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What is Marianne Manley's website about?
Marianne Manley's site is the personal ministry and author hub of a retired nurse-midwife who now writes and teaches about "rightly dividing" the King James Bible. It serves two connected audiences: readers of her Bible-study books and materials, and people interested in her earlier writing on Christian homebirth and natural childbirth.
The Bible side centres on her book God's Secret, described as a 100-page, picture-illustrated overview of the Bible organised into Past, Present and Future sections, offered in several print and electronic editions plus a Spanish version. The site also points to a San Diego Bible study that can be streamed online, and offers free downloads. The homebirth side covers her midwife books written before retirement.
For a reader deciding whether the site is useful, the practical next step is to check the free downloads or the book description first: if you want a short, visual introduction to her approach to the King James text, God's Secret is the entry point; if your interest is Christian natural childbirth, look at the midwife books instead. The site itself is a small author platform rather than a full study library, so expect it to direct you elsewhere for the books.
How can I join Marianne Manley's Bible study in San Diego or stream it online?
Start with the Bible study page on Marianne Manley. It lists the current schedule and the button for joining the San Diego study or the online stream. The site notes that the day and start time change from time to time, so check that page before you travel or tune in rather than relying on an earlier announcement.
What to expect
- In person: a Bible study in San Diego, described on the site as open to visitors, with the current schedule posted on the site.
- Online: Marianne's sessions are streamed on Facebook, YouTube and other sites, so the study page is the place to confirm which stream is active for a given week.
- Format: the teaching follows "rightly dividing" the King James Version (2 Timothy 2:15), Marianne's main subject as a retired nurse-midwife turned author and teacher.
A practical next step
If you are local, check the schedule a day or two ahead, then arrive a few minutes early for a first visit. If you are streaming, open the listed channel at the posted start time and keep the study page handy in case the day or time has shifted. For background before you join, her book God's Secret is described as a 100-page, picture-based overview organized into Past, Present and Future, with a black-and-white edition aimed at group use.
What does 'rightly dividing' mean in the context of the King James Bible?
In this context, "rightly dividing" refers to a method of reading the King James Bible that treats it as organized into distinct periods—often called dispensations—so that passages are applied according to the audience and era they address. The phrase comes from 2 Timothy 2:15, and on Marianne Manley the site describes it as a way to "understand the Bible better" by sorting Scripture into Past, Present, and Future sections. The aim is to avoid applying instructions meant for one group or time directly to another.
What it looks like in practice
- Ask who is being addressed. A command given to Israel, for example, may function differently than instructions given to the church.
- Ask when it applies. The site's Past–Present–Future structure suggests readers place passages within a timeline rather than treating every verse as equally directive today.
- Keep the King James text central. Manley uses the Authorized (King James) Version as her base text, so the method is tied to close reading of that translation rather than to comparing multiple versions.
Who it suits, and the trade-off
This approach appeals to readers who feel that mixing all biblical commands together creates confusion, and who want a structured framework for study. The trade-off is that right division requires interpretive decisions: readers must judge where one period ends and another begins, and different teachers draw those lines differently. Someone using this method should expect to compare passages carefully rather than simply look up a verse for a quick answer.
A useful next step
Take one topic—say, baptism or dietary rules—and list the passages that address it, noting whom each passage addresses and where it falls in the Past–Present–Future scheme. That exercise shows whether right division clarifies the text for you or raises more questions than it settles. Manley's God's Secret is presented on the site as a short, picture-based overview of this method, which could serve as a starting point before tackling longer commentaries.
Is God's Secret suitable for a beginner or small-group Bible study, and which edition should I choose?
Yes. God's Secret is written as an accessible overview rather than a scholarly commentary, and the site explicitly presents the black-and-white edition as "great for a Bible study group." Its stated design—a roughly 100-page overview organized into Past, Present, and Future, with pictures—fits a beginner who wants the big picture of "right division" before tackling denser material.
Who it suits
- Newcomers to right division: The stated aim is an "easy, clear, concise way to learn right division," so a reader with no background can start here.
- Small groups: Short sections and a visual layout make it easy to assign a chunk per meeting; the author also runs a San Diego and online Bible study you could follow alongside it.
- Readers committed to the King James Version: The material assumes the KJV/Authorized Version, so groups using other translations should expect to cross-reference.
Choosing an edition
| Edition | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | Long-term personal use, lending | Highest cost |
| Paperback | Individual study | Less durable than hardcover |
| Kindle | Reading on phone or tablet, quick searching | No physical copy to pass around |
| Black-and-white print | Group study, tight budgets | No color in the pictures |
| Spanish edition | Spanish-speaking readers or mixed-language groups | Same content, different language |
Practical next step
For a small group, start with the black-and-white edition for each member and one color copy for the facilitator, so the pictures stay legible when discussed aloud. Before committing, check the current schedule on Marianne Manley and watch one streamed session to confirm the teaching style matches your group. If your group wants a midwife-focused resource instead, note that the site separates those books from the Bible-study titles—this book is the right-division one.
Which of Marianne Manley's books cover Christian homebirth and natural childbirth?
Marianne Manley's site sorts her books into two groups: works on "rightly dividing" the King James Bible, and her earlier midwife books on Christian natural childbirth at home with a midwife. The homebirth titles are the second group; the site does not name them individually on the page, so use the Books section to see the specific titles and formats.
The clearest fit for a reader curious about her childbirth writing is that midwife category rather than God's Secret, which is a Bible overview organized into Past, Present and Future sections. If you are choosing between them, decide by purpose: homebirth and natural childbirth guidance points to the midwife books, while Bible study method points to the right-division titles. Her background as a retired RN and certified nurse-midwife is the link between the two.
As a next step, open the Books page on Marianne Manley and look for the midwife section to confirm exact titles and editions before buying.
Where can I find free downloads or support this ministry?
Free downloads are listed on the site's "Free downloads" section, and giving to the ministry is handled through the "Help this ministry" page. Both appear in the site navigation of Marianne Manley, alongside the Bible study, books and homebirth pages.
What each area is for
- Free downloads: Start here if you want sample material before buying a book. The site describes God's Secret as a 100-page, picture-based overview of the Bible in Past, Present and Future sections, so a download is a sensible way to test whether that visual, right-division approach suits you.
- Help this ministry: This is the giving route for readers who want to support the teaching work rather than purchase a book. The site also points to the author's Amazon page for books, which is the buying route rather than the donation route.
A practical next step
If you are new to "rightly dividing" teaching, download the free material first and read a few pages alongside your King James Bible. If the Past–Present–Future framework makes sense to you, the black-and-white edition described on the site is positioned for budget buyers and study groups. If you mainly want to support the teaching, use the ministry page instead. For a wider set of free Bible-study resources, compare with Blue Letter Bible or BibleGateway.
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