A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament - Brant Pitre and John Bergsma

A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament
Brant Pitre
John Bergsma
Ignatius Press
ISBN 9781586177225
eISBN 9781642290486
ASIN B07H46F524


I read this in parallel to reading the old testament using The Catholic Study Bible, from Oxford University Press. It was a bit of over kill. Even for someone who spend 20 years as an undergraduate in University. When I read this volume again, I will use a normal bible with minimal notes and one of the translations I really enjoy reading, like the Jerusalem Bible. But that being said this book was a most excellent read.

As mentioned, I spent the better part of 20 years in University. I hold a Religious studies degree with specialization in Roman Catholic Thought. This book would have been an amazing resource during my university career. I attended St Jerome’s University at the University of Waterloo, there were three other Church collages and the Religious Studies and Theology Departments spanned the 4 collages and faculty at main campus. This book would have been great for some of my essays, especially for Professors from other denominations.

The book is written in such as way that it can be used academically. But it is engaging enough that most lay people could read it and benefit from that reading. Coming in at just over 1000 pages it is not a small commitment. But What I found was that once I started reading a chapter on a specific book I found I could not put it down. The book is very engaging.

This is one of those more expensive books that I held off on purchasing. I waited more than a year to see if a paper back edition would be released or if the eBook would drop in price. I regret not having picked up the book right away. And when Volume 2 on the New Testament releases, I will not hesitate to pick it up right away.

This book belongs on the shelf of anyone who considers himself a professional or amateur Catholic Theologian. And to be honest it should be in the home of every Catholic family. It is an excellent resource, if you read it from beginning to end, or pick and choose around specific passages or books. I highly recommend this volume!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!