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Frameworks: How to Navigate the New Testament
Frameworks is a fresh, innovative and groundbreaking survey of the New Testament that combines compelling stories, brilliant images and simple illustrations (maps, charts) to create context (conceptual frameworks) that guide you through the Bible. Presented in an attractive, less-is-more format with lots of refreshing white space, this book will help you navigate your way through the twists and turns of the New Testament by helping you answer ten questions for each of the 27 New Testament books: Intro What is this book like? Theme What is this book about? Purpose Why was it written? Outline How is the book organized? Verses How does it read? Navigation How do I move through it? Unique things What makes the book or its author special? Recap What should I remember most? Question How can I explore further or go deeper? Insights What one verse can I apply right now? With over 125 high-resolution color photographs and large margins for note taking, Frameworks is the perfect companion to your favorite study Bible. Boost your biblical literacy by engaging in the rich visual context of Scripture, because seeing truly is believing."
- GenresChristian
371 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2012
75 people want to read
About the author
Eric Larson
1 book10 followersEric Larson is a writer, teacher and speaker, who for the past three decades, has helped people from Cleveland to Castro Valley crack open (and navigate) their Bibles. Also a successful Silicon Valley business executive, he is the founder of Frameworks Resources, a Bay Area publishing company, and is a Bible Teacher at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, California. He and his wife Bonnie live and work in Danville, California.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 22, 2012
The emphasis in this book is on presentation and memorability. Larson uses rich and beautiful imagery (and "lots of refreshing white space") to create a book that has a good home on a coffee/display table. Yet he doesn't neglect solid content around each biblical book, either.
The introduction is short and sweet and covers essential territory like who the writers were, literary divisions of the book, and an especially helpful 7-part "Navigating Jesus' Ministry" section with simple maps and narrative highlights. After an introduction to the New Testament in general, each book of the New Testament has these 10 sections: introduction, theme, purpose, outline, verses to note in that book (the best part of frameworks, I thought), navigation (a page of things to look for when reading a book-well done), unique things about that book, recap, questions, and a verse to apply right now.
Charts, tables, photographs and other graphics are a strong point of this book.
This book will answer many questions people had about the New Testament but were afraid to ask--one of its intended purposes. For example, in Larson's introduction to the Gospels ("Biographies of Christ"), he writes about the "four living creatures" that many have understood to represent the Gospels. (Lion, Ox, Man, Eagle.)
I've always seen Mark associated with the lion, but Larson has the lion with Matthew, the ox with Mark, the man with Luke, and the eagle with John. He notes that this is the order of the four living creatures in Revelation 4:6-7. But the order as it appears in Ezekiel 1:1-14 is what I've seen more typically, where it's human, lion, ox, and eagle. I understand that Christian tradition varies here a bit.
This is not a huge deal, but it is indicative of a larger trend in the book--nuance seems to be prioritized at times less highly then presentation. Larson's laudable goal is to engage "anyone who would like to have a personal biblical tour guide." It's about "navigation and context," but readers will still want to look elsewhere for greater detail and clarification on some matters.
As far as a New Testament framework goes, Larson's 4-1-9-4-8-1 scheme did not immediately strike me as easily memorable. He divides the NT this way:
4 biographies of Christ
1 history book (Acts)
9 letters of Paul to the churches
4 letters of Paul to people
8 general letters
1 book of prophecy (Revelation)
This is less memorable than the 4-1-21-1! chant I've used with young people (from Center for Youth Studies). Larson's 4-1-9-4-8-1 does have the advantage of dividing up the 21 letters/epistles into their types/authors, but as much as I wanted to latch on to 4-1-9-4-8-1, I never quite did. This is not too say it's a bad thing to use; it is to say a reader might not pick it up as easily as some other NT "frameworks."
One other critique I offer is that, although I appreciate the approach of using visual imagery and stories and examples rooted in culture to try to connect the ancient text to today, sometimes the connections feel a bit stretched. For example, the photograph accompanying the "history" title page (for the book of Acts) is an unfinished attic with a sawhorse in it and a window with light coming through. It's a beautiful image. But what's it trying to evoke? The upper room? The light as the Holy Spirit? Okay, but why the sawhorse? Other such images left me curious as to why they were selected, or how they were meant to visually reinforce the author's text.
Similarly, while the story about Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller to begin the book of James is itself inspirational, its application to James and his audience sure felt reach-y. That James's "self-indulged spiritual children" were "behaving badly and desperately need a spanking" is an odd way, indeed, to describe things! James would have never "spanked" his listeners. I know the author doesn't mean that literally, but that image was distracting. I often found myself reacting this way in the introductions to each of the books.
Everything after a book's introduction is generally solid--and creative. In Mark, for example, Larson has a selection of verses from that Gospel that he has the reader "read...without stopping to take a breath." He puts in bold words like "at once," "quickly," and "immediately" (a favorite of Mark's). Then he concludes, "If you feel out of breath, congratulations. Mark has succeeded in brining you into his fast moving narrative." I thought this was a great way to draw the reader into the fast-paced action movie that Mark often feels like.
I like the approach to this New Testament introduction; it's creative and will reach a larger audience then some less visually-oriented books on the same subject. The short descriptions of each book are generally solid, but the occasional lack of nuance and informal tone distracted me at times as I worked my way through the book. (In other words, as with any book, this one should be read critically.)
Yet I do think Larson's efforts will guide the reader into deeper engagement with the biblical text. His emphasis on what to look for in a book, pulling out and quoting specific verses, and his constant admonition to "Read It!" are refreshing. He even gives an estimate for how long it takes to read through a book at a casual pace, which is an enormous aid to anyone who will commit to sitting down and doing reading through God's Word.
I received a free copy of frameworks for review purposes. Thank you to the author and publicist for the chance to review it.
The introduction is short and sweet and covers essential territory like who the writers were, literary divisions of the book, and an especially helpful 7-part "Navigating Jesus' Ministry" section with simple maps and narrative highlights. After an introduction to the New Testament in general, each book of the New Testament has these 10 sections: introduction, theme, purpose, outline, verses to note in that book (the best part of frameworks, I thought), navigation (a page of things to look for when reading a book-well done), unique things about that book, recap, questions, and a verse to apply right now.
Charts, tables, photographs and other graphics are a strong point of this book.
This book will answer many questions people had about the New Testament but were afraid to ask--one of its intended purposes. For example, in Larson's introduction to the Gospels ("Biographies of Christ"), he writes about the "four living creatures" that many have understood to represent the Gospels. (Lion, Ox, Man, Eagle.)
I've always seen Mark associated with the lion, but Larson has the lion with Matthew, the ox with Mark, the man with Luke, and the eagle with John. He notes that this is the order of the four living creatures in Revelation 4:6-7. But the order as it appears in Ezekiel 1:1-14 is what I've seen more typically, where it's human, lion, ox, and eagle. I understand that Christian tradition varies here a bit.
This is not a huge deal, but it is indicative of a larger trend in the book--nuance seems to be prioritized at times less highly then presentation. Larson's laudable goal is to engage "anyone who would like to have a personal biblical tour guide." It's about "navigation and context," but readers will still want to look elsewhere for greater detail and clarification on some matters.
As far as a New Testament framework goes, Larson's 4-1-9-4-8-1 scheme did not immediately strike me as easily memorable. He divides the NT this way:
4 biographies of Christ
1 history book (Acts)
9 letters of Paul to the churches
4 letters of Paul to people
8 general letters
1 book of prophecy (Revelation)
This is less memorable than the 4-1-21-1! chant I've used with young people (from Center for Youth Studies). Larson's 4-1-9-4-8-1 does have the advantage of dividing up the 21 letters/epistles into their types/authors, but as much as I wanted to latch on to 4-1-9-4-8-1, I never quite did. This is not too say it's a bad thing to use; it is to say a reader might not pick it up as easily as some other NT "frameworks."
One other critique I offer is that, although I appreciate the approach of using visual imagery and stories and examples rooted in culture to try to connect the ancient text to today, sometimes the connections feel a bit stretched. For example, the photograph accompanying the "history" title page (for the book of Acts) is an unfinished attic with a sawhorse in it and a window with light coming through. It's a beautiful image. But what's it trying to evoke? The upper room? The light as the Holy Spirit? Okay, but why the sawhorse? Other such images left me curious as to why they were selected, or how they were meant to visually reinforce the author's text.
Similarly, while the story about Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller to begin the book of James is itself inspirational, its application to James and his audience sure felt reach-y. That James's "self-indulged spiritual children" were "behaving badly and desperately need a spanking" is an odd way, indeed, to describe things! James would have never "spanked" his listeners. I know the author doesn't mean that literally, but that image was distracting. I often found myself reacting this way in the introductions to each of the books.
Everything after a book's introduction is generally solid--and creative. In Mark, for example, Larson has a selection of verses from that Gospel that he has the reader "read...without stopping to take a breath." He puts in bold words like "at once," "quickly," and "immediately" (a favorite of Mark's). Then he concludes, "If you feel out of breath, congratulations. Mark has succeeded in brining you into his fast moving narrative." I thought this was a great way to draw the reader into the fast-paced action movie that Mark often feels like.
I like the approach to this New Testament introduction; it's creative and will reach a larger audience then some less visually-oriented books on the same subject. The short descriptions of each book are generally solid, but the occasional lack of nuance and informal tone distracted me at times as I worked my way through the book. (In other words, as with any book, this one should be read critically.)
Yet I do think Larson's efforts will guide the reader into deeper engagement with the biblical text. His emphasis on what to look for in a book, pulling out and quoting specific verses, and his constant admonition to "Read It!" are refreshing. He even gives an estimate for how long it takes to read through a book at a casual pace, which is an enormous aid to anyone who will commit to sitting down and doing reading through God's Word.
I received a free copy of frameworks for review purposes. Thank you to the author and publicist for the chance to review it.
September 21, 2012
In frameworks: How to Navigate the New Testament, An Extraordinary Guide for Ordinary People, Eric Larson shares what he has learned in the course teaching the Bible for thirty-five years. If you’re the type of person who’d opt for the double root canal rather than reading a 300+ page book on the New Testament, I think you may be just the person Eric had in mind when he wrote this book. Many college and seminary-level New Testament surveys can be a bit stodgy and are often overwhelming to the average person in the pew. That’s where frameworks strives to be different. Eric’s goals are simple and attainable. Rather than trying to expose you to everything there is to know about the New Testament, he’s seeking to help his readers grow in love for God by properly equipping them to understand what they read in their Bibles.
In the introduction, Eric profiles two different people who might benefit from reading frameworks. See if you can relate.
Person # 1
“You’re visiting a new church or attending the one you call home, when the pastor asks everyone to grab a Bible, open it up- “Please turn to Matthew chapter 25, verse 14″- and read along with him. On the back of the cushy auditorium chair directly in front of you, you see a spiffy red Bible that some wonderfully efficient staff person has placed there, correctly anticipating your current need.
Instinctively, you reach for it and crack it open. problem is, you don’t have the slightest clue where Matthew is or how on God’s green earth you’ll ever find chapter 25 in time, much less verse 14. As you begin to fumble your way through a few pages, searching in vain for Matthew, your eyes glance to your left where you notice that your neighbor is already safely him in Matthew and, smiling confidently, ready to read.
A few butterflies begin to flutter in your stomach as you contemplate your next move. At that moment you have two options; 1) fake it-put your thumbs squarely ove the word Habbakuk in the upper right and left hand corners of the pages you just opened to, smile and pretend that everything is okay; or 2) turn to that smug-looking person on your left and say, Excuse me-but where exactly is Matthew?” If this is you-you’ve come to the right place.” (p. 13)
Person #2
“One day, you’re enjoying a cup of coffee with friends who, with your help, are reading the Bible for the first time. Suddenly, they look at you rather quizzically (O thou fount of all wisdom) and from nowhere blurt out: ”We were just wondering why does the New Testament start with Matthew? And why are some books soooo long, and others so short? And why do most of the books have such peculiar names? We don’t’ get it. It’s all so confusing.” (Hmm… you mutter to yourself-good questions-I wish I knew.)
A few butterflies begin to flutter in your stomach as you contemplate your next move. At that moment, you have two options: 1) fake it-lean forward, strike a confident pose and make up some fancy story on the fly. “Well… you see… um… a long time ago… ahh… right after Jesus ascended to heaven…,” or 2) Simply look at them and say, “You know what? I have no idea. But I’m sure we can find out.” If this is you-you’ve also come to the right place.” (p. 13-14)
Sound familiar? If I’m honest with myself, I know there are times when I’ve been like the person in each of these stories, I bet you have too. When it comes to understanding the Bible, many of us would be embarrassed to admit that we don’t have all the answers. When we find ourselves in that situation, we can either muster up our pride and try to fake it or we can err on the side of humility and decide to do something about it. That’s where a book like frameworks comes in handy, helping us to finally connect the remaining dots.
So, what’s the root of the problem? Eric believes it comes down to two things: navigation and context. “Navigation is the ability to weave your way among the Bible’s 66 books (and 1,189 chapters) without getting lost-to know where you are now and how to safely travel to where you want to go.” (p. 14) “Context on the other hand, looks squarely at the forest, helping you see the big picture to discover how the trees fit together. Whereas navigation asks where and how questions, context asks who, what, when and why.” (p. 14) This is what frameworks is all about, it’s “a book about Bible navigation and context.” (p. 15)
Frameworks is organized in to two parts. Part 1 (New Testament Frameworks) “introduces the New Testament as a whole by first walking you through the story of Jesus’ life and then providing you with the context into which his story fits.” (p. 16) You’ll also learn briefly about the larger context of the Roman world, the New Testament’s origins, and its writers. Part 2 (Book Frameworks and Themes) “takes you on spectacular guided tours of the New Testament’s books, one by one.” (p. 16) In each of these chapters, Eric explores the following foundational questions for each New Testament book:
1. Intro-What is this book like?
2. Theme-What is this book about?
3. Purpose-Why was it written?
4. Outline-How is the book organized?
5. Verses-How does it read?
6. Navigation-How do I move through it?
7. Unique things-What makes the book or its author special?
8. Recap-What should I remember most?
9. Questions-How can I explore further or go deeper?
10. Insights-What one verse can I apply right now?
Here’s a bit more detail on what you can expect to find in part 1. Readers will quickly notice that Eric is offering them a grid they can use to organize and interpret what they’re reading in the gospels. For instance, he divides the life of Jesus into the following phases:
1. Birth and youth
2. Ministry year one
3. Ministry in Galilee
4. Training the Twelve
5. Road Trip
6. Passion Week
7. Resurrection
Amazingly enough, phases two through six make up the bulk of what we find in the gospels, yet they only cover approximately three and a half years of Jesus’ life. For each of the seven phases there is a map of Palestine and the surrounding area showing where specific events took place, a page of “highlights” summarizing the important events from that phases of Jesus’ life and a list of related Bible verses, so you can “Read about it.” Next Eric moves on to the unique circumstances that influenced the New Testament world, namely the influence of Roman military rule, Greek culture and Jewish religion. Finally, this section comes to a close with some additional coverage of the New Testament in general. First he notes that the text of the New Testament is divinely inspired, written during a 50-year period, widely copied and circulated amongst the larger Christian community and confirmed in the fourth century. Last, but not least is the division of the books of the New Testament into six groups:
1. Biographies
2. History
3. Paul’s letters to churches
4. Paul’s letters to people
5. General letters
6. Prophecy
And finally brief biographical sketches of the New Testament authors , a word about English Bible translations, the approximate dates each of the New Testament books were written and the length and order of the books.
Now for a few thoughts on part 2. This part of the book is laid out based on the six divisions mentioned above. First up is the Biographies of Christ, which encompasses the four gospels. It starts out with a bit of commentary on how the gospels show different sides of Jesus’ life and work and that they address audiences in four different regions. Next the book covers the four gospels in order, utilizing the ten foundational questions noted earlier. I especially like the recap, questions and insights sections at the close of each chapter. They help to bring what you’re learning together in a way that will be fruitful for personal study and equally as useful for study in either a small or a large group. And so it continues throughout the rest of the book, covering the letters, history, and prophecy following the outline of the ten foundational questions.
Let me take a moment to comment on the layout and design in the book. Frameworks has an elegant look and feel that I definitely wouldn’t have expected from an independently published book of this sort. There are many contemporary pictures and artwork throughout. Some of the images are digitized versions drawings that Eric had developed for his course as well as more than 125 four-color images that help bring what you’re reading to life. Eric noted in an author Q&A session interview that the layout of the book was influenced by Presentation Zen Design: Simple Design Principles and Techniques to Enhance Your Presentations by Garr Raynolds (New Riders, 2009) and the ways in which he tries to communicate ideas in the book is influenced by Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath (Random House, 2007). Like Eric, I have sat through hundreds of boring power point presentations and have read through my share of poorly designed books. I was excited to see somebody in the Christian publishing space putting forth the effort to take some of the great ideas put forth in these two books to produce a uniquely beautiful New Testament survey the likes of which I’d need seen before.
The final thing I’d like to comment on is who would benefit from this book. If you think back to the two people Eric identifies early in the book (person # 1, who was totally new to the bible and person # 2, who is much more biblically savvy), they’re at opposite ends of the spectrum. I think that’s exactly the point Eric was trying to make. Whether you’re encountering the New Testament for the first time or you’ve read through it fifty times, he feels that he has something useful for you in this book. As I mentioned earlier, h wants to help you grow in your love for God through a deeper understanding of that you’re reading in the New Testament. Frameworks: How to Navigate the New Testament is well-suited for personal study, small groups and even a larger classroom setting. Most readers will be able to complete each chapter in under thirty minutes, making it accessible even to those to whom reading for long stints is a struggle. I look forward to reading Eric’s forthcoming Old Testament book tentatively titled Building Your Bible Skills: Old Testament, which Lord willing we’ll see from Eric in the future.
About the Author:
Eric Larson is a writer, teacher and speaker, who for the past 35 years, has helped people from Cleveland to Castro Valley crack open (and navigate) their Bibles. A successful Silicon Valley business executive, he is the founder of Frameworks Resources, a Bay Area publishing company, and is a Bible Teacher at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, California. He and his wife Bonnie live and work in Danville, California.
Disclaimer:
This book was provided by Academic PS for review as a part of the frameworks book review blog tour. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
In the introduction, Eric profiles two different people who might benefit from reading frameworks. See if you can relate.
Person # 1
“You’re visiting a new church or attending the one you call home, when the pastor asks everyone to grab a Bible, open it up- “Please turn to Matthew chapter 25, verse 14″- and read along with him. On the back of the cushy auditorium chair directly in front of you, you see a spiffy red Bible that some wonderfully efficient staff person has placed there, correctly anticipating your current need.
Instinctively, you reach for it and crack it open. problem is, you don’t have the slightest clue where Matthew is or how on God’s green earth you’ll ever find chapter 25 in time, much less verse 14. As you begin to fumble your way through a few pages, searching in vain for Matthew, your eyes glance to your left where you notice that your neighbor is already safely him in Matthew and, smiling confidently, ready to read.
A few butterflies begin to flutter in your stomach as you contemplate your next move. At that moment you have two options; 1) fake it-put your thumbs squarely ove the word Habbakuk in the upper right and left hand corners of the pages you just opened to, smile and pretend that everything is okay; or 2) turn to that smug-looking person on your left and say, Excuse me-but where exactly is Matthew?” If this is you-you’ve come to the right place.” (p. 13)
Person #2
“One day, you’re enjoying a cup of coffee with friends who, with your help, are reading the Bible for the first time. Suddenly, they look at you rather quizzically (O thou fount of all wisdom) and from nowhere blurt out: ”We were just wondering why does the New Testament start with Matthew? And why are some books soooo long, and others so short? And why do most of the books have such peculiar names? We don’t’ get it. It’s all so confusing.” (Hmm… you mutter to yourself-good questions-I wish I knew.)
A few butterflies begin to flutter in your stomach as you contemplate your next move. At that moment, you have two options: 1) fake it-lean forward, strike a confident pose and make up some fancy story on the fly. “Well… you see… um… a long time ago… ahh… right after Jesus ascended to heaven…,” or 2) Simply look at them and say, “You know what? I have no idea. But I’m sure we can find out.” If this is you-you’ve also come to the right place.” (p. 13-14)
Sound familiar? If I’m honest with myself, I know there are times when I’ve been like the person in each of these stories, I bet you have too. When it comes to understanding the Bible, many of us would be embarrassed to admit that we don’t have all the answers. When we find ourselves in that situation, we can either muster up our pride and try to fake it or we can err on the side of humility and decide to do something about it. That’s where a book like frameworks comes in handy, helping us to finally connect the remaining dots.
So, what’s the root of the problem? Eric believes it comes down to two things: navigation and context. “Navigation is the ability to weave your way among the Bible’s 66 books (and 1,189 chapters) without getting lost-to know where you are now and how to safely travel to where you want to go.” (p. 14) “Context on the other hand, looks squarely at the forest, helping you see the big picture to discover how the trees fit together. Whereas navigation asks where and how questions, context asks who, what, when and why.” (p. 14) This is what frameworks is all about, it’s “a book about Bible navigation and context.” (p. 15)
Frameworks is organized in to two parts. Part 1 (New Testament Frameworks) “introduces the New Testament as a whole by first walking you through the story of Jesus’ life and then providing you with the context into which his story fits.” (p. 16) You’ll also learn briefly about the larger context of the Roman world, the New Testament’s origins, and its writers. Part 2 (Book Frameworks and Themes) “takes you on spectacular guided tours of the New Testament’s books, one by one.” (p. 16) In each of these chapters, Eric explores the following foundational questions for each New Testament book:
1. Intro-What is this book like?
2. Theme-What is this book about?
3. Purpose-Why was it written?
4. Outline-How is the book organized?
5. Verses-How does it read?
6. Navigation-How do I move through it?
7. Unique things-What makes the book or its author special?
8. Recap-What should I remember most?
9. Questions-How can I explore further or go deeper?
10. Insights-What one verse can I apply right now?
Here’s a bit more detail on what you can expect to find in part 1. Readers will quickly notice that Eric is offering them a grid they can use to organize and interpret what they’re reading in the gospels. For instance, he divides the life of Jesus into the following phases:
1. Birth and youth
2. Ministry year one
3. Ministry in Galilee
4. Training the Twelve
5. Road Trip
6. Passion Week
7. Resurrection
Amazingly enough, phases two through six make up the bulk of what we find in the gospels, yet they only cover approximately three and a half years of Jesus’ life. For each of the seven phases there is a map of Palestine and the surrounding area showing where specific events took place, a page of “highlights” summarizing the important events from that phases of Jesus’ life and a list of related Bible verses, so you can “Read about it.” Next Eric moves on to the unique circumstances that influenced the New Testament world, namely the influence of Roman military rule, Greek culture and Jewish religion. Finally, this section comes to a close with some additional coverage of the New Testament in general. First he notes that the text of the New Testament is divinely inspired, written during a 50-year period, widely copied and circulated amongst the larger Christian community and confirmed in the fourth century. Last, but not least is the division of the books of the New Testament into six groups:
1. Biographies
2. History
3. Paul’s letters to churches
4. Paul’s letters to people
5. General letters
6. Prophecy
And finally brief biographical sketches of the New Testament authors , a word about English Bible translations, the approximate dates each of the New Testament books were written and the length and order of the books.
Now for a few thoughts on part 2. This part of the book is laid out based on the six divisions mentioned above. First up is the Biographies of Christ, which encompasses the four gospels. It starts out with a bit of commentary on how the gospels show different sides of Jesus’ life and work and that they address audiences in four different regions. Next the book covers the four gospels in order, utilizing the ten foundational questions noted earlier. I especially like the recap, questions and insights sections at the close of each chapter. They help to bring what you’re learning together in a way that will be fruitful for personal study and equally as useful for study in either a small or a large group. And so it continues throughout the rest of the book, covering the letters, history, and prophecy following the outline of the ten foundational questions.
Let me take a moment to comment on the layout and design in the book. Frameworks has an elegant look and feel that I definitely wouldn’t have expected from an independently published book of this sort. There are many contemporary pictures and artwork throughout. Some of the images are digitized versions drawings that Eric had developed for his course as well as more than 125 four-color images that help bring what you’re reading to life. Eric noted in an author Q&A session interview that the layout of the book was influenced by Presentation Zen Design: Simple Design Principles and Techniques to Enhance Your Presentations by Garr Raynolds (New Riders, 2009) and the ways in which he tries to communicate ideas in the book is influenced by Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath (Random House, 2007). Like Eric, I have sat through hundreds of boring power point presentations and have read through my share of poorly designed books. I was excited to see somebody in the Christian publishing space putting forth the effort to take some of the great ideas put forth in these two books to produce a uniquely beautiful New Testament survey the likes of which I’d need seen before.
The final thing I’d like to comment on is who would benefit from this book. If you think back to the two people Eric identifies early in the book (person # 1, who was totally new to the bible and person # 2, who is much more biblically savvy), they’re at opposite ends of the spectrum. I think that’s exactly the point Eric was trying to make. Whether you’re encountering the New Testament for the first time or you’ve read through it fifty times, he feels that he has something useful for you in this book. As I mentioned earlier, h wants to help you grow in your love for God through a deeper understanding of that you’re reading in the New Testament. Frameworks: How to Navigate the New Testament is well-suited for personal study, small groups and even a larger classroom setting. Most readers will be able to complete each chapter in under thirty minutes, making it accessible even to those to whom reading for long stints is a struggle. I look forward to reading Eric’s forthcoming Old Testament book tentatively titled Building Your Bible Skills: Old Testament, which Lord willing we’ll see from Eric in the future.
About the Author:
Eric Larson is a writer, teacher and speaker, who for the past 35 years, has helped people from Cleveland to Castro Valley crack open (and navigate) their Bibles. A successful Silicon Valley business executive, he is the founder of Frameworks Resources, a Bay Area publishing company, and is a Bible Teacher at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, California. He and his wife Bonnie live and work in Danville, California.
Disclaimer:
This book was provided by Academic PS for review as a part of the frameworks book review blog tour. The reviewer was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.
June 9, 2021
I use this book for creative and memorable entry into each book of the New Testament. It also has really useful brief outlines, shortlists, trivia, illustrations, and readable insights into each text that are very easy to follow.
September 22, 2012
The value of a Biblical framework and worldview cannot be underestimated. Many Christians do not understand their Bibles and how the books are put together, or framed. Many are missing an essential framework for Biblical understanding. This Biblical illiteracy is a common problem in Christianity today. Push a little and you see--the wall moves. The framework of Biblical understanding is missing.
This is why it is easy to be excited for Frameworks, by Eric Larson. This New Testament overview helps rebuild the wall of Biblical understanding by giving the basic structural components to the storyline of scripture through stories, imagery, illustrations, maps, charts, and other contextual tools to build a sure wall of Biblical conception. This book is free of clutter, clean and neat in its arrangement and is easily accessible to the reader. With over 125 color photos in its 372 pages and its artistic style, this book is more like a coffee table book than a Biblical commentary or study tool, and is sure to get some attention from the less conventional learner.
The importance of looking at the Bible as more of a metanarrative and less as isolated individual books cannot be overstated. In Frameworks, Eric Larson gives us "the forest and not just the trees" as he unpacks the entirety of the Biblical narrative in a laidback, and sometimes humorous, tone that keeps the reader's attention. Larson does not just give us the big picture layout of scripture; he helps us navigate through the details as well. This work is such a compelling approach to scripture; the reader is left desiring an Old Testament version of Frameworks as well.
One of the components of the book that is most helpful is the less is more approach to the book's layout and the emphasis on imagery. As the saying goes, "A picture speaks a thousand words." This could not be any truer in this culture at this point in time in our history. This is why Frameworks' approach to the scriptures is so important and timely and adds so much vibrancy to Biblical studies in this iconic culture.
Frameworks is broken into two parts. Part one is somewhat of a survey, or overview of the New Testament as a whole. This first part of the book explores "4, 1, 9, 4, 8, 1," which are the numbers across the front cover. These numbers stand for the four biographies of Christ, the one history book, Acts, the nine letters of Paul to the churches, the four letters of Paul to individual people, the eight general letters, and the one book of prophecy, Revelation, that make up the New Testament. This "4, 1, 9, 4, 8, 1" framework helps outline the first part of the book attractively and frames-up an immovable wall of Biblical understanding.
Part two of Frameworks looks extensively at the individual books within the context of the whole, or the "4, 1, 9, 4, 8, 1," providing a basic understanding of each individual book. Ten straightforward questions about each book are considered to introduce what each book is like and to explore the theme of the book, what the book is about, and to look at the purpose of the book and why it was written. These questions explore the outline of the book and how it is organized, and the verses of the book and how it reads. We are given insights that help us understand how to navigate the book and how to move through it, while also looking at what is unique in the book and why it is special. The last three questions recap the book and what we should remember, tells us how to explore the book further, and how to go deeper. Lastly, the reader is given insights into how to apply key verses in the book.
Frameworks' rich imagery and easy application really lends its self to teaching. The "4, 1, 9, 4, 8, 1" framework for understanding the overall structure of the New Testament is particularly helpful and is very effective in helping students better understand the structure of the New Testament scriptures.
Framework comes highly recommended and is especially a valuable resource for Bible teachers, students of God's word and visual learners. The illustrations, pictures, maps, charts, and artwork really help the information to stay with you. This book is perfect for visual learners and is easy to read and is easy to teach. The resources and the charts are particularly effective for educating. The detailed imagery helps the reader navigate the scriptures and remember the information. Frameworks facilitates a unique way to understand the New Testament and to put the individual books into their larger contexts for a holistic understanding of the New Testament.
This review has been adapted from My Two Mites and is also posted on Examiner.com, Amazon.com and Goodreads. The publisher has given a free copy of this book to the reviewer in exchange for this non-biased review.
This is why it is easy to be excited for Frameworks, by Eric Larson. This New Testament overview helps rebuild the wall of Biblical understanding by giving the basic structural components to the storyline of scripture through stories, imagery, illustrations, maps, charts, and other contextual tools to build a sure wall of Biblical conception. This book is free of clutter, clean and neat in its arrangement and is easily accessible to the reader. With over 125 color photos in its 372 pages and its artistic style, this book is more like a coffee table book than a Biblical commentary or study tool, and is sure to get some attention from the less conventional learner.
The importance of looking at the Bible as more of a metanarrative and less as isolated individual books cannot be overstated. In Frameworks, Eric Larson gives us "the forest and not just the trees" as he unpacks the entirety of the Biblical narrative in a laidback, and sometimes humorous, tone that keeps the reader's attention. Larson does not just give us the big picture layout of scripture; he helps us navigate through the details as well. This work is such a compelling approach to scripture; the reader is left desiring an Old Testament version of Frameworks as well.
One of the components of the book that is most helpful is the less is more approach to the book's layout and the emphasis on imagery. As the saying goes, "A picture speaks a thousand words." This could not be any truer in this culture at this point in time in our history. This is why Frameworks' approach to the scriptures is so important and timely and adds so much vibrancy to Biblical studies in this iconic culture.
Frameworks is broken into two parts. Part one is somewhat of a survey, or overview of the New Testament as a whole. This first part of the book explores "4, 1, 9, 4, 8, 1," which are the numbers across the front cover. These numbers stand for the four biographies of Christ, the one history book, Acts, the nine letters of Paul to the churches, the four letters of Paul to individual people, the eight general letters, and the one book of prophecy, Revelation, that make up the New Testament. This "4, 1, 9, 4, 8, 1" framework helps outline the first part of the book attractively and frames-up an immovable wall of Biblical understanding.
Part two of Frameworks looks extensively at the individual books within the context of the whole, or the "4, 1, 9, 4, 8, 1," providing a basic understanding of each individual book. Ten straightforward questions about each book are considered to introduce what each book is like and to explore the theme of the book, what the book is about, and to look at the purpose of the book and why it was written. These questions explore the outline of the book and how it is organized, and the verses of the book and how it reads. We are given insights that help us understand how to navigate the book and how to move through it, while also looking at what is unique in the book and why it is special. The last three questions recap the book and what we should remember, tells us how to explore the book further, and how to go deeper. Lastly, the reader is given insights into how to apply key verses in the book.
Frameworks' rich imagery and easy application really lends its self to teaching. The "4, 1, 9, 4, 8, 1" framework for understanding the overall structure of the New Testament is particularly helpful and is very effective in helping students better understand the structure of the New Testament scriptures.
Framework comes highly recommended and is especially a valuable resource for Bible teachers, students of God's word and visual learners. The illustrations, pictures, maps, charts, and artwork really help the information to stay with you. This book is perfect for visual learners and is easy to read and is easy to teach. The resources and the charts are particularly effective for educating. The detailed imagery helps the reader navigate the scriptures and remember the information. Frameworks facilitates a unique way to understand the New Testament and to put the individual books into their larger contexts for a holistic understanding of the New Testament.
This review has been adapted from My Two Mites and is also posted on Examiner.com, Amazon.com and Goodreads. The publisher has given a free copy of this book to the reviewer in exchange for this non-biased review.
December 6, 2014
Admittedly, I am a rather visual person. When my wife tries to explain her plan for remodeling our basement by describing where this wall could go or where that room might be, my mind simply has difficulty understanding what exactly she is trying to get across. Conversely, if such a plan was drawn out on paper with perhaps a three dimensional fly through of what the finished product might look like, it is then that I am better able to grasp the full picture. Eric Larson, in his book Frameworks: How to Navigate the New Testament, takes that visual approach in an effort to provide the reader with a guide for betting understanding the message of the New Testament.
Larson explains the reason for this book is to provide “material that’s designed to build your confidence in your ability to negotiate the text and understand it.” Furthermore, he notes “frameworks is a visual book that presents ideas and concepts through pictures, in addition to written words. Its compelling stories, embedded maps and color photos work hand-in-hand to build striking mental images – unforgettable impressions that aid understanding.” For visual learners such as myself, those stories, maps, and photos went a long way to driving home the message found in the New Testament.
Think of this book as an illustrated encyclopedia combined with a bible dictionary and a useful commentary. All three elements can be found throughout this helpful book. If you ever wanted to know the places Jesus ministered, Larson provides a simple yet informative map as well as an easy to understand timeline of how many months Jesus spent in a particular location. Those who want a quick overview of each element of Jesus’ ministry are provided with a synopsis of the major events during that period with the relevant Scripture passages to peruse. Interested in how the New Testament was put together and what genres are included? Larson outlines that necessary framework as well.
Each book of the New Testament is examined by Larson with the reader being provided an introduction to the book, the major theme or themes, the reason the book was written to include its original intended audience, an outline of the major points of the book, how to navigate through that book, what is unique and what the reader should remember the most from that particular book, questions to ponder for future study, and a verse Larson hones in on that the reader should apply immediately.
The usefulness of this book is multifarious meaning it could be used as a tool for personal Bible study, in a small group setting, as part of a homeschool curriculum, or as part of a Sunday School curriculum. Regardless of how it is utilized, the material provided in this book will assist the reader in obtaining a better understanding for the New Testament as a whole, a more complete grasp of the message of the individual books in the New Testament, as well as a guide for digging into what God has revealed to us in the pages of these 27 books. Even the most seasoned theologian will find something worthwhile in Larson’s timely and effective book.
I highly recommend Frameworks to all believers. I know I plan on using this book as part of our homeschool curriculum with our daughter as we work to instill in her an understanding of Scripture. Since she too is a visual learner, this book will serve her Bible learning experience quite well for many years to come. In an age when so many are quite unfamiliar with even the most basic elements of Scripture, Larson’s effort will assist the body of Christ to better appreciate and understand many of the fundamental aspects of Scripture. Hopefully, Larson will explore the Old Testament in a similar formatted book sometime in the future. If he does, I will be sure to give it a read!
I received this book for free from IVP 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.”
Larson explains the reason for this book is to provide “material that’s designed to build your confidence in your ability to negotiate the text and understand it.” Furthermore, he notes “frameworks is a visual book that presents ideas and concepts through pictures, in addition to written words. Its compelling stories, embedded maps and color photos work hand-in-hand to build striking mental images – unforgettable impressions that aid understanding.” For visual learners such as myself, those stories, maps, and photos went a long way to driving home the message found in the New Testament.
Think of this book as an illustrated encyclopedia combined with a bible dictionary and a useful commentary. All three elements can be found throughout this helpful book. If you ever wanted to know the places Jesus ministered, Larson provides a simple yet informative map as well as an easy to understand timeline of how many months Jesus spent in a particular location. Those who want a quick overview of each element of Jesus’ ministry are provided with a synopsis of the major events during that period with the relevant Scripture passages to peruse. Interested in how the New Testament was put together and what genres are included? Larson outlines that necessary framework as well.
Each book of the New Testament is examined by Larson with the reader being provided an introduction to the book, the major theme or themes, the reason the book was written to include its original intended audience, an outline of the major points of the book, how to navigate through that book, what is unique and what the reader should remember the most from that particular book, questions to ponder for future study, and a verse Larson hones in on that the reader should apply immediately.
The usefulness of this book is multifarious meaning it could be used as a tool for personal Bible study, in a small group setting, as part of a homeschool curriculum, or as part of a Sunday School curriculum. Regardless of how it is utilized, the material provided in this book will assist the reader in obtaining a better understanding for the New Testament as a whole, a more complete grasp of the message of the individual books in the New Testament, as well as a guide for digging into what God has revealed to us in the pages of these 27 books. Even the most seasoned theologian will find something worthwhile in Larson’s timely and effective book.
I highly recommend Frameworks to all believers. I know I plan on using this book as part of our homeschool curriculum with our daughter as we work to instill in her an understanding of Scripture. Since she too is a visual learner, this book will serve her Bible learning experience quite well for many years to come. In an age when so many are quite unfamiliar with even the most basic elements of Scripture, Larson’s effort will assist the body of Christ to better appreciate and understand many of the fundamental aspects of Scripture. Hopefully, Larson will explore the Old Testament in a similar formatted book sometime in the future. If he does, I will be sure to give it a read!
I received this book for free from IVP 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.”
December 8, 2014
A brand new Christian who is sitting in the pew hears the pastor say – “Open up to Habbakuk 3:1” and has no idea where to even start looking for that book – or a seasoned Christian who has sat through innumerable sermons and Bible studies but wants to learn about the Bible on his own… this book by Eric Larson is for those two Christians and everyone in between.
Frameworks, according to Larson, is…
A book about Bible navigation and context – material that’s designed to build your confidence in your ability to negotiate the text and understand it. Think of it as a guidebook, a Bible companion, written for anyone who would like to have a personal biblical tour guide. This book can be sued for self-study, in small group discussions, or in classrooms to set the context for Bible reading and to lead you through it. (15)
This book certainly lives up to its stated purposes. Larson helps you navigate through the New Testament first by providing an introduction to the New Testament as a whole. Here he gives you the background necessary to read the gospels and all of the NT letters. Then he takes you through each New Testament book one by one. As he takes you through these books he answers 10 questions:
1. What is the book like?
2. What is this book about?
3. Why was it written?
4. How is the book organized?
5. How does it read?
6. How do I move through it?
7. What makes the book or its author special?
8. What should I remember most?
9. How can I explore further or go deeper?
10. What one verse can I apply right now?
WHAT I LIKED
There are several things that really stuck out to me as being fantastic about this book:
1. Solid use of evangelical scholarship that doesn’t dumb things down but makes things accessible to the general reader.
2. Helpful organization of the content.
3. Very helpful and memorable introductions to each book.
4. Some really amazing pictures and graphics.
5. Easy to read layout.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Naturally there are some things that I didn’t like about the book:
1. The introduction to the synoptic gospels harmonizes the books too much and doesn’t allow each book to speak for itself.
2. Some of the pictures were clearly stock photos, which I feel like I have seen elsewhere.
3. Some of the graphics were poor in quality, its almost like they didn’t print out well.
4. There were some typos throughout the book.
5. Some of his book “themes” were quite a stretch, its as if he preferred to have an easy to memorize/catchy statement over a more accurate one.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
This is a fantastic New Testament survey which will definitely help “ordinary” people navigate their way through the New Testament. I wouldn’t use this book for a NT survey class in a college or seminary, however this might be an awesome textbook for somebody teaching a New Testament survey at a Christian high school or in a Sunday school class. Regardless of how you use it though, it sure is helpful, and it even sparked some ideas within me for preaching series!
(Note: I received this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an impartial review.)
Frameworks, according to Larson, is…
A book about Bible navigation and context – material that’s designed to build your confidence in your ability to negotiate the text and understand it. Think of it as a guidebook, a Bible companion, written for anyone who would like to have a personal biblical tour guide. This book can be sued for self-study, in small group discussions, or in classrooms to set the context for Bible reading and to lead you through it. (15)
This book certainly lives up to its stated purposes. Larson helps you navigate through the New Testament first by providing an introduction to the New Testament as a whole. Here he gives you the background necessary to read the gospels and all of the NT letters. Then he takes you through each New Testament book one by one. As he takes you through these books he answers 10 questions:
1. What is the book like?
2. What is this book about?
3. Why was it written?
4. How is the book organized?
5. How does it read?
6. How do I move through it?
7. What makes the book or its author special?
8. What should I remember most?
9. How can I explore further or go deeper?
10. What one verse can I apply right now?
WHAT I LIKED
There are several things that really stuck out to me as being fantastic about this book:
1. Solid use of evangelical scholarship that doesn’t dumb things down but makes things accessible to the general reader.
2. Helpful organization of the content.
3. Very helpful and memorable introductions to each book.
4. Some really amazing pictures and graphics.
5. Easy to read layout.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Naturally there are some things that I didn’t like about the book:
1. The introduction to the synoptic gospels harmonizes the books too much and doesn’t allow each book to speak for itself.
2. Some of the pictures were clearly stock photos, which I feel like I have seen elsewhere.
3. Some of the graphics were poor in quality, its almost like they didn’t print out well.
4. There were some typos throughout the book.
5. Some of his book “themes” were quite a stretch, its as if he preferred to have an easy to memorize/catchy statement over a more accurate one.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
This is a fantastic New Testament survey which will definitely help “ordinary” people navigate their way through the New Testament. I wouldn’t use this book for a NT survey class in a college or seminary, however this might be an awesome textbook for somebody teaching a New Testament survey at a Christian high school or in a Sunday school class. Regardless of how you use it though, it sure is helpful, and it even sparked some ideas within me for preaching series!
(Note: I received this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an impartial review.)
December 9, 2014
For the novice and knowledgeable, fathoming the flow of Holy Scripture can be a bit of a daunting task. Especially in a day when ministers, media and mentors are often spooning out a "sound-byte theology" and folks normally get snippets of verses. Here is where the beauty of "Frameworks," by Eric Larson, a Bible teacher at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore, California, comes out in full blossom. This textbook sized, 372 page glossy paperback, is succinct, informative and visually appealing.
The first section of "Frameworks" gives a brief, bird's-eye view of the life of Jesus with simple maps and creative handles a reader can latch on to. The material in this segment is meant to help the reader know the general narrative landscape of Jesus' life so when they delve into one of the Gospel accounts they have a sense of where they are and where they're headed. The charts are presented in such a way that a quick glance gets the point and grasps the purpose.
The second section of the volume goes New Testament book by New Testament book. The author gives some salient information about the author, then briefly explains why the book was written, moves to a brief outline of the New Testament document being discussed, quotes the main verses, answers the question of how to navigate that book, brings out questions to ask while reading or studying the New Testament book, and finally encapsulates one insight to take away. Each chapter is punctuated by uncomplicated graphs, diagrams, and visual aids that help create mental hooks to hang concepts on and retain.
"Frameworks" would make an important addition to a family's library, and will likely get dog-eared and tattered quickly as kids and adults pour over its pages.This book should find its way into the hands of Sunday School teachers and disciplers to not only strengthen their grasp of Scripture, but aid them in guiding others as well. I highly recommend the book.
The first section of "Frameworks" gives a brief, bird's-eye view of the life of Jesus with simple maps and creative handles a reader can latch on to. The material in this segment is meant to help the reader know the general narrative landscape of Jesus' life so when they delve into one of the Gospel accounts they have a sense of where they are and where they're headed. The charts are presented in such a way that a quick glance gets the point and grasps the purpose.
The second section of the volume goes New Testament book by New Testament book. The author gives some salient information about the author, then briefly explains why the book was written, moves to a brief outline of the New Testament document being discussed, quotes the main verses, answers the question of how to navigate that book, brings out questions to ask while reading or studying the New Testament book, and finally encapsulates one insight to take away. Each chapter is punctuated by uncomplicated graphs, diagrams, and visual aids that help create mental hooks to hang concepts on and retain.
"Frameworks" would make an important addition to a family's library, and will likely get dog-eared and tattered quickly as kids and adults pour over its pages.This book should find its way into the hands of Sunday School teachers and disciplers to not only strengthen their grasp of Scripture, but aid them in guiding others as well. I highly recommend the book.
July 28, 2016
This is definitely an "extraordinary guide for ordinary people." It's even a great guide for those who already know a lot about the Bible, because it breaks down the New Testament in a new way. Liked this so much I used it as a giveaway for a class.
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