The Bible for the Biblically Challenged. St. John s in the Wilderness Episcopal Church Rally Sunday, September 10, 2006

Transcription

1 The Bible for the Biblically Challenged St. John s in the Wilderness Episcopal Church Rally Sunday, September 10, 2006

2 Why Read the Bible? More than just a book Part of our heritage as Christians/Anglicans Christian roots in Hebrew Bible Anglicans insisted on right to read the Bible in our own language Many prayers, words, phrases in the BCP are from the Bible Contemporary attitudes toward Bible reading are complicated We are less biblically literate than our forebears Anglicans hesitate to read it Don t know enough about it Uncomfortable about belief in biblical authority 2

3 (Very) Brief History of the Bible Originally oral traditions, later written and collected Ancient Jewish scrolls kept in temples (now our Older Testament) Still use scrolls in their worship today Codex volumes in use within first half century after Christ, often in Greek Christian letters and writings collected in what we call New Testament Both together became our Bible 3

4 (Very) Brief History of the Bible (continued) Latin Vulgate in large, expensive volumes after 5 th C. in churches, universities Unavailable to common person huge, expensive Generally couldn t read or write anyway Knowledge is power became property of clergy, learned Gutenberg Bible (1456) similar, but a watershed First portable book in 1490; two decades till Bible printed this way Reformers (early 16 th C.) insisted on vernacular Bibles Word available to all Early publishers (Tyndale, others) put to death because of vernacular bibles End of 16 th C.: Bibles cheap, easy to purchase and read More people literate because of available Bibles Often the only book available to most of population 4

5 First, do no harm Bible not meant to be used as a weapon of destruction, but a guide for life Recounts salvation history along with human history Messy, puzzling, contradictory No one right way to read or interpret Many perspectives Many interpretations Best in community, aloud, in regular reading sessions Changes the reader as well as the listener Worship (Eucharist, Daily Office) Bible study Meditation/Lectio Divina 5

6 What Is Needed? Conviction that God speaks to us through the Bible Prayerful attitude toward learning Open heart, open mind Respect for other s views and opinions Curiosity, and a love of surprises! A Bible almost any version will do A few tools 6

7 Open the Book References by book, chapter, and verse Page numbers vary by version (ignore them) May be numbered by OT and NT Nothing sacred about numbering! Not written this way! Running head = book or letter Place in history, attribution, description May vary by Jewish, Roman Catholic, other Some may contain more or fewer books Apocrypha = things hidden extra canonical books 7

8 How Does It Look? Traditional, study Bibles in columns with extensive notes Encourage study, rereading in context Contemporary language, full-page text Ease of reading, like modern story Understand that there are many translations from many languages of ancient texts no two alike Helpful to have two or more translations of one text to reveal larger meaning Bible commentaries helpful to understand different views, possible meanings 8

9 YHWH or LORD? Why Does It Say. Hebrew tradition God s name holy, unspeakable ( I AM WHO I AM ) Jewish YHWH became LORD in our translations Why are some words red, others not? Some versions give Jesus words in red Why are some words in italics? Some translations put questionable words in italics to help us understand that they are not exact translations 9

10 Historical Ways of Reading Allegory one thing represents another Pesher interpreting current events as foretold in Scripture Midrash use one verse to illuminate another Often a conversation over generations Meaning open and expanding New Testament sometimes described as a commentary on the Older Testament Places Jesus as fulfillment of OT 10

11 Later Understandings Began as oral tradition Family stories around campfires Many authors, traditions before written down Many writings not included in canon Many kinds of writings different readings Law codes Songs Proverbs Sagas Histories Genealogies Allegories Poems Apocalypses Prophecies Letters Oracles Larger pattern of truth seen in an overview Read study notes if available to understand context Read different kinds of texts Observe differences in mood Song of Solomon vs. Lamentations vs. Numbers 11

12 Different Translations 20+ in English alone; FIND ONE FOR YOU! Varied emphasis, wording, ease of reading Some more conservative, others less Newer versions with updated, expansive language None are exact! Importance is in the whole story Episcopalians look toward both catholic and reformed Bible traditions Word shared by community, not one person Preaching important, but not sole means of life No specific requirements for which translations we may read in private or in study 12

13 Fourfold Method Medieval way of reading in levels Primary what does it say in words? Allegorical what could it mean? Moral what is it telling us about life/god? Mystical what is the Spirit saying? What does it say to me? All contribute to the spiritual sense of total meaning Contemporary readers tend to be much more realistic and miss the larger point What the Spirit is saying/doing in history and our story 13

14 Bible Study/Interpretation Originally intended to be read orally Not just reader, but speaker and hearer Active reading experience Created community, spread the Gospel Each person new at some time to reading/hearing it Medieval practice of lectio divina holy reading involved whole person Reformation, printing led to individual emphasis, sola scriptura scripture alone Scriptural literalism vs. biblical criticism Most feel they have to take sides or avoid the fray 14

15 Helpful Tools Commentaries: Many available/many viewpoints Liberal, conservative, fundamentalist, feminist, ethnic, etc. All give their own viewpoints None is correct Most are helpful Know where your commentary comes from! Okay to disagree! Concordance (word/phrase finder) Strong s is standard; others available Bible dictionary definitions, pronunciations Online/other technical tools Software many have multiple versions, concordance, etc. Available for pc s and Palm-type devices Websites (Google bible ) Find multiple versions; concordance, often history and help pronouncing Some will every day with a reading/meditation = Episcopal source 15

16 Remember We are people of TWO books The Bible contains beliefs and heritage central to all of Christianity The Book of Common Prayer important to Anglicans/Episcopalians Followed Christian Bible by more than 1000 years The best way to learn is to just do it! Get involved; make it part of your life Family reading, especially during Advent/Lent Bible study/discussion groups Consider EFM or other bible study Sign up to lector at church Reading words aloud make them real Challenge us to learn their meaning in our lives 16

17 Resources Ferlo, Roger, Opening the Bible. (The New Church s Teaching Series.) Cowley: Boston, (Episcopal) (pronunciation) (Episcopal lectionary page) (download various versions) (very basic Bible information) 17