Great Women of the Bible

by Clarence E. Macartney

Macartney's unique descriptive style brings these women of the Bible to life and provides inspirational reading for Christians.

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 1992

About the author

Clarence Edward Noble Macartney:
a prominent conservative Presbyterian pastor and author.

Reviews

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really makes these Bible stories come alive as they are told in storybook form sprinkled with thoughts of other famous authors! The Bible surely is a mirror of life!

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an older version of this book (I have to look up the publication date) that I found in an antiques store. I love bible stories, though I am not religious/do not classify myself as a Christian. Each of these essays relates a bible story/anecdote featuring a woman, expounds upon the tale to give insight and understanding, and them provides a short essay/homily on the applications of the lessons, which are akin to a Sunday sermon - which is not to say they are "preachy" per se, but that if Christian ministry is not your thing, then the homily part (which I basically skipped over) will not be of interest or possibly even offensive. I very much enjoyed the bible stories part and the insights into the stories, however.

[Sarah Villaseñor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fine book to read as long as you understand that it was written and published by a man in the 50s. If you read this book with all of those things in mind, it will keep you from throwing it across the room. Or in my case, it will have you simply penciling in the margins so densely that it will distract future readers. I will say I did enjoy his Bible story retelling’s and his historical knowledge of biblical times (which I must assume are true & accurate from my limited knowledge). But i also feel like writing a 20-page feminist critique on the whole book. Or at least a vicious 10-slide presentation on why this preacher was incredibly biased against women.

[Dianne Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these essays. However, one must overlook that they are written in a style that is unfamiliar, and possibly offensive, to the modern ear. I personally learned a lot from them, still. Samson and Delilah was given to me in a perspective I had not considered- I just could never fathom poor Samson: was he ego driven, idiotic, love-sick? Anyway, these are simply Bible stories rather beautifully told, in prose, albeit with something of a dated masculine take.