The Completed 5.5 Chronological Bible Odyssey

At long last (more than a dozen years), the series that covers the entire Bible has been completed and is available in three forms: the Student Book, the Teacher's Book, and the Large Print edition. For years the author and many others kept waiting for educational material that was more than just thematic. Brethren had put together series on children and parents, love, obedience, and other really good topics, but because of the nature of the thematic approach, two problems resulted. First was that all the people discussed in the Scriptures were generally without a time reference. Adam, Job, and Peter might all be part of the same lesson even though they lived hundreds of years apart. While such examples do not bother adults who already know the Bible, it can be confusing to children who may think that Abraham, David, and Jesus all knew each other.

The second problem was that the same individuals were studied repeatedly while others were overlooked. Everyone would know about Joseph and his famous coat, David and his victory over Goliath, and Daniel in the lion's den, but how many would know of the courageous stand of Abijah in the southern kingdom or how Jeroboam changed the worship in the northern kingdom. The 5.5 stands for the number of years it takes to complete the entire Bible. Each lesson contains enough material to use on Sunday morning and on Wednesday nights. Most of the information is chronological, combining Kings with Chronicles in the Old and Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New. A few of the prophets are studied separately in the Old Testament so that the main text can flow and not be interrupted. Most of Jeremiah is blended in, but some prophets have separate lessons.

Each book costs $5.00 (as long as we can keep the price that low); each book contains 90-150 pages (8½ by 11), spiral bound. The Teacher's Book contains more pages but costs the same. The Large Print edition consists of 22 volumes. One regular book turns out to be two of the large print. They are still $5.00 per book, but it takes two books to have all 26 lessons. What is in each book?

Every lesson begins with one or more memory verses related to the material. Next are some key points to look for in the course of studying, which is followed by an outline that provides the subject matter and the Scriptures used. Each section is numbered for easy reference (and the passage of Scripture is cited, also). At the end are questions related to the previous discussion, followed by the next text(s) to be studied.

What does this series of lessons accomplish? The texts are usually summarized but are not meant to take the place of actually reading the Bible. Sometimes the meaning of crucial words is provided. References are also made to similar passages. An apologetics emphasis is given when needed. Occasionally, pertinent notes from commentaries are supplied when they contain special insight, but these are not frequent. The goal is to get God's Word before us and understand what He revealed. The teacher and class members will usually need to make the appropriate applications to today. All of those who believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God will feel comfortable using this material. An occasional chart or map is also included.

Most of the time, any group of students can profit from studying the book from 5th grade through Adult. The Teacher's Book is for the smaller children. Ladies from a congregation in Virginia originally put these aids together, although they have been modified. Some of the Old Testament lessons were also theirs, but they have been changed considerably; the New Testament is entirely different than their brief outlines. The books contain periodic reviews, also, which is valuable in trying to reinforce what was taught.

For younger students, the teachers have discretion for what part of the lesson they want to present; they could not hope to communicate it all to children. Nor would they want to since some of the subject matter is for more mature minds. No visual aids are contained within the books, but Websites are provided which will supply everything needed. Below is a list of the volumes and what each one covers.

Volume 1 Introduction to the Bible, Genesis 1:1 through Exodus 6
Volume 2 The Ten Plagues (Ex. 7), The Ten Commandments through Deuteronomy 15
Volume 3 Deuteronomy 16, Joshua – Ruth, to David and Jonathan (1 Sam. 22)
Volume 4 David, Solomon, the Kingdom Splitting, Elijah, and Elisha (2 Kings 4)
Volume 5 2 Kings 5 through the Captivities, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Other Prophets
Volume 6 The Prophet, the Poetic Books, After the Captivity, Between the Testaments
Volume 7 The Life of Christ (Part 1)
Volume 8 The Life of Christ (Part 2)
Volume 9 Acts
Volume 10 Romans – 2 Timothy
Volume 11 Titus – Revelation