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Big Idea: The Classic Halley’s Bible Handbook is a powerful tool to help you navigate the Bible.
This series is about Bible study tools. There are many types of Bibles and helpful resources like a concordance or Bible dictionary. Information about their book and their electronic version are included. Cost and “how to use” will be addressed.
The Classic Halley’s Bible Handbook
On our bookshelf rests a classic that is dog-eared from use. This 5”x7” book is amazing. Over 5 million copies have been sold, and it has been translated into many languages.
I was given one when I was a teen and it went to Africa with me. My husband got his copy in high school. He says his copy was invaluable to him as a young pastor. It is missing the table of contents!
What’s the big deal?
It explains the overarching story of the Bible, why Christ is central, and tells all about the Bible lands and world powers in Biblical times.
The Old and New Testament are laid out with how many there are, their categories, how they compare in length, important dates, themes and storylines and more.
There are sections on how the Bible came to be and a great summary of church history. It challenges why you should read the Bible, has Bible reading plans, and why the church should be centered on the Bible.
How old is this book?
Henry Hampton Halley (1874-1965), ordained in 1898, loved the Bible so he started memorizing it. He loved its history, its lands and its cultural background.
In 1920, climbing into the pulpit to speak at a visiting church realized he forgot all his meticulous notes at home. He started quoting Bible passages, correlating them to other passages.
It was a hit! People loved hearing how the Bible dovetails together and can be studied and understood.
In 1924 he made a sixteen page pamphlet to help people about how the Bible works. He kept revising it and adding more helpful information to it till it had over 800 pages.
After his death his family ensured his book and its revisions would continue published under Zondervan Publishing.
Being an old useful book it is easy to find old copies for a reasonable price. There are very new revisions too, and an electronic version. A free PDF of the classic book is found online. From OrcuttChristian.org That does not follow exact pages to the book we have but the content is there.
The Bible Handbook idea lives on
Today numerous Bible Handbooks are available that follow a similar format of overviews of Books of the Bible, maps, etc.Here are a couple of good ones including Halley's. Also note Halleys is available in the classic version or an updated one which is much larger and more expensive. The Deluxe Edition is almost $50!
Halley’s Bible Handbook Amazon CBD
Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook Amazon CBD
Willmington’s Bible Handbook Amazon CBD
Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook Amazon CBD
Ultimate Bible Guide (cheapest one available) Amazon CBD Sale on day of posting $6,.99
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Previous: Three Tips for Choosing a Study Bible
Up next: “A” is for Aaron: Bible Dictionaries and Enclyclopedias
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Reflect:
1. Have you ever seen Halley’s Bible Handbook? Love it or bored by it? If bored give it another chance by looking through the table of content. Ask the Lord what He has for you in it.
2. Reflect on this verse:
People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deut 8:3b NLT
