All Christians should study the scriptures (Bible), but many of us do not. There are too many of us who go to Church each Sunday, more to be entertained, than to learn.
"The Bible is the best selling, least-read and least-understood book." (attributed to Andy Dzurovcik of Faith Lutheran Church)One of the main reasons I began this project was that I spent several years mostly spinning my wheels (see discussion here) trying to learn the Bible. And when I DID find a pastor who taught a class on Beginning Bible Interpretation, he was teaching just below the semanary level. Great. But ...
From that course, I did learn the basics (I never did really rise to the level of his course) and more importantly, got turned on to several tools to learn. The tools are important because the Bible was written long ago in a civilization that was so different that most Americans do not even understand how they lived. And because, in any endeavor, there is an amount of jargon that must be learned so the things you read and the people you talk to make sense.
Well, maybe you are one of those who sat in the pews, sang, and listened, but never read the Bible. Now, for some reason, you are seeing the light. You just realised you need to know what is in that Book, and maybe you need to become a teacher.
Maybe your reasons are a little more mundane. You have heard too many people "quote" the "good book" and wonder if those things are really in the Good Book. There is a running joke among some of my friends, about things found in the book of Hezekiah. The joke is because there is no book of Hezekiah, and we say that when someone provides a "quote" that is no where in the Bible. There are also those who will quote things so far out of context that the quotation is completely without its original meaning.
Ultimately, this study is for those who want a real, but realistic, understanding of the Bible, but don't want to spend years spinning their wheels looking for how to make heads or tails of it. It is a beginning point, to start a journy of discovery of the Bilble and all of its riches.
I, myself, am only a few miles down this road,
but I invite others to come along.
It is well worth the effort.
2 comments:
Was researching Luke and discovered that it is unique to the Gospels and probably why you chose it.
I did find an interesting analyisis. It is not relevant to the 'Ephesus Project' but thought you might be interested if you have not read it before.
I can't discuss it even if you invited me to as I have to little knowledge to even know what is, or is not credible or worth arguing. Not to mention that I would be disappointed if I believed that the apostles were infallable in all matters. Seems to me they had some lively debate over mere 'clean food'. In retrospect it seems that their conclusion should have been the obvious and in no need of intense prayer. But maybe my view is the arrogance of knowledge (and truth) puffing up.
'Eye hatn not seen', 'Ear hath not heard' and 'we see through the glass darkly'
I find it ood that the vagueness is what actually attracts me.
Prolly cuz everything I can see and touch and understand ain tellin me diddly of what I rally wanna know.
Glad to have your thoughts. Yes, Like is somewhat unique, but each of the Gospels (except that Matthew and Mark are similar) is unique.
I originally had chosen Mark, as it is shorter and an easeier read for someone completely unfamiliar with the Bible, but went with Luke bacause it provides an additional coverage before and after what is covered in Mark, and also because it covers the Christmas story, which many Christians already are familiar.
The Apostles are not perfect or infallable in all matters, and espescially were not in their early days. In fact, a close study of Peter shows that he was somewhat dense - a finding that is greatly comforting to me.
TRex
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