Welcome to the Introduction to the Bible module for teachers and catechists. In this module you will develop an understanding of the Catholic approach to reading and interpreting the Bible. While the Bible is one unified story, it cannot all be read in the same way. The Bible contains a variety of literary styles which each uniquely contributes to the overall storyline. Each literary style lives by its own rules and structure.
In the module you will explore the Catholic approach to Scripture:
- Understanding the concepts of inspiration and revelation, literary form, types of biblical literature, biblical history, and the Bible as a library
- How to Read the Old Testament
- How to Read the Gospels
- How to read the Letters of Paul
Before You Begin
- We have created an Introduction to the Bible Downloadable Guide with all of the articles and worksheets you will need for this module. Download the guide before you begin. We also provide worksheets in Word files to make them easy for you to write-on during the program.
Contents:
- The Bible in Our Lives
- The Bible is a Library
- What is the Bible?
- The Story of the Bible
- Reading and the Studying the Bible
- Bible 101: A Basic Introduction to the Word of God
- Bible Learning Activities
- Children’s Bible Activities
- 5 Ways to Retell a Bible Story
- Teaching the Bible Online Resources
- You will need a Bible in a print or digital version.
- Print: New American Bible (Revised Edition – NABRE) or New Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition – NRSVCE). Both Bibles are available from a variety of publishers. There are several excellent Catholic study bibles which provide articles, maps, and commentaries to assist you in reading the Bible. Consider the following: Little Rock Catholic Study Bible and The Catholic Bible, Third Edition (from Oxford University Press)
- Online: Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com. Type in the Bible passage you want to read and then select which edition of the Bible from the dropdown list. Select New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE) or New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE).
- Print this checklist to help you monitor your progress.
-
It will be helpful to have a journal to record any reflections you make as your work your way through this module.
To learn more about reading and interpreting the Bible the following two books provide an easy-to-read introduction.
- The Bible Blueprint: A Catholic’s Guide to Understanding and Embracing God’s Word. Joe Paprocki (Loyola Press, 2009)
- How Do Catholics Read the Bible? (Broken Link. Error) Daniel J. Harrington. (Rowman and Littlefield, 2005)
- Scripture Basics (Essential Catechist’s Bookshelf). Margaret Nutting Ralph. (Twenty-Third Publications, 2015)
Opening Prayer
Lord God, let us keep your Scriptures in mind
and meditate on them day and night,
persevering in prayer, always on watch.
We beg you, Lord, to give us real knowledge of what we read,
and to show us not only how to understand it,
but how to put it into practice,
and to obtain spiritual gifts
enlightened by the teaching of the Holy Spirit,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
whose power and glory will endure throughout all ages.
Amen.
(Origen of Alexandria, c. 184 – c. 253)