In order to engage people with the Bible, we'd like to have intriguing summaries of Bible passages that catch people's interests and, hopefully, encourage them to read the Bible.

So instead of encouraging you to "Click here to read Jos 6:1-27" we can give you a link labeled:

"A fortified city falls to an exercise of faith. None are spared but the house of the hostess of spies."

Think of these as "television episode summaries", rather than "section headings." We're trying to create the kind of 20 word description you'd see in a TV Guide, designed to catch your interest.

We don't need them for every passage in the BIble (though that would be great!), but we'd like to have them for most story episodes. 

We're thinking of running a contest where users can submit summaries and then we judge/vote/evaluate them somehow and award some book-buying credit to winning entries. 

What do you think? Do you like the idea? Would you participate in the contest? What kind of incentive would motivate you?

Below are my entries on a few passages. Here is a survey where you can submit your own. At the end of this post is a long list of references to try. If you'd like to participate, use the survey form, and I'll award winners from these submissions for any entry we choose to use, and/or roll these entries into a larger contest via our blog.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NWLVG8J

 

Samples (20 words or less, in general.)

 

1 Sa 3:1-4:1

A young man hears a mysterious voice in the night; it foretells his mentor's fall from grace.

A young man hears a voice in the night; the ears of a nation will tingle when the leader falls.

 

1 Sa 17:1-58

A young shepherd successfully slings stones to the shame of shirking soldiers. 

An army is surprised to find its champion arrived with bread and cheese, not sword and shield.

An outspoken youth ends a 40 day standoff with an unarmored run to the battle line.

An overconfident champion loses his head to his own sword, at the hand of the youth he disdained.

 

Ge 1:1-31             The Creation of the World

God speaks the world into existence, forming it for the use of man, whom He creates in His own image.

 

Ge 6:9-7:24         Noah and the Flood

The corruption of flesh demands a cleansing flood; humanity lives on through a 600 year old man and his family.

 

Ge 12:1-9             The Call of Abram           

One man is called to father a great nation; in him all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

 

Lev 14:33-56       Laws for Cleansing Houses          

When disease infects the walls of a house it threatens all who live there; haul away even the stones and timbers.

 

Jos 6:1-27            The Fall of Jericho           

A fortified city falls to an exercise of faith. None are spared but the house of the hostess of spies.

An attacking army holds their tongues for six days, till a surprised city falls to a shout of faith.

 

Jud 16:1-22         Samson and Delilah        

A mighty man pays a mighty price loving a woman who would sell his strength for silver.

A mighty man with a weakness for women is betrayed by a woman with a weakness for silver.

 

 

Some passages to start from:

 

Ge 10:1-32 Nations Descended from Noah

Ge 11:1-9 The Tower of Babel

Ge 11:10-26 Shem's Descendants

Ge 11:27-32 Terah's Descendants

Ge 12:1-9 Promises to Abram

Ge 12:10-20 Abram in Egypt

Ge 13:1-18 Abram Inherits Canaan

Ge 14:1-17 Lot's Captivity and Rescue

Ge 14:18-24 Abram and Melchizedek

Ge 15:1-21 God's Covenant with Abram

Ge 16:1-16 Hagar and Ishmael

Ge 17:1-27 The Sign of the Covenant

Ge 18:1-15 The Son of Promise

Ge 18:16-33 Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

Ge 19:1-11 Sodom's Depravity

Ge 19:12-29 Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed

Ge 19:30-38 The Descendants of Lot

Ge 37:1-11 Joseph Dreams of Greatness Ge 37:12-36 Joseph Sold by His Brothers Ge 38:1-30 Judah and Tamar Ge 39:1-23 Joseph a Slave in Egypt Ge 40:1-23 The Prisoners' Dreams Ge 41:1-36 Pharaoh's Dreams Ge 41:37-57 Joseph's Rise to Power Ge 42:1-24 Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt Ge 42:25-38 The Brothers Return to Canaan Ge 43:1-34 Joseph's Brothers Return with Benjamin Ge 44:1-17 Joseph's Cup Ge 44:18-34 Judah Intercedes for Benjamin Ge 45:1-28 Joseph Revealed to His Brothers Ge 46:1-27 Jacob's Journey to Egypt Ge 46:28-47:12 Jacob Settles in Goshen Ge 47:13-26 Joseph Deals with the Famine Ge 47:27-31 Joseph's Vow to Jacob Ge 48:1-22 Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons Ge 49:1-28 Jacob's Last Words to His Sons Ge 49:29-50:14 Jacob's Death and Burial Ge 50:15-21 Joseph Reassures His Brothers Ge 50:22-26 Death of Joseph Ex 20:1-17 The Ten Commandments Ex 20:18-21 The People Afraid of God's Presence Ex 20:22-26 The Law of the Altar Ex 21:1-11 The Law Concerning Servants Ex 21:12-27 The Law Concerning Violence Ex 21:28-36 Animal Control Laws Ex 22:1-15 Responsibility for Property Ex 22:16-31 Moral and Ceremonial Principles Ex 23:1-9 Justice for All Dt 1:1-8 The Previous Command to Enter Canaan Deuteronomy Dt 1:9-18 Tribal Leaders Appointed Dt 1:19-33 Israel's Refusal to Enter the Land Dt 1:34-46 The Penalty for Israel's Rebellion Dt 2:1-25 The Desert Years Dt 2:26-37 King Sihon Defeated Dt 3:1-11 King Og Defeated Dt 3:12-22 The Land East of the Jordan Divided Dt 3:23-29 Moses Forbidden to Enter the Land Dt 4:1-14 Moses Commands Obedience Dt 4:15-40 Beware of Idolatry Dt 4:41-43 Cities of Refuge East of the Jordan 2 Ki 4:1-7 Elisha and the Widow's Oil 2 Ki 4:8-37 Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son 2 Ki 4:38-41 Elisha Purifies the Pot of Stew 2 Ki 4:42-44 Elisha Feeds One Hundred Men 2 Ki 5:1-19 Naaman's Leprosy Healed 2 Ki 5:20-27 Gehazi's Greed 2 Ki 6:1-7 The Floating Ax Head 2 Ki 6:8-23 The Blinded Syrians Captured 2 Ki 6:24-7:2 Syria Besieges Samaria in Famine 2 Ki 7:3-20 The Syrians Flee 2 Ki 8:1-6 The King Restores the Shunammite's Land Am 1:1-2 Introduction Amos Am 1:3-2:3 Judgment on the Nations Am 2:4-5 Judgment on Judah Am 2:6-16 Judgment on Israel Am 3:1-8 Authority of the Prophet's Message Am 3:9-4:5 Punishment of Israel's Sins Am 4:6-13 Israel Did Not Accept Correction Am 5:1-3 A Lament for Israel Am 5:4-15 A Call to Repentance Am 5:16-27 The Day of the Lord Am 6:1-14 Warnings to Zion and Samaria Am 7:1-3 Vision of the Locusts Am 7:4-6 Vision of the Fire Am 7:7-9 Vision of the Plumb Line Am 7:10-17 Amaziah's Complaint Am 8:1-14 Vision of the Summer Fruit Am 9:1-10 The Destruction of Israel Am 9:11-15 Israel Will Be Restored Mt 8:1-4 The Leper is Cleansed Mt 8:5-13 The Centurion's Servant is Healed Mt 8:14-17 Peter's Mother-in-Law is Healed Mt 8:18-22 Demands of Discipleship Mt 8:23-27 The Sea is Stilled Mt 8:28-34 Demons are Cast into Swine Mt 9:1-8 The Paralytic is Forgiven Mt 9:9 Matthew is Called Mt 9:10-13 The Disciples Eat with Sinners Mt 9:14-17 The Disciples Do Not Fast Mt 9:18-26 Life is Restored Mt 9:27-31 Sight is Restored Mt 9:32-34 Speech is Restored Mt 9:35-38 The Need for Delegation of Power Mt 10:1-4 The Twelve Apostles are Sent Mt 10:5-15 The Twelve Apostles are Instructed - Jesus Sends out the Twelve Mt 10:16-25 The Twelve Apostles are Instructed - Persecution Will Come Mt 10:26-33 The Twelve Apostles are Instructed - Have no Fear Mt 10:34-39 "The Twelve Apostles are Instructed - Not Peace, But a Sword" Mt 10:40-11:1 The Twelve Apostles are Instructed - Rewards Ac 17:1-4 Preaching Christ at Thessalonica Ac 17:5-9 Assault on Jason's House Ac 17:10-15 Ministering at Berea Ac 17:16-21 The Philosophers at Athens Ac 17:22-34 Addressing the Areopagus Ac 18:1-17 Ministering at Corinth Ac 18:18-23 Paul Returns to Antioch Ac 18:24-28 Ministry of Apollos Ac 19:1-10 Paul at Ephesus Ac 19:11-20 Miracles Glorify Christ Ac 19:21-41 The Riot at Ephesus Ga 1:1-5 Greeting Galatians Ga 1:6-10 Only One Gospel Ga 1:11-17 Call to Apostleship Ga 1:18-24 Contacts at Jerusalem Ga 2:1-10 Defending the Gospel Ga 2:11-21 No Return to the Law Ga 3:1-9 Justification by Faith Ga 3:10-14 The Law Brings a Curse Ga 3:15-18 The Changeless Promise Ga 3:19-25 Purpose of the Law Ga 3:26-4:7 Sons and Heirs Ga 4:8-20 Fears for the Church Ga 4:21-31 Two Covenants Ga 5:1-6 Christian Liberty Ga 5:7-15 Love Fulfills the Law Ga 5:16-26 Walking in the Spirit Ga 6:1-5 Bear and Share the Burdens Ga 6:6-10 Be Generous and Do Good Ga 6:11-15 Glory Only in the Cross Ga 6:16-18 Blessing and a Plea Re 1:1-3 Introduction and Benediction Revelation Re 1:4-8 Greeting the Seven Churches Re 1:9-20 Vision of the Son of Man Re 2:1-7 The Loveless Church Re 2:8-11 The Persecuted Church Re 2:12-17 The Compromising Church Re 2:18-29 The Corrupt Church Re 3:1-6 The Dead Church Re 3:7-13 The Faithful Church Re 3:14-22 The Lukewarm Church

 

What is the target audience? That would have a major impact on my reaction and entries.

I can hear Don LaFontaine [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_LaFontaine]  now:

Ge 6:9-7:24 Noah and the Flood

"In a world under water, one man and his family rise to the occasion"

Bob,

Have you consider, when completed, instead of using it as a stand alone, include it in a version of the Bible (e.g KJV)? It can be as a hyperlink or as a supplemental unit in the back of the Bible, if the finished product is produced as a hardcopy. This will increase the likelihood of getting a newcomer to the Bible to see the context and read the full Word of God. It could be biblical training wheels. One word of caution, the Lead Editor, must make sure the summaries of the passages are accurate.

Lonnie,

 

Is your “too subjective” is applicable to Children’s Bibles?

 

What about singled authored paraphrases of the Bible (e.g. Eugene Petersen’s—The Message Bible; Jack Blinco’s – ClearWord Bible, etc.)?

 

What about paraphrases in general, are they “too subjective”?

 

Oh, What about the notes in Study Bibles, are they “too subjective” (Namely, Scrofield, etc.) too?

 

Would I be fair to say that you think the Selected Bible Verse Summary Project (future) is “too subjective” to be included in the KJV, as a stand-alone work or both? 

Graham Criddle:

I expect Faithlife have done what they are going to do with this by now

Do you know what it is?

All the more, the questions (above) remain.

Blind man loses social security benefits after chance encounter on Jericho Road.

Alms seekers warned to keep clear.