The brief commentary on each book of the Old and New Testaments and the full-colour timelines, maps, and illustrations that pertain to biblical lands and peoples are helpful to both beginning and continuing students of the Bible.

As a condensed edition of the bestselling The Collegeville Bible Commentary, The Collegeville Bible Handbook is a reliable guide to the Word of God. Here, readers come to know the Bible, the times in which the books were written, what the Bible said to the people for whom the books were written, and what the Bible says to us about the work of God in our midst.

A short introduction summarizes the scope of each book of the Bible, the period the book spans, its authorship, and purposes. A digest in outline form details the message of each commentary. Headings serve as a point of reference for locating passages between the Handbook and the Bible. Each commentary is further divided into parts that explain specific accounts within the chapter.

Attractively illustrated with photographs and maps pertinent to the biblical text, The Collegeville Bible Handbook acquaints readers with important biblical sites and territories.