Survey of the Bible, Essay Example

Not only is critical study necessary for healthy biblical interpretation, but also catechesis and reflection on social engagement.  These allow a person to approach their research and reflection with an informed understanding that is rooted in not only logic, but a knowledge of history coupled with a deeper level of inquiry.  By doing this, a more informed opinion can be achieved.  This opinion will better reflect the original intent of the passages, which can often become diluted by poor translations or innacurate critical or historical understandings of the content.

Critical study is the in depth study of the Bible itself.  It is anchored with logical analysis of the text itself, taking into account the biases and preconceptions of both those who wrote the text and those who are interpreting or reflecting upon it.  This helps those interpreting the Bible to get beyond their own personal biases associated with their understanding of the Bible that has been formed throughout their lives.  Not only can critical study help a person understand what the intent of those who originally wrote the Bible is, but it can also help people to be better informed as to what the role of the Bible is within their lives.

Catechesis is the ideas of the Bible being handed from one informed person to another.  In this way, the lessons that the Bible have to teach can be more integrated socially.  Furthermore, the preservation of lessons is possible by the fact that they are passed down from one person to the next.  The memorization of parts of the Bible can also help a person to be closer to the message of the Bible itself.  It allows for a more intimate understanding.  Furthermore, this sort of passing of knowledge creates a social and historical framework from which the works can be interpreted.

Reflection on social engagement allows a person to better understand how the religion relates to people within society.  Understanding the social context of the Bible can help a person better understand why certain aspects are approached in the ways that they are.  For instance, it is obvious why a certain aspect of life may be considered taboo through an understanding of the society itself.  These restrictions ultimately lead to the nature of the content itself.  This is the idea of how the Bible or the church has attempted to engage the community in their understanding of scripture.

By taking these three ideas into account it becomes easier to form an informed opinion on the content of the Bible.  Critical study coupled with a historical understanding and the ability to discern social implications that led to certain situations within the Bible.  By taking all of these into account they work together in a way that allows for a more informed reflection.  This is how these three endeavors interact to make biblical interpretation a life-changing activity.

These are the ways that my survey study of Old and New Testament history helped me interpret the Bible.  Not only was my study informed by the passages that were discussed in class, but my ability to reflect upon and understand them in an informed way has been increased.  This has helped to develop my ability to arrive at a more accurate interpretation of the original message that those who wrote the Bible were trying to convey.