nothing like the stories I remembered from the Bible. So I referenced my Bible to be sure and I was correct. This author took liberties to add untrue facts.
I grabbed this for a quick refresher. The more I tried to read the more confused I got; it was nothing like the stories I remembered from the Bible. So I referenced my Bible to be sure and I was correct. This author took liberties to add untrue facts.
July 7, 2014
A Cliff Notes for the Bible. Took me quite a while to get through it, but I persevered.
December 12, 2014
This book is a chronological look at the events of the Bible. It would be a good read for someone just beginning to read the Bible, and for such a person, I would rate it higher.
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