Bible Study

[LittlePerson]

Is it written in the new testament that Christians should study the bible together rather than alone? One of the things that the Jews do is study Torah together, especially the men. Is it written in it that they should? What about Christians, is it the same for them regarding the new testament? I'm just curious.

[wolf]

There are a lot of results for "why study the bible," but this one (http://www.geocities.com/enchantedforest/tower/3722/web_biblestudy/whystudybible.html) does provide some scriptural justification.

[Protagonist]

Is it written in the new testament that Christians should study the bible together rather than alone? One of the things that the Jews do is study Torah together, especially the men. Is it written in it that they should? What about Christians, is it the same for them regarding the new testament? I'm just curious.
The Bible certainly says that Christians should study it, but together? The Bible talks about fellowship and gathering for worship - I'm not sure if that's the same thing.

That said, I, personally, would think it would be more fun and such to study the Bible with someone else, to get their perspective. (Particularly if they have a better vocabulary than I do.) But, I'm that way about a lot of things. Books just aren't as fun for me without someone to discuss them with. My mom stole (yes, actually stole) my copy of Allan Bloom's Closing of the American Mind. She's driving me mad, because she won't say a word about it to me.

[Mishka]

Is it written in the new testament that Christians should study the bible together rather than alone? One of the things that the Jews do is study Torah together, especially the men. Is it written in it that they should? What about Christians, is it the same for them regarding the new testament? I'm just curious.

I was about to reply "Oh yes, definitely..." and then I had no idea where it was written for either faith. Now that I think about it...I just took it for granted that you study together. Dern-it, I'm 90% sure it's written and I'll be jiggered if I know where. (transplanted yankee southernized) :elf:

[LittlePerson]

There are a lot of results for "why study the bible," but this one (http://www.geocities.com/enchantedforest/tower/3722/web_biblestudy/whystudybible.html) does provide some scriptural justification.
Thanks for that wolf, that does provide some "evidence." However, it doesn't say together. That's what I'm getting at. See, ever since I started listening to this radio show on the internet called Bible Answers Live, It's really made me start to wonder where the ministers get their definite meanings of the scriptures from. I mean to them it's here is the answer to your call in question caller and there's no way around it. Tough, deal with it. I on the other hand don't think that the scriptures are so cut and dry and that only clergy should or does know how to interpret them. That's what got my panties in a bunch if you'll pardon the meaning, when I was in a bible study at church. The rector claimed his answer was definitive and basically if I don't like it then tough, and that was in a more liberal espiscopal church too. That to me isn't studying, and certainly not together.
What would we need discussion for if to come up with our own interpretations is not "correct" as seen in the eyes of clergy. I am feeling drawn to christianity again, but I can't hack this "I know all the definite answers" crap and whatever I think isn't relevant. What would be the point of studying together?
I had asked on a jewish m.b. about asking questions when studying Torah and he said that oh, yeah, it's expected if you're to learn it, and that no one in particular holds all the answers but that the oral Torah is like the ultimate guide not the ultimate authority, so why aren't priests who give out answers like they are candy held to the same thing? That they are human and shouldn't be the authority who holds the only answers to interpreting scripture. If I want to be heard, if I want study without conflict, without feeling stupid, without feeling as though my thoughts don't matter at all, I'd have to do the studying alone. Unless, I could find a very open minded study group with very open minded clergy studying together just isn't possible.

But, I'm that way about a lot of things. Books just aren't as fun for me without someone to discuss them with. That's fine if your own opinion isn't smushed out by clergy or by others who think that their interpretation is the rule and that your own isn't anything but poop, (didn't want to swear there.) and you don't have any fun but wind up feeling stupid and auwful for using your own mind.

[wolf]

You're just hanging out with the wrong Christians ...

My own perspective is read it for yourself, God will nudge you toward the bits that are relevant, or that you need at a certain time.

The interpretation of a passage changes drastically depending on which translation you're using anyway ...

[equinox2]

Littleperson wrote:


However, it doesn't say "together". That's what I'm getting at. See, ever since I started listening to this radio show on the internet called Bible Answers Live, It's really made me start to wonder where the ministers get their definite meanings of the scriptures from.

Well, the normal approach people (Christians or not) take to the Bible is to first decide what they want the Bible to say, and then to find passages they can take and interpret in a way to say that. The link given earlier is a good example of this, and is written in such a way that their point #5 seems to support the Pelagian heresy, which many evangelicals subscribe to without knowing it. That's why so many people have such very different views of what the Bible says, and why the many different translations are significant - because it is easier to make a verse say what you want if you can pick between different phrasing of the same verse. Fundamentalist radio stations will be good examples of this, as it sounds you have learned.

I try to reconstruct, historically, what the actual writer was probably trying to say. The first result of that is to realize that each book and each writer could be (and often is) saying something completely different. For instance, Paul's religion is very different from that of Jesus, not to mention both being very different from that of whoever wrote, say, Exodus, or even James. It also makes the different translations less relevant, since a reading of the whole book, especially in it's historical context and with the writer's bias in mind, can show what they may have meant. Of course, this approach cannot be taken by someone who has to present a unified front, who needs to pound the square pegs of each book into the round holes of the others, so as to make one religion of the Bible, like the people who run the radio stations or the evagelical ministries. After all, critical thought and allowing people to have the freedom to choose among the religions of the Bible isn't going to make much money, nor make sermon writing easy.

For your question, there are many places that command people to read and obey scripture, but not necessarily in groups, since that suggests an egalitarian situation, which isn't consistant with either the OT (based on a Jewish Priestly hierarchy) or the NT (based on a Roman Catholic hierarchy). Also, don't forget that nearly all verses talk about obeying "scripture", in which the writer nearly always means the old testament. There are only a couple places in the very latest books (such as the Pauline forgeries of Timothy and Titus), where "scripture" means something not in the OT.

As I've mentioned before, a basic scholarly course on the Bible can clear up a lot of this. I'll PM you too.

Have a blessed day- :fpeace:

[Oridian]

Direction to study the bible is definately there in many places and with great emphasis. Studying in groups is also encouraged though individual study is certainly not discouraged. After all, if one believes the bible contains God's truths and instructions it would behove that individual to learn all they could. Groups come into play in beleivers working together to discern the truth so as to not be mislead by false ideas or misinterpretations. Sadly, as we all see, there is much disagreement and much poor behavior by those that take the title christian.