Inquiry 7 BIBLE

ONLINE CLASS PORTAL

Evangelist: Kelly Keller
Facilitator: Shannon Counihan

During this session we will explore the following points:

Reliability of the Bible

Much of the Bible includes things that cannot be measured, counted, or physically experimented on.
Does that mean the Bible isn’t true, or can’t be proven?
Authenticity of ancient texts is measured by comparing the number of manuscripts recovered, and the time gap between the original and the copies
Average number of documents that have survived for classical writers: 18
Number of New Testament documents that have survived: ~24,000
- Illiad: 1,900
- Herodatus’ History: 106
Time gap for New Testament document copies: years or decades

Time gap for all other ancient literature: hundreds of years

Bible Translations

Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew.
- Some portions (e.g., sections of Daniel and Ezra) were written in Aramaic.
- Books that are contained in the Catholic canon but not the Protestant or Jewish canons were written in Hebrew and Greek.

The entire New Testament was written in Koine Greek.

Difference Between Catholic and Protestant Bibles

Common Protestant Bible Translations
- King James Version (KJV)
- New International Version (NIV)
- English Standard Version (ESV)
- New Living Translation (NLT)
- New King James Version (NKJV)
Approved Catholic Bible Translations
- New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
- New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, (NRSV-CE) National Council of Churches
- New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition, Catholic Edition, Friendship Press

Free, online, searchable Catholic Bible on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website: https://bible.usccb.org/bible

Book chapter:verse(s), translation
Psalm 23:1-4, NRSV-CE
John 3:16, KJV
Important to include translation info
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NABRE)
- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16, KJV)
- “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NLT)

Best Approach to Read/Understand the Whole Bible

Start at the beginning of Genesis and read straight through?
Begin with the Gospels?
Attend/use a Bible Study program?
An overarching understanding of Salvation History puts the entirety of the Bible into perspective

I highly recommend the Bible Timeline program or the Bible in a Year podcast by Ascension.
- The Bible Timeline
- Bible In a Year Podcast

Overview of the Bible using the Story of Salvation History

Bible Timeline/Salvation History
Bible basics: OT/NT, types of literature, commentary

The New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament
14 “Narrative Books” which tell the “big picture” story
59 “Supplemental Books” which augment the story
The genealogy of Jesus can be traced through the “narrative”

Bible Timeline/Salvation History

Prayers During Mass that Come from the Bible

Note: A GREAT multi-week study program about the Mass - Altaration by Ascension Press (some of the video lessons can be found for free on YouTube)

How to Incorporate Scripture into Everyday Life

Lectio Divina–a contemplative way to pray with Bible passages
Scriptural Rosary–lines of scripture that describe the mysteries of each decade are woven between the Hail Marys
Pray the Liturgy of the Hours with the help of a Breviary
Podcasts like Bible in a Year
Daily Gospel Reading Email Subscription (Bishop Baron/Word on Fire, Matthew Kelly/Dynamic Catholic, University of Notre Dame)
Start small, and pair it with another daily ritual (morning coffee, commute to work, daily walk)