Epic of Eden: Understanding the Old Testament Study Guide by Sandra Richter

by Sandra Richter

In the Epic of Eden Bible Study,Dr. Sandra Richter clearly and powerfully communicates a history of God's redeeming grace, weaving together a story that runs from the Eden of the Garden to the garden of the New Jerusalem.



Through text and video teaching, Dr. Richter uses this 12-week study to bring a new dimension to the history of the ancient Near East, orienting any study group in time, geography, culture, redemption, and relevance to today - all without diminishing her reader's faith or "dumbing down" the scripture.



Legendary Bible stories take on new life as Dr. Richter clearly articulates their part of a larger pattern, revealing an even deeper significance for the tales individually. The Epic of Eden video study is ideal for serious church groups wanting a meaty study of biblical text, as would anyone eager for a strategic grasp of the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Old Testament and how it relates to God's activity in the present.

Paperback

Published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Suzi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book/study truly blew open the OT for me. I could finally put the pieces together of that “large, scary, overwhelming” part of the Bible and see the big picture of God’s redemptive story unfold (into manageable wow-God sections). I appreciated seeing the People, Place, Presence of God pages at the end of each chapter. It moved me along through history and propelled me the the here and now and even further to look forward to the New Jerusalem. This book was incredibly impactful and I look forward to using it with a group Senior highschool students as we study OT next year. I wish I had this book when I was younger. A must-read for every Christian!

[alitxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. Beautiful journey to understanding the Old Testament and God’s redemption plan.

As a culture historian, I thoroughly enjoyed learning how certain words become ‘biblish’ when their original meaning was found in everyday living at the time.

Excellent

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Bible study. Highly recommend it. So much information taught with authority and humor!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t miss the videos! They are the real gem of this study!

[Jennifer Friend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study! Enjoyed very much! Thank you!

[Lea Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had previously rated this book and felt compelled to come back and leave a review. I first EOE about 12 years ago when our church staff and members were encouraged to read it by our pastors. It is in my TOP FIVE most impactful Christian books I've ever read, and is one of the most theologically significant and important texts on my bookshelf. It did for me just as the author claims it will do--it right-sized and properly oriented my understanding of the Old Testament. But beyond that, it gave me a much-needed, big-picture view of what God's intent and activity has been from Eden to today and how God is leading humanity to the New Jerusalem. To say that this book "blew my mind" would be an understatement. Every chapter was an "ah ha!" lightbulb moment for me. We used this book for a semester of teaching in our Sisterhood women's ministry, and I have since lead small groups using this study. I can tell you that everyone who has encountered it through those offerings has been blown away and radically transformed by it. Next to the Bible, there are few books I more strongly or frequently recommend to people I meet and talk to.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it safe to say that a majority of Christians in the US either don't like or don't know very much about the Old Testament? Many of us for sure are more comfortable with the New Testament of the Bible. Sandra Richter has produced a curriculum that not only organizes the tangled clutter of OT stories in our minds but also demonstrates that the NT is best understood as the fulfillment of God's work and promises in the Old. Richter employs intelligence, scholarly experience, and genuine faith to show how the OT is our story-the story of all humanity (fallen away from God and in need of rescue). Focusing on five persons: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, she shows how God the Father was at work WITH human beings to complete a rescue plan for all of humanity, that was only fulfilled and completed in Jesus the Christ. Additionally Richter does a great job of simplifying the geography of the Bible, so that the names of places and those biblical maps in the back of your Bible are no longer a struggle or source of confusion. After you've gone through this study, you will be amazed at how much more you appreciate and enjoy the Old Testament.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent study. The reading and lessons are manageable. I wish the book had larger blank areas for recording answers.

[Joe Buck]

The absolute BEST in a long, long time. Her content and the video is just wonderful! She is a master teacher!