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 Have you been to a good Bible Study session
recently? Experience has taught me over the years that when asking this
question, be prepared for varied responses. Some declared that the Catholic
Church is very protective of how one interprets God's Word, therefore
discouraging the laity from either reading or attending Bible Study. Others
may imagine that someone attending weekly Bible Study in another religious
denomination is more suited to respond to this inquiry. Many people declare
that Catholics do not know the Bible. These comments just mentioned and many
more over the years cross my path routinely while teaching Bible Study with
the Eat the Scroll Ministry. Let us review some history, and then explore a
five step preparation plan for personal and group Bible Study called "The
Five I(s)"
Historically speaking, for more than a thousand
years the Church did rightfully protect the Bible. Sacred Scriptures were
reserved for the pulpit or in libraries during the Middle Ages. The Church
protected the Bible from being stolen, damaged and misinterpreted by the
faithful worshipers. Illiteracy was a major issue as well during the early
development of the Church. Therefore, the Church sought ways to insure the
authenticity of one's interpretation of the sacred text. To accomplish this
goal, the Church monitored who was interpreting the sacred text.
Understanding the Church's goal here is paramount. The Catechism of the
Catholic Church, #103, teaches us that "The Church has always venerated
the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord's Body. She never ceases to present
to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God's Word
and Christ's Body." The Catholic Church's only desire is to feed the one
Body of Christ with God's Word. The Scriptures provides a foundation for
this desire:
But as for
you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You
know who your teachers were, and you remember that ever since you were a
child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you
the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2
Tim. 3:14-17)
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