Lesson 12 (June 13-19), Dealing with Difficult Texts

Possible Reasons for Apparent Contradictions

1. If there were errors in the Bible would that be proof that it was not inspired?
2. What kinds of errors do translators make?
3. What kinds of errors would copyists make?

Dealing with Difficulties

1. Who has the final say on what a Bible text means?
2. Why is the Bible sometimes used by both sides of an argument?
3. How should a difficult text be handled?

Deal with Difficulties Humbly

1. Why is it important to have humility when studying difficult passages?
2. Why is there the saying "little knowledge is dangerous?"
3. What Biblical grounds is used to reject the Biblical Sabbath?

Determination and Patience

1. Why does the Holy Spirit not enlighten a Bible reader immediately?
2. Are there texts which are impossible to understand?
3. What legitimate tools can help us to understand the Bible?

Deal with Difficulties

1. What are ways in which we can let the Bible interpret itself?
2. What does prayer do that makes it important when studying the Bible?
3. Is it advisable to seek the help of another individual when understanding Scripture? How can they help?

Lesson 11 (June 6-12), The Bible and ProphecyHis

Historicism and Prophecy

1. What are the marks of the end of one kingdom and the beginning of the next? Are such dates always so distinct? Do they have to be? 
2. In what ways were the kingdoms of Daniel getting inferior subsequently?
3. Why are there no apocalyptic prophecies before the time of Daniel?
4. Is there a delay in the final fulfilment of Dan 2? 

The Year-Day Principle

1. Why is it necessary to have such a thing as a scale, whether for maps or for time charts?
2. What makes us think that unrelated texts for local events can provide the time-scale for apocalyptic prophecies?
3. How do we know when any prophecy is using symbolic time?

Identifying the Little Horn

1. Why is it important to identify the Little Horn precisely?
2. Can there be more than one  fulfilment of the Little Horn?
3. Can it be an individual? Can it be me?

The Investigative Judgement

1. Are Adventist scholars the best on Daniel and Revelation?
2. Why does it matter when the judgement is?
3. Why was the book of Daniel not interpreted properly earlier?

Typology As Prophecy

1. If only Bible writers can identify antitypes, how can we interpret prophecies not fulfilled in their lifetime?
2. Can there be more than one antitype?
3. How did the Israelites miss the typology of the sanctuary, or did they not?

Lesson 10 (May 30-June 5), The Bible as History

Why did God keep reminding Israel that He brought them out of slavery? 

David, Solomon and the Monarchy

1. What aspects of the David history in the Bible makes it believable?
2. Why is there no archaeological evidence of giants like Goliath?
3. Are there sufficient details in the David-Goliath story to make it convincing?

Isaiah, Hezekiah, and Sennacherib

1. Why did God permit the capture by Assyria of so many cities of Judah? Why did He spare Jerusalem?
2. Of what benefit is it for God to give a sign that would be fulfilled in part over a three-year period?
3. How concerned is God about His reputation?

Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, and Babylon

1. How significant is it to find a name on an ancient tablet that matches the Bible record?
2. Was Daniel a vegan? How important is it to be a vegan?
3. Will Nebuchadnezzar be in heaven?

The Historical Jesus

1. Was Caiaphas sincere in his attitude towards Jesus? Was he living up to the light he had?
2. Why do you think God did not see fit to preserve evidence of Jesus life on earth as proof that He really lived?
3. What is the best evidenced that Jesus was a real person?

Faith and History

1. Have all nations of the earth been blessed through Abraham as was prophecied?
2. What do we learn about salvation through the life and experience of Rahab?
3. Is it true that everyone in heaven will need to have "stars in their crown?" That is, do those hoping to go to heaven have to have witnessed successfully to others? 

Creation:Genesis as Foundation -- Part 2

A Flat Earth

1. What did the Bible author really mean and how should we understand the term, "four corners of the earth?" 
2. What would have been the harm in God inspiring the Bible writer to indicate the earth was a sphere?
3. Does "circle of the earth" in the book of Job refer to a globe or a disc?

Creation in Ancient Literature

1. If the Egyptian creation story is older than the Bible and there are similarities does it mean that Moses borrowed from that story?
2. What is more important in comparisons, similarities or differences?
3. How can one tell if a creation story is imagined or inspired?

Genesis Versus Paganism

1. Why do primitive people often end up worshipping the sun and the moon?
2. What might they think the God who made the firmament was like when they experience hurricanes and drought?
3. How does the creation of Eve not seem like an aferthought?
4. Why would primitive accounts of creation place a low view of humans?

Creation and Time

1. Are the chronogenealogies of Genesis comprehensive or representative? 
2. Is it more than coincidence that patriarchs are listed in tens?
3. What is the effect of reading the genealogies of Genesis, that they intend to be taken literally or not?
4. Does it affect the veracity of the Bible if the earth is older than 6000 years?

Creation in Scripture

1.  Is there any text in the Bible that casts doubt on the reliability of the creation account? Was there any other account that was left out from the Canon of scripture because it disagreed with the Genesis account of creation?
2. How can we account for all other references to creation in the Bible following the same order of creation?
3. What evidence is there that Jesus believed in the creation story?

Lesson 8 (May 16-22), Creation, Genesis as Foundation--Part 1

In the Beginning

1. Was the earth create the earth within the creation week or was it there when he came to create?
2. Why is it significant that Jesus was the agent of creation?
3. How does evolution impact the existence of God?

The Days of Creation

1. Why should we consider the days of creation as literal and not symbolic period of time?
2. Why do you think the days of creation started with the evening?
3. Could there have been large periods of time between literal days of creation?

The Sabbath and Creation

1. Why do some calendars start the week with Monday? What difference does it make for various peoples?
2. Why did God make a period of time holy rather than a place where humans could meet him?
3. Should governments make Saturday the official weekend like Nepal has done, so that all religions worship on the same day?

Creation and Marriage

1. Why would God have planned marriage for humans differently than for animals?
2. What is the significance of Eve being created out of Adam?
3. What did God mean by "fill the earth?" Is it full yet?

Creation, the Fall, and the Cross

1. Why would God proceed with the creation of the world if he knew ahead of time that Satan was going to spoil it?
2. Do animals sin? Why do animals have to suffer for the sin of humans?
3. Why did Jesus have to wait a several thousand years before coming to save the world?

Lesson 7 (May 9-15), Language, Text, and Context

Understanding the Scriptures

1. What did people do before they had the Bible? How could they know God's will?
2. Since increased blessings bring increased responsibilities would Israel have been better off not being the chosen people?
3. Why do you think God chose a different language and culture for the New Testament from the Old Testament? Does it make a difference?

Words and Meanings

When no exact equivalent word exists, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the following options:

1. Transliterating the original word into the target language?
2. Using a phrase or sentence or two to convey the whole meaning?
3. Inventing a new word from known roots of the target language?

Repetition, Word Patterns, and Meanings

1. How much does punctuation help and what do we lose if they are removed?
2. How does a reader convey punctuation marks?
3. How does English or any other language use doubling of word roots, and other forms of repetition?

Texts and Contexts

1. How does context give meaning to words when words create the context?
2. How should a translator deal with word plays and figures of speech?
3. Why do you think God chose the root "mud/earth" for Adam and the root "air/breath" for Eve?

Books and Their Messages

1. Is revelation and inspiration different for poetic and historical books compared to prophetic books?
2. Why is it important to study the historical setting of  a book?
3. Why do you think that the authors of some Biblical books are unknown? 
4. Why do you think there is no date or setting given within the book of Job?

Lesson 6 (May 2-8), Why is Interpretation Needed

Presuppositions

1. What are some factors that prejudice a reader of the Bible?
2. What had blinded the disciples that they could not comprehend what Jesus was telling them about his death?
3. Is it necessary to rid one's self of prejudices or will God understand the situation?

Translation and Interpretation

1. What value is there for preachers who have not studied Biblical languages to refer to Greek and Hebrew usage?
2. Does study of other ancient documents also urge learning of the original languages? What are the limitations of translations?
3. Have electronic translators eliminated the need for learning languages?

The Bible and Culture

1. What makes Greek culture different from Hebrew culture?
2. Why does Christianity seem like a Western religion?
3. How can missionaries help themselves and their religion to not be seen as a foreign religion?

Our Sinful and Fallen Nature

1. What did Jesus do that antagonized the religious leaders of his day?
2. Could Jesus have done anything to help them not feel threatened? Would that have necessitated any sacrifice of his mission and message?
3. How can scripture be used so often by both sides of an issue?

Why Interpretation is Important

1. How do various denominations come up with differing doctrines from the same Bible?
2. Are preachers going to be held responsible for teaching wrong doctrine if they were sincere?
3. Have Adventists been guilty of misusing texts to defend their teachings?