Category: Bible

The Concept in the Old Testament

Genesis 50:21

“Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” In Hebrew, the word “kind” is called leb, and it means” the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything” (Strong, 1890, p. 125). Joseph used the word “kind”, in this context, as he addressed his brothers, who had sold him to slavery as a boy. The brothers had travelled to Egypt in search of food after a prolonged drought in Israel, and they found out that Joseph had become a high-ranking officer in Pharaoh’s government. Joseph is comforting his brothers because they are feeling sorry for selling him into slavery.

Genesis 6:20

“Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every sort shall come into you, to keep them alive.” The Hebrew word for “kind” in this context, is miyn, and it means “kind, sometimes a species (usually of animals)” (Strong, 1890, p. 65). In this verse, God is giving instructions to Noah on the species of animals that should be allowed into the ark. Therefore, the word “kind” is used to mean “species” or “types” of animals.

Jeremiah 15:3

“I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, says the LORD: the sword to slay, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.” The Hebrew equivalent for the word “kind”, in this context, is mishpachah, and it means a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people:-family, kind(-red)” (Strong, 1890, p. 74). God is speaking to prophet Jeremiah to describe the nature or types of punishments that He would release to the Israelites. Therefore, “kind” is used to mean sort of things or categories of the destroyers that God would use to punish the Israelites.

Analysis of the Concept in the Old Testament

In the OT Bible verses noted above, the word “kind” is used to give different meanings within diverse contexts. In Genesis 50:21, it is used as a comforting or reassuring word. Joseph’s brothers are sorry for selling him to Egyptian merchants, but he reassures them that he would help them contrary to what they expected. On the other hand, the same word is used in Genesis 6:20 as a noun to mean the species of animals that Noah should let into the ark.

In Jeremiah 15:3, the word “kind” is used to describe the sorts or nature of destroyers that God will use as punishment for Israelites’ defiance of His laws. The conditions under which the word is used and the reasons for its usage also differ in the three verses. In Genesis 50:21, Joseph’s brother have just realized that the person that they sold into slavery is now powerful and he is the only one who can help them get food in Egypt. They are sorry, regretful, and broken in spirit; hence, Joseph is moved by their situation, and thus he assures them that he is willing to help them, as brothers. In Genesis 6:20, people have started to multiply, and they continue to defy God’s laws.

Therefore, God is about to destroy the earth through floods, and thus He gives Noah specific instructions on the species of animals that should be put in the ark for safety in the land of Eden. In Jeremiah 15:3, the prophet, while in the land of Judah, has been interceding for the people for God to reconsider His decision to punish the Israelites. However, God is adamant that He has to carry out His plans, and thus he specifies the nature of destroyers that would be unleashed on the people for punishment. In the OT, the word is used twice as a noun and once as an adjective. Therefore, these verses differ based on who, why, when, and what of the message being communicated.

Concepts in the New Testament

Acts 28:2

“And the natives showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.” The Greek equivalent of the word “kind” in this context is philanthrōpia, which means “fondness of mankind, i.e. benevolence (“philanthropy”):-kindness, love towards man” (Strong, 1890, p. 75). Paul describes the benevolent reception that he receives from the locals of Malta after he is shipwrecked on his way to Italy.

Mark 9:29

“And he said to them, this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” In Greek, the word “kind” here is genos, and it means “kin” (abstract or concrete, literal or figurative, individual or collective):-born, country(-man), diversity, generation, kind(-red), nation, offspring, stock” (Strong, 1890, p. 20). Jesus uses this word to describe the specific nature of the evil spirits that have possessed the boy.

Ephesians 4:32

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” The Greek equivalent of the word “kind” in this context is chrēstos, and it means “employed, i.e. (by implication) useful (in manner or morals):-better, easy, good(-ness), gracious, kind” (Strong, 1890, p. 78). Apostle Paul is addressing the Ephesians instructing them on how they should treat one another. Therefore, Paul uses the word “kind” to tell Christians to be forgiving and gracious like God.

Analysis of the Concept in the New Testament

The word “kind” is used in the three verses under a different context, and thus it gives varied meanings. In Acts, Paul is addressing an unspecified audience, while in Mark Jesus is speaking to His disciples, and in Ephesians, Paul is writing to the Ephesians. In Acts, the word is used as an adjective to describe the goodness of the people of Malta after treating Paul philanthropically, even though he is a stranger to them.

In Mark, the word is used as a noun as Jesus emphasizes a certain type of evils spirits that can only be driven out using prayers. In Ephesians, Paul uses the word “kind” as an adjective to instruct his audience how it should treat one another through forgiveness and tenderheartedness. Similarly, the word differs based on when and where it was used. In Acts, Paul has been shipwrecked and landed on an Island, Malta, and the locals treat him compassionately despite being a stranger. In Mark, Jesus has just experienced transfiguration in the region of Caesarea Philippi, and He has found his disciples struggling to exorcise demons from a possessed boy.

Therefore, He uses the word to specify and emphasize that such form of demons can only come out through prayer. In Ephesians, Paul is writing from a prison in Rome, addressing fellow believers in Ephesus on how they should treat each other. Therefore, in the NT, the word is used twice as an adjective, and once as a noun.

Concept Analysis in the NT and OT

In the OT, the word “kind” is used twice as a noun and once as an adjective. However, in the NT, it is used twice as an adjective and once as a noun. Nevertheless, despite the word being used as a noun or an adjective, the context and meaning differ significantly in both testaments. For instance, as a noun, in the OT the word is used in Genesis 6:20 to describe animal species and in Jeremiah 15:3 to imply the nature of destroyers that would punish the Israelites.

In the NT, it is used in Mark 9:29 to specify a certain type of demons. Therefore, the meaning of the word differs based on the context of its usage. Similarly, as an adjective, “kind” is used in Genesis 50:21 as a reassuring word as Joseph promises to treat his brothers considerably. In Acts 28:2, Paul uses the word to describe the benevolence of the Maltese locals, while in Ephesians 4:32 he uses it to instruct fellow believers on how to live with one another. Therefore, the word “kind” has varied meaning in both NT and OT depending on the context where it has been used.

Conclusion

The Bible was translated into the English Language for the spread of the gospel. However, some words with different meanings in Hebrew and Greek were assigned a single word in English. For instance, the word “kind” has been used in different Bible verses to give varied meaning based on the context of usage. The word has been used as either an adjective or a noun. As shown in this paper, the usage of the word “kind” in Genesis 6:20 and 50:21, Jeremiah 15:3, Acts 28:2, Ephesians 4:32, and Mark 9:29 gives different meanings.

References

Kind. (1989). In Webster’s dictionary of English usage. Springfield, MA: Merriam Webster Publishers.

Strong, J. (1890). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible: Showing every word oft e text of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word with references to the English words. Nashville, TX: Methodist Book Concern.

The New Living Translation. (2007). Life application study Bible. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Introduction

Islam and Christianity are the two major religions of the modern world. There are many common beliefs shared by the two religions and significant differences as well. The most significant similarity between these religions is that they both believe in a single supreme being. Both religions base their beliefs and practices on their holy books, the Bible and the Qur’an. Significant differences in the teachings of these books make the two religions irreconcilable. Differences in the teachings and narratives of these books may seem insignificant to outsiders but have been causes of irreconcilable differences between these two religions. But even with these differences both religions cannot deny common beliefs and customs. The story of the creation of man and the world is one such teaching that conveys the differences and similarities in Islamic and Christian teachings.

Discussion

The description of the creation of the Adam and Eve can be found in both the Qur’an and the Bible. The Qur’an does not describe the creation of Eve but both the Bible and the Qur’an agree that Adam was created by a supreme being and his role was to be a keeper or caretaker of creation. In Genesis 1:26, God talks of creating Adam in His image to rule over all the birds, fish and creatures of the land. In verse 28 of the same chapter man is told to subdue the earth. The word subdue means to bring into submission. By this God gave Adam authority over all that He had created on earth. The Qur’an also supports the view of Adam having authority over all creation on earth. The Qur’an calls Adam a viceroy. A viceroy is someone who governs an area but is a representative of the person who gave him the authority. The Qur’an repeatedly shows the authority given to Adam in all its depictions of creation.

This similarity is significant both to Muslims and Christians. Adam is placed in a position of great responsibility. Both religions believe that all that Adam was given was inherited by the whole human race because Adam was the first man and therefore the common ancestor of all men. He is created superior to all other earthly creatures and he is charged with the care of all creation.

Both the Quran and the Bible agree that Adam was created from clay. Genesis 2:7 describes God forming Adam from the dust and breathing life into his nostrils. Al-Hijr 15:26-47 agrees with the creation of man from clay and receiving the breath of life from Allah. This is the origin of the custom of burying of the dead in both religions. Muslims bury their dead wrapped in a cloth while departed Christians are buried in coffins. Both religions teach that because man was created from dust, he must return to dust upon his death. Both religions therefore bury their dead in the ground.

Both the Bible and the Quran teach that Adam was given life by God breathing into him. The breath of God in both texts (i.e. Al-Hijr 15:26-47 and Genesis 2:7) is representative of His Spirit. Because God breathed life into Adam upon his creation, both Islam and Christianity teach that man has a spiritual nature that is given to him by God. Because man possesses a spirit, he is superior to all other earthly creatures. No other creatures are recorded in the Bible or Quran of having received the same spirit that God breathed on man during his creation.

All these similarities show that Islam and Christianity agree on the fundamentals of the creation of man and his purpose. The similarities in the depiction of Adam and his creation would even cause us to say that these two religions are the same. Differences however occur in the narratives. Some of these differences are may not be striking to an outsider, but are of great importance to the faithful of these religions.

The most striking difference in the narrations of the creation is in the temptation and the events that followed it. According to the Bible, the devil came to Eve in the form of a snake and tempted her to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Eve having eaten of the fruit gave it to Adam. This according to the Bible is how sin entered the world. The Quran differs in its account of the temptation of Adam and Eve. It depicts the devil approaching Adam and tempting him in Ta-Ha 20:120. Although it is important to note that the Qur’an claims that Adam was the one who was in fact tempted and not Eve as the Bible claims, the most significant thing to note is what happened after the temptation and the realization of their sin.

Both the Bible and the Quran tell of God’s wrath and disappointment with Adam and Eve’s disobedience. According to the Bible, Adam did not repent of his sin, he instead shifted the blame to Eve who blamed everything on the serpent. The three are cursed and Adam and Eve are banished from the Garden of Eden. According to the Quran Adam realized his shame and hid from God, just like it is narrated in the Bible. But according to the Quran, Allah took pity on Adam and forgave him. Ta-Ha 20:122 tells of Allah relenting towards Adam and guiding him.

The Biblical depiction of Adam and Eve has the main aim of teaching how sin entered the world. The Bible teaches that all men are sinners because of what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. Because all men are the descendants of Adam and Eve, all have inherited a sinful nature from them. God cast them out of His presence because He is holy and cannot tolerate sin. Christianity teaches that in order for man to reconcile himself to God, a sacrifice had to be made. This is why Christ, God’s own Son, came into the world. Only a pure sacrifice would suffice to reconcile man to God. Since all men are sinful by nature, no one was fit to be this sacrifice, only Christ. This teaching is clearly depicted in 1 Corinthians 15:22 which tells of death coming to the world by one man, Adam and life coming to all mankind by another man, Christ.

The Quran teaches that God had mercy on Adam and guided him. By this, Islam teaches that man is not born with a sinful nature like Christianity teaches. The Quran teaches that Adam could control himself and as long as he followed Allah’s guidance, he would not go astray. If the Islamic teaching of sin is true, then Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross is void. If man was not separated from God because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, then there is no need for reconciliation. The Christian faith is based on the belief that Christ, who was true God and true man, gave His life on behalf of the entire human race. Without this sacrifice man is doomed to eternal separation from God. The entire Biblical message centers on the teaching of God’s love for mankind and the sacrifice of His Son because of His love. The Bible is full of prophesies of a messiah and narratives of how Christ fulfilled these prophecies. Since the Quran’s teaching of creation contradicts the Christian belief of sin entering the world through Adam, it makes Christ’s sacrifice void. This teaching of the Quran negates the foundation of the Christian religion and even threatens its very existence.

This difference of in the narratives of Adam and Eve in the Qur’an and the Bible may seem insignificant and be quickly overlooked by outsiders of both religions. The refusal of Muslims to accept Christ as their savior was the cause of Christian holy wars or crusades against Muslims. Muslims have also launched holy wars or jihads in an attempt to convert Christians to Islam.

Conclusion

The differences and similarities between the depictions of Adam and Eve in the Bible and the Quran show that although Islam and Christianity are somewhat related, there exist significant differences in their teachings. This Teaching for many seems insignificant but is of great consequence to the survival of the two religions. The differences in the creation narratives in both books are just the tip of the ice berg in the disparities between the two religions. This is especially true since the denial of the Quran of man’s sinful nature disallows the very foundation of the Christian faith.

References

The Holy Bible. New International Version. 2008.

The Holy Quran. 2008. Web.

Modern social work values provide the basis for practitioners to teach future professionals skills and provide them with much-needed knowledge for efficient practice. Throughout history, the Bible has promoted guidelines concerning many issues that can be linked to social work. According to The Carter Center (2018), these are promoting an idea of the inherent worth of man, educating people about the significance of knowledge and wisdom, and working with vulnerable groups in their social context. The same values and principles underpin the efforts of modern social workers and educators by advancing an understanding and appreciation of human life, human dignity, and personal experiences in complex social contexts.

From the biblical point of view, all human beings are born free and equal. This can be assumed from the declaration that people are created in the divine image. As per Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over […] every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth” (Bible Gateway, n.d.a). Creation in the likeness of God has been subject to different interpretations, one of which states that the application of the divine image to all proclaims fundamental human equality. That is, not one single person has more of the image of God than another.

In addition to that, the biblical viewpoint asserts that human knowledge is possible only in the light of the actions of God. It means that scientific inquiry cannot claim to be able to discover all knowledge. According to Psalm 19:1, the world is His mysterious creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Bible Gateway, n.d.b). Therefore, the Bible supports scientific discovery within the constraints of the observable world revealing truth about itself and God.

References

Bible Gateway. (n.d.a). Genesis 1:26. Web.

Bible Gateway. (n.d.b). Psalm 19:1. Web.

The Carter Center. (2018). Scripturally annotated Universal Declaration of Human Rights [PDF document]. Web.

Psalms 23: 1-6 facts

The verse explicitly gives an account of the Lord as a diligent shepherd whose promises give grace and life to His people also known as the flock. It has a universal significance and affirms positive beliefs towards life. Therefore, the implicit language of metaphors brings the aspect of peace, grace, and utter protection. The chapter not only urges one to meditate and be prayerful but also gives the truthful account of the Lord being the shepherd who gives strength, leads the way, gives living water, protects, and offers unconditional love to His obedient flock. Moreover, the verse poetical brings forth the theme of confidence and trust from David’s confessions (Alexander & Patricia, 1999).

Psalms 23: 1-6 amazingly give the profound testimony and true account of how the Lord has been instrumental in King David’s life. The verse starts with the words “The Lord is my shepherd”. We are introduced to the pronoun “my” which represents Kind David as the psalmist. The psalmist is aware of the divine guidance from the Lord. The Lord God is the main protagonist in this verse. His guidance and protection are evident in David’s confession throughout the text (Alexander & Patricia, 1999).

From the clever diction applied in the text, we find some environmental accounts of the situation the writer was in. The situation proves wanting and this is where the Lord comes to rescue David. That is, the Lord lets him rest in green grass, leads him in a pool of freshwater, gives him strength, and also Lord gives him the courage to forge his way through the darkness. Therefore, from the above wanting situation, we can attest to the fact that the provenance of this hymnal poetic verse was written in the wilderness by King David whilst evading Absalom.

The historical background of the text goes back over 3000 years. However, the book of Psalm is penned by a variety of authors ranging from the monarchic period. This verse can be referred to as the Maccabean period. The difficulty faced by the author in verse four explains the nature of the situation he experience whilst in the wilderness. The thirstiness, the weakness, the impassable paths, the deepest darkness, and the fear he beheld, all bear out the situation when the psalmist penned down this metaphorical hymnal verse.

Interpretation

The principles of God are shown in the text area; He is the one that provides and gives grace. Grace becomes the main theme. The metaphorical diction applied, explicitly shows the real interest of God in a person’s life. For example, the green fields symbolize the abundance of His word in which the Lord wants us to lie down and feed upon. The prestigious pool of freshwater gives the idea of spiritual refreshment God intends for us. His unwavering paths will lead us to righteousness (Alexander & Patricia, 1999). Amazingly, the staff and rod give the flock comfort that there will be no dangers and straying as they continue to feed. Lastly, David verbosely shows how the Lord receives His faithful flock to dine without any fear and provides His uttermost trustworthiness in the days of the obedient flock.

In John 10:11 Jesus refers to Himself as an excellent shepherd. The reverence of David’s faithful Lord perfectly conforms to this shepherd referred to John 10:11. Hebrews 5: 12-14 Jesus gives the fresh waters to his faithful. Jesus becomes the living water and the shepherd that feeds the flock with the spiritual word. Genesis 22:14 tells how Abraham refers to God as a provider in the mountain. In Hebrews 12:6 Jesus gives comfort to His brethren as seen in Psalm 23 where the Lord God uses His staff and rod to give comfort, guidance, and security to his flock. Revelation 21:3-4 illustrates how Jesus lives amongst us. He dispels fear and wipes any tear thus providing His unconditional love to us (Attridge, 2006).

The sanctified Word of God is a sword and the uttermost belt of truth. The shepherd shows how He diligently leads His flock safely. We should be obedient for He provides His grace as shown in Ephesians 2:8, is given freely and one should be obedient to his Word. The spiritual protection sees us through predators and gives us strength to fight all the derailing temptations that may come our way through His love (Alexander & Patricia, 1999).

Christ Jesus tells of a diligent shepherd in 1 Peter 5:1-4 who guides us and leads us along fine paths that are free from danger and turmoil. We should allow Jesus as the true shepherd to lead the way and give us His trustworthy promises (Attridge, 2006).

Application

Jesus is our great shepherd that David did not have back in those days. We are given testimony from the psalmist of the wonderful promises of the Lord unto His flock. This should be providence to everyone to meditate upon the Lord’s Word and receive his grace and Love. We should listen to His Word and conform to His guidance for our good. This is because Jesus is a trustworthy shepherd. We should not have fear of losing spiritual abundance and His priceless wealth.

References

Alexander, D., & Patricia, A. (Eds.). (1999). Zondervan Handbook to the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.

Attridge, H. W., Meeks, W. A., & Bassler, J. M. (2006). The Harper Collins Study Bible. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

There are many things that people can learn about God, humanity, and themselves from the Bible. Hence, it is essential to utilize the missiology perspective to analyze the Holy texts and seek ways to obtain the knowledge and apply it to everyday life. One of the things that can be learned from Bible stories is the true role and intention of missionaries. In Matthew 28: 19-20, and Mark 16:15–18, Jesus Christ reported to have given the apostles the command to create disciples of all peoples. Therefore, these verses are considered as essential for understanding and interpretation and act as the Great Commission that inspires missionary work.

Briefly stated, numerous Christian denominations have utilized the Great Commission as a paradigm to guide their missionary endeavors. The Great Commission alludes to a number of verses in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus Christ commands his apostles to “baptize” and “make disciples of all the nations”. The Greek word for “disciple” “mathetes” has both the literal meaning of “student” and “follower,” as in “follower of Jesus.” The term “baptize” alludes to the Christian practice of using water to wash away “original sin,” a flaw that Christians think all people are born with. An essential mark of conversion to Christianity is baptism. As a result, the Great Commission is typically understood to refer to sharing the gospel and winning people to Christ.

“Disciples” are to be made, according to Jesus. A person who lives in a serving role toward their teacher is referred to as a disciple because they strive to emulate him. They take that person’s example to heart and follow it. Each of the eleven disciples had responded in this way to Jesus’ appeal after hearing this for the first time. They will now welcome people from all across the world to join them in it. This shocking epilogue to Mark’s gospel might have been written because people wanted a more satisfying finish than the one that ends with the disciples’ bewilderment at the empty tomb. The worldwide reach of Jesus’ mission is highlighted by this new conclusion. Additionally, it emphasizes the necessity of faith in Jesus for redemption, which later gave rise to the disastrous catchphrase “Outside the Church there is no salvation,” which should not be taken literally. Demons, tongues, snakes, and poison are dramatic representations of Jesus’ divine power that validate the mission of the disciples. The victory of Jesus over evil in the final conflict is the basis for Christian hope.

In conclusion, the Great Commission that involves verses by Matthew 28: 19-20, and Mark 16:15–18 continue to be key inspirations for Christian missionaries. Hence, the churchgoers should be aware of the contribution that they can make to help Jesus overcome evil. Particularly, the disciples are tasked with baptizing new converts from every nation. This refers to persons of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. God’s relationship with humanity has expanded via Jesus to include people from all corners of the globe who approach the Father through the Son.

Everyday Bible study is a beneficial religious tool to study and learn the Bible and offers “truths about God.” In this case, it offers an in-depth analysis of what the Bible is and the teachings of God. The book demonstrates how and why people should go deeper into the Bible and comprehend its instructions. According to this book, people should care and get to understand the Holy book better. In addition, the book also signifies why it is crucial to care about the translations people use because it could enhance or hamper God’s teachings and understanding. The highlight of this book is how to study the Old and the New Testaments.

Describing 3 Concepts

One of the concepts that helped in the understanding and knowledge of the Bible is that it assisted to learn on how well to communicate the word of God to other individuals and “bring about spiritual principles.” (Noll, 2017). Therefore, this concept helps to highlight the relevance of comprehending the world of God fully so that someone cannot misrepresent facts when communicating the teachings to other people. Even the way the information is brought helps the reader to know that accurate information regarding God’s teachings is paramount. Thus, it indicates that everyone has to be concise and explanative to help the consumers of information understand everything regarding the instructions of God.

The other concept of the Bible is that everything regarding God’s teachings needs to be communicated with a lot of ease. Therefore, it is not necessary to be technical with communication because most people who need the information may not understand what is being talked about (Noll, 2017). The concept of ease is critical because the teachings of the word of God require complete comprehension of the details regarding the Almighty. A good outline of the information being conveyed is of essence to the reader so that the word of God can be better comprehended. Such an outline needs to be well exposed to the reader so that it can be easy to understand the Bible.

Another critical concept is the significance of humankind in the Bible. In most parts of the teachings, humanity is one of the primary themes. There cannot be a Bible without the mention of humanity (Noll, 2017). Therefore, human beings are essential to the workings of the Bible. God’s teachings are linked to humanity’s existence and demonstrate that God has valued the presence of people since the times of Adam and Eve. The readings prepare readers for the fact that the existing human beings are God’s creators, which is essential in the Bible.

Explaining 2 Ideas

Various ideas are relevant to remember when studying the multiple genres of the Bible. One such idea is the form of the genre, which informs humanity on the kind of art or literature being experienced. In contemporary Western culture, art and literature are the primary ingredients of many forms of genre and relevance. In this case, language and culture define what kind of art or literature people experience in society (Noll, 2017). Although there are some instances that people may be fooled regarding the issue of genre, identifying it comes naturally in most situations. Identifying the form is relevant to any particular genre because it requires accurate identification to eliminate confusion. There is usually difficulty in identifying the correct genre, particularly when the literature is written in a language that is different or incomprehensible. For example, the culture of ancient times is quite different from what it is today and may affect today’s genre.

Another idea is that identifying a particular genre happens subconsciously as people can naturally understand what they are all about. Therefore, it demonstrates how comprehending a particular genre determines what a specific word may mean. Without someone understanding the concept of genre fully, it would be very challenging to understand many forms of literature, such as the Bible. “Although God’s word has endless application,” genre is critical in understanding what many sections of the Bible are all about and helps humanity to interpret Scripture (Noll, 2017). For example, it is common for human beings to understand some particular genres, such as poetry or narrative that may be used to explain various verses of the Bible. Other genres may be more challenging to comprehend, such as prophecy and apocalyptic. Most Bible contents take the narrative form of many different subgenres. In this case, a section like the Gospels has many categories, such as prayers, wisdom, and parables.

Showing 1 Way

Understanding the various genres of the Bible could aid in Bible Study. In this case, studying biblical genres is crucial because it helps people correctly understand the Holy Scripture. For example, such a genre allows people to identify some information that has a similar subject manner, style, or form. The Bible is usually not one book and involves a group of other forms of literature. The smaller books make up the written revelation of the Bible to humanity. The Bible is one of the most known forms of literary genres of the written acknowledgment to man (Noll, 2017). In this case, the Bible has narratives, which involve stories that help people know God’s word. Comprehending the biblical genre helps, and children usually have the opportunity to experience all genres. Such an understanding assists boys and girls regarding their interaction journey with the Almighty God through the word of the Holy Scripture.

Each genre of the Bible is unique in its way and helps an easier comprehension from the people, such as children who need the materials for their use in Bible study affairs. With the help of the genre, children typically discover why biblical books are grouped or categorized the way they do. Therefore, it will bring a clear picture to such children of why such a book is contained in the Holy Scripture in the first place. To children, biblical genres assist them in interpreting and understanding various areas of the Bible. Genre helps in guiding an understanding of what the individual passage is all about (Noll, 2017). The presence of genre in biblical teachings helps Bible study, particularly for children, to become alive and have a better understanding and foundation for the Holy Book. However, ‘knowledge of God’s word is never the end game” and its application is equally relevant for such children (Noll, 2017).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Everyday Bible Study is a reading that provides various concepts that help provide knowledge of the Holy Scripture. In this case, it helps to provide knowledge and understanding of the Bible and allows people to know how well to communicate with God. The reading also provides some ideas that are critical to remember when studying the different genres of the Holy book. For example, the genre form is beneficial because it helps them define the art and literature people encounter in society. Understanding different genres help in Bible study, particularly for children.

References

Noll, M. A. (2017). The Bible and scriptural interpretation.Oxford Scholarship Online.

The story of Apostle Paul represents a true transformation from a prosecutor to a defender of Jesus. The real Paul was once a prosecutor who moved from one house to another, arresting the Christians and putting them in jail. His life, however, took a dramatic turn when he encountered Jesus on his way to Damascus, where he changed from his old ways and started preaching to the same people he had gone to prosecute. He made a tremendous contribution to Christianity by writing at least thirteen letters to different churches (The Quest for the Real Paul). The letters were converted into books in the bible and are read by all Christians today. The real Paul who contributed to the bible was the one who was previously known as Saul but changed his name after encountering Jesus.

The video presented something new: Paul was not converted, and the real Paul was a Jewish teacher. If Paul were a Jewish teacher and not Saul, who converted after the encounter, there would be no reason why a Jewish teacher would prosecute fellow Jews. I don’t agree with the biblical scholars that the real Paul was a Jewish teacher because, in the book of Galatians, chapter one, verses thirteen and fourteen, Apostle Paul defends his previous actions of prosecuting the church, stating that he was loyal to his ancestors (Keener 3). The statement defending his previous actions in the bible proves that the real Paul was the one who was converted and not the Jewish teacher, as presented in the video. Saul’s ancestors were Pharisees who were against Jesus’ teachings, and he was doing so to protect his ancestral belief to ensure that Christianity did not overturn their religion.

As a Hellenistic from Benjamin’s tribe, Saul vowed to defend his ancestral religion. The conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees is explained in the book of Mathew, chapter twenty-three, verse two, where Jesus tells people to respect the teachers of the law and the Pharisees because they sit on the mosaic stool. However, he advised people not to follow what the Pharisees did because they did the opposite of what they preached (Saldarini 23). The Pharisees perceived Jesus as an enemy, and Paul had to protect his ancestral belief. The real Paul is, therefore, the prosecutor who turned after the encounter and not the Jewish teacher introduced by the bible scholars.

Works Cited

Keener, Craig S. Galatians. Cambridge University Press, 2018. Web.

Saldarini, Anthony J. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible: Matthew. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2021. Web.

“The Quest for the Real Paul.”YouTube, uploaded by Vision, 2018, Web.

Historically the church’s role in social and state control was enormous. The most critical decisions regarding the development of civilization relied on religious leaders. Since the 18th century, the church’s power began to weaken under the influence of scientific progress and the technological revolution. In the 20th century, Secularism ultimately proclaimed religion as a private rather than a public matter. This paper will explore the great themes of the Bible and the challenges that Secularism poses to them. In addition, it will be analyzed how this knowledge can help in the professional activities of modern specialists.

The Themes of the Bible and Secularism in the Practice of the Profession

Secularism has challenged fundamental religious principles. The big bang theory and the evolution study challenged sacred canons about the creation of the universe and human beings (Dybdahl, 2022). Other great Biblical themes are the assertion that God is love and his opposition to the Devil, who personifies hatred and evil. These simple concepts formed the basis of human morality and righteousness (Themes of the Bible, 2022). However, the emergence of the philosophy of humanism challenged the idea that Christianity was a necessary institution to establish justice in society.

Secularism proclaims that an individual does not need religion to act decently and follow moral principles (Smith & Halligan, 2021). Secularism does not challenge the people’s right to profess any faith but requires the separation of religious processes from public and state ones. Comprehending these ideas is necessary for sociologists, politicians, and analysts of various organizations who work with public opinion and analyze people’s behavior.

Religion and Secular Healthcare

Religion in a secular society still strongly influences people, determining their actions and decisions. The knowledge of biblical themes can be necessary for professionals who work with people: lawyers, doctors, sociologists, analysts, psychologists, politicians, and other professionals. According to Saad & de Medeiros (2020), medicine and religion have a long convergence history. Although the issue of interaction is still controversial, the authors do not dispute the impact of spiritual support, therapy, and convictions on the treatment process. The authors propose looking for ways of coexistence and mutual understanding without agreement.

Death and acceptance are other important Biblical themes that Secularism challenges denying the existence of heaven and hell. Nevertheless, in a secular society, the rites and traditions associated with death have the most incredible connection with Christian dogmas. Thus, comprehension of critical biblical topics can be essential for secular doctors, psychologists, and social workers who work with people who are about to die or are experiencing the death of relatives. Healthcare providers should be respectful of the patient religious needs.

Integrating Knowledge into the Workplace

Secularism does not deny or prohibit human spiritual development; moreover, many behavior patterns valued in secular society are comparable to Christian principles. For instance, incorporating Christian factors such as honoring individuals, nurturing relationships, and serving with integrity into the management of secular companies increases employee engagement in the workplace (Baker & Lee, 2020). This example shows that the application of Christian themes is possible in various areas of material interaction. Another example would be to introduce an understanding of Christian values into the work of medical staff as the cultural and religious principles impact the patient’s attitude to treatment, diet, pre-medication, or surgery.

Outcomes

Secularism proclaims religion as a private matter of man and separates it from state and social processes in society. Nevertheless, religion still has a powerful influence on millions of people. Religious people live simultaneously in two conflicting realities, secular and religious. In this regard, the following outcomes can be drawn:

1. Religion and spiritualism should be incorporated into the armamentarium of knowledge of health, psychology, and sociology professionals. These attainments help to build trusting relationships with people.
2. Medical organizations may reinforce the competence of medical staff through training and educational programs on Christianity themes and other world religions. This kind of competence provides the ability to have a respectful dialog and make the right solutions for the treatment of religious patients.

References

Baker, B. D., & Lee, D. D. (2020). Spiritual formation and workplace engagement: Prosocial workplace behaviors. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 17(2), 107-138. Webb.

Dybdahl, J. (2022). Biblical worldview and the challenge of secularism. Web.

Saad, M., & de Medeiros, R. (2020). Spirituality and healthcare — Common grounds for the secular and religious worlds and its clinical implications. Religions, 12(1), 22. Web.

Smith, J. M., & Halligan, C. L. (2021). Making meaning without a maker: Secular consciousness through narrative and cultural practice. Sociology of Religion, 82(1), 85-110. Web.

The 7 Great Themes of the Bible. (2022). Web.

Summary

The article, The Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by Tan starts with an introductory part, whereby the author gives some of the applicable cognitive behavioral therapy methods. The methods are mindfulness therapy, dialectical therapy, and acceptance-based therapy.

Tan (2007) acknowledges prayer and scripture as the third therapy for behavioral therapy in Christianity. Thereafter, the author outlines the use of prayer and scripture in Christian context coupled with outlining seven biblical Christian-based components of the cognitive behavioral therapy.

Tan (2007) lists using biblical truth, taking past events seriously, which affects our growth, making and enquiring for willing and informed consent, and using skills and techniques from the scriptural point of view as the of ethical characteristics to obtaining behavioral change.

Thereafter, Tan (2007) gives implicit and explicit as the two possible ways in which integration can occur. The author acknowledges the two ways of integration, but he opts to back up explicit integration by arguing that his experiences with different clients have depicted high responses to Christian-based cognitive behavioral approaches.

Furthermore, the author argues that in counseling, the counselor should begin by assessing if the client values scripture and prayer to determine if they will be effective.

The client’s religious background is reviewed. If s/he acknowledges scriptures and prayer, then the counselor will use them, but not necessarily as the only therapy (Tan, 2007). Moreover, Tan (2007) highlights other seven main characteristics of the healing prayer.

The author admits that not all clients will value and accept the inner healing prayer and that it is not meant to heal everyone. Tan (2007) goes ahead to give a case study example of how the inner healing power would be used to different people whereby he outlines the seven key features of how it works.

In addition, Tan (2007) gives a deep discussion with a case study on the use of scripture in counseling. The author argues that the counselor would use the scripture in cognitive restructuring to change and refocus the thinking direction of the client in accordance with the scriptural guidelines.

Tan (2007) gives a case study example with another client to demonstrate how cognitive restructuring reconstitutes the thinking of the client’s point of view, but with an inclination to the scriptures. The author recommends a good interpretation and application of the Biblical concepts correctly in order to aid in the success of the counseling process.

Reflection

The article is quite helpful and it clearly serves as a practical example of the integration of theology with Christianity. The author’s wisdom and efforts are clearly depicted in the article, which offers a room for further study as well as the application part into handling contemporary psychology from the Christianity point of view.

The author sets a foundation for the integration of theology and psychology based on the cognitive-behavioral therapy context. However, on the inner healing of prayer, the author seems to rely on Catholicism mysticism.

In the first section of the article, the author writes, “Mindfulness and acceptance-based CBT have some roots in Zen Buddhism and similar meditative and contemplative religious or spiritual traditions…” (Tan, 2007, p. 101). I did not know that the emphasis on inner healing prayer is in the mixture of mysticism and the scriptures.

Moreover, the author does not clearly bring out the difference between inner healing prayer and the contemplative prayer. Therefore, Tan (2007) could have conducted a deeper research on the inner healing of prayer so that it would be easy to incorporate it into the contemporary prayer.

The author does not provide a room for more study, which leaves some half-baked issues unpolished. Interestingly, a study involving the use of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is touched a little bit, which is among the best approaches to CBT.

The combination of REBT and Christianity approaches is further cemented by the powerful word from the Bible (Tan, 2007). Nevertheless, the author uses illustrations and case study examples, which provides substantial evidence and proof for the study facts.

Therefore, the article is a reliable, and thus an additional reading list for further research and knowledge.

Application

The author’s approach can be used to counsel addicted clients, specifically sexual addiction victims under the influence of watching pornography. For instance, a client may present and narrate his/her addiction to sexual experiences and request for a Christian-based CBT.

The therapist/pastor would request the client to refresh the pornographic images to the mind. The therapist/pastor will then conduct an inner healing prayer to show the client how the sin associated with the images displeases God. The counselor will further show the client how Christ can free his/her mind from those evil thoughts.

Moreover, the client would be instructed to replace those images with those of Christ and how sweet and free it is to have a functional relationship with our Savior.

Furthermore, the scriptures would be used to counterattack the images in the client’s mind. The verses, Romans 12:1-2, would be applicable whereby one is transformed through freeing of the mind.

In addition, another useful verse would be Romans 7 about the war whereby Paul does what he does not intend to do even though he wants to do the right things. The counselor would then go further to read and interpret Romans 8 whereby the scripture emphasizes sanctification.

The clients would be shown how Christ would free him/her from the dead. Therefore, combining the two approaches, viz. prayer and scripture, would help free the client from sexual addiction.

The client would apply the imagery of Christian techniques to imagine the relationship with Christ who frees him/her from sexual addiction. Furthermore, the client would keep meditating on the scriptures to keep enhancing and improving her/his self-esteem.

Therefore, through the power of the prayer and scripture, the client would confront and control all dysfunctional perspectives and thinking patterns.

Conclusion

There is power in prayer and the scriptures. Prayer and the scriptures enliven the faith, hope, trust, and the anxiety of a believer in Christ. Therefore, integrating prayer, the scriptures, and psychology solves many contemporary issues.

The article provides the basic elements for survival in Christianity and helping others to overcome burdens and temptations encountered in daily living.

Reference

Tan, S. (2007). Use of prayer and Scripture in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 26(2), 101-111.

Abhorrent Commands

1. The purpose of the given text is to set moral standards for females and stop ill-treatment of those who were just suspected with no guilt proven. The meaning of the passage is that people of God dedicate themselves to being pure in every single aspect of their lives. Adultery is impurity that has to be eliminated only with the help of the priest and sacrificial system. Unfaithfulness is a sin for which one has to be punished by the law of God (Andrews, 2016). It is thus possible to say that the text describes a ritual that is performed by the priest in the name of God to determine if a woman is impure or not to make her a curse.
2. Even though nowadays, the ritual described in the passage is not applied to women suspected in adultery, such texts may be used for learning biblical concepts, including marital fidelity and punishment. Despite abhorrent commands discussed in the passage, even for a modern man, its meaning does not imply an unfair treatment of women compared to men. Texts like this one can be neither ignored nor explained due to their historical value and irrelevance from the point of the New Testament.
3. If there are commands in the Old Testament that seem to be apparently “wrong”, one should seek for their non-apparent meaning to understand God’s intention behind them. It is thus important to be open-minded and remember that God did not mean to hurt people (Fee & Stuart, 2014). For example, instead of thinking that God allowed harsh punishments for a woman, one should consider that such a ritual was aimed at preventing man from being suspicious of his wife. The fact that the punishment was applied solely to a woman may be explained by the importance of a child’s legitimacy which depended on a mother.
4. Even though there is no biblical basis for neglecting and obeying particular commands described in the Bible, one could say that not all commands of the Bible apply today. It is important to know that categories of commands described in the Old Testament are civil, religious (related to sacrifices, food laws), and ethical. Nowadays, religious and civil commands no longer apply, and this is reiterated by the New Testament (Klein, Blomberg, & Hubbard, 2017). The Bible thus must be viewed as a narrative in which previous chapters are clarified by the subsequent ones.

Reflection Journal

1. Perhaps the most personally meaningful and encouraging thing that was learned from the required readings is the belief in the concept of unconditional love which God has always shown toward people. Despite the fact that there are readings in the Old Testament in which it seems rather hard to find this love, it is important to always stick to the thought that it exists behind every God’s intention. One particular insight obtained from the readings is that there is nothing immoral God would allow one to do of which that person would not be aware.
2. It needs to be mentioned that these ideas and concepts may be helpful for those who want to understand the Bible but do not know how. Explaining these concepts to people will assist them in discovering both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In addition, for an individual working in a ministry or church, it is crucial to be guided by the above-mentioned concepts.
3. There is an explanation why the Old Testament narratives are not intended to teach moral lessons. Nowadays, the Old Testament no longer serves as a solid guide for morality and is used rather as a multi-volume narrative. Though one could think that the Old Testament is thus unreliable and outdated, it should be considered that it is still important due to its cultural and historical value.
4. If one ignores some abhorrent commands described in the Old Testament, it becomes clear that there are also some moral lessons that could be learned and taught. The way in which one could learn from the Old Testament is by interpreting some of the ideas using the New Testament and assuming that unconditional love to people is behind every strict punishment ever sentenced by God. However, it is no longer appropriate to derive moral lessons from the Old Testament (Fee & Stuart, 2014). In order to understand a major part of God’s revelation, it is much better to read the Old Testament as a narrative.
5. From the book, one could learn that no special or unique interpretation of the Bible is needed. The aim of good interpretation is to capture the plain meaning of the text that the author intended to deliver. At the same time, such mistakes as allegorizing, decontextualizing, selectivity, moralizing, misappropriation, and false combination should be avoided.
6. It is unfeasible to discuss any disagreement or agreement with the authors of the book since they express their personal understanding of the Bible and its appropriate interpretation. Therefore, it is not possible to say where one agrees or disagrees with the authors.

References

Andrews, E. D. (2016). Interpreting the Bible: Introduction to Biblical hermeneutics. Cambridge, OH: Christian Publishing House Books.

Fee, G., & Stuart, D. (2014). How to read the Bible for all its worth (4th ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Klein, W., Blomberg, C., & Hubbard, R. (2017). Introduction to Biblical interpretation (3rd ed.). Nashville, TN: Zondervan.