Bible Basics for Catholics Author:John Bergsma THIS IS A NEW BUT "HURT" BOOK. The cover has a dent in it. Bible Basics for Catholics by John Bergsma John Bergsma, associate professor of theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, introduces "the Bible's big picture" with a charisma that explains his two-time Faculty of the Year status. Based on his popular Introduction to Theol... more »ogy course, Bible Basics for Catholics stays true to both Catholic teaching and biblical scholoarship. Beginning with an introduction to some key concepts - covenant, mediator, and mountain - Bergsma makes the Old Testament accessible for even the most unfamiliar reader. Bible Basics for Catholics then explores the seven crucial covenants of the Bible by focusing on the covenant mediators: Adam, noah, Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, and Jesus. Bergsma's simpled rawings not only add whimsy to the text, but also visually portray Bergsma's key points regarding salvation history. He literally draws connections between the seven covenant mediators, highlighting each mediator's exalted status through the following distinctive markers: Firstborn son - radiates light Priest - wears a stole King - bears a crown Prophet -opens a large mouth Bridegroom - dons a wedding ring As Scott Hahn explains in the foreword, this book lives up to the promise that "big things come in small packages." A combination of sound theology, academic expertise, pastoral wisdom, and an egaging playfulness will keep readers interested, making Bible Basics for Catholics an ideal starting point for anyone wanting to learn what the Bible is really all about. « less