Saint Jerome once said that to be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of Christ. If this observation seems harsh to those whose instruction in the Bible has been limited, we can forgive ourselves when we seize the opportunity to read and understand these great texts and discover in our efforts the depth of their riches. The testimony of the first generation of Christians, their struggle to proclaim the mystery of Christ, to leave us the record of their witness is for us a heritage of inestimable value. What they pass on to us has become the measure of our belief and the source of our hope. We must take their letters, hymns, and narratives very seriously. This testament enables us to know more fully Jesus Christ and the Father he revealed. The purpose of this book is to promote the continued study of Christian Scripture and encourage believers to root their faith in the Word of God and the community that is gathered by this Word.

This text examines the structure of Christian Scriptures, the Catholic approach to revelation, cultural contexts, the Synoptic Gospels, the Epistles, and John. Discussion questions follow each section. Such questions include, “Can you describe a time in your life when you felt that God was revealing something to you? How did you respond?” and “How do religious symbols like water, wine, bread, and candlelight help us to understand who God is for us?”