Bible Study Methods

Interpretive Principles of Reading Bible

§The authority of the apostles and the Church preceded the New Testament writings, and the traditions of the Church is an equally infallible authority flowing from the same divine well spring (CCC80-83)
o History of New Testament:
Oldest books: Epistles of Paul written around 40, 50 AD
Mark: 60- 70 AD
Matthew: 70-100 AD
Luke: 50-100 AD
John: 90-100 AD
o The first the list of books in Modern NT is canonized in 382 AD under Pope Damasus in Council of Rome.
o How did they choose:
…(Apostolic Tradition) comes from the apostles and hands on what they received from Jesus' teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy Spirit. The first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living Tradition. (CCC83)
o Ephesians 2:19-20 …you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

§ The authoritative interpretation of the Bible is the prerogative of the Catholic Church through the living Magisterium (CCC 85-88)
o Magisterium (from the Latin magister, "teacher"): the teaching ability and authority of the Pope and those Bishops who are in union with him.
o 2 Tim 3:14,: "continue in the things you have learned ...knowing from whom you have learned them."
o 2 Tim 2:2:...things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

§ The Bible is not always easy to understand and needs to be considered within its historical and contextual framework- within the community to which it belongs.
o 2 Pet 3:15-16: ... as also in all his (St. Paul's) letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
o Bible: written in 2000 years, cover ??? years history, hundreds of authors.
o 73 Books including History, Laws, Poetry, letters…
o Bible consists of the eternal truths divinely revealed within the context of embedded cultural condition.

§ Individuals can and must interpret the Bible within the frame work of the Church’s authoritative teaching, not based on their “own (private) interpretation.
o 1 Tim 3:15:... you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
o 2 Pet 1:20-21: But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation; for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will…

Bible Study Methods (Protestant Principles)
§ No infallible authority outside the Bible alone
§ No official interpretation or interpreter
§ Bible is easy to understand
§ Any individual can read the Bible and interpret it for himself

Misconceptions among Catholics
§ Leave it to the professionals
§ Too “Protestant”?
§ Lead to misinterpret it and end up confused

Bible Study Methods
4 steps of reading Bible:
1. Observe:
o Read the passage in context. Try to follow the author and read the passage in large context, not just the verse or two in question.
o The chapter and verse divisions of the Bible were not part of the original text.

2. Inquire:
o Ask questions (lots of them)
o Who, when, why, where

3. Interpret:
o Research books (Bible commentaries, dictionaries, history books, encyclopedias…)
o Compare scripture with scripture.
o How Church interpreted a passage throughout history.
o Catechism (CCC)
o The NIHIL OBSTAT and IMPRIMATUR are official declarations that a book or a pamphlet is free from doctrinal or moral error.

4. Apply:
o change our lives and bring us to a closer union with God

Tools to Use
§Bible
o Literal translations: hard to read
o Dynamic texts: denominational bias
1 Corinthians 11:2, Matthew 6:7

§New American Bible
§Catechism of the Catholic Church
§St. John's Gospel: A Bible Study Guide and Commentary for Individuals and Groups by Stephen K Ray
http://www.amazon.com/St-Johns-Gospel-Commentary-Individuals/dp/0898708214/ref=sr_1_1/104-2045964-2890325?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174518991&sr=8-1
§Web site: for questions, comments
http://eastside-biblestudy.blogspot.com/

My Vision
§Our journey
§Teach us how to fish
§Build leader
§Prayer