Reviews of A Tour of the Bible: An Introduction for the Unfamiliar
“Tom Pumphrey is a gifted church leader and Priest who offers a vital spiritual resource to the church. A Tour of The Bible gives every beginning and continuing Bible student wisdom and encouragement for the learning and incorporating of the sacred scriptures into one’s life.”
—The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly, 8th Bishop of Texas.
“Having completed A Tour of the Bible with Tom Pumphrey, it is now so nice to recognize and understand many of the scripture passages read in church on Sunday mornings.”
—Fred and Lura Wampler, lay members at St. David’s, Wayne, PA.
“I am often asked by members of my congregation how they should begin reading the Bible if they have never studied it before. With its excellent scholarship and thematic guidance, A Tour of the Bible is the perfect companion to help people begin a life-long love of Scripture without being overwhelmed.”
—The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining, St. Christopher’s, Gladwyne, PA.
“In an era when biblical literacy cannot be assumed, Tom Pumphrey has provided a helpful resource for the new reader of the Bible. Fashioned to provide quick confidence, it will raise your cultural literacy by exposing you to the most resonating passages of scripture and may just awaken your faith that you too may be able to hear and understand the Word of God.”
—Rev. Dr. Timothy P. McConnell, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Marietta, GA.
“Every pastor looks for the best resource to help people begin to engage the scriptures. A Tour of the Bible hits the how-to's, the basics and the highlights. Conversational, intelligent, and thorough, complete with maps, graphs and charts, you will appreciate the ease of learning.”
—The Rev. Susan Landry, Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Marietta, GA.
“It gives me tremendous joy to receive a working copy of the new book, A Tour of the Bible: An Introduction for the Unfamiliar. I took a quick read of it and was immensely impressed by its effective pedagogical design, its concise survey of biblical contents, and its rich resources and aids for critical reading of the Bible. It is certainly a brilliant and enticing “tour map” drawn by an experienced tour guide with passion and wisdom. The 50,000 Foot Fly-by followed by the Section-by-Section tour lands logically on the Greatest Hits and this sequence guides the readers to approach the Scripture in proper contexts and helps them to hear God’s voice in and through biblical texts. The charts and maps are extremely useful for any readers wishing to understand the big picture and thematic contour of the Bible, including leaders of Bible study groups and seminarians preparing for GOE’s. The final chapters on analytical methods, interpretive world-views, and reading strategies, though brief, provide practical guidance that will help serious students of the Bible to think critically on the challenging and transforming word of God. Tom has made an invaluable contribution to the church with this gem-packed book.”
—The Rev. John Y. H. Yieh, Ph.D. Molly Laird Downs Professor of New Testament,
Virginia Theological Seminary