How to Read the Bible…

Bible: Greek from “The Books”Beringer 2008 Chenin Blanc

Setting the Context…

Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." -- St. Jerome, A.D. 340-420

It is a fact of history that in the time of Christ the Jews were in possession of sacred books, which differed widely from one another in subject, style, origin and scope, and it is also a fact that they regarded all such writings as invested with a character which distinguished them from all other books. This was the Divine authority of every one of these books and of every part of each book. This belief of the Jews was confirmed by Our Lord and His Apostles; for they supposed its truth in their teaching, used it as a foundation of their doctrine, and intimately connected with it the religious system of which they were the founders. The books thus approved were handed down to the Christian Church as the written record of Divine revelation before the coming of Christ. The truths of Christian revelation were made known to the Apostles either by Christ Himself or by the Holy Ghost. They constitute what is called the Deposit of Faith, to which nothing has been added since the Apostolic Age. Some of the truths were committed to writing under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and have been handed down to us in the books of the New Testament. Written originally to individual Churches or persons, to meet particular necessities, and accommodated as they all were to particular and existing circumstances, these books were gradually received by the universal Church as inspired, and with the sacred books of the Jews constitute the Bible.

Extremely Quick and Simplified History of the Bible

• The Deposit of Faith– Sacred Tradition– Sacred Scripture

Setting the Context for the Conversation…

Catechism of the Catholic Church

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADITION AND SACRED SCRIPTURE

. . . two distinct modes of transmission

81 "Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit."42

"And [Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their preaching."43

82 As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, "does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence."

But in learning the Faith and in professing it, acquire and keep that only, which is now delivered to thee by the Church, and which has been built up strongly out of all the Scriptures....Take heed then, brethren, and hold fast the traditions which ye now receive, and write them and the table of your heart." Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 5:12 (A.D. 350).

Things to Keep in Mind When Reading the Bible…

•The Bible is meant to be read as a complete whole – GN-Rev. •Although we read and study individual passages from Scripture, we must always keep our interpretation within the whole of the Canon. Both OT and NT

•The Bible is meant to be read within the context of the community. •This was evident in the OT and also the NT

•2 Peter 1:16-2:1•We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming 9 of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father 10 when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, "This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased." 18 We 11 ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 12 Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, 21 for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God.

•The Bible can be read with the follow approaches in mind…

•Historical Method- “Holy Scripture inasmuch as it is the “WORD OF GOD IN HUMAN LANGUAGE” has been composes by human authors in all its various parts and in al the sources that lie behind them.

•Literary Analysis- Is the passage a poem, a narrative? Who is the author, the speaker, the audience?

•Tradition- How has particular passages been interpreted over time. Example: John 6: 53 “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you do not have life within you.”

•Human Science- Sociological Approach (considering social conditions of the time especially economic and institutional) Cultural anthropology (considering language, art, religion, celebration) Psychological (considering experience of life and norms of behavior)

What's the difference between a "Catholic Bible" and a "Protestant Bible"? Catholic and Protestant Bibles both include 27 books in the New Testament. Protestant Bibles have only 39 books in the Old Testament, however, while Catholic Bibles have 46. The seven books included in Catholic Bibles are Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch. Catholic Bibles also include sections in the Books of Esther and Daniel which are not found in Protestant Bibles. These books are called the deuterocanonical books. The Catholic Church considers these books to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.

USCCB Website

Practical Approaches to falling in love with reading the Bible…

Question… “If we truly believe that the Bible is the Holy Word of God, if we truly believe that God speaks to us, communicates with us through Sacred Scripture… wouldn’t we want to make time to read and understand it?”

Response-Bible Studies… Little Rock Scripture Study, Journey Through the

Bible and other online Bible Studies… (Lets talk methodology)

Mass Readings… Following the lectionary. A, B, C years… Year 1 & 2Helpful Resources- Word Among Us, Magnificat, Living Word, USCCBPodcasts etc..

Reading of SS with a good Biblical Commentary… St. Jerome Biblical Commentary…

Prayerful Reading of Scripture…

Lectio Divina

•lectio (reading): "looking on Holy Scripture with all one's will and wit"

•meditatio (meditation): "a studious insearching with the mind to know what was before concealed through desiring proper skill"

•oratio (prayer): "a devout desiring of the heart to get what is good and avoid what is evil"

•contemplatio (contemplation): "the lifting up of the heart to God tasting somewhat of the heavenly sweetness and savour"