Studying
the Bible can be intimidating and overwhelming to all of us. Decoding ancient
verses and organizing them into modern-day thought isn’t a talent that comes
naturally. I have been a Christian for over twenty-five years, and I still have
a long list of Bible verses that I don’t fully understand. That is totally
acceptable to God. He doesn’t automatically download every detail into our brains
when we come into a relationship with Him. We have the space to learn more and
more about Him every day for the rest of our lives.
Before we
move into the Twilight series, we
need to set the foundation for our house. The foundation is the Bible.
Throughout this study, I will be referencing verses from a newer translation of
the Bible known as The Message. This
translation was written by Eugene Peterson, a pastor who looked to provide a
paraphrase of the Bible in modern-day language. I pray that this translation
will speak to you. For those who are familiar with the Bible, The Message will bring new language and
pictures to you. For those who don’t know the Bible, The Message will be an encouraging entry point for you. I encourage
you to read the passages in Ephesians as you read this book. Study questions
are included for you under the Resources tab.
How we
interpret the Bible impacts every aspect of our faith. The Bible is not a
history book or a science book. It is not a book full of individual
devotionals. The Bible is a story. It is a story of a Creator who creates a
world to bring glory to Himself. The world falls into temptation and becomes
separated from the Creator who then provides and paves a way back to Him. This
is the story of the Bible. This story is told in sixty-six different ways
within the Bible. Much is to be studied and mediated upon within this book, but
every verse comes back to this same story.
Every
person has a process when he or she studies material, whether we realize it or
not. Here is the process that I use when I study the Bible. It is not
all-inclusive, but it is a starting point for our study. Whether we are reading
one verse or an entire book, let’s look at these four elements of study.
- Context
- Consistency
- Continuity
- Communication
Context is the who, what, where, when, how
and why. Who is the author of this book? What is he writing about? Who is the
audience? Why was this book written at this particular point in time? It is
important to understand the background of a book. Consistency is about what themes are evident throughout a book.
When we read a text, it is important to review how those verses are consistent
with the overall message of the book. This also goes along with the element of continuity. If God is telling the same
story across the entire Bible, then how do these verses fit into that message?
Do these verses reflect the same God that we encountered in another book of the
Bible? The last element involves communication.
What is God communicating to His people in these verses? Is it a command or
something about His character?
The Bible will change you, I promise. The actual book has no special powers, but the One who wrote it and still works in our lives today has all the power to change you into something more. When we face disappointment and frustration in our lives, we know there is Something better. When we see the intricacies of our world, we know that Something bigger exists. When we look for motivation and fulfillment, we believe in Something greater than our own inner goodness. And when we search for love, we long for Someone who will be faithful to the end. That is our God, and He wants to speak to us today.