"Jason Boyett's Pocket Guides are smart and hilarious. Andthey're sneaky too: You don't realize how much you're learningbecause you're having so much fun." --AJ Jacobs, author, TheYear of Living BiblicallyAmericans consistently identify the Bible as the mostinfluential book in history, but seriously: are you really readingit? Probably not. If all you know about the Bible are a few Psalmsand the Christmas story, then you're missing out on a book that'swilder, weirder, and more entertaining than you ever imagined.With a stealthy combo of entertainment and insight, JasonBoyett's Pocket Guide to the Bible fills the gaps in your religiouseducation. It introduces you to the characters you must know,reveals the thrilling development of the biblical canon, anddetails the less-churchy parts of Scripture (hello, sex andviolence!). Don't miss out on discovering* How God employs talking donkeys, mentally unstable prophets,and helpful prostitutes in his master plan* Which moral failures may result in an old-fashioned smiting* Why Catholic Bibles include books some Protestants refuse torecognize* Whether your New International Version of the Bible may in factbe demonicWith Pocket Guide to the Bible, you'll finally realize what's sogood about the Good Book.

INTRODUCTION VIIChapter oneBIBLICABULARY (A Glossary of the Good Book) 1Chapter TwoCAST OF CHARACTERS (A TO J) 31Chapter ThreeCAST OF CHARACTERS (K TO Z) 63Chapter fourWHAT HAPPENS, PART 1 (The Old Testament at Breakneck Speed)87Chapter fiveWHAT HAPPENS, PART 2 (The New Testament at Breakneck Speed)117Chapter sixTHE BRIEF HISTORY OF HOLY WRIT (A Timeline) 133Chapter sevenVERSIONS AND PERVERSIONS (A Selective Survey of Translations)157Chapter eightLIST YE BE SMITTEN (Biblical Flotsam and Jetsam) 173SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 189