Bible Workbook Volume 1 & 2 by Catherine B. Walker Review

Whether a student is beginning their faith journey and wants to better understand the Bible, or a teacher wants his students to have the basics down, the workbooks help readers work through the fundamental themes and teachings of the Old and New Testament. Each workbook includes detailed maps, helpful exercises, and questions for students to do on their own to serve as a foundation for classroom discussion, group discussion, or in-depth personal study. Highlights include an introduction and overview of the Bible as a whole, overviews of the main books in the Old and New Testaments including author background, literary themes, timing, key texts, and outlines, a chronological study of the Old Testament and a brief study of all the books in the New Testament, an overview of the period between Malachi and Matthew, known as the “400 Silent Years,” detailed walk through Paul’s Epistles, and a parallel study of Revelation.

About Catherine Walker

Catherine Walker (B.A., Wheaton College; M.A., Columbia Bible College; M.R.E. and D.R.E., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) previously served as an instructor at the Indonesian Baptist Theological Seminary in Semarang for 26 years. Upon retirement she served as special assistant for intercessory prayer at Foreign Mission Board headquarters. She is author of Bible Workbook Volumes I and II and six theological textbooks in the Indonesian language. She also co-authored Disciples and Prayer Life. 

 

My Thoughts:

When I was asked to review both the Bible Workbook Old Testament Volume 1 and Bible Workbook New Testament Volume 2 from Catherine B. Walker I was intrigued.

Catherine B. Walker wrote these workbooks in the 1940s.  She uses the KJV of the Bible. The workbook can be put in a three ring binder. Depending on your depth of answers or if you have larger handwriting you many need to use a notebook with this. The space provided is overall sufficient but varies on the individual using it. For me I need a notebook because I write larger and can be wordy. 

If you are looking for a Bible Study workbook that gives you the answer then this isn’t for you. There isn’t a teacher’s manual.  It asks thought provoking questions about passages in the Bible and directs you in places to discover the answers for yourself. It’s not a commentary either.

I often get asked how do you study the Bible or I’m not sure how to study the Word. Well I think this is a good training tool for those who may feel like they need a bit of directions to build up your confidence. On the same note someone who is already a person who digs into the Word will be just as fulfilled working through both of these workbooks. You can dig in deeper if you are more adept in studying the Bible. There are enough rabbit trails to go off into if you wanted to. 

I think age wise it could be used for mature middle school to adults. It states that it was written for High School students. This could also be used in a classroom setting, homeschool, Bible study group, or for individual studies.

Both The Old Testament Volume 1 and The New Testament Volume 2 are laid out in the similar formats with a few variations.  Both have black and white maps. Both give you some notes as a teacher or student to read over first. Both have introductions of sorts before you begin. 

Some of the questions have a lot of reading prior to you answering the questions and others are just a few verses. The activities vary also.

Bible Workbooks don’t have all the books in the Bible or even all the chapters in each book but, focuses more of a broad general overview. Everything is in chronological order. One thing I really appreciated was that several times the author brings together both Old and New Testament to connect certain scriptures and aspects together. 

The Old Testament starts out with an overview everything from explaining Bible Division. It goes on to explain the books of the law, history, poetry, and Major and Minor Prophets. It even covers some of the oldest manuscripts.

To give you an overview the study on the book of Ruth starts out giving you the dates, who is the author of the book, an outline of the chapters. It also has a section that has four points on Old Customs and things for you to do. Like locating certain cities on a map is one activity.
The next section is a fill in the blank for the first few verses of Ruth. 

Next you have a question on the connection of the story with Jesus with scriptures to look up. In other sections of certain books it has you look up a scripture and list certain things, ask what you think about something.

Bible Workbook New Testament Volume 2 is basically the same format. I do feel that the New Testament has a lot more details and questions than the Old Testament version.

 Not too many workbooks on the Bible are is very few things I disagreed with the wording but it’s adaptable for my family.

I received a free copy of this product from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations.