The Road Through Galatia
One of the things I've felt challenged on recently is my study of scripture. My Old Testament knowledge is patchy as best, whilst my New Testament understanding is perhaps simply a list of proof-texts to reinforce views and practices I adhere to.
A couple of verses that have been living with me for a number of months is John 5:39-40. Jesus enters into a dialogue with the Pharisees, who clearly knew the scriptures excellently. Yet He rebukes them for not recognizing the scriptures for what they really are: a signpost to Him.
This has had me thinking for quite a while: have I made the Bible an idol? Have I elevated the scriptures to something they were never meant to be? In my absolute adherence to the authority of scripture - my belief that all the words in the Bible are God's words, with the appropriate standing - have I lost something? As Jesus reminds us, the Bible points to a person, not to a system.
I have therefore decided that I would get into the text myself, and simply see what it says. In this sense, I am simply working through a chapter verse by verse or section by section, and noting the flow of the writing, and any findings of note. I am not used any kind of commentary, reference book or authored work as an accompaniment - not because I reject their works, but because I do not want to be coloured by another person's perception. My goal is to get into the 'heart' of the text, and be in a position where the Holy Spirit, who wrote scripture, guides and speaks to me.
I understand this will be a somewhat self-centric exercise, as my interpretation of scripture is shaped by my internal bias, teachings, experiences and preference. But I hope that there may be some things of value for others. Although primarily, the value will be for me first and foremost.
I have started with the book of Galatians, purely because it is short and a Pauline Epistle. I will post a summary of my study through chapter one shortly. And of course, feel free to comment or read along!
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6 Comments:
Should you be studying using chapter divisions that were non-existent at the time of writing?
I feel it's good think to examine our motives and prayerfully check we're moving in the right direction. It's all too easy having learnt a little scripture to fall into a comfort zone where we think we've got it all sussed. But after all we're all beginners, even the most mature Christians are just experienced beginnners. That's just my view from what others have taught me, don't want to get all preachy!
Good point Toby. I'm going with the chapters simply because they give me a simple start and end point, rather than conducting a whole book study in one setting.
Of course, the purists amongst us might argue I should be studying the letter in the original Greek...
Oh and by the way, I had a Scoffers tonight
Or a transliteration. But they're not as holy. Because, you understand, it's the exact words and not the meanings we're looking at. Oh my. I really shouldn't.
Why not introduce your own arbitrary breakpoints into the text. You could be your very own medieval scribe.
Not much point in turning to the Greek because as far as I know you are not able to read it.
You know, sort of limits ones ability to get any meaning from the text :-)
Now if you were Will Smith you definitely wouldn't be letting a little ol' thing such as not being able to read greek get in your way. Nuh uh. Most definitely not.
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