Catholic Guide to the Old Testament

Illuminate your understanding of the Old Testament with introductions and context for each of its 46 books.
The Old Testament makes up over half of the Bible and spans the vast majority of Scripture’s historical timeline, yet the ancient culture in which it was written and the unspoken context of its books mean that much of its wisdom can be difficult for readers to understand.

Now Catholics can be invigorated in the study of Scripture, connect with the story of God’s Chosen People, and uncover new meaning in the Old Testament’s narrative with A Catholic Guide to the Old Testament.

This comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the Old Testament seeks to unveil the mysteries of divine revelation contained in the Old Testament and unlock the hidden details of this God-given text. It helps Catholics become better acquainted with each book’s human author, main characters, and important points in order to transform their understanding of the “big picture” of Scripture and its meaning for their lives.

Written by 4 highly regarded biblical scholars, this guide to the Old Testament contains:
46 introductions to each of the Old Testament’s books, including:
- the book’s relationship to the New Testament and Catholic Tradition,
its significance to the greater story of salvation,
- who wrote it and when,
- major characters, key events, and themes,
and more!
Over a dozen full-color charts outlining major feasts, kings and prophets, covenants, genealogies, and more.
15 full-color maps depicting the journeys of Abraham, desert wanderings of the Israelites, major kingdoms and empires, and more.
Over 20 articles on the topics of geography, laws, sacrifice, literature, the canon of Scripture, archaeology and the accuracy of the biblical narrative, and more.
The Bible Timeline® colour coding-the same system used in the chart-topping podcast The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™ featuring Jeff Cavins.

With this Catholic guide, readers will no longer wonder how each of the Old Testament’s books contributes to the narrative of Scripture or struggle to understand its main characters, historical context, and literary forms.

The only introduction to the Old Testament based on The Bible Timeline Learning System, A Catholic Guide to the Old Testament is the perfect companion to The Great Adventure Catholic Bible and the various studies of The Great Adventure® Bible Study program.

About the Authors:
Jeff Cavins is passionate about helping people understand Scripture and become disciples of Jesus Christ. A leading Catholic evangelist and author, Jeff is best known for creating The Bible Timeline® Learning System, The Great Adventure® series of Bible studies, and The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, which have been used by hundreds of thousands of people to engage with Scripture in a life-changing way. Some of his recent projects include The Jeff Cavins Show (his podcast), The Activated Disciple, Ephesians: Discover Your Inheritance, Wisdom: God’s Vision for Life, and The Bible in a Year podcast and companion series.

Dr. Andrew Swafford is professor of theology at Benedictine College and a national speaker on a variety of Catholic topics. Together with Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, he is coauthor of What We Believe: The Beauty of the Catholic Faith and cohost of Ascension’s video series under the same title, filmed on location in Rome. With his wife, Sarah, Dr. Swafford is also coauthor of Gift and Grit: How Heroic Virtue Can Change Your Life and Relationships. He is also a general editor of Ascension’s Great Adventure Catholic Bible. He holds a doctorate in sacred theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake and a master’s degree in Old Testament and Semitic languages from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Dr. Jeffrey Morrow is professor of theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University. He is a series editor for Catholic University of America Press’s Verbum Domini series. Among his other publications are Jesus’ Resurrection: A Jewish Convert Examines the Evidence; Liturgy and Sacrament, Mystagogy and Martyrdom; Modern Biblical Criticism as a Tool of Statecraft (1700–1900) (coauthored with Scott Hahn), and Murmuring Against Moses (coauthored with John Bergsma). Jeff holds a doctorate and master’s degree in Catholic theology from the University of Dayton.

Dr. Biff Rocha’s area of interest is the intersection of rhetoric and religion. He earned his master’s degree in speech communication and rhetoric from Miami University in beautiful Oxford, Ohio. While there, Biff enjoyed coaching the Miami University debate team. He was a missionary for a decade with the interdenominational parachurch organization, Campus Crusade for Christ. Eventually Biff earned a doctorate in Catholic theology. Biff has taught catechetics at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, theology at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, and the American Experience at the University of Dayton.