TABLE OF CONTENTS
Learn to Read the Bible Effectively
Seminar Workbook
Learn to Read the Bible Effectively -iii-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENTS
WEEK ONE:
Section 1: Introduction: Bible Echoes 1
Section 2: Background to the Bible 3
Section 3: Overview 1: The First Five Books (Genesis – Deuteronomy) 7
Section 4: The Bible Interprets Itself 13
WEEK TWO:
Section 5: The Purpose of God Revealed 17
Section 6: Overview 2: The History Books (Joshua – Esther) 21
Section 7: Why the Bible is Difficult to Read 29
WEEK THREE:
Section 8: Tips on Reading the Bible 33
Section 9: Why Two Testaments? 39
Section 10: Overview 3: Poetry & Wisdom Books (Job – Song of Songs) 43
Section 11: Bible Terminology 1: Faith 49
WEEK FOUR:
Section 12: Using Cross References 51
Section 13: Different Versions of the Bible 53
Section 14: Overview 4: The Prophets (Isaiah – Zechariah) 57
Section 15: Bible Terminology 2: Antichrist 61
WEEK FIVE:
Section 16: The Role of Prophecy 63
Section 17: Overview 5: Jesus Christ (Matthew – John) 69
Section 18: Bible Study Tools 75
WEEK SIX:
Section 19: The Jews, their Law, and their Destiny 79
Section 20: Overview 6: The Early Church (Acts – Revelation) 87
Section 21: Bible Terminology 3: Gospel 93
Section 22: Conclusion 97
Appendix A: Bible Book Outlines 99
Appendix B: Bible Words 167
Appendix C: Bible Reading Plan 173
Learn to Read the Bible Effectively
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1Introduction
WELCOME!
We know that your time is valuable. So we promise to make your time with us productive and enjoyable.
Our goal is to teach you to read the Bible more effectively. You are certainly capable of reading and understanding this great book, but if you are like most people you are occasionally:
frustrated
confused
bored
or overwhelmed by the task at hand
We assume that you believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and you believe you can benefit in some way from understanding its message. We share that belief with you. But we also assume that, since you are attending, you desire help in furthering your understanding of the Bible while avoiding the many roadblocks that hinder progress. We think we can provide you with some keys and tips that will help you in your quest.
Why are we giving this seminar? We hope God is pleased that we are attempting to build respect for and familiarity with His Word. We hope that we are fulfilling our responsibility to share what we have learned with others. We are committed to helping you discover the Bible message for yourself, rather than needing to rely on others. If we come to agreement on matters, all the better. If not, your conscience and ours must be satisfied independently. For this reason, we will avoid a debate of doctrine during class time and stick to our promise of helping you read the Bible more effectively for yourself!
A BEGINNING (BUT CRITICAL) TIP:
Look for Bible EchoesThis is perhaps the most useful Bible reading tool one can use. Ask yourself: What does this remind me of? Where have I heard this before? Often, by going back to the source of the “echo”, you find information that opens up the meaning of what you are reading.
Consider this example: When the Pharisees and Herodians attempted to catch Jesus in his words, so they could arrest him, they asked, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” (Mark 12:1317)
Jesus recognized their treachery and asked them to show him a penny. "Whose image and superscription is this?" he asked. They replied, "Caesar’s", to which Christ responds, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."
Fair enough. Pay your taxes because they belong to man's system of things, is the clear answer. But what are the things we ought to render to God?
Look at Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him."
Whose image and superscription are we? Jesus' full message is not merely to pay our taxes, but also to remember that we belong to God, and must, therefore, render to Him His due. Caesar can have his money, but God wants us!
This is not a mysterious connection. It is merely an association gained by careful reading.
Let's learn more...
Learn to Read the Bible Effectively
Background of the Bible
SECTION 2Background of the Bible
BACKGROUND
/ Holy Bible means "Separate Book"/ 66 Books: The Old Testament with 39 books and the New Testament with 27 books
/ 40+ Writers: Kings and peasants, doctors and fishermen, princes and herdsmen, poets and laborers, rich and poor, educated and illiterate
/ Written over a period of approximately1600 years
/ 2930 characters in 1551 different places
/ Every imaginable literary form (poetry, prose, etc.)
/ Even with so many different writers, subjects, and styles, all parts of the Bible agree with one another. Though the writers were divided by class, period, country, and disposition, there is wonderful harmony in all they wrote. There is no fundamental contradiction between them, no disagreement.
Why is there such a wonderful unity? The Bible’s claim is very simple and straight-forward: It comes from God! All the writers wrote as they were moved by God. They were God's agents, proclaiming His message to humanity.
GOD IS THE AUTHOR
2 Tim. 3:1517
And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
· All scripture is Inspired, or, as the literal translation suggests, is "God breathed".
· Scripture, having come from God, is sufficient in itself.
· Some other examples: David 2 Samuel 23:12, Jeremiah Jer. 30:12
How often have you read in the Bible:
"Thus says the LORD…"
"The word of the LORD came to me saying…"
MEN RECORDED GOD'S WORDS
2 Peter 1:1921
We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (see also 1 Peter 1:10-12)
IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE
Provision of Source of Absolute Truth
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes… (Psalm 19:7-8)
Provision of Hope
For whatsoever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
Provision of Salvation
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes… (Romans 1:16)
Provision of Daily Guidance
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. (Isa. 40:6-8)
HOW ARE YOU READING?
It is one thing to read the Bible through,
Another thing to learn and read and do.
Some read it with desire to learn, and read
But to their subject pay but little heed;
Some read it as their duty every week,
But no instruction from the Bible seek;
While others read it with but little care,
With no regard to how they read or where;
Some read it as a History, to know
How people lived two thousand years ago,
Some read it to bring themselves into repute,
By showing others how they can dispute;
While others read because their neighbors do,
To see how long it takes to read it through.
Some read it for the wonders that are there,
How David killed a lion and a bear;
While others read it with uncommon care,
Hoping to find some contradictions there.
Some read as though it did not speak to them
But to the people at Jerusalem.
One reads it as a book of mysteries,
And won't believe the very thing he sees;
One reads with father's specs upon his head,
And sees the thing just as his father said;
Some read to prove a preadopted creed,
Hence understanding but little as they read,
For every passage in the book they bend
To make it suit that allimportant end.
Some people read, as I have often thought,
To teach the Book, instead of being taught;
And some there are who read it out of spite,
I fear there are but few who read it right.
One thing I find, and you may find it too,
The more you read, the more you find it true;
But this to find, an open eye is needful,
With often prayer, and humble heart all heedful;
The man who reads with pride or inattention,
Will only find full causes of dissension,
The man who reads with modest penetration,
Will find the joy of comfort and salvation.
Learn to Read the Bible Effectively -5-
Overview of the Bible (1)
Learn to Read the Bible Effectively -11-
Overview of the Bible (1)
SECTION 3Overview 1:
The First Five Books
(Genesis - Deuteronomy)
GENESIS
CREATION & EDEN (ch. 1-2)
The Beginning
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen. 1:1)
God Creates Man
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness... (Gen. 1:26)
Paradise: Harmony between God and Earth
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day. (Gen. 1:31)
PARADISE LOST (ch. 3-5)
The Curse of Eden
Then to Adam He said, Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you… Cursed is the ground for your sake;in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life…In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. (Gen. 3:17-19)
Murder: The Accusation of Blood
Then the LORD said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? He said, I do not know; am I my brother's keeper? And the LORD said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. (Gen. 4:9-10)
THE FLOOD (ch. 6-10)
The Flood
God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth… And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
(Gen. 6:5-6)
Promise of Eternity
And when the LORD smelled the pleasing odor, the LORD said in his heart, I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done. (Gen. 8:21)
A CHOSEN PEOPLE (ch. 12-25)
God’s Promise to Abraham
The LORD had said to Abram, Leave your country…and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Gen. 12:1-3)
The Friend of God
Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. (James 2:23)
12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL (ch. 25-50)
AbrahamIshmael / Isaac
/ Esau / Jacob (Israel)
(12 Tribes by birth order)
Reuben / Levi / Dan / Gad / Issachar / Joseph
Ephraim / Manasseh
Simeon / Judah / Naphtali / Asher / Zebulun / Benjamin
EXODUS
SLAVERY IN EGYPT (ch. 1-2)
Egypt Enslaves Israel
“So they made the people of Israel serve with rigour, and made their lives bitter with hard service…” (Exodus 1:13)
God Remembers His People
“And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God saw the people of Israel, and God knew their condition.” (Exodus. 2:24-25)
MOSES: FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION (ch. 3-15)
A Chosen Leader
“…I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:9-10)
The Ten Commandments
“I am the LORD your God... You shall have no other gods before me.... for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:2-6)