Bible Basics for Catholics (Expanded Edition): A New Picture of Salvation History (Engaging Catholicism)

An easy-to-read, straightforward, and thorough look at the “big picture” of salvation history.

Winner of a 2026 CMA Book Award from the Catholic Media Association: Scripture - Series (Second Place).

Do you feel overwhelmed by or guilty for not knowing the Bible better? Bible Basics for Catholics by award-winning scripture professor John Bergsma is here to change that. With more than 120,000 copies sold and 700-plus five-star Amazon reviews, this bestselling guide offers a clear, concise, and easy-to-understand walk through salvation history―from Adam and Eve to Jesus Christ―providing valuable insights to help you see how God’s love story unfolds in scripture.

Drawing from his popular Principles of Biblical Study course at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Bergsma blends academic expertise, pastoral wisdom, and an unmistakable sense of humor to make complex ideas easy to understand―and even fun!

This new and expanded edition features all of the original stick figures and drawings readers everywhere have come to know and love while adding new features that are especially useful in sharing this powerful message with your small group, parish, classroom, or family. Whether you’re exploring the Bible on your own or leading others in study, this edition offers valuable tools to deepen your understanding and faith. New features include:

• Chapter-by-chapter study questions
• Seven-week program for small groups
• Companion videos for deeper understanding

Don’t let uncertainty about scripture hold you back. Discover the “big picture” of God’s love for his people and learn how this story becomes your own―helping you live out your Catholic faith with greater confidence and joy.

John Bergsma is a professor of theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and vice president for Biblical Theology and Mission Effectiveness at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He served as a Protestant pastor for four years before entering the Catholic Church in 2001 while pursuing a doctorate specializing in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls from the University of Notre Dame.

In addition to teaching scripture at Franciscan University, Bergsma is a frequent guest on Catholic radio and speaks regularly at conferences and parishes nationally and internationally. Bergsma has published a number of academic and popular works on the Bible and the Catholic faith, including Bible Basics for Catholics, New Testament Basics for Catholics, Psalm Basics for Catholics, and Love Basics for Catholics.

He and his wife, Dawn, live with their children in Steubenville, Ohio.

Scott Hahn is a popular Catholic theologian, author, speaker, and apologist who founded the Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology and teaches at Franciscan University of Steubenville.