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Outline:
Study Bibles
What kind of Bible are you using?
· It’s okay to use a Bible that has a lot of meaning to you
o Can connect us to the past (Kervin Jones’ talk for Lenten Lunches)
o Connection with Past can help us feel closer to God
· Important thing is to read regularly
o If don’t use, won’t be affecting you
o Bible not just tool to understand but to change
· It can help to have things explained to you.
o True especially if you don’t read Greek (or Hebrew)
o Study Bibles can help because they have notes
What to look for in a Study Bible:
1. Good Notes
· Bible Studies with less notes might be harder to read
§ Current version is much better
· Notes linking to other passages are helpful
· Maps and side notes about Biblical Cultures really help
· Get really fancy with a Concordance
o Index of words used in Scripture
o Can help you find verses quicker
o Can also get a Concordance as a separate book
2. Theological Bias
· Typical Categorical Views in The Anglican Communion:
1) Catholic
· Word literally means “Universal”
o Sees us as 1 church w/ Romans and Orthodox
· Can also refer to a focus on Sacramental Theology
2) Evangelical
· Protestant in Nature
· Evangelicalism in ODCC:
o Focus on “conversion and salvation” in Christ
o Also focus on teaching through ‘Good News’
Note: Anglican members can subscribe to bits of both views
· Subcategories in Each
1) Traditionalist
· Focus on historical tradition of the church
· Looks at what has been passed down to us since start
o Question can be “which start”, the Early church or the Reformation
· Often referred to as Conservative
o Some argue not conserving
o Also could argue some open-minded
2) Expansionist
· Look to expand view of the church
o Doesn’t mean not Biblically focused
o Just going beyond traditional approach
· Often referred to as Liberal
o Not all are open-minded
o Not just progress for progress sake
o Not just about “being with the times”
Note: Can be traditional on one issue and expansionist with another
3. Scriptural Interpretation Bias
· Fundamentalism
o Late 19thCent. Movement named for 5 fundamentals
o Modern focus has been on ‘scriptural inerrancy’
· Historical-Critical Method
o Tries to understand the lang. in context of era written
o Can lead away from seeing text as a Spiritual tool
· Episcopal Ordination Vows
o Holy Scriptures “The Word of God”
o “contain all things necessary to salvation”
o Not everyone will interpret the same
o Important that it gets at Spiritual nature of Bible
§ Divine Inspiration of human authors- BCP 853
How to pick a Study Bible:
· Is it a good translation?
o No translation is perfect.
· Does it have easy to use resources?
o Ex. (again) Old vs. New New Oxford Annotated
§ Ease of use sometimes hurts translation quality
· What slant does it have?
§ NIV has same slant
§ Slight expansionist leaning
o Best to have multiple Bibles with multiple leanings
· Will it have a place for notes?
o Paperback is better than leather bound for this
· Is it a good size?
o Smaller is easier to take with you
o You can even get an app for your phone
§ Some for free!
· Is the print readable?
o Large-print is available for most editions
The Point:
· Pick a Bible that is best for you.
· Go with resources that help you understand the text
· Try to get a fairly balanced view of interpretation
o Stretch yourself, but not to breaking point
Sources used:
The Book of Common Prayer. New York: Church Publishing Incorporated, 1986.
Cross, F.L. and E.A. Livingstone eds. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 3rd edition revised. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.