|
Understanding the Bible: An Introduction to the Language and Literature of Scripture Saturday Seminar
by Bill Wilder
presented September 27, 2008
Listen to
Understanding the Bible: An Introduction to the Language and Literature of Scripture
First session, (28.4 mb, mp3 file) Second session, (22.7 mb, mp3 file)
Although we all use the English language for conversation, we seldom dwell on the fundamental principles of our speech. Nor do we often think about the largely unwritten rules of our daily interactions: what to say or how to act in the literally dozens of different settings we find ourselves in each day. Immersed in our language and culture, we can often take communication and understanding for granted.
But when we turn to the Bible, we need to remember that these 66 books were neither written in English, nor were they composed in a culture like our own. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, the biblical message is couched in the rich vocabulary and grammatical distinctives of these ancient languages. Less obvious but no less important are the ancient cultural assumptions and literary forms that God used to shape His Word to His people.
In order to better understand the Scripture in our own time, we need to acquire the knowledge, wisdom, and skills necessary to interpret the Bible in these literary, historical, and theological contexts. This is, admittedly, a lifelong task, but a task is never completed if it is not begun, and it is not properly begun without the instruction and tools necessary to perform the task. This seminar will help students to interpret Scripture with the respect and clarity of understanding that it deserves‹in the strong hope that the Spirit will also interpret God's Word into our hearts and lives.
 BILL WILDER, Executive Director at the Center for Christian Study, completed his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. He received an undergraduate degree in English and German from Guilford College and an M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Bill is a former instructor of Biblical languages, history, and theology at the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, and is the author of Echoes of the Exodus Narrative in the Background and Context of Galatians 5:18 (Peter Lang, 2001).
Back to the home page
|
