Truth, Legend, and the Stories You Thought You Knew Tradition suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute and Jesus was born in a barn. But what does the Bible really say? Armed with her theology degree, archaeological experience, and sharp wit, Amanda Hope Haley clears up misconceptions of Bible stories and encourages you to dig into Scripture as it is written rather than accept versions altered by centuries of human interpretations. Providing context with native languages, historical facts, literary genres, and relevant anecdotes, Haley demonstrates how Scripturewhen read in its original contextis more than a collection of fairy tales or a massive rule book. It's God's revelation of Himself to us. She teaches you tounderstand how the books of the Bible were written, transmitted, and translatedrecognize the differences between genuine Scripture and popular doctrinesboldly seek God in His own words, ask questions of tradition, and find answers in the textsgrow in your understanding of God and appreciation of the Bible's intimate and complex revelation of His natureIt's time to abandon the gods of tradition, and meet God in His Word.