Biblical Literature: Narrative Biblical Interpretation
The Bible records for us God’s activity in the world, among his people, in particular historical and cultural moments. Faithful and responsible study of the Scriptures is vital for one's own personal life with God and the community of his people. Such faithful interpretation of the Bible is grounded in reading it in light of its larger narrative framework, sensitive to the author's original culture and intention, while also receiving guidance from the Church's reading of the Scriptures through the ages. The fruit of holistic biblical interpretation is a robust biblical-theological literacy that will ground the student in his or her own faith, bringing the Word of God near to the heart and mind. Individual book or genre studies are also options (e.g. Selective Epistle Studies: Our New Life in Christ).
Biblical Theology
In the realm of biblical studies, there are many biblical theologies given the diversity of topics in the Bible. For example, one could explore a biblical theology of creation; wisdom; the temple and the people of God; worship; Christ in the Old Testament; the Holy Spirit. As such, one would trace these and other themes from Genesis - Revelation, seeking to find continuity and development. The result of faithful biblical-theological study is a robust synthetic and thematic reading of the Scriptures.
Theology
Theology, literally "the study of God", is informed by biblical interpretation and biblical theology because it is precisely from the Bible that we gain the knowledge (revelation) of God. There are many particular subjects in the discipline of theology: Trinitarian theology, Christology, Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, Anthropology, Hamartiology, etc. Theology can be studied both from a historical and systematic perspective. Far beyond grasping an intellectual knowledge of God alone, the ultimate task of the theologian is to enter into a life of prayer and communion with God, characterized by holistic transformation (see Spiritual Formation link in the navigation bar).
Greek
Studying the Bible and Theology is only strengthened when one knows the original language in which it is written. A study of Greek allows the student to gain direct access to the original language of the New Testament, the translation of the Greek Old Testament that the Apostles used (called the Septuagint), and the writings of the Early Church Fathers (often called the Patristics). Such access allows the student to see far beyond what they might have imagined with just the English translation alone.
The Bible records for us God’s activity in the world, among his people, in particular historical and cultural moments. Faithful and responsible study of the Scriptures is vital for one's own personal life with God and the community of his people. Such faithful interpretation of the Bible is grounded in reading it in light of its larger narrative framework, sensitive to the author's original culture and intention, while also receiving guidance from the Church's reading of the Scriptures through the ages. The fruit of holistic biblical interpretation is a robust biblical-theological literacy that will ground the student in his or her own faith, bringing the Word of God near to the heart and mind. Individual book or genre studies are also options (e.g. Selective Epistle Studies: Our New Life in Christ).
Biblical Theology
In the realm of biblical studies, there are many biblical theologies given the diversity of topics in the Bible. For example, one could explore a biblical theology of creation; wisdom; the temple and the people of God; worship; Christ in the Old Testament; the Holy Spirit. As such, one would trace these and other themes from Genesis - Revelation, seeking to find continuity and development. The result of faithful biblical-theological study is a robust synthetic and thematic reading of the Scriptures.
Theology
Theology, literally "the study of God", is informed by biblical interpretation and biblical theology because it is precisely from the Bible that we gain the knowledge (revelation) of God. There are many particular subjects in the discipline of theology: Trinitarian theology, Christology, Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, Anthropology, Hamartiology, etc. Theology can be studied both from a historical and systematic perspective. Far beyond grasping an intellectual knowledge of God alone, the ultimate task of the theologian is to enter into a life of prayer and communion with God, characterized by holistic transformation (see Spiritual Formation link in the navigation bar).
Greek
Studying the Bible and Theology is only strengthened when one knows the original language in which it is written. A study of Greek allows the student to gain direct access to the original language of the New Testament, the translation of the Greek Old Testament that the Apostles used (called the Septuagint), and the writings of the Early Church Fathers (often called the Patristics). Such access allows the student to see far beyond what they might have imagined with just the English translation alone.
