• What Is the Bible?

  • How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything
  • By: Rob Bell
  • Narrated by: Rob Bell
  • Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,282 ratings)

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What Is the Bible?

By: Rob Bell
Narrated by: Rob Bell
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Publisher's summary

Rob Bell, the beloved author of Love Wins and What We Talk About When We Talk About God, goes deep into the Bible to show how it is more revelatory, revolutionary, and relevant than we ever imagined - and offers a cogent argument for why we need to look at it in a fresh, new way.

In Love Wins, Rob Bell confronted the troubling questions that many people of faith are afraid to ask about heaven, hell, fate, and faith. Using the same inspired, inquisitive approach, he now turns to our most sacred book: the Bible. What Is the Bible? provides insights and answers that make clear why the Bible is so revered and what makes it truly inspiring and essential to our lives.

Rob takes us deep into actual passages to reveal the humanity behind the Scriptures. You cannot get to the holy without going through the human, Rob tells us. When considering a passage, we shouldn't ask, "Why did God say...?" To get to the heart of the Bible's meaning, we should be asking, "What's the story that's unfolding here, and why did people find it important to tell it? What was it that moved them to record these words? What was happening in the world at that time? What does this passage/story/poem/verse/book tell us about how people understood who they were and who God was at that time?" In asking these questions, Rob goes beyond the one-dimensional question of "is it true?" to reveal the Bible's authentic transformative power.

Rob addresses the concerns of all those who see the Bible as God's word but are troubled by the ethical dilemmas, errors, and inconsistencies in Scripture. With What Is the Bible?, he recaptures the good book's magic and reaffirms its power and inspiration to shape and inspire our lives today.

©2017 WORB, Inc. (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about What Is the Bible?

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Wonderful

Rob's books are all great! I don't agree with everything he says in all of them, but I don't have to. They are truly great and insightful. I learn new things in each one.

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19 people found this helpful

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A great companion for the journey

I feel compelled to write a review regarding this book. I think it book will serve so many different people with different questions and on different roads. For me, this was a blessing and nothing short of it. It is not a how-to or steps to reading the Bible in the best way. It's examining the lens we view everything through and how we (and generations before us) experience and live faith and life. I'm sure to some this won't be what they want because his book isn't about answers. It's even better, it's about questions. Beautiful stuff.

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Enlightening

Rob Bell does what he does best, he shares the background and history of each passage and story.

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great book. thanks Rob bell

I love his insights on the most wonderful book in the world. thanks for the read.

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What a book

I love the book because it doesn’t explain everything but does explain the main points of the Bible.

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A great intro to the Bible for new readers

The Rob Bell sheds a whole new light on the Bible, explaining the terrain surrounding the times the library of books was written. As someone who found the Bible difficult to read at times (in comprehension and attention), I'm now excited to read again, to ask questions about what I read and seek those answers by researching the historical contexts of scripture for further clarity.

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fascinating ideas on the Bible and how to read it

I'm so appreciative for this book. It was enlightening and encouraging. Thank you, Rob Bell!

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A MUST READ

I found this book mind blowing. I was hooked from the beginning. Not only does it help to understand the Bible more but evaluation as well! Phenomenal!!!

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Rob reads it the way intended it to be. Great book

The chapters were great. A book that makes you think and want to go deeper. I would not have read the book in the same way as Rob intended it to be. I'm glad I got the audio version.

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This guy's funny!

I love this guy - he's funny! And he has a passion for the Bible and preaching. I'm so glad he read his own work, because his personality comes out and adds so much to the words.

This book is an invaluable resource if you want to gain a more progressive view of the Bible.

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