Sunday, August 17, 2008
Aug. 12 - Aug. 18, 2008 Chapter 3
For this week, we will be covering Chapter 3 - "The Canon of Scripture".
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Chapter 3 - Erik Cooper
The author gets it right early in this chapter, when he describes the correct determination of scriptural canon as being of "utmost importance". As Christians, we base our lives on the Bible as the word of God, so it is critical that we have the correct text. I found the historical information to be very interesting, as I have not ready much about this subject. I have faith that the books in our Bible are that which God intended, so I don't have much to say here.
One part that the author did not discuss is the importance of accurate translations. I don't know Greek or Hebrew (and I assume that is true for most of the people reading this), so I rely on the wisdom of trained interpreters who have translated the original texts into English. The good news is that (even though there are a variety of translations on the market) most translations say generally the same thing. This provides some comfort for the majority of Christians who are dependent on these translations.
It is interesting, though, to examine differences in various translations. Some are very accurately translated while some are more of a paraphrase. I tend to prefer the more literal translations (I have a New American Standard that I really like), but easier-to-read translations can be great tools to make the scriptures available to a wide audience. I do have some concerns about the paraphrased versions. For example, take John 1:14
NASB: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Message: The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
To me, "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." just does not have the same ring, or even quite the same meaning. This is not to say that translations such as The Message are without value, but that we should apply caution when we read a translation that risks changing the meaning in order to increase readability.
One part that the author did not discuss is the importance of accurate translations. I don't know Greek or Hebrew (and I assume that is true for most of the people reading this), so I rely on the wisdom of trained interpreters who have translated the original texts into English. The good news is that (even though there are a variety of translations on the market) most translations say generally the same thing. This provides some comfort for the majority of Christians who are dependent on these translations.
It is interesting, though, to examine differences in various translations. Some are very accurately translated while some are more of a paraphrase. I tend to prefer the more literal translations (I have a New American Standard that I really like), but easier-to-read translations can be great tools to make the scriptures available to a wide audience. I do have some concerns about the paraphrased versions. For example, take John 1:14
NASB: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Message: The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
To me, "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." just does not have the same ring, or even quite the same meaning. This is not to say that translations such as The Message are without value, but that we should apply caution when we read a translation that risks changing the meaning in order to increase readability.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Aug. 4 - Aug. 11, 2008 Chapter 2
For this week, we will be covering Chapter 2 - "The Word of God".
As always, if anyone would like to have posting ability on this blog, drop me an email or post a comment here and I will send you an invite.
As always, if anyone would like to have posting ability on this blog, drop me an email or post a comment here and I will send you an invite.
Chapter 1 - Tim Mast
Two things in Chapter 1 really jumped out at me this week.
The first was in the section regarding the benefits of systematic theology. The author said that two of the reasons for studying systematic theology were to help us "overcome wrong ideas" and to "be able to make better decisions later on new questions of doctrine that may arise." This really hit home for me because of some things that I've had come up recently regarding individuals that we as Christians should endorse. In this situation, I have come to realize how much I really can be lacking at times regarding my ability to clearly express my concerns certain situations. It was a situation where I was fairly convinced that the situation was not right, but I just wasn't able to express my concerns in a straightforward and cogent manner. I'm looking forward to spending more time in the Word in a concentrated manner so that when this type of situation comes up again, I am able to express my concerns in a more organized way.
The second was were the author mentioned that we should "study systematic theology with others". He goes on to say that some of the most effective learning can take place "in informal conversations among students who are attempting to understand Bible doctrines for themselves". I'm hoping that this blog can become an informal conversation that leads to this same effect. Otherwise, it will just be me talking into an echo chamber.
The first was in the section regarding the benefits of systematic theology. The author said that two of the reasons for studying systematic theology were to help us "overcome wrong ideas" and to "be able to make better decisions later on new questions of doctrine that may arise." This really hit home for me because of some things that I've had come up recently regarding individuals that we as Christians should endorse. In this situation, I have come to realize how much I really can be lacking at times regarding my ability to clearly express my concerns certain situations. It was a situation where I was fairly convinced that the situation was not right, but I just wasn't able to express my concerns in a straightforward and cogent manner. I'm looking forward to spending more time in the Word in a concentrated manner so that when this type of situation comes up again, I am able to express my concerns in a more organized way.
The second was were the author mentioned that we should "study systematic theology with others". He goes on to say that some of the most effective learning can take place "in informal conversations among students who are attempting to understand Bible doctrines for themselves". I'm hoping that this blog can become an informal conversation that leads to this same effect. Otherwise, it will just be me talking into an echo chamber.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Starting out
My Systematic Theology book arrived from Amazon last week. It's a nice, hefty, impressively sized tome.
After looking through the book a bit, I've decided that we will try to cover one chapter a week. There are 57 chapters, so that should get us through the book in about a year. We may be able to shave off a few weeks with some of the shorter chapters.
I'm not sure exactly what the structure will be over the course of the year. I don't know for sure how many other people will be joining with me and, of those, how many will be actively posting here. My plan is to spend some time each week reading the chapter, studying the relevant scriptures myself, answering the questions at the end of each chapter and posting any insights that I have here on this blog. The pace of one week per chapter should allow people to go as in depth as they would like on the week's topic while still having time to study other things.
For this week, I'm going to be going through the introduction and the first chapter. If you're doing this along with me, I'd love to know about it. Please post in the comments or drop me an email.
After looking through the book a bit, I've decided that we will try to cover one chapter a week. There are 57 chapters, so that should get us through the book in about a year. We may be able to shave off a few weeks with some of the shorter chapters.
I'm not sure exactly what the structure will be over the course of the year. I don't know for sure how many other people will be joining with me and, of those, how many will be actively posting here. My plan is to spend some time each week reading the chapter, studying the relevant scriptures myself, answering the questions at the end of each chapter and posting any insights that I have here on this blog. The pace of one week per chapter should allow people to go as in depth as they would like on the week's topic while still having time to study other things.
For this week, I'm going to be going through the introduction and the first chapter. If you're doing this along with me, I'd love to know about it. Please post in the comments or drop me an email.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Systematic Theology
At our last Bible study, I challenged everyone to take time to really look into the things that we say that we believe. To not just get our understanding of the Bible and it's meaning through the teachings of others, but to take the time to study it for ourselves.
I referenced a book that I plan on going through - Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Wayne Grudem). I'd love for all of us to get a copy of this book and go through it together. Not as part of our Monday night meetings, but simply as something which we're doing because we want to do it. I love the idea of all of us spending time each day with our books, our Bibles open and a notebook to write down the things that we are learning.
I've already ordered the book from Amazon and I encourage all of you to do the same. The shipping is free, so I'll let everyone order it themselves rather than trying to do a mass order.
The idea of doing this in a public forum where everyone can see my thoughts and my progress and whether I follow through with this is a little intimidating. And yet, I know that doing it this way is a way to both be accountable and a way to encourage others. So I'd encourage all of you to join me. I'd like to use this blog as a place for all of us to share our insights as we go through this journey. If anyone wants to be given the ability to post on this blog, send me an email and I'll set you up.
I look forward to studying with all of you.
I referenced a book that I plan on going through - Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Wayne Grudem). I'd love for all of us to get a copy of this book and go through it together. Not as part of our Monday night meetings, but simply as something which we're doing because we want to do it. I love the idea of all of us spending time each day with our books, our Bibles open and a notebook to write down the things that we are learning.
I've already ordered the book from Amazon and I encourage all of you to do the same. The shipping is free, so I'll let everyone order it themselves rather than trying to do a mass order.
The idea of doing this in a public forum where everyone can see my thoughts and my progress and whether I follow through with this is a little intimidating. And yet, I know that doing it this way is a way to both be accountable and a way to encourage others. So I'd encourage all of you to join me. I'd like to use this blog as a place for all of us to share our insights as we go through this journey. If anyone wants to be given the ability to post on this blog, send me an email and I'll set you up.
I look forward to studying with all of you.
What's going on here?
Sometimes it seems like we live out the Christian life more by accident than on purpose. We go to church because that's what we do on Sunday morning. We read the Bible because it's part of what we're 'supposed to do'. We watch our language around other Christians simply because that's what you do around other Christians.
Often it's just because we don't take the time to really examine our lives and the reasons that we do things. Let's face it, living life takes up most of the day. Between work, wives, kids, yardwork, paying bills, cleaning the house and doing the dishes, the day can often go by pretty quickly. We rarely have the time to really stop and examine our motives and reasons for the things that we do.
And yet, I know that in the midst of our business, we're missing something. Without having a reason for the things that we do, we're little more than automatons going through the motions. And I think that this is especially true in the area of our Christian lives. We go through the motions more out of habit sometimes that out of a true drive.
But that's not always bad. We learned all of these behaviors on purpose at one time or another in our lifes. The fact that we do them automatically means that they have become part of who we are. That's what we should strive to do in our Christian walk - make these behaviours so automatic that they are part of us. So that when things start to get busy, we can act out of instinct and behave in the way that we want.
But acting out of habit also limits our ability for growth. Doing the same thing over and over means that you're not learning anything new. You're not adding to your collection of automatic behaviors. That would be okay if we had learned everything that there is to know. But I'd wager to say that none of us would go so far as to say that we had learned everything there was to know about being a Christian.
So, I've started this page to allow us to have a place to challenge each other and to encourage each other to get out of that rut that we're in. To learn new behaviours and to practice them so that they become habits for the next busy season. To live the Christian life intentionally rather than by accident.
Often it's just because we don't take the time to really examine our lives and the reasons that we do things. Let's face it, living life takes up most of the day. Between work, wives, kids, yardwork, paying bills, cleaning the house and doing the dishes, the day can often go by pretty quickly. We rarely have the time to really stop and examine our motives and reasons for the things that we do.
And yet, I know that in the midst of our business, we're missing something. Without having a reason for the things that we do, we're little more than automatons going through the motions. And I think that this is especially true in the area of our Christian lives. We go through the motions more out of habit sometimes that out of a true drive.
But that's not always bad. We learned all of these behaviors on purpose at one time or another in our lifes. The fact that we do them automatically means that they have become part of who we are. That's what we should strive to do in our Christian walk - make these behaviours so automatic that they are part of us. So that when things start to get busy, we can act out of instinct and behave in the way that we want.
But acting out of habit also limits our ability for growth. Doing the same thing over and over means that you're not learning anything new. You're not adding to your collection of automatic behaviors. That would be okay if we had learned everything that there is to know. But I'd wager to say that none of us would go so far as to say that we had learned everything there was to know about being a Christian.
So, I've started this page to allow us to have a place to challenge each other and to encourage each other to get out of that rut that we're in. To learn new behaviours and to practice them so that they become habits for the next busy season. To live the Christian life intentionally rather than by accident.
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