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General Approach to the Bible

1.Accept the Bible as the Word of God

2. Acknowledge the Bible’s Purpose
3. Read and Pray
4. Study the Bible
5. Live the Word
 .
Steps in Approaching the Bible

1.Accept the Bible as the Word of

God ―
 Acknowledge and accept its
inspiration and canonicity.
Believe in the divine authorship of the
Bible because this faith is necessary
to understand its meaning.
2. Acknowledge the Bible’s Purpose
 Believe the Bible’s purpose,
namely, to lead us to salvation.

 Salvation is the primary purpose

of the Bible.
3..Read and Pray ― The following guide may be
helpful in this step of approaching the Bible:
1) Before reading the Sacred Scriptures, we must put
ourselves in God’s presence and invoke His Spirit.
2) Prepare to read the Bible with the disposition of
faith
3) Choose a passage.
4) Read it slowly, attentively and reflectively.
5) Pause after any word, phrase or sentence that
strikes you;
6) Converse with God about what you have read and
reflected on.
4. Study the Bible ― Bible scholars study
God’s Word seriously.
The Bible is difficult to interpret for the
ff. reasons:
a. Length of time in writing the Bible
b. The Bible was written in the historical context of
Israel. We need to know the Situation of the Time.
c. Different forms of literature used in the Bible
d. Language used in writing the Bible
e. Faith Dimension
• Though we are not scholars, we are
earnestly invited by the Church to read the
Bible in order to pray and live it.
• The Bible is not exclusively for the learned.
• It is the official book of the Church, the
People of God, therefore, our book too.
 Concerning difficult passages, it is
wise to ask our pastors and other
competent persons, and to check our
personal understanding with the
interpretation of scholars found in
biblical aids like a commentary.
Jerome Biblical Commentary(JBC)
- is a book which discusses the
biblical text chapter by chapter and
verse by verse, lifting up noteworthy
phrases and words for clarification.
Bible Dictionary
- gives an alphabetical listing of
biblical terms with their
explanations and definitions.
Consulting references and people
takes additional time, but the result
is very enriching.
 In addition, in case we doubt the soundness of
our personal understanding of a biblical passage,
we recheck it with:
 The teachings of the Church such as doctrinal
declarations, catechesis, canons of the Councils,
liturgical texts, preaching, etc.
 The articles of our faith c/o ReEd Classes
 Common opinions of theologians because these
reflect a sense of the faith which is an expression of
Christian thinking.
 we look upon the teaching authority of the Church,
the Magisterium, as the official interpreter of the
Bible.
 5. Live the Word

Living the Word is another key to

understanding. If we act on what we
are inspired to do, presuming of
course that it is right, we are assured
of an understanding which surpasses
theoretical and technical knowledge.