self-reflection essay

I. Lecture 1: What is the Bible?

1. What it is not

2. What it is: A Story Conveying a ‘Worldview’

i. Why are stories important?

ii. What is a ‘Worldview’?

iii. Why are world views important?

a) The four great Questions of life:

1. _____________________________

2. _____________________________

3. _____________________________

4. _____________________________

iv. What do Worldviews enable us to do?

v. What are the ingredients that make up a Worldview

a. __________________________________

b. __________________________________

c. __________________________________

II. Lecture 2: What is the Bible?

1. The Bible is the __________________ of the Christian worldview

i. What is the main message of the whole Bible? __________________________________________________________

ii. What are the main elements of a kingdom:

a. ____________________________

b. _____________________________

c. _____________________________

d. ______________________________

Summary: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

2. How is the Christian Bible constructed?

i. The Old Testament (OT) containing ____________ books

ii. The New Testament (NT) containing ____________ books

iii. The structure and contents of the OT

a. The Law (5 books)

b. History (12 books):

c. Wisdom (3 books)

d. Poetry (3 books)

e. Prophets (16 books)

3. Understanding the different genres in the OT and why it is important to know this

a. How to find a particular text in the Bible (see slide 13)

4. What Christians believe about the origin and nature of the Bible

i. Revelation – How the message of the Bible came from God to the people

a. General Revelation -

b. Special Revelation

ii. Inspiration – How certain chosen people recorded the message of Bible

a. 2 Tim. 3:16

b. 2 Pet. 1:19

c. Jn 10:35; Matt. 5:17

d. Ps. 19:7-10

iii. Authority – How the people of God view the Bible

iv. Canon – How the people of God know what books belong in the Bible

v. Text – How scholars ensure that what we read in the Bible today is what the original author said

vi. Translations – How the Bible is translated into different languages

5. How do people study the Bible?

i. Exegesis: ________________________________________________________

ii. Hermeneutics: ___________________________________________________

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©Ivan De Silva