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40 Days

in the WORD

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What is the bible and

how should we read it?

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Things about the Bible

most people agree on

It is not one book but a broadcollection of ancient documents of

various sorts (History, prophecy,personal letters, prayers, poetry,instruction)

There appears to have be many (40)authors

It is very old [1 century AD (12C-15C) BC]

What we have today is what the

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What is the bible?

Did God write the Bible in heaven, anddictate all of it in bits to humans and then

finally arrange for it to be all put together?

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What is the bible?

Did ordinary human beings simply writedown their own bright ideas about God

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Christian's believe the

Bible is INSPIRED Every part of Scripture is God-

breathed and useful one way or

anothershowing us truth, exposingour rebellion, correcting ourmistakes, training us to live Godsway. Through the Word we are put

together and shaped up for the tasksGod has for us.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (Message)

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Christian's believe the

Bible is INSPIREDInspiration means first, that God spoke

through ordinary people determining

the message they spoke, yet neverviolating their personalities anddistinctive ways of communicating.

Secondly and just as importantly,people spoke in their own way fromtheir own life experiences yet theirmessage is God's true message for

the world today (Heb 1:1, 2 Pet 1:21).

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Because the Bible is authored by realpeople, we read the Bible as we wouldany other book.

We look for the simple ordinary meaning,

we seek out for the original meaning,

we find the general meaning.

However we also read the Bible as weread no other book, as the same Godwho communicated through it as it waswritten, still communicates through it tous today.

How should we read the Bible?

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Devotional Reading

Pronounce the text

Picture the text

Probe the text

Paraphrase the text

Personalise the text

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Devotional Reading

Especially in devotionalreading we need to becareful to read what the

passage actually says notwhat we would like it tosay.

Exegesis to draw outthe meaning

Eisegesis to put ourown ideas into the

meaning

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Devotional Reading

Remember the Biblewas written in Hebrewand Greek you can find

out the original meaningof specific words

Remember passageshave a context, ask whatis happening or beingtalked about before andafter the verse

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Devotional Reading

Pronounce the text

Reading over the text

(preferably aloud), emphasisingeach word to catch the fullmeaning of the passage.

Great for instructional passages

Do some study of the originalwords and context if you areunsure of anything

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Devotional Reading

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Devotional Reading

Picture the text

Imagining what is happening

in the situation. Identifying inturn with different charactersand reflecting on each.

Great for narrative passages

Do some study on the originalenvironment and people.

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Devotional Reading

Probe the text

Sin to confess?

Promise to claim?

Attitude to change?

Command to obey?

Example to follow?

Prayer to pray?

Error to avoid?

Truth to believe?

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Devotional Reading

Paraphrase the text

Writing the passage down in

your own words Great for teaching passages

Do some study to ensure youhave understood the passage

accurately.

Several translations can bevery helpful

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Its never too late to encounterGod through his word with others.