Crossway Publishers recently released Unfolding Grace: 40 Guided Readings Through the Bible, and its accompanying study guide. Unfolding Grace marries two of my favorite things – Scripture’s story line of redemption (biblical theology) and the English Standard Version Bible.
I wouldn’t technically call Unfolding Grace a Bible, though its contents are thoroughly from the Bible. It doesn’t, however, include all of Scripture’s contents. Instead, choosing to include particular portions of the Bible’s main story. I wouldn’t technically call Unfolding Grace a devotional either. Though it is made up of short chapters and sections, I wouldn’t think it would work for daily devotional reading. But I could definitely see readers making use of it as a devotional.
That’s what makes Unfolding Grace so interesting and invaluable. If you’re looking to dig into Scripture’s over-arching theme of redemption, then I’d recommend Unfolding Grace. Perhaps you may have never read the Bible in its entirety, questioning how it all fits together, then this is a great place to start. This is due to seeing Scripture through 40 chosen stories that tie everything together.
The addition of the individual study guide is perfect for individual or group study. As you are reading along there are questions and various notes to help you digest what you’ve read. I’d recommend using this to help you make notes of what you may have read and where each story is located in a full-sized Bible. I might add that even though Unfolding Grace doesn’t include chapter or verses, each story indicates where the selected readings are located in a full-sized Bible.
I should note how beautiful Unfolding Grace is. Artist Peter Voth definitely had a hand in the design and illustrations included in this work. He is quickly becoming my favorite theological artist, and you can see why Crossway has been including him in several projects for books and Bibles.
Overall I’d recommend Unfolding Grace and its study guide if you’re a lover of the ESV and Scripture’s grand story of redemption.
*I received this book from Crossway free of charge in exchange for an honest review.