UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
they wear T-shirts sporting Bible verses.
Some biblical passages have become popular maxims, like, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12)," or "Love thy neighbor" (Matthew 22:39).
But I have this nagging feeling that a good many people use Scripture the wrong way, or for the wrong reasons.
With that in mind, I share this.
To that end, listed here are 10 points for fruitful Scripture reading.
1.Bible reading is for Catholics, too.
4. The Bible isn't a book. It's a library.
The Bible is a collection of 73 ancient books written and compiled over the course of many centuries, across widely different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
7. The Old relates to the New.
The Old Testament and the New Testament shed light on each other. While we might be tempted to read the Old Testament only in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus, it has its own value, as well.
Together, these testaments help us to understand God's total plan for human beings.
With that in mind, I share this.
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Today's Catholic is called to take an intelligent, spiritual approach to the bible. Ditto for all Christians.To that end, listed here are 10 points for fruitful Scripture reading.
1.Bible reading is for Catholics, too.
There is this crazy idea among non-Catholics, going back to medieval times, that the Church forbids Catholics from reading the Bible. That is ridiculous, of course.
However, the Church takes a slightly different approach to it than many.
The Church encourages Catholics to make reading the Bible part of their daily *prayer* lives. Reading these inspired words, the aim is for people to grow deeper in their connection with God, and come to understand their place in the community God has called to Himself.
Prayer is the beginning and the end of that.
2. Reading the Bible is not like reading a novel or a history book.
It is also not a book to be "cherry-picked" to pieces.
Rather, it should begin with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to the FULL scope of the Word of God.
Scripture reading should end with a prayer that this Word will bear fruit in our lives, helping us to become holier and more faithful people.
3. Get the whole story!
Whether you're a Catholic or not, select a Catholic edition Bible. Why?
A Catholic edition will include the Church's complete list of original sacred books, those deemed worthy of inclusion from the very beginning - in the relationship they were ordered in.
Later Bibles that come from non-Catholic sources will have books removed, shuffled around, and with errors in translation...some deliberate.
Also, using a Catholic Bible also means you get in-depth introductions, scholarly examinations, and extensive notes for understanding the texts.
Moreover, a Catholic edition will have an imprimatur notice on the back of the title page. An imprimatur indicates that the book is free of errors in ORIGINAL Christian doctrine, and that it is derived from, and adheres as closely as possible to, the original texts as we have them.
However, the Church takes a slightly different approach to it than many.
The Church encourages Catholics to make reading the Bible part of their daily *prayer* lives. Reading these inspired words, the aim is for people to grow deeper in their connection with God, and come to understand their place in the community God has called to Himself.
Prayer is the beginning and the end of that.
2. Reading the Bible is not like reading a novel or a history book.
It is also not a book to be "cherry-picked" to pieces.
Rather, it should begin with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to the FULL scope of the Word of God.
Scripture reading should end with a prayer that this Word will bear fruit in our lives, helping us to become holier and more faithful people.
3. Get the whole story!
Whether you're a Catholic or not, select a Catholic edition Bible. Why?
A Catholic edition will include the Church's complete list of original sacred books, those deemed worthy of inclusion from the very beginning - in the relationship they were ordered in.
Later Bibles that come from non-Catholic sources will have books removed, shuffled around, and with errors in translation...some deliberate.
Also, using a Catholic Bible also means you get in-depth introductions, scholarly examinations, and extensive notes for understanding the texts.
Moreover, a Catholic edition will have an imprimatur notice on the back of the title page. An imprimatur indicates that the book is free of errors in ORIGINAL Christian doctrine, and that it is derived from, and adheres as closely as possible to, the original texts as we have them.
4. The Bible isn't a book. It's a library.
The Bible is a collection of 73 ancient books written and compiled over the course of many centuries, across widely different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
The books include royal histories, prophecy, poetry, challenging letters to struggling new faith communities, believers' accounts of the preaching and passion of Jesus, amd the actions of His faithful Apostles and their successors.
(What it doesn't include is anything that Jesus, Himself, put in there, so be advised.)
(What it doesn't include is anything that Jesus, Himself, put in there, so be advised.)
Knowing the cultural background, genre, and type of the book you are reading will help you understand the literary tools the ancient author(s) employed, and the meaning they were trying to convey.
5. Know what the Bible is – and what it isn't.
The Bible is the story of God's relationship with the people he has called to himself. Although modern archeology and science are finding more more validation for the Bible, it is not intended as a history text, a science book, or a quasi-political manifesto with which to win arguments.
In the Bible, God teaches us the truths that we need for the sake of our salvation. That is its purpose.
6. The sum is greater than the parts.
- Read the Bible in context.
- Understand the Bible in context.
-Apply the Bible in context.
5. Know what the Bible is – and what it isn't.
The Bible is the story of God's relationship with the people he has called to himself. Although modern archeology and science are finding more more validation for the Bible, it is not intended as a history text, a science book, or a quasi-political manifesto with which to win arguments.
In the Bible, God teaches us the truths that we need for the sake of our salvation. That is its purpose.
6. The sum is greater than the parts.
- Read the Bible in context.
- Understand the Bible in context.
-Apply the Bible in context.
Did I mention that the Bible should be taken as a whole, and in context?
This is SUPER CRUCIAL.
When reading a particular passage, read well before it, and well after it – even where it leads to, and where relates to other books.
Don't just sit on one line of Scripture as an end-all capture.
That's a big mistake, one that many, many people today are making.
Reading the Bible in a contextual way is more effort, yes, and it tends to shut down a lot of the wild, derived commentary that results from cherry-picking verses.
But, doing it this way helps you to understand the true meaning of the text.
This is SUPER CRUCIAL.
When reading a particular passage, read well before it, and well after it – even where it leads to, and where relates to other books.
Don't just sit on one line of Scripture as an end-all capture.
That's a big mistake, one that many, many people today are making.
Reading the Bible in a contextual way is more effort, yes, and it tends to shut down a lot of the wild, derived commentary that results from cherry-picking verses.
But, doing it this way helps you to understand the true meaning of the text.
7. The Old relates to the New.
The Old Testament and the New Testament shed light on each other. While we might be tempted to read the Old Testament only in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus, it has its own value, as well.
Together, these testaments help us to understand God's total plan for human beings.
And remember, Jesus admonished us to respect, understand, and value the Hebrew law that He fufilled. So do that.
8. You do not read alone.
By reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture, you join those faithful men and women who have taken God's Word to heart and put it into practice in their lives.
8. You do not read alone.
By reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture, you join those faithful men and women who have taken God's Word to heart and put it into practice in their lives.
We read the Bible within the tradition of the Church, to benefit from the holiness and wisdom of all the faithful....millions of which have gone before us over 2,000 years.
Their inspiration has something to say to us about how we live the Scripture, but also what the Scripture is telling us.
9. What is God saying to me?
But the Bible is not addressed only to long-dead people in a faraway land. It is addressed to each of us in our own unique situations. When we read, we need to understand what the text says and how the faithful have understood its meaning in the past. That's really important, because self-interpreting the Bible is something the Bible itself warns us against.
In light of this understanding, we then ask:
"What have others shown that God is saying, and what is God saying to me?"
10. Reading isn't enough.
If Scripture remains just words on a page, our work is not done. We need to meditate on the message and put it into action in our lives.
Only then can the word be "living and effective."(Hebrews 4:12).
Adapted from an article by Mary Elizabeth Sperry, Associate Director for Utilization of the New American Bible.
Ref
1. https://www.usccb.org/bible/understanding-the-bible
9. What is God saying to me?
But the Bible is not addressed only to long-dead people in a faraway land. It is addressed to each of us in our own unique situations. When we read, we need to understand what the text says and how the faithful have understood its meaning in the past. That's really important, because self-interpreting the Bible is something the Bible itself warns us against.
In light of this understanding, we then ask:
"What have others shown that God is saying, and what is God saying to me?"
10. Reading isn't enough.
If Scripture remains just words on a page, our work is not done. We need to meditate on the message and put it into action in our lives.
Only then can the word be "living and effective."(Hebrews 4:12).
Adapted from an article by Mary Elizabeth Sperry, Associate Director for Utilization of the New American Bible.
Ref
1. https://www.usccb.org/bible/understanding-the-bible
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