Part 1: Learning about the Bible
While the Bible is one unified story, it cannot all be read in the same way. The How to Read the Bible series walks through each literary style found in the Bible to show how each uniquely contributes to the overall storyline. Each literary style lives by its own rules and structure.One story, many styles. The Bible can be broken into several categories of writing. Approximately 43% of the Bible is made up of narrative, from historical narrative to parables. Roughly 33% of the Bible is poetry, including songs, reflective poetry, and the passionate, politically resistant poetry of the prophets. The remaining 24% of the Bible is prose discourse, including laws, sermons, letters, and even one essay.
This four-part approach should help you understand what the Bible is and the story it tells. By the end of this part of the course, you will be familiar with every part of the Bible and see how it uses language to communicate who God is, who we are, and the big, redemptive story that we are all living.
This four-part approach should help you understand what the Bible is and the story it tells. By the end of this part of the course, you will be familiar with every part of the Bible and see how it uses language to communicate who God is, who we are, and the big, redemptive story that we are all living.
How to Read the Bible 1: What is the Bible?
Episode 1 explores the origins, content, and purpose of the Bible. Here you'll be introduced to a condensed history of how the Bible came into existence, and the different forms of the Bible in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christian traditions. Download the Study Notes you as your guide to the video
Episode 1 explores the origins, content, and purpose of the Bible. Here you'll be introduced to a condensed history of how the Bible came into existence, and the different forms of the Bible in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christian traditions. Download the Study Notes you as your guide to the video
|
![]()
![]()
|
How to Read the Bible 2: The Story of the Bible.
Episode 2 summarizes the overall story of the Bible as a series of crossroad decisions. All humanity, followed by the Israelites, redefine good and evil and end up in Babylon. They are followed by Jesus, who takes a different path that opens up the way to a new creation. Download the Study Notes as your guide to the video.
Episode 2 summarizes the overall story of the Bible as a series of crossroad decisions. All humanity, followed by the Israelites, redefine good and evil and end up in Babylon. They are followed by Jesus, who takes a different path that opens up the way to a new creation. Download the Study Notes as your guide to the video.
|
![]()
|
Two presentations on the nature of the Bible by Dr. Joel Baden
Nearly 80 percent of all Americans think the Bible is either literally true or is the inspired word of God. And yet, most Americans have no idea what is actually in the Bible. So we have the paradoxical situation in which we as a culture "have invested the words of this book with amazing authority even when we don't know what these words are and what they mean."
|
We have been culturally conditioned to think of the Bible as if it were written by a single author. Using another compelling example from Genesis, he demonstrates that there are many voices speaking, each with a valid observation of human experience.
|
|
|
Who Wrote the Bible?
This is the first of a series of videos about authorship of the various books of the Bible on the UsefulCharts YouTube channel. The presenter, Matt Baker, holds a degree in Religious Studies. He uses charts and graphs to add clarity to his presentations. The series continues with six more presentations which cover various blocks of the Biblical writings from the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha. |
A Daily Bible Reading Plan
Reading the Bible is one of the best ways to learn about God and His desire to have a relationship with you. You can start now by downloading A Year with the Bible, a guide that will walk you through daily passages, help you engage with God’s word and deepen your walk of faith. When you download the guide, you will also be able to access Bible study resources, memorization apps and search tools that will help expand and deepen your Scripture journey. ![]()
The Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/
Dozens of versions of the Holy Bible are included free of charge on this website so you can cross reference them. One can type in a reference chapter or verse and click, and it will appear in the version of your choice. It is easy to copy a selection and then insert it into a document of your choice. One can also find the references for a single word, like Bethlehem or temple, and all the biblical books in which it occurs will be listed. Some additional resources are available for a fee. |
Matt Baker – “Who Wrote the Bible? Episode 1: Torah/Pentateuch.”
(17 min.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY-l0X7yGY0
(17 min.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY-l0X7yGY0
Part 2: Learning about the Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is one of the most influential books in history. First published in the reign of Edward VI, in 1549, it was a product of the English Reformation following the break with Rome. For nearly five centuries, it has formed the order of worship for established Christianity in England. More listeners have heard these prayers, it is said, than the soliloquies of Shakespeare. As British imperial ambitions spread, the Book of Common Prayer became the primary instrument (at least as much as the King James Bible) of English culture, firstly in Ireland in 1551. When the Puritans fled to America in 1620 it was to escape the discipline imposed by of the Book of Common Prayer, yet the book came to embody official religion in America before and after Independence, and is still in use.
Today it is a global book: it was the first book printed in many languages, from north America to southern Africa, to the Indian sub-continent.
The history of the Book of Common Prayer is fascinating but is easily misunderstood. Designed in the 1540s as a radical Protestant answer to Catholic "superstition," within a century (during the English Civil Wars) radical Christians regarded the Book of Common Prayer as itself "superstitious" and even (paradoxically) "Papist." Changing in meaning and context over time, the Book of Common Prayer has acted as a cultural symbol, affecting the everyday conduct of life as much as the spiritual, and dividing conformity from non-conformity, in social terms as well as religious, from birth to marriage to death.
Today it is a global book: it was the first book printed in many languages, from north America to southern Africa, to the Indian sub-continent.
The history of the Book of Common Prayer is fascinating but is easily misunderstood. Designed in the 1540s as a radical Protestant answer to Catholic "superstition," within a century (during the English Civil Wars) radical Christians regarded the Book of Common Prayer as itself "superstitious" and even (paradoxically) "Papist." Changing in meaning and context over time, the Book of Common Prayer has acted as a cultural symbol, affecting the everyday conduct of life as much as the spiritual, and dividing conformity from non-conformity, in social terms as well as religious, from birth to marriage to death.
People from many countries and cultures and many walks of life have grown to love the Book of Common Prayer as a framework for their spiritual growth and development. To help us learn about this essential part of Anglican/Episcopalian spiritual practice we will look at how we can use this resource not only to learn about our faith and our Church but also how we can appropriate its richness for ourselves.
In this video, a young adult describes how the Book of Common Prayer has become an essential part of his spiritual life.
|
This interesting video give you a "quick tour" of the Book of Common Prayer - in "four minutes or less!"
|
|
|
The file below is the Book of Common Prayer in PDF format so that you can access the BCP on your computer.
![]()
![]()
You can also access a purely online version here: www.bcponline.org/
Books of Common Prayer – Anglican Communion
For those who are interested in the BCP as it was published in the past, here is a website that includes a comprehensive list going back to the 1549 Book in England and progressing through to the most recent publications. It also includes a wide range of BCPs from English speaking countries and from non-English speaking countries across the Anglican Communion. http://anglicansonline.org/resources/bcp.html “Know the Creeds and Councils Video Study-Apostles’ Creed.”
Dr. Justin S. Holcomb is Professor of Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary. In this video he describes the basis for this ancient creed and explains some of the phrases which can be confusing. |
American Commemorations
Besides the Book of Common Prayer in our pew racks, the Episcopal Church has provided a variety of other resources to aid in our devotional life. Here is a sampling of Americans, and people who labored for the faith in America, who are commemorated in the supplement Holy Women, Holy Men. ![]()
Book of Occasional Services – 2018
One of many additional resources which are approved for use in our church. It includes various blessings and services which are important as a supplement to our BCP. ![]()
“Why the Nicene Creed matters today.”
A continuation of Dr. Holcomb’s presentations on the Creeds. The Nicene Creed is one of the most famous and influential creeds in the history of the church, because it settled the question of how Christians can worship one God and also claim that this God is three persons. “I believe: Athanasian Creed.”
A brief video on the essence of this historic creed presented by members of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. You can find the text of the creed on page 864 pf the Book of Common Prayer. |
recording of session 1
Did you miss part or all of Session 1? No problem . . . you can click on this link to watch the video and to see how your companions on this journey participated in the discussion.
|