This book presents key episodes from the unfolding story of the Bible along with mini features that provide glimpses of how and why the various writings came to be recorded and assembled. Providing an accessible introduction with a series of spreads, feature boxes, and illustrations, the book is simple yet scholarly. Subjects include storytelling, Bible languages, types of writing, the prophets, the Gospels, the early Christians, gathering the books, how to read the Bible-offering a concise, comprehensive, yet accessible first introduction.