The Bible in Time

A Chronological Exploration
of 130 Passages

By Stephen Travis
Abingdon Press, $11.95

ISBN 0687017084

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Bible Integration for Believers

It's easy for many of us who grow up reading the Bible for daily devotions and studying it in brief segments to begin to think of each passage in a sort of vacuum without connecting it to the world situation to which it was addressed originally. After a while we need a better sense of how it all fits together as a whole. We also need to understand that the books of the Bible were addressed to people living over a long period of time and through much change.

Stephen Travis has taken an unusual approach to helping us in his book The Bible in Time: A Chronological Exploration of 130 Passages. He states at the beginning that he has three aims in this book: to introduce the habit of reading the Bible regularly, to select passages carefully so readers get a sense of how the different parts fit together, and to select passages that show the main themes of Christian faith and discipleship.

A reader may not be certain whether to call this book a study tool or a devotional. Many of its 130 brief readings have a prayer or a "To Think About" section at the end. I suspect that Travis has in mind making better believers and doers of the Word out of his readers. He is vice-principal of St. John's College in Nottingham, England, and writes like a teacher leading students to new knowledge: "The Bible is never meant simply to be read. . . . gradually, by the help of God's Spirit within us, he will transform us so that we respond to issues and situations in a truly Christ-like way."

Charlotte Wimbeley is a reviewer from Houston, TX.