Bible Study Approach

This approach to Bible study asks 5 distinct questions of a given passage.

1. What is the overt meaning of the passage?

2. Who is the passage written to?

3. Is there an Old Testament/ New Testament connection? Does this passage look forward, anticipating what is to come, or does it look backward, referencing something in the Old Testament?

4. Is there meaning being conveyed that is symbolic, anticipatory, metaphorical, either overtly or as part of a pattern?

5. What is the modern application to our current situation?

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The Story of Prestor John

Prestor John was a largely medieval invention, a figure taken from Biblical beginnings and then elevated beyond proportions to a mythic hero that would save Christendom. The story of Prestor John takes place in two parts. The first part begins in the Apostolic age, in the Gospel of John. In John 21, Jesus has been telling Peter that he should prepare for a martyr's death. Peter then asked about John, who was the author relating the story. In verse 22, Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?” The apostle John seems to write to dispel a rumor that Jesus told him he would not die until Jesus returned. In fact, though many of the apostles were martyred for Christianity, John himself was not a mart...

Tom Wadsworth - The Early Church Didn't have Worship Services

Why the Early Church Didn't Have Worship Services Origen, ca 230 AD. "We object to building altars, statues, and temples because we have learned from Jesus Christ the true way of serving God." Wadsworth's thesis is that modern Christianity has changed from the original practices of the Early Church. We have adopted the communion sacrament as a "sacrifice", that takes place on an Altar, officiated by the pastor, who is now a Priest. And all of this happens within a dedicated church building that is the modern equivalent of a Temple, with its sanctuary. Rather than edifying our fellow believers in Early Church Assemblies, we now gather in these temples to participate in a "worship service." He says that Christianity, through its history, has in effect re-created the temple practices of historic Judaism. Irenaeus: We make an offering to God of the bread and the cup of blessing. And then when we have perfected the offering, we invoke the Holy Sp...

How were the Gospels written: mere speculation

Let's start by setting the stage for the Early Church. In the mid 30s AD, Jesus was crucified by the Romans. Jesus was resurrected and appeared to many people, including his disciples. This happened both in Jerusalem and in Galilee, on the road to Emmaus and elsewhere. Peter preached his message in Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost. From there, new Jewish/ Christian believers dispersed to their home towns including Antioch, Ephesus, Rome. Peter remained a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church, along with James the Lord's brother and, interestingly, accompanied by John Mark. Tradition tells us that other of the apostles embarked on missionary journeys. For example, Phillip met the Ethiopian and traveled to north Africa. Matthew was said by Papias (the Bishop of Hieropolis in Phrygia ca. AD 130) to have written the Oracles or Saying of Jesus in his native Aramaic. This was probably a work in progress during the time he ...

Medieval Lexicon of Symbology

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