Confirmation Preparation

Session 2
Title	The Bible
Method	We will look at the different types of literature in the bible; dates; Contexts; authors; audiences; relationship between the Old and New Testaments; the 4 gospels, and the letters of Paul
Learning Outcome	To understand better what the bible contains
Spiritual Growth	To be more confident in our use and understanding of the way the bible is put together, and be more committed to an intelligent and regular reading of scripture

The bible is not a single book but a ‘library’ of writings
The writings range across a huge period of history
The writings are of different genres
Different historic periods, different locations, different circumstances mean that the bible is not ‘written’ by one person with a single perspective of God
God has revealed something of himself to all these writers in different contexts and times
Some of the bible comes from a time of ‘pre-writing’
At the time of Jesus the Torah, the prophets and the psalms were used
Writing was on scrolls, not in a book
See the story of Jesus in the Synagogue Luke 4
The Old Testament is much larger than the New Testament
There is also a section in some bibles called Apocrypha
Why do we use the word Testament? 2 different (related) promises or covenants between God and man
There are 4 gospels – why do they not all agree? Does this weaken the Christian understanding of Jesus – or leave us open to criticism?
What scriptures nourished the young life of Paul, and what happened that cause him to write letters
Acts tells us a lot about the life (activity)of the early church, but it is Paul who grapples with the understanding of Jesus in relation to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ie the God of the Old Testament
What is the best way to read the bible without being overwhelmed and confused.
On the Website I have produced 2 very basic overviews of the bible which people may wish to download