The Bible
―the most widely-owned book that no
one reads.‖
Top 3 clues you need to read the Bible
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When you open your Bible, your
allergies explode because of all the
dust
You think the minor prophets were
a rock group from the 1960s
Your favorite Bible verse is, ―Jesus
went about doing good and casting
out deacons.‖
What is the Bible?
―The Scriptures constitute a coherent whole.
They are at once divinely inspired and
humanly expressed. They bear authoritative
witness to God's revelation of Himself in
creation, in the Incarnation of the Word, and
in the whole history of salvation, and as
such express the word of God in human
language. We know, receive, and interpret
Scripture through the Church and in the
Church.‖
Why read it?
The Bible is not primarily read in order
to appropriate theological or doctrinal
convictions or to set moral, social or
ethical norms; rather it is read in
order to experience the life of
communion that exists in God.
Why read it?
In the Bible ―one finds the self
revelation of God and can come to a
true and genuine knowledge of Him
and His will and purpose for man and
the world. In and through the Bible,
human persons can enter into
communion with God.‖
- Fr. Thomas Hopko
Inspired Word of God
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness,
Given by inspiration – ―Theopneustos‖
meaning ―God-breathed‖
Inspired Word of God
1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this reason we also thank God
without ceasing, because when you
received the word of God which you
heard from us, you welcomed it not as
the word of men, but as it is in truth,
the word of God, which also effectively
works in you who believe.
Teaches Doctrine
Orthodox doctrine is rooted in the
Bible
―What more shall I teach you than
what we read in the Apostle? For Holy
Scripture fixes the rule for our
doctrine, lest we dare to be wiser than
we ought.‖
- St. Augustine
Teaches Doctrine
―Everything in the Church must be
biblical; for the Church, in order to be
the Church, must be wholly expressive
of the Bible; or more accurately, it
must be wholly faithful to and
expressive of that reality to which the
Bible is itself the scriptural witness.‖
- Fr. Thomas Hopko
Corrects Us
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word! Be ready in season
and out of season. Convince, rebuke,
exhort, with all longsuffering and
teaching.
Instructs Us in Righteousness
―For just as the tree planted by the channels of
waters, so also the soul watered by the divine
Scripture is enriched and gives fruit in its
season…and is adorned with evergreen leafage, I
mean, actions pleasing to God. For through the Holy
Scriptures we are trained to action that is pleasing to
God, and untroubled contemplation. For in these we
find both exhortation to every virtue and dissuasion
from every vice. If, therefore, we are lovers of
learning, we shall also be learned in many things. For
by care and toil and the grace of God the Giver, all
things are accomplished‖
- Fr. John of Damascus
How to read it?
Devotional reading
Topical Study
Book Study
Devotional Study
Prayerful mediation on a passage
―Read the Holy Gospel, be penetrated
by its spirit, make it the rule of your
life, your handbook; in every action
and question of life act according to
the study of the Gospel.‖
Devotional Study
Consider what essential truth God is
communicating in the passage
What do these passages tell you about
Christ?
How are they reflected in the theology
of the Church?
In the hymns sung in the Liturgy?
Devotional Study
These are not just distant places, events in
the remote past. They belong to my own
encounter with the Lord.
Put yourself in the place of those of whom
you are reading.
Favor the words of the Bible over that of
society
Should read and seek to practice what you
learn every day
Topical Study
Examine what the Bible says about a
particular subject.
Create list of words related to the
topic
Use online search to find all mention
of the topic
Book/Passage Study
Discover the central themes of a
biblical book
Allows you to examine in detail the
ways in which God dealt with His
people in a specific historical context
and how it applies to us today
Book/Passage Study
Background
Who is the author?
Under what circumstances — religious,
political, and cultural — was the book
written?
Audience?
Start broad and then study details
Book/Passage Study
Identify main themes
Study cross-references
Attend Bible Studies
Orthodox Commentaries
Communion with God
Bible is Life’s Guidebook
Knowledge + Faith + Struggle
Virtue
By reading it, meditating on it, and
practicing we can achieve communion
with God and lead a life of virtue