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Approaches to Scripture

Saint Anne Adult Forum. HisStory and Facts – Part 1. Approaches to Scripture. Approaches to Scripture - Outline. Part 1: Just Facts, Ma’am Part 2: So What Does This Mean to Me? (next week)

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Approaches to Scripture

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  1. Saint Anne Adult Forum HisStory and Facts – Part 1 Approaches to Scripture

  2. Approaches to Scripture - Outline • Part 1: Just Facts, Ma’am • Part 2: So What Does This Mean to Me? (next week) • Personal Statement: We do not worship the Bible, but rather God who is both subject and inspiration of the Bible

  3. Personal Reflection Why do we read/study the Bible?

  4. Personal Reflection Why do we read/study the Bible? To different degrees, most of us believe that it: • Tells the story of God’s relationship with mankind • Informs us about how we can enter into a closer relationship with God • Guides us in how God would have us love, and live with, those around us

  5. Settlement of the Canon - OT • Abram departs for Canaan c. 1950 BC • Movement from Oral Tradition to written scriptures starts c. 700 BC • Motivated by destruction of Israel? • Canon – Group of books that accurately reflect the understanding of the community about their relationship with God. • OT: Movement started 450 BCE, finished by 100 AD • Council of Jammia c. 90 AD settled the canon • Text edited/refined till 1000 AD; “points” used to indicate agreed-upon vowels wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Moses041.jpg

  6. Settlement of the Canon - NT • Central story of the NT is relatively straightforward, and consistent across various parts of the NT. • Varieties of NT evidence “…do not undermine the significance and centrality of the apostolic gospel itself.” (Bryan, p80) • Arguing about theological points remains a central part of the Christian experience, but the core of the NT was agreed upon very early • Origen (born 185 AD) and Eusebius (born 270 AD) created lists with substantially the same books • Athanasius (367 AD) has our exact canon

  7. The Gospels Structure of the gospels • Mathew – A series of teachings • Mark – A condensed version • Luke – A journey • John – The Son of God and the Kingdom of Heaven Two Source Model - Synoptics • Two source were in circulation circa 70-80 AD: Mark, and a collection of sayings referred to as “Q” • Mathew and Luke both contain material from both of these 2 sources, along with material that is unique to them • Three different perspectives on Jesus’ life and ministry

  8. The Epistles– Authorship & Chronology There are 3 Categories of Authorship: • Undisputed Letters of Paul (7) • Romans, I & II Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, I Thessalonians and Philemon • Pseudoepigraphical Letters (10) • Ascribed to Paul: Ephesians, Colossians, II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, and Titus • Ascribed to others: James, I & II Peter, and Jude • Anonymous (4) • Hebrews and I, II, & III John

  9. The Epistles – Authorship & Chronology Levels of Authenticity (Adapted from Powell) • Literal Authorship. A church leader writes a letter in his own hand. • Dictation. A church leader dictates a letter almost word for word • Delegated Authorship. A church leader describes the basic content of an intended letter to a disciple, who then writes the letter for the leader to approve and sign. • Posthumous Authorship. A church leader dies, and his disciples finish a letter that he had intended to write, sending it posthumously in his name. • Apprentice Authorship. A church leader dies, and disciples who had been authorized to speak for him while he was alive continue to do so by writing letters in his name years or decades after his death. • Honorable Pseudepigraphy. Admirers seek to honor deceased church leaders by writing letters in their name in a sincere belief that they are responsible bearers of his tradition. • Forgery. People seek to exploit apostolic legacy by forging letters in his name, presenting him as a supporter of their own ideas. Authorship Matters Because it Helps Create a Sense of Context Typically viewed as “authentic” Typically viewed as “Pseudepigraphy,” or not written by those whose names are attached

  10. The Epistles – Authorship & Chronology Why Does Timing Matter? Galatians • In Galatians, Paul addresses a “heresy” that was being preached regarding adherence to Jewish law • Major issue within the 1st Century church, culminating in the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) – approx 50 AD • If to northern Galatians, probably after the Council, most likely in the mid 50’s AD. • If Paul is writing to southern Galatians, probably dates letter to 48-50 AD, before the conference James, leader of the Jerusalem church, delivered the decision that freed Gentile Christians from some provisions of Jewish law.

  11. Facts & Truth Myth • Doesn’t mean “non-fiction” or “falsehood”, or even things that happened a very long time ago • In the ancient tradition, it was a form of literature that speaks to the important things that lie at the heart of a religion. In the case of the OT, it speaks to the relationship between YHWH and all that He created • Gen 1-11 describe how the Hebrews viewed themselves in relationship with God • Important to understand modern & ancient perspectives; our context is different All facts are true, but not all truths are factual!

  12. Contradictions & Inconsistencies? • Conquest of Canaan – short (Joshua) or gradual (Judges)? • David eating bread in the Temple; was the High Priest Albimeleh (in I Samuel) or his son Abiather (in Mark)? • In the parable of the lost sheep, is Jesus the shepherd (Luke 15) or does mankind share responsibility for all sheep (Matt 17)? • The Bible was never intended to be exhaustive, or even a factual description. It’s ultimate purpose was much more important that to be a “modern” history. • Acts portrays Paul going first to Jewish audiences in a new city, and turning to Gentiles only after rejection • This approach is never mentioned by Paul directly in his letters – is this a contradiction? • Acts also provides details about multiple miracles performed by God through Paul; although the Epistles contain general statements about “signs and wonders”, they contain no details of these miraculous events.

  13. Inerrancy & Divine Inspiration What does inspiration do for the Bible? • Does it mean that the Bible contains undoubted truth about everything, or just about matters of faith? • Vatican II: “The books of Scripture, firmly, faithfully, and without error teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the sacred Scriptures.” • Focus here is on the Bible’s purpose; is it historical and scientific? Or something else? • When we speak of Bible as inspired, we are making a statement of faith; there are other ways to explain the world, but this is the way that we choose • Paul’s viewpoint is worth considering in this discussion: • For know we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away…then I shall know fully…” I Cor 13: 9-12

  14. Resources & Readings • And God Spoke – Christopher Bryan • Evolution of the Word – Marcus Borg • Introducing the New Testament – Mark Allan Powell

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