The new semester of Evangel Bible Institute started last week and tonight was the second lecture. This semester I decided to do both the Old Testament Unit (video messges by Ken Casillas) and the Pre-Marital Counseling Unit (video messages by Jim Berg - yeah we use Jim Berg a fair bit at our church!). I am currently doing both units as an Audit student but I am still deciding whether I should change to be a Credit student later for the Old Testament unit (the name of the unit is 'The Pentateuch and Historical Books' and it looks at Genesis to Esther).
While I decide, I thought it would be a good idea to consolidate what I learn at EBI by blogging main points for the Old Testament Unit. So I will start off now and summarise last week and tonight's lectures.
Here we go...
Lesson 1: Getting Motivated
- each book has a 'message' that helps us have context when reading
- the OT has unity and progression when looked at as a whole
- there is a practical relevence in the OT that we can understand
We often have insufficient motives when reading the Bible. These aren't wrong motives, just insufficient. They will be insufficient in keeping us passionate about reading God's the Word. These motives could be things like...
> To fulfil our duty or obligation. We think that God's love and acceptance of us is dependent on us keeping to our duty, but 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that we are already accepted by God through Christ.
> To accumulate information. e.g. the Corinthians were rich in spiritual knowledge but carnal in their personal lives.
> To find a 'verse for the day'. This can distract us from the intended context of the passage we are reading.
The ultimate motives for Bible study will keep us motivated to read and study His Word. These include:
> Communion - to fellowship with God. In the Psalms God aids and ministers to the psalmist through the study of the Word and the psalmist responds to the Word. The bottom line is that studying the Bible is not for your self - it is for GOD. The Bible isn't just a group of principles to live by, it is the self-revelation of God, the unfolding of His character, thinking and relationship with man.
Something to be reminded of was that when the psalmist writes so passionately about the Word and the love for the Word (e.g. O how I love Thy law.. etc) he only had books like the Pentateuch (first 5 books of the Bible), Joshua, Judges and Ruth. Can you imagine having such a response after reading Leviticus? It's a sad indictment on our own love for the Word isn't it? Ok let's keep going..
> To be transformed by God (2 Timothy 3). The Bible changes us in doctrine (by teaching truth and giving instruction), reproof (proves it wrong), correction (makes it right), and instruction in righteousness (keeps it right).
___________________________________________________
Lesson 2: Why the Old Testament?
The OT is often seen as irrelevent for the following reasons:
- the size and breadth of historical coverage
- distant historical / cultural settings
---(e.g. Sarai giving Hagar to Abraham to wife - our culture says 'what the?', in their culture it was normal practice)
- the inclusion of moral perplexities
- unfamiliar or enigmatic styles of expression
---(e.g. Song of Solomon, complements to wife sound strange)
- the differences between old and new dispensations
- the inferiority of the old covenant
So why should we study the OT?
> It makes up 77% of the Bible!
> Deals with some doctrines more completely than in the NT
>>> e.g. creation, attributes of God, sin, Satan, angels, eschatology
> provides perspective on God's work throughout history
>>> not reading the OT will be like watching a play from Act 2.
> The OT was highly valued by Jesus and the Apsotles
>>> NT writers quote OT (almost 1/3 of NT is OT quotation)
>>> NT writers base arguments on OT texts
Why does the NT value the OT?
A. Because the OT continues to be God's means of spiritual enlightening. 2 Peter 1:19-21 refers to OT writers.
B. The OT continues to be God's instrument of salvation and sanctification, leading to effective service (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
While I decide, I thought it would be a good idea to consolidate what I learn at EBI by blogging main points for the Old Testament Unit. So I will start off now and summarise last week and tonight's lectures.
Here we go...
Lesson 1: Getting Motivated
- each book has a 'message' that helps us have context when reading
- the OT has unity and progression when looked at as a whole
- there is a practical relevence in the OT that we can understand
We often have insufficient motives when reading the Bible. These aren't wrong motives, just insufficient. They will be insufficient in keeping us passionate about reading God's the Word. These motives could be things like...
> To fulfil our duty or obligation. We think that God's love and acceptance of us is dependent on us keeping to our duty, but 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us that we are already accepted by God through Christ.
> To accumulate information. e.g. the Corinthians were rich in spiritual knowledge but carnal in their personal lives.
> To find a 'verse for the day'. This can distract us from the intended context of the passage we are reading.
The ultimate motives for Bible study will keep us motivated to read and study His Word. These include:
> Communion - to fellowship with God. In the Psalms God aids and ministers to the psalmist through the study of the Word and the psalmist responds to the Word. The bottom line is that studying the Bible is not for your self - it is for GOD. The Bible isn't just a group of principles to live by, it is the self-revelation of God, the unfolding of His character, thinking and relationship with man.
Something to be reminded of was that when the psalmist writes so passionately about the Word and the love for the Word (e.g. O how I love Thy law.. etc) he only had books like the Pentateuch (first 5 books of the Bible), Joshua, Judges and Ruth. Can you imagine having such a response after reading Leviticus? It's a sad indictment on our own love for the Word isn't it? Ok let's keep going..
> To be transformed by God (2 Timothy 3). The Bible changes us in doctrine (by teaching truth and giving instruction), reproof (proves it wrong), correction (makes it right), and instruction in righteousness (keeps it right).
___________________________________________________
Lesson 2: Why the Old Testament?
The OT is often seen as irrelevent for the following reasons:
- the size and breadth of historical coverage
- distant historical / cultural settings
---(e.g. Sarai giving Hagar to Abraham to wife - our culture says 'what the?', in their culture it was normal practice)
- the inclusion of moral perplexities
- unfamiliar or enigmatic styles of expression
---(e.g. Song of Solomon, complements to wife sound strange)
- the differences between old and new dispensations
- the inferiority of the old covenant
So why should we study the OT?
> It makes up 77% of the Bible!
> Deals with some doctrines more completely than in the NT
>>> e.g. creation, attributes of God, sin, Satan, angels, eschatology
> provides perspective on God's work throughout history
>>> not reading the OT will be like watching a play from Act 2.
> The OT was highly valued by Jesus and the Apsotles
>>> NT writers quote OT (almost 1/3 of NT is OT quotation)
>>> NT writers base arguments on OT texts
Why does the NT value the OT?
A. Because the OT continues to be God's means of spiritual enlightening. 2 Peter 1:19-21 refers to OT writers.
B. The OT continues to be God's instrument of salvation and sanctification, leading to effective service (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
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