How to Read the Bible

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Session 2

  • Introduction - Literary Styles

  • Jewish Meditation Literature

Intro to video 1

Episode 3 shows how reading the Bible wisely requires that we learn about the ancient literary styles used by the biblical authors. These writers expressed their ideas and claims through a variety of different type of literature, and this video will explore why it's important to tell them apart so we can hear their message on their terms.

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Discuss

The video explained that the Bible is a collection of written works, made up of different kinds of writing:

  • narrative

  • poetry

  • prose discourse

  1. Why does it matter that we understand this?

  2. How could it change the way we read and understand the Bible?

  3. Which literary styles are these sections of scripture (narrative, poetry or prose discourse)?

  • The Psalms

  • Mark's Gospel

  • David defeats Goliath

  • Ephesians 1

  • The 10 Commandments

  • Proverbs

  • Elijah on Mt Carmel

 
 

Intro to video 2

Episode 4 explores the unique literary style of the Bible that is meant to draw its readers into a lifelong journey of reading and meditation. The Bible is designed as a multi-layered work, offering new levels of insight as you re-read it and allow each part to help you understand every other part. The Bible is the original meditation literature.

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Summary

  • The Bible is from a particular time and culture

  • It's ancient Jewish meditation literature

  • It often has less detail than we expect

  • Every detail we do find is there for a reason

  • It's all connected - see images below

Connections between Psalms and Matthew (click to magnify)

The red lines show cross-references. We can see the extensive linking between different parts of the Matthew and Psalms. In some places Matthew was explicitly referencing passages in the Psalms and in others there is more of an implicit connection. When we read Matthew without knowing the Psalms (as well ancient Jews would have done) we will undoubtedly miss out on the richness of this intertextuality!

Connections between parts of the Bible (click to magnify)

The connections between different parts of the Bible is an incredible feature of this ancient library of books. We don’t really have anything modern to compare it to.

Knowing all of the above changes how we read it:

  • Keep reading it

  • In community

  • Understand each part in the light of all the other parts

Discuss

  1. The Bible is a library of diverse literature composed over a vast period of time by many authors. How does this knowledge help us to understand the grand story of God and humanity?

  2. On the other hand, what problems confront a reader when navigating so many different authors and literary genres?

  3. Share a moment of personal revelation you had while reading the Scriptures. What was happening? How was Scripture orientating your location and relationship with God and our world?