Tag Archives: Bible study

Always learning and…

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While I was in Argentina, someone asked me what my college major had been. When I told them it had been Bible, they said, “How can you major in just one book?” I explained that it wasn’t really about one book, that we had studied many things concerning the Bible and what the Bible teaches.

I’ve come to realize that it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to major in just the Bible. After more than 30 years studying the Bible, it’s amazing to me how many things I haven’t understood before. Not just the small, obscure things. The big “duh” elements that seem so critical to understanding once I see them. Take, for example, what I wrote a while back about the promise made to Abraham. That’s a pretty central concept that I just hadn’t understood.

Or the fact that “organized worship” really didn’t exist before the establishment of the Passover. And that for a long period of time after that there were no weekly assemblies. Or the significance of Revelation 5. I could go on and on from there.

I anticipate spending a lifetime learning more about the Word of God. The more I study, the more I realize that I don’t know. I guess that’s part of learning to humble myself before God’s revelation, part of letting myself be mastered by God’s Word rather than seeking to master it.

Do you think that’s part of what “through a glass, darkly” means?

Bible software extras

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7 churchesAs I said before, I merely scratch the surface of what Accordance can do. I’m not good enough with the original languages to do some of the analysis that can be done, but I’m amazed by what I’ve seen others do.

I do make use of the Bible dictionaries at times. I’ve consulted some of the other works maybe a half dozen times: topical Bibles, old commentaries, etc. There are some nice articles in Spanish on the history of the canon, etc., that have been helpful for my radio program.

What I have used a number of times are the maps. I can get 2-D or 3-D maps, rotate the 3-D maps, measure distances and changes in elevation, and host of other things. I’ve found this helpful when studying the 7 churches of Revelation, for example, or for noting the elevation distance from Jerusalem to Jericho. (hence “a man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho” and all the statements about going up to Jerusalem) I could spend hours playing with that sort of thing.

I should point out a couple of things. One is that a growing number of these resources are available on the Internet. You don’t get the interconnectedness that you do by having them all in one program, but quality materials are there. The other is something that was discussed in the comments yesterday: these things are tools. Tools are used to help accomplish things. These tools help us do Bible study, prepare sermons, etc.; they don’t replace study itself. I don’t spend as long pulling books off the shelf or searching to find the information within those books. I do often include more resources than I might have otherwise. Surely that’s a good thing.

Bible software

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l24224655098_4097On my computer, I use a program called Accordance. To be honest, it’s probably a little much for me. That is, Accordance is used by lots of Bible scholars and researches; I don’t scratch the surface of the things it’s good for. Still, I’ve really come to like the tools I have at hand. If I had an unlimited source of funds, there are lots and lots of modules that I could add, but I’m happy enough with what I have.

My main working setup has five versions of the Bible open on the screen, in this order: the New International Version, Dios Habla Hoy (Spanish modern version), the KIng James Version w/ Strong’s numbers, the Reina-Valera 1960 Version (most used Spanish version), and the English Standard Version. Under these panes, I have the notes from the NIV study Bible, cross references from the ESV, and the notes from the DHH study Bible. To be honest, this set-up goes back to my days as a “local preacher”; I often close several of these after opening. I also have  a separate file that I open when preparing my radio program which only has the DHH open.

The power of these programs, of course, are the links. I can triple click a word in the NIV and it will bring up that word in the NIV Bible Dictionary. Or I can select a place name and have the Map module open with that place on the screen. Triple clicking in the KJV shows the word’s Strong’s concordance number, with the original word and a lexical definition of that word. All of the text references in the notes I have at the bottom of the page are clickable, letting me quickly jump to related passages.

And no, I’m not trying to sell Accordance. Lots of Bible programs can do the same things, I’m sure, including Internet-only sources. I just want to let you know what I use.

Just readin’

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I find myself in a strange position. I have advocated that our churches spend more time in public reading of Scripture. Now I’ve been involved in several classes practicing what they call lectio divina, although from what I’ve read, lectio divina is a personal activity featuring much mediation and prayer. Anyway, these classes read long passages of scripture, then ask people to comment on words or phrases that jump out at them. One benefit of this is that the newest convert and the longtime student of the Bible are on equal ground; everyone can comment, as it’s all subjective. The problem I see is that we tend to treat the texts very superficially. No thought given to context, no thought given to genre, no thoughts given to the purpose or themes of the book, etc.

What do you think? Is this a good way to let the Bible speak for itself? Or is this akin to the old “What does this verse mean? — It means what it says”? Let me comment that I’m currently in a class with a few longtime Christians and a good number of new Christians. Is there a better way to share in Bible study in such a setting?

“My Word will not return unto me void”

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“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Is 55:11 KJV)

This verse is sometimes used to say that giving people a Bible is enough, for it is God’s Word and God’s Word will not return void. Personally, I don’t think that’s what this verse is saying. I think that “my word” here refers to God uttering a decree; when God says something it will happen.

Still I have long held to the belief that anyone can and should be able to understand the Bible on their own and, through that understanding, learn the truth and become a Christian. While still believing in the power of God’s Word, I have some doubts about that exact process. Here’s why:

  1. As I’ve been discussing recently, God’s Word was not originally delivered in book form, not originally distributed to the masses in book form as it is today. Therefore, that cannot have been God’s original plan. It could be a way for people to come to the truth, but it’s certainly not intended to be the most important way. In fact, this whole idea didn’t spring up until the last few centuries, when printed Bibles were readily available.

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  2. The Bible never makes the claim that everyone can just read it and understand it. As troubling as that sounds, it’s true. Faith in biblical times was not built around people sitting at home reading God’s Word. They had to come together to do it. And they didn’t have trouble with the idea that someone would need to explain it.Look at Nehemiah 8, when Ezra stood and read the Book of the Law to the people following their return from exile. Notice that the Levites were explaining the meaning as Ezra read: “Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.  And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.” (Nehemiah 8:7-9 ESV)

    Look also at the eunuch’s words in Acts 8: “So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” (Acts 8:30-31 ESV) Philip didn’t reprimand him saying: “Of course you can understand. Anyone can.” He taught him.

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  3. I cannot think of even one example in the Bible where evangelism is done by giving someone a Bible. Again, look at Philip and the eunuch. The eunuch had the Bible in his hand, yet Philip was sent to teach him. I believe in the Bible and the power of the Bible. I just don’t see where God says, “Hand out these books and people will become Christians.”

God works through people and through relationships. He always sent a prophet. He didn’t just hand Moses a book. Jesus wrote no book. People need God’s Word, but “Bible-only” evangelism isn’t God’s way.