How to Read the Bible: A Living Text, Past to Present
Classes start May 28th, see details below. Register here.
Photo by Katherine Schuessler
Class Description
The Christian Bible rests at the heart of Christianity, serving as a source of communion and contention between a wide array of readers. It is the wellspring of theology, the root of liturgical worship, and serves as a personal guide to countless millions of people. Yet the question of how to read the Bible remains a pressing question. How should a person understand what the Bible says and how it might relate to his or her life? Is there only one interpretation of the Bible? Does the Bible contain one message, many messages, or both? How does one discern what those might be, or what is “the best” meaning? Which Bible is one talking about, when there are many versions and translations of it? Who is the Bible meant for? Just what exactly is the Bible? This course will explore the multiple and complimentary identities of the Bible, and how responses to those questions affect how a person might read it. The Bible contains within itself a library of books with a history of their own. The Bible is a textile of ancient literature. The Bible is a collection of stories claiming promise of redemption for a struggling humanity. The Bible is the product of human beings communing with divinity. The Bible is a polyphonic witness of a Person claiming to be fully God and fully Man, that human beings might not perish but “have everlasting life.” This course will begin to explore these claims of the Bible, suggesting by the end that Christians best read the Bible when they do so with the living Jesus Christ as their interpreter, teacher, and Lord.
The Christian Bible rests at the heart of Christianity, serving as a source of communion and contention between a wide array of readers. It is the wellspring of theology, the root of liturgical worship, and serves as a personal guide to countless millions of people. Yet the question of how to read the Bible remains a pressing question. How should a person understand what the Bible says and how it might relate to his or her life? Is there only one interpretation of the Bible? Does the Bible contain one message, many messages, or both? How does one discern what those might be, or what is “the best” meaning? Which Bible is one talking about, when there are many versions and translations of it? Who is the Bible meant for? Just what exactly is the Bible? This course will explore the multiple and complimentary identities of the Bible, and how responses to those questions affect how a person might read it. The Bible contains within itself a library of books with a history of their own. The Bible is a textile of ancient literature. The Bible is a collection of stories claiming promise of redemption for a struggling humanity. The Bible is the product of human beings communing with divinity. The Bible is a polyphonic witness of a Person claiming to be fully God and fully Man, that human beings might not perish but “have everlasting life.” This course will begin to explore these claims of the Bible, suggesting by the end that Christians best read the Bible when they do so with the living Jesus Christ as their interpreter, teacher, and Lord.
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Class Instructor
Katherine A. Schuessler (MPhil in Divinity from the University of St Andrews, BA(Hons) in Philosophy from the University of Sydney). Read Katherine's Bio Date and Structure 6 weeks on Thursdays from 6:00-7:30pm, beginning on May 28th. Class will break for one week (June 11th), and will conclude on July 9th. |
Cost and Materials
A donation of your choice is asked in order to attend (estimated value is $60). Donations will be collected at the door on the first day of class. If you cannot donate anything but would sincerely like to participate, please still come. Students are encouraged to bring their preferred note-taking materials to class, whether that be a pad of paper and accompanying pen, or a laptop.
Student Participation and Engagement
This course is designed to be guided at a student’s own pace and desired level of engagement. Come as you are and just attend the 60 minute teachings from 6:00-7:00pm, or dig in deeper and stay for the weekly textual discussions from 7:00-7:30pm. Weekly discussion texts will be provided to the class each consecutive week. Week 1’s discussion will have no reading to discuss, but will be based around the teaching and subject material.
A donation of your choice is asked in order to attend (estimated value is $60). Donations will be collected at the door on the first day of class. If you cannot donate anything but would sincerely like to participate, please still come. Students are encouraged to bring their preferred note-taking materials to class, whether that be a pad of paper and accompanying pen, or a laptop.
Student Participation and Engagement
This course is designed to be guided at a student’s own pace and desired level of engagement. Come as you are and just attend the 60 minute teachings from 6:00-7:00pm, or dig in deeper and stay for the weekly textual discussions from 7:00-7:30pm. Weekly discussion texts will be provided to the class each consecutive week. Week 1’s discussion will have no reading to discuss, but will be based around the teaching and subject material.
Class Objectives
Students should leave this course with a better understanding of what the Bible is, both in its existence and the implication it holds for the individuals and communities that study it. Students should also leave class feeling empowered as readers of the Bible themselves, recognizing that the richness of the Biblical text is not a barrier so much as an invitation to engage it for as long as a lifetime. This course will be run with the sensitivity that students come from a broad spectrum of experience with history, reading, and the Christian faith, and is designed to not assume knowledge beyond a basic understanding of Christianity (students with no familiarity with Christianity are still very welcome to join too!). As previously with Emmanuel U, this course aims to encourage and enrich the spiritual and thinking life of each class participant by making the fruits of the university accessible to the layman.
Students should leave this course with a better understanding of what the Bible is, both in its existence and the implication it holds for the individuals and communities that study it. Students should also leave class feeling empowered as readers of the Bible themselves, recognizing that the richness of the Biblical text is not a barrier so much as an invitation to engage it for as long as a lifetime. This course will be run with the sensitivity that students come from a broad spectrum of experience with history, reading, and the Christian faith, and is designed to not assume knowledge beyond a basic understanding of Christianity (students with no familiarity with Christianity are still very welcome to join too!). As previously with Emmanuel U, this course aims to encourage and enrich the spiritual and thinking life of each class participant by making the fruits of the university accessible to the layman.
Class Outline, in brief:
Week 1: Overview and Prolegomenon
Week 2: The Bible as History, Part 1: A History of Its Creation
Week 3: The Bible as Literature: Genre and Interpretation
Week 4: The Bible as History, Part 2: Reading and Not Reading as History
Week 5: The Bible as Inspired Scripture and Divine Speech
Week 6: Conclusion: How do we read the Bible well?
Week 1: Overview and Prolegomenon
Week 2: The Bible as History, Part 1: A History of Its Creation
Week 3: The Bible as Literature: Genre and Interpretation
Week 4: The Bible as History, Part 2: Reading and Not Reading as History
Week 5: The Bible as Inspired Scripture and Divine Speech
Week 6: Conclusion: How do we read the Bible well?