Purchase Now!

The Bible can seem like a big, intimidating book–mysterious, archaic, and often hard to understand. Written over a span of fifteen hundred years, and completed nearly two millennia ago, God's Word sometimes feels like a mishmash of stories and literary styles.

How can twenty–first–century readers–like you-make sense of it all?

Author Stan Guthrie's answer: begin by zooming in on one key verse for each of the Bible's sixty-six books. Seeking to bring clarity and simplicity to the study of God's Word, Guthrie has written a concise, easy-to-digest collection of wisdom anchored by one verse for each book, from Genesis to Revelation-a verse that summarizes or lays the foundation for that book, placing it in context with the rest of the Scriptures.

God's Story in 66 Verses
God's Story in 66 Verses

Read this book, and you'll feel as if you've read the entire Bible but you'll also yearn to continue exploring its depths and mining its riches on your own.

About Author

God's Story in 66 Verses

Stan Guthrie


Is an editor at large for Christianity Today magazine and hosts a weekly podcast with John Wilson of Books & Culture. Stan writes for BreakPoint.org and ChristianHeadlines.com and is author of All That Jesus Asks, A Concise Guide to Bible Prophecy, and Missions in the Third Millennium. He is coauthor of The Sacrament of Evangelism. He lives near Chicago.


Endorsements

"Thomas Cranmer once said that the Bible was meant to be read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested. This book is a spiritual digestive for an up–close and personal encounter with God's Word–key verses from each of the canonical books. A great resource for devotion and prayer."

Timothy George, founding dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University and general editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture.

"Stan Guthrie is given to brevity and clarity rather than prolixity. His chapter on 2 Chronicles affords a glimpse into both his book and the Bible itself; it recognizes what the biblical authors ignored as well as included. Against the backdrop of the Assyrian and Babylonian oppression, "As for me and my house" is focused not on struggles but God’s Sovereignty."

Jerry Pattengale, Ass’t Provost, Indiana Wesleyan University & Exec. Dir, Green Scholars Initiative

"The Bible is a book so deep no mortal will ever get to the bottom of it. Nevertheless, because God has revealed His wisdom to us, all benefit by seeking to understand the Scriptures as best they can. Though we never get the last word about the Bible, it is possible to have a sure word. Stan Guthrie has produced a book that gets to the "sure word," and makes it accessible to all. His approach is relatively simple: find the central verse of each book of the Bible that clarifies the theme of that book. For those who want to go deeper begin with God’s Story in 66 Verses. "

Jerry Root, Associate Professor of Evangelism and Leadership at Wheaton College

"Stan Guthrie provides a much needed tonic to our sleepy, biblically illiterate culture. This book will help many people move beyond the shallow, simple minded, myths of what the Bible is about, to actually grasp its grand narrative. And it does it one verse at a time. Buy it, give it away – and don’t forget to read it yourself."

Josh Moody, Senior Pastor of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois

"The old, old story of the gospel is rooted in God’s story of his kingdom, which is the theme of the whole Bible.  With his arresting single-verse skill, and moving fast, Stan Guthrie shows how every biblical book contributes to both stories. Excellent!"

Dr. J.I. Packer

"We face an epidemic of biblical illiteracy in our culture. Most Americans–especially those in the younger generation—have scant engagement with Scripture. And getting them to read the Bible is no easy task. It’s a big book! For a generation that doesn’t know Paul from Potiphar, it can be daunting just to crack the cover. That’s why I’m excited about God’s Story in 66 Verses. Guthrie has created a brilliant way to introduce readers to the broad themes of Scripture. With crisp prose and a disarming tone, Guthrie distills the biblical witness while showing how all of Scripture points to Christ. I pray many people will read this important book and come to know the Scriptures and the God whom they reveal."

Drew Dyck, Managing Editor of Leadership Journal and the author of Yawning at Tigers: You Can’t Tame God, So Stop Trying. 

"This helpful book can overcome our tendency to, as Francis Schaeffer put it, "see the world in bits and pieces." In the Bible, we find the truest story there is of all things and all of us. And Stan Guthrie lays it out carefully and creatively."

John Stonestreet, Speaker and Fellow, the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview Senior Content Advisor, Summit Ministries

"Stan Guthrie skillfully selects one verse from each of the Bible's sixty–six books, summarizes its message, and then shows how each contributes to the message of the Bible.  God's Story in 66 Verses will help all who read it to dig deeper into the Word, grasp its over–riding themes, and learn how each part contributes to the whole."

Warren Larson, Professor Emeritus Columbia International University and former Director of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies.

Media Inquiries

For press inquiries regarding God's Story in 66 Verses, please contact Emily Lineberger at emily.lineberger@harpercollins.com