DISCOVERING TOGETHER GOD’S WORD A Basic Background to the Bible in 8 Sessions for School, Home, Office and Parish by Sr. Monina V. Baybay, FSP
Expanded Fourth Edition
PHILIPPINES
DISCOVERING TOGETHER GOD’S WORD A Basic Background to the Bible in 8 Sessions for School, Home, Office and Parish Copyright © 2017 Daughters of St. Paul First Edition – Copyright © 1984 Daughters of St. Paul Published and distributed by Paulines Publishing House Daughters of St. Paul 2650 F.B. Harrison Street 1302 Pasay City, Philippines E-mail: edpph@paulines.ph Website: www.paulines.ph Cover design: Ann Marie Nemenzo, FSP All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Fourth Edition 1st Printing 2017 ISBN 978-971-590-847-4
at the service of the Gospel and culture
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction
For the Leader/Teacher
1
Tips for Sharing
2
3
INTRODUCING THE BIBLE
6
1 – APPROACHING THE BIBLE Activity: Book Comparison Step 1 – Accept the Bible as the Word of God A. Inspiration B. Canonicity Step 2 – Acknowledge the Bible’s Purpose Step 3 – Read and Pray the Bible Step 4 – Study the Bible Step 5 – Live the Word Group Dynamics: CALLED BY NAME
13
15
21 22 24 27 31
34
Part I – THE BIBLE IN GENERAL
2 – HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE BIBLE (From Abraham to Jesus Christ) Chart 5 – History of Israel (folded attachment) Group Dynamics: HINDSIGHT
217 54
3 – ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIBLE I – Organization II – Development Chart 9 – Scriptural Development (folded attachment)
59 70 217
4 – THE UNITY OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
79
92
Part II – THE GOSPELS 5 – HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE GOSPELS Group Dynamics: EARLY SETTING I – A Palestinian Town II – Palestine: Geography, Religion & People, Politics III – Roman Empire
94 101 123
6 – LITERARY BACKGROUND OF THE GOSPELS Activity: House Designs I – Meaning of “Gospel” II – Stages of Gospel Formation III – Some Characteristics of the Gospel Accounts Group Dynamics: MY FAVORITE PASSAGE
130
132 132 141 145
7 – LITERARY BACKGROUND (Continuation) Activity: Parallel Passages IV – Gospel Differences The Gospels at a Glance V – Gospel Outlines Summary and Conclusion
149 151 152 159
8 – TIPS TO UNDERSTAND THE WORD
161
148
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES
1. Writing a Bible Journal (Old Testament)
3. Differentiating Bible Sharing from Bible Study
2. Using a Personal Bible Study Method: Book Survey
Group Dynamics: KNOWING ME
172 173
175
178
Appendices
A. A Glimpse into the Work of Bible Scholars
184
B. The Bible at a Glance The Psalms
193 200
C. Major Jewish Feasts The Bible and Liturgy
204 207
D. Jesus Founded Only One Church List of the Popes (partial) and General Councils
209 211
213
E. Questions and Answers to Activity
INTRODUCTION
This manual attempts to strike a happy balance between “underdosing” and “overdosing” adults who have “suddenly” become interested in the Word of God. It aims to share with a larger audience what has proven to benefit small groups of adults in many parts of the country. Its 1st edition had developed over a period of nine years; this present edition is the fourth.
This compilation of background materials is divided into Part I-The Bible in General and Part II-The Gospels. The topic on “The Unity of the Old and New Testaments” that was in the Appendix is now transferred to Part I as the bridge session to Part II. So this present edition has eight sessions while the previous ones had seven. Each session is usually introduced with an activity and concluded with group dynamics. The visuals are now in powerpoint. The additional information in this edition is based on feedbacks of those using this manual for the past ten years. Most of the additions pertain to the Bible’s organization and development (chap. 3) and the tips on understanding the Word (chap. 8). The rest are placed in the Appendix section: The Bible at a Glance, Major Jewish Feasts, The Bible and Liturgy, etc.
This manual concludes with a group activity of differentiating Bible Sharing from Bible Study by using their respective approach to a sample biblical passage. As a whole this is an expanded edition since the third edition was twenty-six years ago.
because the lecturer reads or stammers a lot and so on.
4. You’ll feel more confident
if you read some of the references recommended at the end of each session. You know, just in case somebody likes to have more details. If a big question comes up and you don’t know, say so. By the way, it’s all up to you to have an open forum or not.
FOR THE LEADER/ TEACHER
5. You’ll feel more relaxed
1. Read ahead
6. You’ll ring true
to get a feel of the whole session and to see what material you need to prepare.
2. Feel free
2
in the group dynamics sessions when you give examples from your own experience whenever the instructions call for them. By doing so you set the pace of honesty, qualify in concrete the nature of the material to be shared and determine its length.
to add, omit and modify anything or everything to suit your audience. Skip the group dynamics if your people happen to be tired of sharing and all they want is input, but don’t miss them if it’s the group’s first time to go through a Bible seminar.
7. Don’t forget
the subject matter so you can say it in your own words. This takes time but it’s worth all the trouble. You know that it’s troublesome to cope with a bored audience
3. Take time to internalize
if you work with a team whenever you give this series of sessions, seminar style. A song leader is very important, by the way.
to give the Tips for Sharing the first time you give a group dynamics session, that is, just before breaking into small groups. If you find it necessary to repeat it in the following session, do so. Also, don’t forget to do the opening and concluding spontaneous prayers until you find others willing to do it.
TIPS FOR SHARING 1. Listen.
Inherent in human nature is a strong need to talk and to be listened to. Man talks to communicate information, to seek advice or solutions for problems, but most of the time he talks out of a strong desire to be heard, to be known and to be accepted. It is said that the psychiatrist’s most important tool is listening, since the foundation of psychiatry is the understanding of what happens when a person talks and another listens. The kind of listening recommended here is not exactly the so-called “non-directive listening” in Rogerian counseling where the listener realizes that his role
is that of a sounding board. The listening participants are not asked to employ a series of “eloquent and encouraging grunts” or to restate what has just been said. They have simply to listen attentively and sincerely without employing any studied technique. In some aspects the kind of listening suggested is similar to non-directive listening in the sense that interrupting, probing, advising and judging are prohibited. 2. No interrupting.1
Interruptions usually disrupt the speaker’s thought even if the interruption is connected with the speaker’s topic. If it is off the topic, it is a sign that the presumed listener has not been listening. Attentive listening is further emphasized as an important element in the procedure, because upon it depends the participant’s response in the form of spontaneous prayer. 3. No Probing.
Probing for additional facts is strictly prohibited. There is a difference between listening and inquisitiveness designed to obtain information. “To listen is to enable a person to say all that he wants 1. Coleman, Lyman, Groups in Action (2 d. Waco, Texas: Creative Resources, Word Inc., 1972), p. 22.
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to say. To probe is to make a person share what he does not want to say and should not reveal at this time.”2 This is a nontechnical differentiation of the terms, “listening” and “probing”. This rule is necessary to make the participants aware that their right to privacy would not be intruded upon. In case someone probes, it is the duty of the leader to step in immediately but tactfully. 4. No Judging.
Another prohibition is judging what has been said. This rule is applicable to all group interactions involving opinions and insights. This pointer is necessary to foster that atmosphere in which differences in ideas would hopefully lead to acceptance of differences in people. Giving the other the right to his own viewpoint does not mean giving in or being untrue to oneself. This simply means telling the other that I cannot see his point the way he sees it, but I accept him the way he is and with what he believes. In such an atmosphere where each individual has the feeling that his ideas, his feelings and his perspective are acceptable, learning of any kind is greatly facilitated. 5. No Advising.
In experiential sharing there is no advice giving. If someone in the group starts to give advice, again the leader should step in. This is so because personal experience is unique to one’s personality. Each person has therefore his unique styles of learning and solving problems. Besides, the information shared in the few minutes of interaction would not warrant a basis for sound advice. And also, the overall effect of advice giving is dependency.
2. Ibid.
4
Part I
THE BIBLE IN GENERAL Aim:
To give an overall background of the Bible
and to provide an initial experience of group sharing and prayer
INTRODUCING THE BIBLE • Opening prayer • Acquaintance: Each one takes turn to introduce oneself in not more than five sentences. MATERIALS:
Jigsaw puzzle, p. 216.
1 – Chart: The Bible in God’s Plan of Salvation ACTIVITY: Jigsaw Puzzle
1. Show one or two pieces to be identified by the audience. Select those pieces difficult to figure out. Hint: “These pieces are parts of the body. If we first put them together, we would know the answer immediately.”
2. Divide the audience into the number of groups corresponding to the number of sets of puzzle you have. 3. Give each group around 10 minutes to assemble the pieces. 4. Take the same piece(s) to be identified.
Question: “Why the immediate and correct response now?”
Insight: Parts are understandable if seen in the context of the whole.
Wait for the audience’s response.
LINK: If we compare the pieces of the puzzle to what we believe, these pieces can stand for some of our beliefs: God, Jesus Christ, Mary, Holy Mass, the Bible and so on. How does this multiplicity of beliefs blend into one understandable whole? How does the Bible in particular fit into the whole? This we cannot tell definitely until, like the puzzle, we first see the whole. And the whole consists of the Plan of God. Chart: The Bible in God’s Plan of Salvation
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promised
formed
GOOD NEWS
OT NT
SACRAMENTS
Bible’s overall theme: God’s salvation of sinful humankind through His Son Jesus Christ
NEW TESTAMENT (fulfillment)
PASCHAL MYSTERY.... DEATH RESURRECTION ASCENSION
“new heavens and a new earth” (Rev 21:1)
Last Judgment
will come again
CHURCH
continues to be with us
JESUS CHRIST
sent
Words – God is our Father. We are His children. COMMUNITY of FAITH (sin–punishment–repentance–deliverance) Works – Healed, fed the poor, raised the dead, etc.
RECONCILIATION through JESUS CHRIST a MAN a NATION
chose
OLD TESTAMENT (preparation)
MAN...SIN
“created the heavens and the earth” (Gn 1:1)
GOD
THE BIBLE IN GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION
A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE CHART
Gen 1:28
• We believe that God created the world and humankind. Our first parents, male and female, He created them with equal dignity and established them in His friendship. He blessed them and said, “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it….” As God’s stewards in Paradise, they had harmonious relationship with Him until they disobeyed His command. • Because of their sin of disobedience, they lost their original holiness received from God, not only for themselves but for all human beings. They transmitted to their descendants a human nature inclined to sin and subject to ignorance, suffering, and death. But before God banished them from Paradise, He promised reconciliation through a Savior when He addressed their tempter: “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen 3:15).
Salvation history is the history of the saving acts of God for His people.
• Outside Paradise men sinned and continued to sin grievously, resulting to their estrangement from God, from one another and from their own selves. Then God started His long-range plan of salvation by choosing a man to become the father of a nation, from whom the Savior would be born. This man was Abraham and this nation was Israel. Abraham believed in God and transmitted this belief to his descendants.
God cared so much for Abraham’s descendants. He liberated them from the slavery of Egypt. He made a covenant with them and adopted them as His Chosen People. In return He asked them to be faithful to Him by obeying His commands to which they agreed. And He gave them a land they could call their own.
• As time passed His Chosen People became unfaithful. God had to warn and even to punish them. But when they realized and repented for their infidelities, He 8
delivered them. Through such events and many others, God formed them into a community of faith.
• In the fullness of time, God sent them the Savior who was His Son to fulfill His promise. This was the great Good News – the Son of God becoming man to save humanity in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The high-point of Jesus’ saving ministry was his public life spent in creating a new society, based on the truth that we are all God’s children and therefore, of equal worth in His eyes. The platform then of his new society was extraordinary: • equality – not ambition • sharing – not hoarding
• service – not domination.
With that platform, supported with his good works like healing the sick and feeding the people, he became popular especially with the poor. But with the religious elite he was unpopular, because he publicly denounced its misconduct as a group. Consequently, those in authority considered him dangerous. Foreseeing his death, Jesus established his Church when he told Peter: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church...I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven….” Just after some three years, he was arrested, tried, convicted as a blasphemer (for acknowledging that he is the Messiah), and put to death seemingly as a rival to Roman civil authority (as king of the Jews). On the third day, however, he resurrected. He appeared to his apostles; he commanded them to continue his work of preaching the Good News to all nations. He also promised them his abiding presence through the Holy Spirit who would come after him. Finally, he returned to his Father. Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, we call the Paschal Mystery or the mystery of our redemption. It is a mystery to our nature that Jesus prayerfully excused his executioners, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” and replied to the criminal,
Mt 16:18f Jesus Founded Only One Church, Appendix D, p. 209.
Lk 23:34,43
9
Group Dynamics MATERIALS: Color pens or pencils and a sheet of paper for each one. INTRODUCTION:
From the previous lecture we’ve seen several ways of approaching the Bible with the emphasis on the study aspect. On the other hand, this group dynamics wishes to emphasize the final goal of all Bible study – a personal relationship with God. To be poring on the Bible for months and years without meeting God at the end is a waste of time. To be familiar with His sayings, to have taken the pains of memorizing them without hearing Him call us by name, so to speak, is sheer failure. But perhaps, it’s more correct to say we’ve ignored His voice. God doesn’t speak to us only through the Bible as some would like us to believe. There are countless people who haven’t read His Word, yet they’re in touch with Him. God equally speaks to us in our life situations – the environs we live in, the jobs we have, the people we meet, the problems we face, the extraordinary experiences we encounter, and so on. Our purpose now is to be aware of some personal experiences which speak to us about God, and then share them with a few in the group. Part I – Personal Reflection (Distribute the color pencils and a sheet of paper to each one.)
1. Recall one instance in your life when you felt very close to God or He was very close to you, so much so that you could almost say, “He called me by name.” You may have lots of them, but single out only one very significant experience. (Leader gives an example from his own experience.)
2. Symbolize that experience in drawing. Color it according to your feelings then. (Leader shows his prepared drawing as a sample.) Symbolic drawing:
3. Then ask yourself two questions: 32
• In that event what did I learn about God? • What did I learn about myself? You may jot down your answers if you wish.
What I learned about God:
What I learned about myself:
Part II – Small Group Sharing
1. Give the Tips for Sharing on pp. 3-4.
2. Break into small groups of 4 or 5 members by counting off, 1-4/5. All no. 1’s form one group, all no. 2’s another group and so on. 3. Each one takes turn to share –
• one’s significant experience of being close to God. • what one has learned from it about God and self.
Part III – Prayer
1. Gather into one big circle.
2. Leader invites the group for a spontaneous prayer, if he thinks the participants are disposed to pray spontaneously. If not, he concludes the session with his own prayer. Sample Prayer:
Great God, you know how to call each and everyone of us by name. You’ve called us in different ways: by way of curiosity, interest, fascination; by way of doubt, boredom and even pain. We do marvel at your knowledge of us. And you know exactly when to call us. Some you called quite early, others not so early, and still others late. But all at the right time. You are really wise, very wise indeed. On our part, some were quick to respond to your call, others were slow, and still others were unmindful for a thousand and one reasons. “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” we were quick to quote to excuse ourselves. So though we hear your voice often, chances are – we might ignore it. Therefore, Lord, don’t ever get tired of calling us by name. You may even shout, and we won’t mind because deep down we want to hear you. Amen.
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2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE BIBLE • Singing • Opening prayer • Review MATERIALS: a. 5 – Chart: History of Israel b. 6 – Map: Ancient Near East 7 – Map: Tribes of Israel 8 – Map: Divided Kingdom c. Reading guides d. Bookmarkers (plain paper) for assigned passages
* These passages to be read in the succeeding lecture are written on the board ahead of time. 1) Gn 15:1-21 4) 2Sm 7:8-16 7) Ezra 6:14-18
* * * *
2) Ex 24:3-8
5) Jr 17:1-4
3) Jos 24:1-5, 14-18
6) Ezk 36:24-28
8) 1Mc 2:15-30 9) Lk 2:1-7
Give bookmarkers to each one with a Bible, nine pieces each. Show a sample Bible with markers properly inserted. Those who finish fast may be requested to help others. Ask a volunteer reader for each passage; write the name on the board. INTRODUCTION
From the previous lecture we have understood that studying the Bible includes gathering background information about it. In this session then we take up some background information about the Bible, its historical background in particular. Chart: 5 – History of Israel
(See folded attachment, last page.) 34
I – PATRIARCHAL STAGE
After the Fall, God promised reconciliation through a Messiah that would be born of a woman. This Messiah, being human, had to be born of a certain family, in a certain place and at a certain time. So God started a longterm preparation for this great event. His choice fell on a man named Abram – later changed to Abraham – a native from the city of Ur where the people worshipped the moon as god. His family moved to Haran and there God spoke to him for the first time.
Patriarchs–the term used for Israel’s key ancestors or father figures
HITTITES (Turkey) ASSYRIA
Canaan – the name of God’s Promised Land to His Chosen People PERSIA (Iran)
ARABIA
(Iraq)
Ancient Near East
(- - - Abraham’s route)
God announced to Abraham what He intended to do for mankind through him and his descendants. He not only announced it, but made a promise. The promise contained these elements: • to make Abraham a great nation and a blessing.
• to bless and curse other nations based on how they treat Abraham’s descendants. • to bless all mankind through Abraham. • to give a land to his descendants.
Gn 12:2 v. 3 v. 3 v. 7
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3 ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIBLE • Singing • Opening prayer • Review MATERIALS: Chart 5: History of Israel + 9 Development of the Bible
2: Towards a Complete Approach to the Bible 3: OT Canon
4: NT Canon
INTRODUCTION Chart 5 — History of Israel + 9— Development of the Bible Picking up from where we left off, this previous Chart wishes to underline two points: the advantage of knowing the Bible’s historical background for its better understanding and the help of an overview reading of it for the first time over. To continue the background information on the Bible, the next topic is about its organization and development. I – ORGANIZATION OF THE BIBLE
This topic on organization of the Bible refers to the list of inspired books, the Old Testament and New Testament Canons. We had touched this topic in the first step in approaching the Bible.
(Refer to Chart 2: Towards a Complete Approach… 3- OT Canon, 4- NT Canon)
This list appears as Table of Contents in every published copy of the Bible. We inherited this organized list from the Early Church without records of how it developed. We take it up first and then proceed to the theory of its development. A. THE OLD TESTAMENT
In speaking about the organization of the Bible, we recognize first of all its different editions: the Hebrew, the Greek, the Catholic and the Protestant. The most obvious difference among them is the number of books contained in the Old Testament canon or list. 59
4 THE UNITY OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS • Singing • Opening prayer • Review MATERIALS:
Posters 1-17, Chart: The Unity of the Old and New Testaments (previous print editions), bookmarkers (Visuals are available in power point.)
Before starting the session write on the board the following passages to be located:
2) Is 1:11-17
1) Lk 22:14-20 3) Mi 6:6-8 5) Heb 10:5-7 6) Ex 24:3-8
7) Heb 10:11-14
4) Sir 34:18-22 (NAB, RSV, TEV) or 34:21-27 (NRSV, NABRE)
Distribute the bookmarkers. Ask for volunteer readers; write their names on the board. INTRODUCTION
(Write on the board: OT vs. NT. Get the reactions from the audience.)
This session aims to show the unity of the Old and New Testaments. The OT and NT do not contradict each other or cancel each other out. The New is the fulfillment of the Old and the Old is the preparation for the New. This unity we will see in this NT passage – Reading: Luke 22:14-20
For Catholics this passage finds its present fulfillment in the Eucharist or the Sunday Mass. The story behind this sacrament starts way back in the Old Testament. Together we recount the story with the help of pictures and together we discover the connection of the Old Testament with the New.
79
Part II
THE GOSPELS Aim:
To give an overall historical
and literary background to the Gospels
5 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE GOSPELS • Singing • Opening prayer • Review
MATERIALS
1. Color pencils, a sheet of paper for each one, bookmarkers
2. Visuals: (in paper posters and charts or in powerpoint) • Palestinian town • People of Palestine • Roman empire • Temple floor plan • Map of Palestine • Herodian Family
• Write on the board the following outline before starting the session:
Historical Background of the Gospels
I – Palestinian Town (Mt 13:54-58) II – Palestine A. Geography B. Religion & People (Lk 2:41-52/Mk 11:15-17) C. Politics (Mt 2:1-3/Lk 23:6-12/Acts 12:1-5) III – Roman Empire
• Ask for volunteer readers and write their names on the board. Everybody marks the above passages in their Bibles.
INTRODUCTION
In this historical background of the Gospels, we will see the environment of Jesus: his town; his country’s geography, religion, and people; and his country’s colonial master, Rome. Group Dynamics: EARLY SETTING
Before going to the environment of Jesus, we first look into an environment familiar to us, our very own – in particular, our early environment. (Distribute the paper and color pencils.)
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AND TO CONCLUDE –
Going through this short course, we’ve learned a number of facts about the Bible in general, its historical and literary background. In particular we’ve studied the Gospels’ background and began to study the Gospel text itself.
And all along, we also got to know ourselves and others better through the group dynamics, purposely structured to make some facts personally meaningful.
The idea behind all this was not simply to give information about the Word and to provide pleasant experiences of group sharings. All this had but one purpose: TO KNOW GOD MORE THROUGH A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE and of one another.
Having started, we know full well that there’s a l-o-n-g way to go.
It is hoped that this manual has served as an invitation, at least, to walk that long WAY to Him who is our LIFE.
“I am the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). 182