Joshveer Chhabra - Background to Reading the Bible
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Background to Reading the Bible
Task 1
●
This task is intended to help provide a foundational understanding about the
Bible. It
provides you with basic tools and concepts which are necessary for a
Catholic approach to reading
scripture.
●
Read
Reading the Bible
by Richard Olsen and
What Scripture Says...and
Doesn’t Say;
READING THE BIBLE IN CONTEXT
by Margaret Nutting Ralph • Answer questions as
individuals then discuss as a group or class.
Questions (Olsen):
1.
What did you find interesting or new in this article?
-
The notion of "seed stories," particularly Exodus in the Old Testament and the
Resurrection in the New Testament, captivated me
It's compelling to think of these
stories as foundational, shaping the lens through which we interpret other biblical
events. Understanding how these pivotal moments serve as thematic anchors
deepens my appreciation for the intricate layers of meaning within the scriptures.
2.
What images or thoughts did you have while reading or reflecting?
-
While reading this article, I envisioned the ancient landscapes where these biblical
narratives unfolded, imagining the struggles of the Israelites, their cries for liberation,
and the transformative power of their faith. The notion of "seed stories" brought to
mind vivid images of Moses leading his people out of Egypt and the resurrection of
Christ, symbolizing profound journeys from oppression to freedom. I reflected on the
resilience of the Jewish people across centuries, facing various oppressors, and the
enduring hope embedded in their stories.
3.
What are some seed stories in your life?
-
A seed story is a pivotal moment that fundamentally shapes our lives, much like the
transformative events in the Bible such as Exodus and the Resurrection. These
moments symbolize liberation and new beginnings. For me, moving to Canada in
grade 8 was my seed story. It opened doors to countless opportunities, offering me a
new perspective on life, education, and a world of possibilities. This experience
significantly shaped my character, ambitions, and understanding of the world, making
it a defining chapter in my life's narrative.
4.
What questions would you ask the author?
-
If given the opportunity, I would ask the author about their personal experiences that
inspired them to explore the Bible from this unique perspective. What specific
historical or cultural influences motivated them to emphasize the importance of
context in understanding biblical narratives? Additionally, I'm curious about how the
author believes these insights could bridge the gap between religious communities
and foster better understanding and appreciation of different faith traditions.
5.
Is there any element that you were unclear on?
-
I was unclear on how to practically implement the guidelines provided in the article.
While the concepts and principles were explained thoroughly, the article lacked
specific examples of how the author would apply these guidelines to read a particular
biblical passage. I wished for more concrete illustrations or case studies to understand
how to approach a specific story in the way the author described.
6.
What element(s) need further resource or inquiry?
-
In my opinion, the article leaves room for exploration regarding the practical
implementation of the user-friendly guidelines for reading the Bible. While it
highlights the significance of historical context and faith-based interpretation, I feel it
lacks specific examples or exercises to help readers apply these concepts effectively.
Personally, I believe interactive exercises or case studies based on different biblical
passages would greatly enhance understanding. Moreover, delving into the
application of these guidelines to complex or controversial biblical stories could
provide valuable insights. I think further resources focusing on these practical aspects
would greatly enrich readers' engagement with the text.
Questions (Ralph):
1.
What did you find interesting or new in this article?
-
Something I found interesting and new in the article was how the form of writing in
the Bible can influence our understanding. The article's example of the Book of Job
being written like a debate was particularly intriguing. Without the context of how the
Book of Job was written, readers might misinterpret isolated passages and draw
conclusions opposite to the author's intent. This made me realize that the literary style
used by the authors carries important clues about the intended message. This insight
has also sparked my interest in exploring other literary styles within the Bible.
2.
What images or thoughts did you have while reading or reflecting?
-
While reading and reflecting, a vivid image came to mind: I pictured a heated debate
where people quoted scripture, yet God looked down, sensing their lack of true
understanding. This scene underscored the disparity between fervent arguments and
the deeper essence of divine teachings. This image emphasized the crucial need for a
more profound comprehension of scripture's intended context.
3.
How would you put today’s society in context for readers today and in the
future?
-
In understanding today's society, acknowledging the cultural differences between
biblical times and our modern world is crucial. Just as ancient authors tailored their
messages to their social norms, we must recognize our evolving values. For example,
practices like slavery, once accepted, are now seen as morally wrong. By approaching
these texts with discernment, recognizing historical contexts while promoting modern
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values of equality and justice, readers can bridge the gap, grasping ancient wisdom
while embracing societal progress.
4.
What questions would you ask the author?
-
If I had the opportunity to ask the author questions based on this article, I would inquire:
1)
Can you provide more examples of specific biblical passages where understanding the
historical context significantly alters the interpretation, emphasizing the importance
of considering cultural and societal influences?
2)
In your opinion, how can contemporary readers strike a balance between respecting
the historical context of biblical texts and applying the timeless moral principles to
modern ethical dilemmas, especially in situations where societal norms have evolved
significantly?
5.
Is there any element that you were unclear on?
-
In my opinion, the article does a commendable job highlighting the significance of
grasping both literary and cultural contexts in biblical interpretation. However, I
believe it could be more helpful for readers if it offered practical exercises or specific
examples to demonstrate how to apply these concepts effectively. Providing hands-on
guidance would empower readers, especially newcomers to biblical studies, to better
comprehend and interpret specific verses within their appropriate contexts.
6.
What element(s) need further resource or inquiry?
-
There are certain elements in the article that could benefit from further exploration
and inquiry. Firstly, the article briefly touches on the progression of revelation
throughout the Bible's timeline. It would be beneficial to expand on this concept,
exploring how certain themes or teachings evolved over different historical periods
and how these developments impact contemporary interpretations. Additionally, the
article could benefit from practical exercises or tools that readers can use to apply the
discussed principles. Offering readers interactive methods or study techniques would
empower them to engage more actively with biblical texts, fostering a deeper
understanding of context-based interpretations. Lastly, incorporating diverse
perspectives or scholarly opinions on interpreting specific challenging passages could
enrich the article.
Compare the articles:
1.
Are there any similarities and or differences between the two articles?
Similarities
-
Focus on Context:
Both articles emphasize the importance of understanding the
context in which biblical passages were written. The first article discusses historical
context, highlighting the relationship between God and the Israelites throughout
different periods, while the second article emphasizes literary form, cultural context,
and the progression of revelation over time.
-
Misuse of Scripture:
Both articles address the misuse of Scripture. They discuss how
people can take passages out of context to support their own opinions or agendas.
They stress the significance of understanding the intended message of the biblical
authors.
-
Interpretation Challenges:
Both articles acknowledge the challenges in interpreting
Scripture correctly. They recognize that cultural differences, literary forms, and the
evolving understanding of truth over time can complicate the interpretation process.
Differences
-
Specific Focus:
The first article primarily focuses on guidelines for reading biblical
narratives, the concept of seed stories, and their significance in the Old and New
Testaments. The second article concentrates on understanding literary forms, cultural
contexts, and the progression of revelation in the Bible.
-
Time Periods:
The first article discusses historical events and time periods in the
Bible, such as the exodus and the establishment of Israel as a sovereign nation. The
second article doesn't focus on historical events but instead emphasizes different
literary forms and cultural contexts throughout the Bible.
-
Examples:
The first article uses biblical examples to illustrate its points, such as the
stories of Exodus and Resurrection. The second article provides examples from
different literary forms like debates in the Book of Job and teachings in the Gospels to
explain its concepts.
2.
Which one did you like better? Why?
-
From my perspective, I found the second article to be more engaging and
enlightening. The reason I prefer the second article is that it provided a wealth of
examples and detailed explanations about different literary forms in the Bible. The
concrete examples, such as the debates in the Book of Job and teachings in the
Gospels, helped me grasp the concepts more effectively. The article's emphasis on
understanding the diverse forms within the Bible gave me a clearer perspective on
how to approach different passages. Overall, the abundance of examples and detailed
analysis made the second article more insightful and valuable in my understanding of
biblical interpretation.
3.
How do you think these two articles will help you to read the Bible?
-
These articles have significantly enhanced my approach to reading the Bible. The first
article laid a strong foundation by emphasizing historical context and the overarching
themes of the Old and New Testaments. It provided valuable insights into the
fundamental seed stories in the Bible. The second article, with its focus on literary
forms and cultural contexts, equipped me with practical tools to delve deeper into
specific passages. By combining these perspectives, I now have a more holistic
understanding, enabling me to interpret biblical texts more accurately and
meaningfully. These articles have empowered me to approach the Bible with a
nuanced perspective, enriching my spiritual journey.
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4.
Create your own set of questions for each article based on your reading.
-
After reading the first article, I generated questions like:
1)
What are the key seed stories in the Bible, and how do they influence interpretations
of other stories?
2)
How does understanding the historical context of biblical narratives enhance our
interpretation of God's messages?
3)
In what ways does the Old Testament serve as the foundation for the New Testament,
and how does this continuity shape the overall biblical narrative?
-
For the second article, my questions were:
1)
Why is it essential to recognize the literary form of a biblical text, and how does it
impact our understanding of the message?
2)
What role does cultural context play in interpreting Scripture, and how can we discern
between cultural biases of the time and timeless truths?
3)
How can we reconcile the evolving insights within the Bible, such as Jesus' teachings
surpassing certain Old Testament laws, to form a cohesive understanding of divine
revelation?
Reading the Bible
(Taken from It began with a Promise pages 19-25 by Richard Olsen. Novalis 2013) When
surveying the history of the Bible, consider these things:
1)
The relationship between God and the Israelites began with God’s conversation
with a clan or
family (Abraham and Sarah).
Six hundred years later, following the
great event of the exodus,
God extends that conversation to all of Israel when
God covenants with the people on Mount Sinai
(10 Commandments)
2) Israel’s sovereignty is relatively short-lived.
After a brief golden age during the
time of King
David, Israel is defeated by its enemies. Other than the100years of
freedom between 140 and 63
BC, it is only in 1948, three years after World War
II and the horrors of the Holocaust, that Israel
once again becomes a sovereign
nation.
3)
Jesus is born into a place and a time that has known oppression and poverty for
centuries.
The
Romans are just the most recent bullies to follow in the footsteps
of the Greeks, the Persians, the
Babylonians and the Assyrians. However, the
great story of the Jews is one where God hears their
cries and delivers them
from their enemies. Jesus lived in a time of expectation of God’s in
breaking into
history and intervention on behalf of the chosen people: Israel.
4) While the Old Testament covers events over a thousand years, the New
Testament covers a very
intense but brief period, no more than a hundred years.
5)
Christians often use the adjectives “old” and “new” to describe the two
covenants
. This can be
misleading. The New Testament, or New Covenant, is
not meant to express the notion of “new
and improved,” as if everything before it
is now defunct or superseded; rather, Christians should
understand that the Old
Testament is the very bedrock upon which the New Testament is built.
Reading biblical narrative: User-friendly guidelines
As you prepare to enter into biblical narrative, be conscious of these five points;
1)
God’s word to us in the Bible cannot be separated from its historical context.
The
place and the
time in which God speaks does shape the message because the
word is always given to us through
human hands. So, as we read the Bible, we
are always conscious of the history of the time and the
cultural practices insofar
as we can access them from our time and place.
2)
While the story of the Bible happened in history, biblical writing is not historical
writing the
way we understand it today.
The Bible is a story in history that has
been interpreted through the
eyes of faith.
3)
There is an architecture to the larger biblical narrative.
There are many markers
throughout the
Bible that are orientated towards key themes and stories that hold
the entire narrative together.
4)
God’s word transcends space and time.
In reading any given Bible story, we are
always
conscious of how God is speaking to our time and our place. This
requires imagination and
understanding about ourselves and about the world we
inhabit.
5)
Finally, we go with reverence.
God’s word is power to transform persons,
peoples and the
cosmos itself. Go with confidence. God is the promise keeper!
Go with a sense of humor and
humility. If God is love, then God’s sense of
humor must be immense-God understands that we’re
not always going to get it
right. But we go anyway!
Seed Stories
What is a “seed story”?
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament contain seed stories, that is, stories
that guide and
influence the interpretation of all the other stories.
In the Old Testament the seed story is: Exodus
In the New Testament the seed story is: Resurrection
Both stories deal with going from slavery to liberation. In Exodus it was leaving Egypt to
go to
the Promised Land. For the Resurrection it is going from the bonds of this world
to the liberation
of sin and death through Christ.
What Scripture Says...and Doesn’t Say; READING THE BIBLE IN CONTEXT
by Margaret
Nutting Ralph
Have you ever heard two people who totally disagree with each other use Scripture to
"prove" that
God is on their side? Instead of letting Scripture form their thinking, they
use a quote from
Scripture, often taken out of context, to support their own opinions.
We’ve probably all done this to some extent. Even expert theologians use Scripture
quotes to
show that their teaching is rooted in the Bible. But a proper understanding
of biblical revelation
will challenge us to examine our approach to Scripture and
overcome any tendency to quote the
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Bible out of context.
Instead of asking, "Do these words support what I already think?" we need to ask,
"What is this
passage trying to teach me?" When we recognize what the inspired
biblical authors intend to teach
we are opening our minds and hearts to the revelation
of Scripture.
The revealed Scriptures do not necessarily hold the same meaning we may want to
attach to the
words. The inspired biblical authors intended to say and teach certain
truths, and we need to root
our understanding of Scripture first and foremost in the
intent of the author.
But how do we determine the intentions of an author who lived thousands of years
ago in a totally
different cultural setting? The Church teaches us that in order to
understand the revelation the
Bible contains we must learn first and foremost to read
passages in the context in which they
appear.
What Are You Reading?
One way to safeguard against misunderstanding the intent of an author is to
determine the kind of
writing the author has chosen to use. Any piece of writing has a
particular literary form: poetry,
prose, fiction, essay, letter, historical account and so
on. This is as true of the biblical books as of
any piece of contemporary writing.
If we misunderstand an author’s literary form, we will misunderstand what the author
intends to
say. In order to understand what we are reading, then, we have to make
allowances for the form
and change our expectations accordingly.
We do this any time we read a newspaper, for example. As we turn the pages of a
newspaper we
encounter a variety of literary forms—news, features, editorial’s and
so on—and we adjust our
idea of what we can expect from the writing for each form.
For instance, after I read a news story I expect to have the answer to the question,
"What
happened?" I expect the author of a news story to be objective and even -
handed, to inform me of
the facts. If the story is about something controversial, I
expect the writer to cover all sides fairly.
When I get to the editorial page, I change my expectations. Now I know that the
author is allowed
to be persuasive rather than objective. I may find facts that support
the author—s point of view but
nothing that contradicts that point of view.
So, if I read an editorial with the same frame of mind with which I read a front-page
news story,
thinking that the author has responded to the question, "What
happened?" I will be misinformed
after I finish my reading. It is not the author—s fault
that I am misinformed. It is my own.
How the Inspired Author Tells the Tale
Now let’s look at how literary form functions in the Bible. One of the inspired biblical
authors—
the author of the Book of Job has written in the form of a debate. This
literary form demands that
you be as persuasive as possible on both sides of an
issue. If you write on the side you agree with
persuasively and the side you disagree
with poorly, you have not written a good debate.
The author of the Book of Job lived at a time when people believed that all suffering
was
punishment for sin. He wrote a debate to argue against this belief. The author
places his debate in
the context of a pre-existing legend that establishes at the outset
the fact that Job is innocent. So
why is he suffering?
The author portrays Job’s friends arguing with Job over the cause of his suffering. All
the friends
think that Job must have sinned or he wouldn’t be suffering. They do not
know, as does the
audience, that Job’s sinfulness is not the source of his sufferin g.
The friends are wrong.
Now, if you did not know that the Book of Job is a debate, in which some of the
characters argue
persuasively for the point of view with which the author disagrees,
you might read an isolated
passage and conclude that the book teaches the opposite
of what the author intended to teach. You
might think that the friends are teaching a
valid message about suffering. If we look at the book as
a whole, we discover that the
author places the truth he is teaching not on the lips of Job’s friends
but on the lips of
God. God appears at the end of the debate and responds to the friend’s
arguments.
Obviously, the author agrees with what God has to say. God contradicts the belief
that
all suffering is punishment for sin.
Because this book is in the canon we know that it teaches revealed truth. We can
only discover
this revealed truth, however, if we look at the literary form of the book.
We need to remember, too, that the Bible is actually a "library" of many different
books. To say
that Job is a debate is not to say that the Bible as a whole is a debate
or that a Gospel is a debate or
that the Book of Revelation is a debate. The answer to
the question, "What literary form am I
reading?" will vary from book to book. Often the
introduction to each book in a good study Bible
will give you the relevant literary form.
Culture in Context
We have seen how easy it is to "misquote" the Bible by taking passages out of the
context of their
literary form. A second context we need to consider is the culture and
the beliefs in place when the
book was written. The inspired author and the original
audience shared knowledge, presumptions,
expressions and concerns that may not
be part of our awareness, but may nevertheless influence
the meaning of the book or
passage.
The inspired author may have applied the revealed message contained in a particular
book to a
shared cultural setting in order to make the message clearer. People
sometimes mistake such
applications for the heart of the revealed message. Thus,
they put the full authority of Scripture
behind passages that reflect beliefs of the time
rather than the unchanging truth the author
intended to teach.
In expressing the revealed truth, a biblical author may show cultural biases and
presumptions that
later generations know are inaccurate. This kind of
misunderstanding resulted in Galileo’s
excommunication. We know, as biblical
authors did not, that the earth is not the center of the
universe or even our solar
system. We also know that the Bible does not claim to teach astronomy.
Rather, the
Bible addresses questions about the relationship between God and God’s people,
about what we should be doing to build up God’s kingdom rather than to tear it down.
A biblical author may also apply an eternal truth to a setting that is important to the
original
audience but not to us. For example, one of Paul’s key insights is that the
way we treat every other
person is the way we treat the risen Christ. He applies th is
insight to the social order of his own
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day, an order that included slavery. We misuse
Scripture if we say this application shows that
God’s social order includes slavery.
While Paul’s core message is eternally true revelation, the
application was relevant
only in its own cultural context.
Revelation Is Ongoing
A third context we must be aware of is the place the inspired author’s insights have in
the process
of revelation. The Bible is not a book of bottom-line answers like a
catechism.
The Bible is a "library of books" written over a two-thousand-year period. It reflects
the process
by which the inspired authors came to greater knowledge of God—s
revealed truth. People who
do not realize or do not believe that the Bible reflects this
progression take an early insight as the
whole truth.
For example, people may make this mistake when arguing over the death penalty.
Some people
who support the death penalty try to put God—s authority behind their
opinion by quoting
Scripture: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life." It
is true that Scripture teaches
this (see Exodus 21:23-24). However, the teaching
dates to the time of the Exodus, about 1250
B.C.E. At the time this teaching was an
ethical step forward. It taught people not to seek escalating
revenge: If you harm me,
I can’t do worse to you than you originally did to me.
Jesus later challenged people to grow beyond this teaching. He said, "You have
heard that it was
said, —an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
....
But I say to you,
Love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you..." (Matthew 5:38, 44).
Jesus did not say that the law was wrong, only
that it did not go far enough. Jesus is
the fulfillment of the law.
We are misusing Scripture if we quote Exodus to support the death penalty and fail to
quote the
words of Jesus in the Gospels. When we use a passage from Scripture to
support our side of an
argument, we must ask ourselves if the passage reflects the
fullness of truth or whether it is a
partial truth, perhaps an early insight.
Context, Context, Context
It is distressing to hear Christians abuse the Bible by quoting it in favor of un -
Christian positions.
It is doubly distressing to realize that we ourselves might be guilty
of this.
One way to avoid this mistake is to remember always to consider the context.
Determine the place
of a passage in its larger context. Ask yourself what literary form
the author is using. Explore the
beliefs and presumptions the author may share with
the original audience. Learn something about
the time when the book was written.
Know how the author’s insights fit into the process of
revelation.
If we do this, we will avoid many a harmful error. We will be less likely to abuse
Scripture and
more likely to hear the revelation of God’s love that the biblical authors
intend us to hear.
Finally, invite the Holy Spirit to open up your mind and heart as you listen to the word.
Discerning
God’s will in your life will leave you with Christ’s own peace in your heart.