What would you want to see as one of the main subjects of an "absolute beginner's book on the Bible"?

With no prior knowledge of the “beginner’s guide” that you are referring to, I would guess that it contains simply an abridged version of the best known stories in the bible. So, the creation of the Earth and man, Cain and Abel, Noah’s flood, all that kind of thing – but in simplified, easy to read versions.

If it were meant to be a summary of philosophies, or ideas to carry around to help one live their life better, I would expect it to have a different title, like “Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Christian Teachings” or something.

Alternatively, it could be a guide to how the bible was written – a brief history of all the people who contributed books and translations, and how it was decided which texts would be included. But, again, I suspect such a book would have a more descriptive title, so that potential buyers would know that they were getting that type of book.

^ If it were meant to be a summary of philosophies, or ideas to carry around to help one live their life better, I would expect it to have a different title, like “Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Christian Teachings” or something.
Let’s look at it from a information book on what they Bible is about, and the faith behind it, not so much as this particular book, but any garden variety book explaining the teachings of the Bible and the attributes thereof; such as faith is, and this is how it works, salvation is, and this is how to get it, etc.

Well, that would be a pretty short book. Really, the only criterion for salvation is the acceptance of Jesus as saviour. Anything else is just window trimmings.

TO me forgiveness & compassion (by Jesus) should be/ is the main principle of the Bible.

An explanation as to why certain books were chosen and others rejected for inclusion in the Bible.

Old Testament or New?

Lilith, Adam’s first wife.

Genocide, slavery, misogyny, and how it is all good and just when dicated by “god”.

Like anything you buy, start with the reviews and of course..do your own research

The disclaimer that one understands that this is a The greatest STORY ever told and there is no proof that said story is a work of fact over fiction.

That would be very easy, FOLLOW GOD’S word , NOT MAN’S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

isn’t the Bible really just giving us boundaries, to curb our instincts for the sake of the ‘tribe’?

Whose tribe?

God’s plan for mankind and the true meaning of love.

@Gailcalled The human tribe? Moses’? Murder & coveting are still applicable.

unless you are a little midianite boy, or one of the egyptian first borns

@LostInParadise An explanation as to why certain books were chosen and others rejected for inclusion in the Bible.
Seeing that is not in the Bible text, it would not be able to be explained in a beginners’ user manual for the Bible.

@anbb Old Testament or New?
The whole Bible, so it would be both old and new.

@Espiritus_Corvus Lilith, Adam’s first wife.
Seeing that is not in the Bible text, it would not be able to be explained in a beginners’ user manual for the Bible.

@ragingloli Genocide, slavery, misogyny, and how it is all good and just when dicated by “god”.
The Bible could explain why some of those conditions existed, but it wasn’t because God dictated it, and the other “gods” and their requirements were rarely spoken of.

@KNOWITALL isn’t the Bible really just giving us boundaries, to curb our instincts for the sake of the ‘tribe’?
It is more than that, actually, but if you so think so, which of these ”guidelines” you feel is best covered as one of the main subjects in a Beginner’s Bible Guide?

@Hc I Know it’s more than that, but to those who don’t believe in God, perhaps that’s a beginning.

@KNOWITALL @Hc I Know it’s more than that, but to those who don’t believe in God, perhaps that’s a beginning.
In the construct of showing a newbie or seeker why and how following God’s commandments in the Bible will promote a peaceful and healthy life, and relationships, I can go with that. ;-)

Literal vs allegorical. Is it truly true, or is it supposed to be interpreted?