Bible Study

The word Gospels comes from the message that Jesus Christ preached, the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15). Gospel is translated from the Greek word euangelion, meaning “good news”; and the apostles would not have used the word in the plural since there was only one true gospel. The Gospels focus mostly on the 3½-year ministry of Jesus Christ and, especially, on the last week of His life. They give very little information about His life before age 30, and so they are not really intended as full biographies.In writing their accounts each of the Gospel writers had a different background, audience and purpose in mind:The Four Gospel AuthorsMatthewThe Bible tells us that Matthew was a tax collector. His profession was despised by his fellow Jews because publicans supported the Roman occupiers and because they frequently extorted additional money for themselves. Jesus called Matthew to be one of His disciples and apostles, so Matthew left his previous profession and spent his full time traveling and learning from Jesus Christ. He was an eyewitness of the events he records. Matthew’s Gospel shows a special emphasis on the fact that Jesus is the Messiah foretold by Old Testament Prophets. Matthew quotes extensively from the Old Testament and seems to have had Jewish readers particularly in mind.MarkThe Bible does not give Mark’s previous profession but mentions his work in preaching the gospel with Paul, Barnabas and Peter. Tradition says that Mark’s Gospel reflects Peter’s eyewitness testimony of Christ’s life. Mark’s emphasis on Jesus’ mighty and miraculous works makes this Gospel action-packed, fresh and vivid.  In general, Mark presents the miracle-working Jesus, not the teaching JesusLukeLuke was “the beloved physician” and companion of the apostle Paul. He had read many other accounts of Jesus’ life; but using interviews of eyewitnesses and careful research, he determined to write “an orderly account” for Theophilus, “that (he) may know the certainty of those things in which (he was) instructed” . Luke had a special emphasis on Jesus’ humanity and His kindness to the weak, suffering and outcasts. At the end of his Gospel, Luke recorded Christ’s statement to the disciples explaining how the prophecies about Him in “the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” had been and would be accurately completed.JohnJohn was a fisherman when Jesus called him to be a disciple and apostle. John focused his eyewitness account heavily on the last days and hours of Christ’s life. John explained his reason for including the material he did in his Gospel: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).The four Gospel writers did not intend their audiences to read their books for entertainment, or even just for information. They wrote to get a message across—a message of warning and of hope. The Gospels are a call to action.Go FurtherAn Introduction to the New Testament by D. A. Carson and Douglas J. MooAn Introduction to the New Testament by Raymond E. BrownFour Portraits, One Jesus: A Survey of Jesus and the Gospels by Mark L. Strauss---Article adapted from http://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/holy-bible/new-testament/gospels/

It’s not a secret that many people, Christians included, find the Old Testament more challenging and difficult to understand than the New Testament. The reasons for this are many and much-discussed; foremost among them is the great cultural and literary gap between our era and Iron Age Mesopotamia. What it means is that while Christians can appreciate individual Old Testament stories, it can be tricky to connect those stories to the New Testament, and more specifically to the Gospel message we’re so familiar with.Christopher J.H. Wright encourages Christians to look at the Old Testament not just as a collection of disconnected stories or moral fables, but as part of the grand, purposeful narrative of God’s Word. That’s easier said than done, of course—but in his presentation, Wright listed out eight questions you can ask while reading an Old Testament story or passage to help you better understand it. Answering some or all of these questions can help you understand how even difficult or disturbing sections of the Old Testament fit into the story of the Bible.Eight Questions to Ask When Reading the Old TestamentWhat do we know about the context and origin of this text? Does this passage respond to or challenge any specific events, trends, or behaviors? If so, can you think of modern-day analogues for those issues?What does this passage reveal about God and God’s purposes? And how does the glimpse of God seen in this passage compare to depictions of God elsewhere in the Bible?Where does this passage fit into the “story” of the Bible? What Bible stories came before this one, leading up to it? What stories come after, building on it?What picture of God’s people does this passage paint? What values and ideals does this passage hold up for us? If the passage criticizes God’s people or shows them behaving badly, what values can we identify by their absence?Does this text point us to the future? What promises, foreshadowings of future events, or other groundwork does this passage lay down for us?What happens if you read this text with Luke 24 in mind? In Luke 24, Jesus identifies himself as a culmination of the Old Testament narrative. What happens if you don’t read this text with Luke 24 in mind?What questions about your own faith today do you want to ask of, or introduce into, this passage? Does this challenge your idea of who God is?What questions does this passage ask you?How does it challenge, correct, or encourage you?Go FurtherReading the Old Testament: An Introduction by Lawrence BoadtAn Introduction to the Old Testament by Tremper Longman III and Raymond B. Dillard---Article adapted from https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/11/eight-questions-to-ask-when-you-read-the-old-testament/

Even if you are not a Christian—or don’t consider yourself a spiritually-inclined person—the Bible is worth reading. Without question, it has had a greater impact on Western civilization than any other book published.You can’t understand great literature, common metaphors, or cultural allusions without a basic knowledge of these ancient texts. (The plural is used because the Bible is actually a collection of books.)But how do you start? The Bible is, after all, a big book! This post shares some tips on how to go about reading the Bible. It’s not the only way to do it, of course. But it might be helpful if you want to read it all the way through and partake of its treasures on a regular basis.Tips for Daily ReadingRead at a set time each day. What gets scheduled gets done. Find a time that works for you regularly and make it a priority. Many people find reading the Bible first thing each morning is best, so they don’t get side-tracked by something else.Distinguish between reading and study. When you’re reading don’t try to do word studies, read commentaries, or chase cross-references. While this can be valuable, that is more Bible study—something which you can reserve for another time. HAving a good breadth of Scripture will sometimes help you make the connection to depth later, as well.Use a balanced, Bible reading plan. If possible, use a reading plan that utilizes parts of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs each day. This way, if you hit a dry patch in one passage, another will probably have a fresh one. Innumerable plans are available.Read in an easy-to-understand translation. Some may disagree, but a paraphrase is fine for Bible reading. The key is to use a translation that helps you to understand what you are reading. Even switching between translations can be helpful and keep the text from being too familiar.Highlight or underline as you read. Maybe the thought of marking in a Bible scandalizes you, don’t let it. It can help focus attention and get back to those passages that are particularly meaningful to us.Identify at least one key take away. Bible reading is not merely a way to increase knowledge; it’s meant to change lives (see James 1: 22–25). This begins by paying attention to what we are reading and marking those passages that seem particularly relevant to our current circumstances. A reading journal could also be utilized to respond to passages and see how they apply to the moment.Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. This can be difficult for all the recovering achievers and a perfectionists. But it is essential if you are going to make progress. The truth is you are going to miss some days. It’s okay. It’s not the end of the world. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Just pick up the next day and keep moving.The key thing is to keep the process simple. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be. Don’t get hung up on what you don’t understand. Like Mark Twain once said, “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.”Go FurtherHow to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. FeeSeized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture by Joel B. GreenThe Bible: How We Got It, Why It Matters, and How to Read It by Wesley Sanders---Article adapted from http://michaelhyatt.com/read-the-bible.html