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We started our session this week by asking:
_Why Study the Bible?_
Among other answers we looked at we also considered some of the reasons given in scripture itself as to why we should study it…
* Wisdom for salvation (2 Timothy 3:15 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>2 Timothy 3:15 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F55003015" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F55003015" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p55003015.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v55003015-1">15 </span>and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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* Spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>1 Peter 2:2 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F60002002" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F60002002" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p60002002.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v60002002-1">2 </span>Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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* Guidance in living (2 Timothy 3:16 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>2 Timothy 3:16 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F55003016" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F55003016" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p55003016.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v55003016-1">16 </span>All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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* Knowing God (Hebrews 1:1-2 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Hebrews 1:1-2 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F58001001-58001002" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F58001001-58001002" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><h3 id="p58001001.01-1">The Supremacy of God's Son</h3>
<p class="chapter-first" id="p58001001.06-1"><span class="chapter-num" id="v58001001-1">1:1 </span>Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, <span class="verse-num" id="v58001002-1">2 </span>but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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</div>; John 1:18 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>John 1:18 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F43001018" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F43001018" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p43001018.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v43001018-1">18 </span>No one has ever seen God; the only God,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f1" id="b1" title="Or 'the only One, who is God'; some manuscripts 'the only Son'">[1]</a></span> who is at the Father's side,<span class="footnote"> <a href="#f2" id="b2" title="Greek 'in the bosom of the Father'">[2]</a></span> he has made him known. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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<div class="footnotes">
<h3>Footnotes</h3>
<p><span class="footnote"><a href="#b1" id="f1">[1]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:18</span> Or <em>the only One, who is God</em>; some manuscripts <em>the only Son</em>
<br />
<span class="footnote"><a href="#b2" id="f2">[2]</a></span> <span class="footnote-ref">1:18</span> Greek <em>in the bosom of the Father</em>
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* Overcoming the enemy’s temptations (Ephesians 6:17 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Ephesians 6:17 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F49006017" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F49006017" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p49006017.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v49006017-1">17 </span>and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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</div>; Matthew 4:4 [show]<div class="esv"><h2>Matthew 4:4 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F40004004" width="40" height="12" class="audio"><param name="movie" value="http://www.esvapi.org/assets/play.swf?myUrl=hw%2F40004004" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></object></h2>
<div class="esv-text"><p id="p40004004.01-1"><span class="verse-num" id="v40004004-1">4 </span>But he answered, <span class="woc">“It is written,</span></p>
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<p class="line-group" id="p40004004.07-1"><span class="woc">“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,<br />
<span class="indent"></span>but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”</span> (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p>
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Secondly having discussed the why we were lead on to discuss the difficult question of
_How to Study the Bible?_
We explored the _How_ problem by considering the questions we need to be asking ourselves.
* *WHO:* Wrote it? Spoke it? About whom? To whom?
* *WHAT:* Are the main events? Are the major ideas? etc
* *WHEN:* Was it written? Did this take place? etc…
* *WHERE:* Was this done? Was it said? Will it happen?
* *WHY:* Was this written? Was this mentioned? etc..
* *HOW:* Is it done? Is this truth illustrated?
_Based upon ideas taken from “How to read the Bible for all its worth” – Fee & Stuart_
Finally we considered the question:
_Why interpret Scripture?_
* Becuase we do it anyway! – Whether we know it or not…
* When we read we are making an interpretation, however we usually assume that because it is ‘our’ interpretation
* _The Bible is the *Word of God* in the *Words of People*_
* It is not a dictation from God – like the Qu’ran
* _God’s Word_ – Eternal Relevance
* _Human Words_ – Historical Particularity
We must always remember that:
*God’s Word to us was first God’s Word to the people it was written for…*