The Story of the Bible by Larry Stone

The Story of the Bible is no disappointment. Walking through the pages of this book is like walking through the biggest Biblical museum ever without ever taking your feet off the sofa. The text read as professional as any museum placard but is far more indepth. The photographs throughout the book are taken from historical Bibles and are exquisite. Nestled between the pages, tucked in vellum sleeves are "23 removable life-size reproductions for the world's most important Bibles." I literally got chills when I pulled out the first reproduction. It was an amazing feeling to be able to examine something so special at such a close range.

The reproductions are actual size and written in the original language. On the back of the reproduction is the translation and an explanation of the text.

The story of the Bible starts with the beginnings of the Hebrew people and their language, giving the reader an indepth understanding of the development and purpose of the language. It progresses through the centuries leaving out nothing. Stone examines the development and importance of each version of the Bible as well as the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. He explains the impact the various versions of the Bible had on society and religion as a whole. He ends with the impact of the Bible's translation into a country's native language and the incredible importance of putting the Bible in the hands of others to spread the gospel.

The book itself is huge! It measures 9 1/2" by 12" and is 1" wide. This is not a book to curl up with at night. Should one fall asleep, one would wake with a concussion. The text is normal size and considering there are 90 illustrations, this book needs every inch of that space.

This book is not a disappointment to the reader. The reader leaves with a wealth of information and a profound sense of appreciation for the greatest book ever written.

I give this book 5 stars and would give it more if it was allowed. This book is great for any Christian or Bible scholar who wants a deeper understanding of the Bible and how it came to be. I would also recommend this as a great gift for a seminary graduate, pastor, or minister.