responses

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Apr 3, 2024

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BIB-360 Gospels and Acts Wenham, D., & Walton, S. (2021). Exploring the New Testament, volume 1: A guide to the Gospels and Acts (3 rd ed.). SPCK Publishing. Bible- The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T1d1 taylor (done) I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. it was interesting to read them. Since this is your final formal class before you complete your academic career, I must admit that I am jealous. I find great encouragement in your narrative, which strengthens my trust in God even more, especially after you disclosed that you used to hold an atheistic perspective on life. Since I believe that the fundamental theme of those verses is about honoring and respecting elders, especially those who function as leaders in the church, I appreciate you sharing the verse from Timothy. It highlights the idea that those who work should be fairly recognized and supported, which, in my opinion, underscores the need to pay elders for their labor in preaching and teaching. I appreciate the texts' in-depth theological analysis since I'm curious to learn more, but I have a question for you and the class: Why is it important? If God withheld certain information from the readers to aid in their understanding, why is it important to know every small detail? If Christians are not in complete control of the situation, does it impact their faith? Thank you. T1 d1 taylor (done) Yeah, sorry, Taylor. I can see how I addressed the question, which could be confusing, which is understandable since I really don't know what I am asking exactly. In simple terms, I guess the focus of my question is: Why can't humans just have faith that God and His Word have a master plan to guide humanity to serve in His glorious mission without the need to know why? Should knowing why something is written in His Word distract the command to just trust and obey since there is no other way, God's Word is perfect? hope that clears up my question. T1 d1 lisa Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I enjoyed reading them. I appreciate the fact that you stated how lost you are regarding the gospels and how they connect with each other. I feel the same way and the verse that keeps coming to my mind to help alleviate that concern a little bit is Romans 8:28. It is also known that everything works for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose (Holy Bible English Standard Version, Romans 8:28). This verse comes to mind since it emphasizes that God can bring out the good in any circumstance, even those that are difficult to understand like His word. It just encourages me to trust in His master plan and just have faith that He is always working for the ultimate good. It is evident that His Word is following a specific path according to His will and though we may not understand everything, we must all remember that humans were not meant to. We do not come close to being on God’s level and our brains cannot even come close to comprehend His plan for all His precious creations. What do you think about the connection regarding Romans 8:28? Would it be helpful to think about when you are feeling lost in the Gospels? Thank you.

Bible- The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T1d2 philip (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question, I enjoyed reading them. It seems like we had similar thoughts and understood how the genre of poetry in the Book of Psalm, can help readers understand to not take what is written literally since it was used to illustrate emotions and that is why most are used as worship songs. A question for you and the class that comes to mind is regarding Psalm 23, how can one use that to guide them in their personal walk with Jesus? Also, do you feel that it is important for humans to know exactly what is interpreted in God’s Word? Why can’t believers just exercise devoted faith and trust in the Lord no matter what? Thank you for sharing. T1 d2 phillip (done) Wow, thank you for responding to my question, I really appreciate you taking the time. I agree with everything you mentioned and Psalm 23 is one of my personal favorites. The Proverb you stated is a very important one, but in my observation trusting in God completely is not easy for even Christians to do. As humans, we are constantly challenged in life and some situations especially personal ones, can cause people to lose that trust in God. I believe no one is perfect other than Jesus. This notion regarding how sinful humans are constructs my view that no human will fully understand the Bible, God’s plan for His precious creations. Thoughts? Do you view yourself as perfect and despite whatever happens, will always trust in God? T1d2 white (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I enjoyed reading them Elaina. What a great reminder about how the parables of Jesus were just stories but how amazing is it that our teacher educated believers through those stories. The way Jesus articulated His lessons in these parables were so amazing and just proved that He is the Son of God. I will ask the question that has been on my mind lately after reading all of our classmates’ posts. Do you think it would change a believer’s faith in God if they did not fully understand what is written? Why does knowing everything in the Bible matter and why can we not just have devoted faith that God is in control and we should just trust and obey? T1 d2 ethan (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question, I enjoyed reading them. I also remember seeing your name in past classes so I am happy to be able to discuss with you once again. The example of different genres you mentioned especially surrounding wisdom is helpful to remember. The book of Proverbs is indeed focused on wisdom and attempts to help inspire the readers rather than using stories or poems. I agree with you that identifying the genre of Proverbs will help Christians to know what to expect and not focus on the historical aspect. I am curious,

is there a specific Proverbs that resonates with you? Thank you again for sharing Ethan and I will be praying you do well in this class. T1 d1 white (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question, I enjoyed reading it. I appreciated your simple explanation for the differences between synoptic problem, and source criticism. You mentioned that by implementing both of these, we are able to understand the Bible. I would argue that humans will never fully understand the bible since we are not divine and know what God’s master plan is or exactly know what His Word really mean. You have no idea how the spirit enters a pregnant woman's bones, just as you have no idea how God, the creator of everything, operates (Holy Bible English Standard Version, Ecclesiastes 11:5). All we can go by is using these tools and present findings through research and observations to come up with are guesses on God’s perfect word. I am curious, which technique do you find most helpful when trying to understand the gospels the best you can? Thank you. Bible- The Holy Bible English Standard Version. (2016). YouVersion. https://www.bible.com/versions/59-esv-english-standard-version-2016 (2001) T2 d1 kennetrh (done) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this question, I enjoyed reading them. I agree with you that the Gospels were not written the same as other historical events and that should not be a surprise since Christian’s living is not the same as worldly living. I am curious what you meant by see “baby Christians”? Is that a new Christian or something since I believe in a sense, we are all babies when it comes to understanding God’s Word. No human will ever fully understand His master plan and we will always continue to grow and learn through His Word to mature into stronger Christians. I could be making a fool of myself, but I have never heard that expression at the church I congregate at. Also, could you share an example of when the text started to click with you? Thank you. T2d1 aliana Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Elaina, I enjoyed reading them. I agree with you in the lens of a devoted believer that through devoted faith in God, then all His Word becomes accurate. I appreciate the example of the friend entering late into the conversation, but still can keep up with the content. I trust that God picked the specific authors knowing that they will always focus on His main lesson and the message He desires His creations to be presented with. My question for you is that if one does not have the historical background to back up the claims of the Gospel, should they stop believing? T1d1 main Yes, I think that individuals who study the Gospels may benefit much from a grasp of the synoptic dilemma and source criticism. The relationship between the three synoptic gospels—

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—is the subject of the synoptic issue, which gives us the necessary perspective to understand the parallels and discrepancies between each gospel (Wenham & Walton, 2021). Examining the sources the gospel authors gathered from and comprehending how they assembled their stories under the direction of God constitute source criticism. These ideas— which include knowing the gospel harmony, having a knowledge of the construction of the gospel, engaging critically with the scriptures, and providing both adaptation and interpretation —are, in my opinion, the most useful. Regarding understanding Gospel harmony, the synoptic problem can help scholars understand how the Gospels are related to each other. By studying the similarities and differences between them, scholars can gain insights into historical and literary relationships among the texts. This understanding can lead to a more coherent and accurate reconstruction of the life and teachings of Jesus. Having knowledge into Gospel construction allows scholars to identify the sources utilized by the gospel writers. By analyzing these sources, scholars could better understand the methods and intentions of the gospel authors. This insight sheds light on the historical context in which the gospels were written and provides clues about the communities for which they were intended. Critical engagement with the scriptures is helpful since it can grasp with the synoptic problem and source criticism, scholars may engage in critical analysis of the gospels. This process involves asking questions about authorship, sources, redactional tendencies, and theological perspectives. Such critical engagement deepens our understanding of the texts and encourages a more nuanced interpretation of the gospel narratives. Finally, adaptation and interpretation may involve in understanding the synoptic problem and source criticism by helping interpreters situate the gospels within their historical and literary contexts. This contextualization is crucial for interpreting the texts accurately and discerning their meaning for contemporary readers. By appreciating the complexities of Gospel composition, scholars and students can avoid oversimplified interpretations and recognize the richness of the gospel tradition. Overall, familiarity with the synoptic problem and source criticism enriches the study of the gospels by providing insights into their composition, relationships, and historical contexts. This understanding enhances scholarly interpretation and contributes to a deeper appreciation of the richness and complexity of the Gospel narratives. Wenham, D., & Walton, S. (2021). Exploring the New Testament, volume 1: A guide to the Gospels and Acts (3 rd ed.). SPCK Publishing. T1 d2 main It is important that we make every effort to comprehend the literary genres and structures found in the Bible, since this aids in the reader's interpretation and appreciation of the text's original meaning. According to Wenham & Walton (2021), Understanding the literary genre structures and characteristics found in the Bible is crucial to understanding the author's goal in mind. One's ability to completely comprehend the message and context of each work is enhanced by being aware of these genres. Distinct genres employ distinct literary techniques and convey distinct types of information. One excellent example would be to read a historical account, like the one in the Book of Acts. Understanding this genre makes it easier for readers to understand how the story presents events in chronological order to tell the early history of the Christian church. However, knowing the genre of a work like the Psalms aids readers in comprehending the

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