{This is my second book review.  Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts.}

I remember when I found out that the Bible didn’t really say there were three kings who came to visit Jesus when he was a baby.  It was a shock.    But wait, I’d sung that song, We Three Kings, learned to play it on the piano as a young girl.  How could it not be true?

The story of Jesus’ birth in Matthew says that there were wise men from the east who came searching for a king.  When they found the baby Jesus, they rejoiced.  They gave him gifts.  They worshiped  him.  And that kind of sums up the information about them.  There’s no mention of how many there were or even that they were kings from different countries.

How easily we believe what we are told without checking the facts.  Just listen to conversations.  Quotes from political figures, the latest news report, messages from Facebook, a friend’s declaration – and we are inundated with “facts.”  And if it is said enough by enough people, we tend to believe it.

We should not be so gullible.

Urban Legends of the New Testament, by David A. Croteau,  examines 40 common misconceptions of Bible passages.  Croteau looks at original language, searches different translations, and studies to come up with an accurate analysis of what the Bible is really saying.

He puts verses into context, rather than letting them stand alone like we do so often.  Honestly, sometimes we try to use the Bible to make our point rather then looking for what it really says.  Shame on us.

This is a scholarly book, searching out the truth instead of settling for fiction.  And in a world where our culture shades the lines of truth to adjust to whatever it wants to believe, we need to be aware of what we have so easily accepted and acted upon.

God’s Word is clear in its presentation of the Gospel story.  Let’s don’t blur the lines by quoting things we’ve only heard.  Paul admonished Timothy to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

We would do well to pay attention.  Handling the word of truth carefully is vital to our daily living and how we present Christ to the world.

If you are interested in truth, read the book with an open mind.  Prepare to think and evaluate what Croteau offers.  We want to know the truth, quote the truth, present the truth to a world that desperately needs to hear it.

Let’s do it with care, with study, with precision.

NOTE:   *  I received a copy of the book Urban Legends of the New Testament, provided by B&H Publishing, for an honest review.  The book was free.  The words are my very own.