St. Mary of Vernon Catholic Church

Studying the Bible

"The Bible is a collection of 73 books written by human authors under divine inspiration. Forty-six of the books form the Old Testament, which has as its unifying theme the covenant made by God and Moses on Mt. Sinai. The remaining 27 books make up the New Testament, which focuses on the saving event of Jesus Christ. The original languages of the Old Testament are Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek; the New Testament was composed in Greek.

The first eleven chapters of Genesis are pre-history, a kind of verbal sketch relating in story form, some of the basic beliefs of Israel’s religion. Genesis 12 begins a historical account of Israel’s origins, but a history heavily laced with folklore and family traditions. In succeeding books we find not only history but also oracles, prophetic sayings, hymns, psalms, poems, biography, creeds, legends, proverbs, myths, letters and gospels. Through each book and literary form, the biblical authors have expressed their understanding of God and the truths of their faith."

Norman Langenbrunner, Catholic Update, "How to Understand the Bible"

"When you study any piece of literature, it is helpful to begin by taking a look at the entire work. What is its nature? What does it aim to accomplish? How far does it intend to take you? What is its scope? What are its limitations?

This is the way to begin Bible study too. Even if you are studying a single passage, it is good to keep in mind the purpose and nature of the entire Bible, as well as that of the individual book you are reading. The Bible is not one book; it is a collection of [seventy-three] books written by dozens of authors over a period of several centuries. They reflect vastly different cultural settings and even different religious understandings. These books were written for various reasons and contain many types of literature.

But they all have a similar aim: to lead people to faith in God or to encourage that faith. If you approach the Bible with a desire to learn more about this God and his intentions for you, you will be rewarded beyond your expectations."

Rolf E. Aaseng: A Beginner’s Guide to Studying the Bible, pp. 17-18

To dig into the meaning of a passage….

Note the context of the text, looking for its relationship to:

• The preceding verses (What comes before it?)
• The verses following (What comes after it?)
• The entire book
• The contemporary situation (What was the life situation of the first readers?)

Discover the basic facts, asking:

• Who? (Main characters, other persons, relationships)
• When? (Dates, other significant events of the time, when in relationship to Israel, Jesus, Paul, etc.)
• Where? What? (Describe the situation, problem, and its meaning – then and now)
• Why? (Its importance – then and now)
• What - (What attitude or intention is expressed) What does this passage tell about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit? What does it tell about humanity or the world we live in? What does it teach about sin, evil, and suffering? What does it teach about God’s purpose for creation, God’s interest in us, God’s love for us? What does it teach about God’s grace, salvation, forgiveness, or eternal life? What does it teach about our worth, our value? What advice is given for Christian living? Are there any promises? Any warnings? Any commands or instructions?

Apply your discoveries to the text:

• What have I learned that I didn’t know before?
• What misunderstanding has this study cleared up for me?
• What have I learned about God that I did not know or had forgotten?
• How will this affect my relationship with God?
• What have I learned about myself?
• What have I learned about God’s plan for me?
• How should I use this knowledge?
• What promises have I found that will encourage my faith?
• What warnings apply to me?
• How will this passage influence the way I think, feel, and act today and tomorrow?
• How will it affect my relations with other people?
• How can I put my new learning into practice?
•  How does what I have learned apply to problems in my life or in my community?

A Beginner’s Guide to Studying the Bible, pp. 37,41, 56-59