Gaining A Feel For The Scriptures

(Lesson Four)

REVIEW

If you have not done the following please take time to do so.

First, notice the two cycles.

Second, notice what book likely fit into which period in each cycle.

Third, notice which cycles are not represented.

It is not so much a matter of whether you can do it or not but that you are gaining some familiarity with the layout.  Do not worry nor feel overwhelmed, by taking “baby steps” you will get there.  

ANOTHER PURPOSE FOR THIS STUDY

Story

In a Biblical Languages class a student asked the professor a rather complex question about a certain rule of grammar.  The professor thought a moment and said then gave something of his history and study of the language under study.  He then went on to say that his study and his experience with the language did not allow for the question. 

That story set me to thinking about the notion of “gaining a feeling for….” Thus there is an attendant purpose for this project and that is to gain a sense or and feeling for the Scriptures.

Therefore the following,

Gaining a "feel for Scripture" must be based in fact. Such a "feel" for the material must be rooted in fact. That means that a starting place for such understanding comes from a knowledge base say as will result from this study.

Gaining a "feel for Scripture" must involve the Holy Spirit. Also involved is the teaching function of the Holy Spirit.  Remember the Holy Spirit authored the Scriptures through various writers and as well was involved in the preservation and transmission of the Word of God.

 Gaining a "feel for Scripture" must involve exposure. Some years ago I received a subscription to a computer magazine. At first what I read made no sense but as I read and reread the articles I began to gain an understanding of the material. So it is with the Bible, exposure, reading and rereading with thoughtfulness is necessary.

Gaining a "feel for Scripture" must take time. Then there is the element of time. That is to say that there it simply takes time to gain a feel for the Scriptures. Certainly with that time comes understanding. In summary then, we could say that in order to gain a feel for the Bible there must be a knowledge of the Bible, a functioning of the Holy Spirit, and those things over a period of time.

PUSHING DEEPER

Without losing sight of the big picture view focus upon the Old Testament layout.  For some this is a mysterious book with is hard to understand.  While parts of it may remain so for a while, there will come a time when it begins to clear up.

Previously you studied this figure

The next figure is going to be changed and more detail will be added to it.  Again open your Bible to the index and when you have a look it is very likely that you will find that you were right in where you placed a number of the books.  Again, this is not to suggest that you memorize this diagram but that it gain some familiarity to you.

 Here is a typical index which I have marked with the various periods of the Old Testament.

 You will notice that abbreviations were used and as well at the point of Dispersion Cycle 2, I made a mistake and made a change.  Therefore, when you mark your Bible it is a good idea to use pencil.  There are other reasons for this which will be discussed later.