Thousands of years separate us from the time when Bible was written. The cultures in in which Bible came to existence no longer exist. Languages in which Bible was written are no longer spoken and the translations into almost any language loose something along the way. Literary styles that are present in the Bible have not been used in the modern literature. It is no wonder that studying the Holy Scripture can become a difficult task for both believers and un-believers alike, since in order to study Bible many other aspects of history, culture and even original languages have to be kept in mind. It is not to say that in order to understand Bible every one needs to read it in it's original form. Many translations available today are quite good, but here and there a "trip" to the original text may help to unveil meaning of certain word or phrase.
Which Bible translation/edition to choose?
MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA
Since so many English translations of the Bible available to us today, one can find difficult in choosing the right edition. As a catholic you should keep in mind few things when choosing the Bible for you and your family. You need to know if particular translation or edition is approved by Catholic Bishops. Generally this approval can be found some where in the first pages of the Bible, look for it near the credits to publisher or editor. While many translations and editions are approved by the different conferences of Catholic Bishops, Ignatius Bible is among the best for a catholic reader due to the following reasons. This is the only English translation of the Bible that was not influenced by feminist demands for inclusive language, the same language that Rome has rejected in the new Catechism. Ignatius Bible was acclaimed for decades as the clearest, most accurate and most beautiful modern translation of the Bible in English. In the further articles of this "Catholic Bible Study Series", texts from Ignatius Bible will be used as well.
How to read the Bible and where to Begin?
While it is possible to read the Bible as any other book, starting on the first pages and finishing with the last, this approach will not be easy and after few attempts you may give up reading the Bible all together. It is recommended therefore to begin with the parts of the Bible that are easier to read and have less complicated literary style. You may want to begin reading the Bible form the New Testament first. While Old Testament books such as Genesis or Psalms are easy to read, reading the New Testament first will offer you an opportunity to see through Old Testament in the light of Jesus' live, preaching, suffering and resurrection. You may have already heard that Bible contains so called "history of salvation". Since Jesus' mission is an essence of the history of salvation, and since everything that preceded him in the Old Testament pointed towards him, as Christian you will find a better appreciation of reading Old Testament and interpreting it through the "prism" of Jesus' life and mission.
In understanding the Bible, it would be also beneficial to have commentary or bible sturdy guides at hand. Many Church Fathers have written and commented extensively on Bible in the past, and even present day modern commentaries can be very helpful in reading and understating the Holy Scripture.
Catholic Bible Study Series: Introduction MISSIONS TRIPS AFRICA
No comments:
Post a Comment