5/11/2023 0 Comments Family bible studyTo Help Othersīut the Bible is not just for us to keep to ourselves as individuals. The Bible is available for us to learn from not only on an intellectual level, but on a personal and emotional level. As Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV). It is full of individuals facing moral choices, life challenges, and, frankly, situations that are applicable to us even today. This, of course, is a more meaningful reason for studying the Bible for those who believe in God, but the Bible is also surprisingly edifying for those who do not believe. Personal Edificationįor thousands of years the Bible has been read not only as history and God’s Word, but also for personal edification. Knowing what it says firsthand and having some knowledge of the context is helpful in understanding not only current events, but key ideas the Bible addresses such as the nature and existence of God, the human condition, the biblical pattern of redemption and salvation and ethics. Sometimes the critics do not always quote the Bible correctly or in context. In addition, the recent rise of hostile criticism towards the Bible itself and religion in general also makes it worthy of study. Considering that the Bible is important to three major world religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – it is worthy of study. Whether one is a supporter or critic of the Bible, or perhaps just neutral or uninterested in the topic, history has demonstrated that the Bible cannot be ignored. What Does It Say?Īnother reason to study the Bible is to learn what it has to say firsthand. Hirsch considers the Bible so important to cultural literacy that it appears first in his Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. Many popular phrases and figures of speech also find their origin in the Bible including being a Good Samaritan, the folly of letting the blind lead the blind, going the extra mile, ethical maxims such as “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” manna from heaven, etc. Knowing what the Bible says is an important part of everyone’s k-base. References to the Bible are found not only found in religion, but also art, music, philosophy, literature, law and more. ![]() Simply put, the Bible contains a wealth of cultural literacy. Hirsch, Cultural Literacy (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987), xiii. Hirsch writes, “To be culturally literate is to possess the basic information needed to thrive in the modern world.” E.D. ![]() One reason to study the Bible is for cultural literacy purposes. I Want to Bring My Bible! Cultural Literacy
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