the acts through the revelation - unity hawaii · metaphysical bible dictionary revealing word etc....

Bible InterpretationThe Acts through the

Revelation

Pray In

Agreements All viewpoints are valid We agree to disagree We can change our minds any time We keep confidentiality Please turn off your cell phones

Syllabus

Questions? Write down If you are taking the class for SEE credit There are daily assignments Go over syllabus

What is the Bible?

Bible: Best selling book, least readSometimes difficult to understandHas multi-layered meaningTake deeper for spiritual inspiration

Which Translation?

The one that speaks to you…

Tools: What texts help us study the Bible:

Bible Concordances

Book of words from the Bible organized so we can look up words, passages and subjects

Correlate with each translation

Dictionaries:Look up words, names or places to

explain their meaning in detailCome in compact versions,

comprehensive ones and on CD

Bible Commentaries:Explain individual verses, Bible

stories, Biblical booksExplain what is really happening

Bible Atlases:Locate cities, lakes, rivers, valleys,

mountainsSometimes found in Bibles

Bible Handbooks:Contain general Bible information like

history, terminologyContain possible interpretations

Other Bible Tools: Picture Books Pronunciation Guides Stories Study Group Guides Thesaurus Metaphysical Bible Dictionary Revealing Word ETC.

Viewing Lenses

Factual: Happened a long time ago Has been translated into English Are not really sure who wrote the books Does it make sense? Assessing the “probable” facts to

determine if it really happened

Viewing Lenses

Historical:

Is pseudohistorical: Does not always correlate to other historical documents

Writers did not write to perfectly preserve history

Viewing Lenses

Historical:

Wrote to tell the epic story of God’s chosen people

Wrote to instill sense of importance and magnificence about spiritual origins

Writers took literary license, like fish story

Viewing Lenses

Dramatic:

Stories are sometimes like soap opera Accurately depicts the human condition:

love/hate, peace/war, relationships Requires us to get in touch with our own

humanity

Viewing Lenses

Dramatic:

Read stories as if you were watching characters on a stage or screen

Put yourself into their places Depicts our growing evolutionary

consciousness Some things never change

Viewing Lenses

Comedic:

Moses talking to burning bush Moses turning staff into snake Noah collecting all those animals Real-life people like us with foibles,

faults and magnificent spiritual awareness just waiting to be discovered

Viewing Lenses Literary:

Drama Humor Poetry Hymns Liturgy Great stories Not all Bible is easy to read Become a discriminating reader, looking for stories

that read well and hold attention

Viewing Lenses

Moral:

Morality Ethics Law Variety of points of view Interpretation lets us ponder our conscience,

values, ideals

Viewing Lenses

Moral:

Read verses that reaffirm what we already hold to be morally true for us and inspire us to new beliefs

Viewing Lenses

Moral: What did we learn?

What are the universal spiritual values that are being taught?

How can these values work in simplifying the

living of my life?

Viewing Lenses

Moral:

How has my live become difficult or challenging when I ignore them?

Look to the precept behind the words

Viewing Lenses

Prophetic: Eye to the future Involves interpretation Warnings about behavior, what will happen at

the “end of time” Prophet speaks out for God Does Bible prophecy relate to us today?

Viewing Lenses

Metaphysical: Describes the realm of existence beyond what

we can perceive through our external senses

Spiritual

Allows us to embrace the scripture at our spiritual core, where we ask the question, “Who am I and why am I here?”

Viewing Lenses

Metaphysical:

Inward journey into our soul

Grasp the psychology of our spiritual journey

Viewing Lenses

Metaphysical:

We ask, “How do the characters, objects, places, and activities in the Bible relate to our spiritual growth?”

Viewing Lenses

Metaphysical:

Allows us to identify components of the story that represent mental states of consciousness, spiritual awareness and universal laws

Viewing Lenses

Allegorical

Symbolical explanation Teach ethical, moral theological ideas Characters are archetypes Symbols point to deeper meaning

Viewing Lenses

Allegorical

Search for the basic life truths beyond the concrete elements of the story

Passages that contain imagery, parables, poetry and song that are not easy to understand in plain, logical sense are good ones to be interpreted allegorically.

Viewing Lenses

Allegorical

Cannot be understood literally, but imply deeper meaning than what is obvious

What is Metaphysics?

Metaphysics: away from the physical Points to the spiritual, inner hidden

meaning Uses the Bible text, commentaries, MBD,

Revealing work, dictionaries, etc. Our own consciousness

What is Bible Interpretation?

Can mean one thing to one person, something else to someone else

No right or wrong answers

Too complex to be taken literally Several versions of one incident

Metaphysical Interpretation Rules:

There are no right or wrong interpretations We can get a different interpretation at a

later date We honor everyone’s opinions

Metaphysical Interpretation Goal:

Become familiar with the various texts so we can do Bible interpretation easily

Begin to enjoy the stories and what they teach us about ourselves

Metaphysical Interpretation Goal:

Read the passage, take it into our consciousness and allow it to reveal spiritual truth to us

Use the Bible to deepen our relationship with God

Four-Step Process of Metaphysical Bible

InterpretationStep One: Select, Read and

Study the Scripture

Step One: Select, Read and Study the Scripture

Select the passage to be studied

Read the passage several times

Consult a Bible dictionary for general information on distinctive or unfamiliar words

Consult Bible commentaries and handbooks for historical and scholastic information on the biblical book, chapter, and verse

Consult a Bible atlas to determine the location of the Biblical event

Gain a basic understanding of the story line

Step Two: Identify the Key Words and Phrases

Scan the passage for those verses and words that you feel are most important to the meaning of the story line or are unique in character

Nouns: proper names, people, places, objects, animals

Step Two: Identify the Key Words and Phrases

Verbs: actions, movement, thought, feeling

Other words or phrases that are descriptive of the scene

Step Three: Develop Interpretations for the Words

Consult the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary for suggested interpretations of proper names, name places, and special words (i.e. Adam, Jesus, Egypt, Nazareth, Logos, serpent, etc.)

Consult an English dictionary (such as Webster’s Dictionary) and a thesaurus for the meaning of and synonyms for common words (i.e. assurance, good, judgment, lyre, righteousness, treasure, etc.)

Use Strong’s Concordance’s Hebrew and Greek dictionaries to obtain exegetical information on selected words

Consider how the words represent states of consciousness (i.e. doubt, faith, love, praise, temptation, etc.)

Step Four: Allow the Metaphysical Meaning to Emerge

Study, pray, and meditate on the overall story and the individual words interpreted in Step Three

Consult metaphysical interpretation books that interpret the selected passage

Think about how these states of consciousness might correspond to events in your own life (i.e., healing of illness, conquering financial problems, dealing with persecution, feeling an overwhelming sense of joy, etc.

Utilize the many interpretive lenses (i.e. factual, historical, dramatic, comedic, etc.)

Explore common metaphysical themes (i.e. illumination, healing, prosperity, etc.) as they might apply

Apply your own innate creative intelligence look at the story from many vantage points and perspectives

Remember, the metaphysical interpretive lens has an allegorical, psychological and spiritual dimension

Step Four: Allow the Metaphysical Meaning to Emerge Finally, ask yourself, what jumps out at

you about the passage? What clicks in you when you read it? Look for the personal, spiritual dimension that rises to the surface of your mind

Write down your interpretation as soon as it is revealed to you

ASK YOURSELF

How am I like one of the characters?

What feeling does the passage evoke?

How does the passage bring me closer to God?

ASK YOURSELF

What is the lesson?

Is there growth?

What quality like love, faith, or hope is represented?

Do an interpretation that is set in today’s world

Make it comical Make it dramatic Use a theme like faith, love, tithing and put

more than one story together Be creative!

What is Maeutics?

From: Awakening the Fire Within 3 Step Story Interpretation Process Maieutic Pronunciation: mA-‘yu-tik Adjective

What is Maeutics?

Etymology: Greet maieutikos of midwifery; relating to or resembling the Socratic method of eliciting new ideas from another

How Do I Start?

Pray, meditate, contemplate

Read the Scripture Passage

Pray, meditate, contemplate

1. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STORY?

This step is about exploration.

Know the culture and context of the passage.

1. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STORY?

What is happening in the Scripture before and after the passage?

What are the cultural implications of the main elements of the story?

What were the customs of the day regarding:

Women and children

Samaritans and Pharisees

Weddings and feasts

Housing and the way people lived

What were the customs of the day regarding:

Common objects: mustard weed, leaven, water, wine, etc.

Who are the characters? How are they related?

Significance of places

Perspective

Think and feel the passage with different lenses.

Is there one lens that is more important than another?

Perspective

Use different perspectives to determine what is happening for each of the characters.

Perspective

If reading the New Testament, explore Aramaic terms or idioms

Use The Metaphysical Bible Dictionary and The Revealing Word to help define people, places and symbols.

Perspective

Use quiet contemplation to open the space for a deeper meaning to emerge

Instead of asking, “What does it mean?” ask “How does it feel?” or “What do I think?” “Do I feel it in a certain part of my body?” “What does it bring up in me?”

2. HOW IS THIS STORY HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AROUND ME?

This step is a bridge between the subjective and spiritual interpretation that reveals the collective and cultural expression of the issue.

2. HOW IS THIS STORY HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AROUND ME?

Encouraging the student to respond with a wide variety of interpretations will draw out a richness of consciousness in each individual

“How is this pertinent to us today?”

Use intuition rather than logical analysis

If this were a current news story, what would it mean to me?

How would it change my life?

“How is this pertinent to us today?”

How can the truth it teaches be put into practice?

What are the political, social, economic, cultural and religious stresses that come into play both in the Bible passage and in life today?

3. HOW IS THE STORY AN EVENT IN MY LIFE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

Use prayer, meditation and contemplation.

Consider the story as an ongoing event in his/her life.

3. HOW IS THE STORY AN EVENT IN MY LIFE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

Identify the characters and determine if one speaks more to your heart than the others.

Ask yourself:

How does it relate to me?

How is the story an event in my life?

What changes does it call forth within me?

Ask yourself:

What do I need to release in order for this Truth to be actualized in me?

How will it transform my life?

Historical Overview

Jesus dies. Who will lead the group? Disciples separate and go to groups in

homes carrying on “The Way”

Historical Overview

Acts and writings attributed to Paul are probably the earliest – 50 CE

Gospels written 60 – 90 CE John written 90 – 100 CE

Roman Jew with full rights Cannot be crucified Jesus is crucified because was not a

Roman citizen Speaking from street corners and turning

over tables in temples was definitely not allowed

Roman army presence was strong all over the empire

Sought to actively persecute early followers of The Way

Persecution was sporadic

Has conversion experience on the way to Damascus

Is blinded by the light Has healing Begins to continue work of Jesus

Becomes Paul Disciples likely have hard time working

with him He did not know Jesus personally Had never heard Jesus speak Disciples send him out to help do the work

on his own

The Roman Catholic Church would probably not exist today if it were not for Paul

The letters attributed to him reflect the concerns and stresses of the time

Churches were study groups in patron’s homes

Begins a process to send money back to central church

Women lead many of the groups, yet Paul is markedly misogynistic

Rome was tolerant of religions Rome was not tolerant of sedition

Roman army presence was strong all over the empire

Paul is Roman citizen When he is jailed, he is treated better

Questions and Answers

Meditation

Ananias and Saphira

Acts 5: 1-11

But a man named Ananias,

From the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary (MBD) Page 50 “Ananias”

HEB: Gracious of Jah; mercy of Jehovah; compassion of Jehovah

Acts 5: 1-11

We believe we can be spiritually developing and still hold on to worldly beliefs

Deception is a subtle error to truth

Acts 5: 1-11

Liar and deceiver has two sides in mind

Outwardly, in conscious thought it is Ananias

In the subconscious thought it appear as Sapphira

Acts 5: 1-11

Both must die before spiritual thoughts increase

Best way to dissolve errors is to face then boldly

Accuse them of holding back

Acts 5: 1-11

When we get so wrapped up in material possessions we do not give wholly to Spirit

Acts 5: 1-11

We must be cleansed or purified so we can properly discern Spirit

Acts 5: 1-11

Then the false is destroyed and the good is manifest

Acts 5: 1-11

with the consent of his wife Sapphira

MBD page 573 “Saphira”

Heb: beautiful; splendid; sapphire; precious stone; writer; enumerator; narrator

Acts 5: 1-11

A sapphire is a pure, deep transparent blue and blue is the color of truth

Acts 5: 1-11

Truth is beautiful, but must be cleansed from greed and deception before it can represent Truth in all its purity

Acts 5: 1-11

sold a piece of property;

Sold Pass on to another

something you own for some kind of compensation

Item sold has value to both parties

Agree on value and make transaction

Acts 5: 1-11

sold a piece of property;

Property: Something one owns Can do what we want

with it Has value determined

on what another is willing to pay

Acts 5: 1-11

with his wife’s knowledge,

Knowledge: Understand process and value; may be able to see, touch or feel

Acts 5: 1-11

he kept back some of the proceeds,

Kept back: Did not make known; was not forthcoming

Proceeds: Value received from sale

Acts 5: 1-11

and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Part: A portion, some, not all

Apostle: A follower, novice, acolyte, one who has been given special knowledge

Acts 5: 1-11

Peter MBD page 516: Peter: Heb: hard; compact; strong; firm; unyielding; a large stone; a rock; a cliff

Spiritual faculty of faith

Acts 5: 1-11

Peter Was called Simon Peter; (hearing) signifying receptivity and ability to discern truth

Acts 5: 1-11

Peter Was changed by Jesus to Peter, or Cephas (GK) meaning rock

Strong faith in God, unwavering and enduring

Foundation for building up spiritual consciousness

Acts 5: 1-11

Peter When faith works in the intellect it is subject to winds and waves of sense thought

When it lays hold of life and substance it establishes God ideas in consciousness

Acts 5: 1-11

Peter Peter wavered in his faith many times because he was not grounded in love

Jesus had him affirm love three times, Spirit, Soul and Body to prepare him to “feed my sheep”

Acts 5: 1-11

why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit

MBD page 576 “Satan” Heb. Liar in wait; an adversary; an enemy; hater; accuser; opposer; contradictor;

Acts 5: 1-11

The deceiving state of mind that has fixed ideas in opposition to Truth

Assumes various forms in consciousness: egotism, self-depreciation

Acts 5: 1-11

State of mind formed by personal ideas of power, completeness, and sufficiency apart from God

Makes humans believe they are evil

Acts 5: 1-11

Revealing Word (RW) page 98 “Holy Spirit”

The activity of God in a universal sense.

The moving force in the universe taken as a whole.

Acts 5: 1-11

The Spirit is the infinite "breath" of God, the life essence of Being.

Holy Spirit is the love of Jehovah taking care of the human family.

Acts 5: 1-11

The Spirit is the infinite "breath" of God, the life essence of Being

Holy Spirit is the love of Jehovah taking care of the human family.

Acts 5: 1-11

• The Holy Spirit is in the world today with great power and wisdom, ready to be poured upon all who look to it for guidance. Its mission is to bring all men into communion with God; to guide men in order that they will not mistake the way into the light.

Acts 5: 1-11

Lie:Do not tell the

truthPrevaricateDeceive

Acts 5: 1-11

and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?

Kept back: Did not make known; was not forthcoming

Proceeds: Value received from sale

Acts 5: 1-11

While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?

Acts 5: 1-11

And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal?

Property: Something one

owns Can do what we

want with it Has value

determined on what another is willing to pay

Acts 5: 1-11

How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!”

The heart is love Faculty used to

discern being Center through which

Divine substance is poured

Use heart center to send out loving thoughts

Acts 5: 1-11

How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!”

The heart of the unregenerate man is both good and evil

evil is without foundation in Being

When heart is purged and cleansed we can connect to God’s good

Acts 5: 1-11

You did not lie to us but to God!” Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died.

Lie:Do not tell the

truthPrevaricateDeceive

Acts 5: 1-11

Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died.

Die: RW 48 “Death” Physical dissolution of

body Outer symbol of

mental negation or spiritual inertia

Absence of life in body

Caused by failure to comply fully with God’s law

Acts 5: 1-11

Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died.

Falling short of the law of life is sin

Sin causes discord in mind, mind loses hold of consciousness of life and enters into negation and dissolution occurs

Results in death to body temple

Acts 5:1-11

And great fear seized all who heard of it.

RW page 72--Fear is one of the most subtle and destructive errors that the carnal mind in man experiences

Fear is a paralyzer of mental action

It weakens both mind and body

Acts 5:1-11

And great fear seized all who heard of it.

Fear is cast out by perfect love

To know divine love is to be selfless, and to be selfless is to be without fear.

The God-conscious person is filled with quietness and confidence.

The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

Acts 5:1-11

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

Trinity: Father, Son,

Holy Spirit (Religious)

Mind, Idea, Expression (Metaphysical)

Body, Mind, Spirit (Modern)

Acts 5:1-11

Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.”

MBD page 516: Peter: Heb: hard; compact; strong; firm; unyielding; a large stone; a rock; a cliff

Acts 5:1-11

Spiritual faculty of faith

Was called Simon Peter; (hearing) signifying receptivity and ability to discern truth

Was changed by Jesus to Peter, or Cephas (GK) meaning rock

Acts 5:1-11

Strong faith in God, unwavering and enduring

Foundation for building up spiritual consciousness

When faith works in the intellect it is subject to winds and waves of sense thought

Acts 5:1-11

When it lays hold of life and substance it establishes God ideas in consciousness

Peter wavered in his faith many times because he was not grounded in love

Acts 5:1-11

And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?

Test: Challenge Difficulty Measure Something to

overcome

Acts 5:1-11 Look, the feet of

those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

RW page 74 “Feet” Phase of

understanding that connects us with the outer, manifest world

Reveals right relationship toward worldly conditions

Acts 5:1-11

Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

We take possession of substance as we connect with and comprehend it (walk on holy ground)

Acts 5:1-11

Immediately she fell down at his feet and died.

Die: RW 48 “Death” Physical dissolution of

body Outer symbol of

mental negation or spiritual inertia

Absence of life in body

Acts 5:1-11

Caused by failure to comply fully with God’s law

Falling short of the law of life is sin

Acts 5:1-11

Sin causes discord in mind, mind loses hold of consciousness of life and enters into negation and dissolution occurs

Results in death to body temple

Acts 5:1-11 When the young men

came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Acts 5:1-11

And a great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

RW page 72--Fear is one of the most subtle and destructive errors that the carnal mind in man experiences

Fear is a paralyzer of mental action

It weakens both mind and body

Acts 5:1-11 And a great fear

came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Fear is cast out by perfect love

To know divine love is to be selfless, and to be selfless is to be without fear.

The God-conscious person is filled with quietness and confidence.

Acts 5:1-11

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