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Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible is a short and readable introduction to the Bible--its origins, interpretation, truthfulness, and authority.

Bible scholar, prolific author, and Anglican minister Michael Bird helps Christians understand seven important "things" about this unique book:

Seven Things presents clear and understandable evangelical account of the Bible's inspiration, canonization, significance, and relevance in a way that is irenic and compelling. It is a must read for any serious Bible reader who desires an informed and mature view of the Bible that will enrich their faith.

Now my personal take on this book is that it was excellent, very easy to read and should be read by all "regular" folk. If someone has extensively studied scripture, then this book is likely just a bunch of head nodding and not needed, but it is packaged so concisely that it would also serve as an excellent resource book. My one critique of the book is that I think it used a text from Luke 22 in an unhelpful way, but it wasn't a glaring issue and it's also probably a point that many people would disagree with me. Right before the last supper and Jesus going to the garden and Peter defending him against the temple guards with his sword (cutting off the guard's ear), there is an interesting exchange where Jesus tells his disciples to "sell their cloaks and buy a sword" -- This gets used by people to justify war and violence, which is the antithesis of the Kingdom of Peace and it's Prince and King. The statement by Jesus is playing on the "2 sword tradition" of second temple Jewish culture which idealized the Genesis account of Simeon and Levi avenging their sister Dinah's abusers. This later got played up in the Maccabean revolt and their zealotry in defending the covenant. Anyways my point is that Bird uses this text as an example in his section about how to properly understand some difficult passages. It's not really that I disagree with his point, but how he frames it an unknowing reader will actually presume that Jesus is condoning violence and we just need to not worry about that being relevant to today. No. That is not what Jesus is doing. I appreciate Bird's effort to defend the Bible, but in this situation the words of Jesus do not need defended. They are true and they are NOT violent. He strips Peter of all violence of the sword just a few paragraphs later. Anyways, other than that though, I thought the book was excellent and highly recommend.

Find it here at booksellers everywhere: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Things-Christians-about-Bible/dp/0310538858

Barnes & Noble*: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seven-things-i-wish-christians-knew-about-the-bible-michael-f-bird/1138507536

ChristianBook.com: https://www.christianbook.com/seven-things-christians-knew-about-bible/michael-bird/9780310538851/pd/538851

Books·A·Million*: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Seven-Things-Wish-Christians-Knew/Michael-F-Bird/9780310538851