by Otto D. Batty

Otto D. Batty received most of his education from parochial schools. His first nine years were at Bethlehem Christian School in Kennewick, Washington, graduated from Concordia College-High School in Portland, Oregon in 1956. He received his A.A. degree from Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington in 1969, and B.A. degree in Education from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington in 1976. Otto majored in Social Studies with a strong emphasis in History. In 1961 while in Wyoming, Otto developed a great love for the Scripture. Over the years, he read 23 different translations and paraphrases of the Bible. He even read the Bible backwards from Revelation to Genesis. When asked why, he simply replied, 'Just for fun.' However, he wouldn't do it again or recommend it, saying 'It was chronologically distracting.' Otto has taught many Sunday School classes to both teenagers and adults. This work emerged out of those life experiences. The more Otto read the scripture the more he became excited about what he 'discovered.' It was quite a surprise to him to learn so many believers had never read the whole Bible through once. Filled with a hunger to encourage others to read and find the 'gems' he found in the Scripture, in 1985 he wrote and taught this Bible Study with a twist. The emphasis is on 'discovering the gems,' not theology or doctrine. It is fast paced, fun, and simple. Its primary purpose; to encourage believers to apply Romans 10:17, 'faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.