This Wednesday we begin a new Bible study on the book of James. We’ve finished our tour of Israel and now it’s back to the Book…how appropriate since that has been my theme for Anna since school’s started! I know you’re busy, but I wanted to invite you to attend since Bible study is much more than reading the Bible, it’s a great opportunity to grow in one’s faith. In the most recent district newsletter, Mike Jones, Cindy’s husband, offered this definition of Bible study and sermon preparation from How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, Third Edition. I thought it was well worth sharing with you.
"The believing scholar insists that the biblical text first of all means what it meant. That is, we believe that God’s word for us today is first of all precisely what his Word was to (the first hearers of it). Thus, we have two tasks: First, our task is to find out what the text originally meant; this is called exegesis. Second, we must learn to hear that same meaning in the variety of new or different contexts of our day; we call this second task hermeneutics… To do both tasks well should be the goal of Bible study."
So, as we begin studying this epistle of straw (Luther’s words, not mine!), read each chapter carefully and repeatedly. Consult your commentaries. Let God speak to you and we’ll decide what it meant to the original hearers and what it means to us today. I am confident God will bless our efforts.
"The believing scholar insists that the biblical text first of all means what it meant. That is, we believe that God’s word for us today is first of all precisely what his Word was to (the first hearers of it). Thus, we have two tasks: First, our task is to find out what the text originally meant; this is called exegesis. Second, we must learn to hear that same meaning in the variety of new or different contexts of our day; we call this second task hermeneutics… To do both tasks well should be the goal of Bible study."
So, as we begin studying this epistle of straw (Luther’s words, not mine!), read each chapter carefully and repeatedly. Consult your commentaries. Let God speak to you and we’ll decide what it meant to the original hearers and what it means to us today. I am confident God will bless our efforts.
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