The Gift of the Bible

Certain parts of the Bible are hard to understand — and even harder to explain to children. Some stories are strange, others are frightening or confusing. But the late Rachel Held Evans believed that Scripture could still be a meaningful and beautiful gift, even for the youngest readers. She began writing What Is the Bible? with the hope of introducing children to the wonder and depth of Scripture. After her passing, author Matthew Paul Turner lovingly completed the project.

This picture book offers more than just simplified Bible stories — it opens a window into how the Bible works. It describes the Bible as a rich and varied library: not just one book, but many, filled with poems, songs, stories, proverbs, letters, and teachings. Held and Turner highlight the incredible diversity within Scripture — from talking animals and feeding ravens, to kings and queens, miracles and monsters. And yet, all these pieces are part of one bigger story: the story of God’s love for the world.

The heart of the book’s message is this: the Bible is where we meet Jesus. And Jesus helps us understand everything else. The authors invite us — children and adults alike — to imagine how Jesus might tell a confusing or difficult Bible story, because Jesus shows us what God is like. When we aren’t sure what a passage means, or how to make sense of it, we can come back to Jesus and see the story through His love.

Theologians sometimes call this approach “the canon within the canon.” It means that for Christians, all of Scripture is interpreted through the lens of Christ — especially the Gospels, where we see God’s heart most clearly. Centuries ago, Martin Luther described the Bible as “the cradle that holds the Christ,” reminding us that the Bible’s greatest purpose is to bring us to Jesus. It’s an image that even children can picture: a cradle, gently rocking the One who changes everything.