Marielle Frigge's Beginning Biblical Studies

The first chapter of Christian Thought and Practice, by Natalie Kertes Weaver introduced theology of Christianity. This was broken up into five major topics. The topics are: terms used in the study of religion, a functional understanding of Christian theology, facets of Christian theology, types of theology, and audiences and practitioners of Christian thought. The author explains the importance in detail of all of the above points.

Many people would agree that without faith, the world would be in chaos. The book Christian Foundation by Kathleen Fischer and Thomas Hart gives an interpretation on faith in our time. Many people would question the definition of faith. Faith is a gift, which is given by God to have trust in him and belief in him. This book is a great entry in anyone's life that has speculation on his or her own faith. The book has many ways into understanding ones own religion. It discusses the Bible, Jesus, Church, God's existence and Images of God. All of these chapters helped me get a better interpretation of what my religion entailed.

Sin has become so overlooked by humanity, that the world has taken the Bible and made it a storybook. They have minimized the effect of sin with false beliefs of Jesus forgiving them even when they refuse to repent or to accept Him. Some have used the Genesis account of sin as a fable, while others have tried to eliminate the Savior Jesus’ part in the saving process. They have not even recognized the need for Jesus who sits beside the Father asking for our

Soon after creation humankind fell into sin. Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin is the universal condition of the human race. All people are born with a sinful nature. Sin has many serious consequences for humankind. Sin alienates humankind from God and keeps us from having a relationship with our Creator. Sin provides a sickness that keeps us from becoming the person we should be. People want to live good lives but are forced by sin to fall short. The ultimate consequence of sin can be found in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.” Having an understanding of the extent and effect of sin is key to developing a worldview. I know I cannot escape the confines of sin. It is my nature as a human being to sin. In his divine wisdom, God also knew that his creation could not keep the original covenant of obedience so he would have to set a new covenant with creation.

scholarship. I feel that chapter four is more important than chapter three because the topic is

Because of the "Fall" of mankind and man’s blatant outward expression of disobedience sin thus entered onto the scene. Where once man had peace with God and walked with God and knew God in a way that no man has known since, when Adam openly disobeyed God that shared communion was shattered and along with it, any hope of redemption outside of God’s ultimate plan. What then does Romans teach about sin? Ultimately, Paul teaches that

Due to the "Fall" of humanity and man’s blatant expression of disobedience sin thus entered the scene. Where once man had peace with God and walked with God and knew God in a way that no man has known since; when Adam openly disobeyed God this shared communion was shattered and along with it, any hope of redemption outside of God’s ultimate plan. What then does Romans teach about sin? Paul teaches that the wages of sin is death (6:23). James Dunn includes these additional consequences; “Misdirected Religion,” “Self-Indulgence” and “Sins.” Of the four that Dunn lists,

Sin is the will to go against God. Anyone can sin and/or have a certain darkness inside of them. Usually a person who sins will cover their sin or ask for forgiveness. A person may hide away their sin because others judge and condemn. Some hide their sin like Mr. Hooper, in his eyes it could be the worst thing that he had ever done. Then there could be a different interpretation of sin such as I Am Legend.

When studying the Bible, one encounters different details from seemingly identical narratives and passages. These narratives and passages are called doublets. In biblical scholar, Richard Friedman’s book Who Wrote the Bible?, he states that a “doublet is a case of the same story being told twice” with variations in specific details (22). Some examples of doublets in the Bible are two different stories of creation, the covenant between God and Abraham, Joseph sold into slavery and more. The doublet focused on in this paper is the stories of creation. Instead of being spread apart in separate books of the Bible or being completely intertwined, these narratives are told right after the other.

The Posionwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver, tells the story of the Price Family. Nathan Price, the father, makes the decision to move his family in the 1960’s from America to the Congo to be missionaries. Kingsolver’s novel centers on providing the female members a chance to speak for themselves and tell their own stories. Rachel, the oldest daughter is materialistic and egotistical. In The Posionwood Bible, Rachel Price manipulates diction, tone, and selection of detail to fashion her hackneyed teenager voice, which leads to her becoming a paragon of America’s ideology throughout the book.

Through the pass of time the word “Sin” started getting an abroad concept which depended on who was describing it. According to ancient Hebrews and Greeks the word “Sin” had two major concepts and translation. One of them was to transgress, which means “to step across” or “to go beyond a set boundary or limit.” The second one was “to miss the mark”. Both concepts implied going to a certain direction and not going to the directions that was intended to go.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sin as “an offense against religious or moral law”. People have many motivations to sin: greed, self-gain, and pleasure being prominent examples. In “The Scarlet Letter”, Hester Prynne is convinced that her husband is not coming to meet her at their new home in the colonies because she believes that he may have died. She then has an affair setting in motion the events of the story. In “Frankenstein”, Victor Frankenstein idolizes scientific knowledges thereby leading him to create and abandon his monster; this results in the deaths of three of Victor’s loved ones. In “Idylls of the King”, Pelleas becomes the Red Knight of the North after he experiences rejection by Ettarre and after Guinevere’s unfaithfulness to King Arthur is exposed. By using examples from “The Scarlet Letter”, “Frankenstein”, and “Idylls of the King” I will make the case that the initial sin of a person creates situations which cause

Ferrin’s process of inductive Bible study takes on a relational approach that consists of three essential parts or phases titled Foundation, Framing, and Finish Work. The structured methods encompass studying a book of the Bible and internalizing it rather than just memorizing the words (p. 3). The author diligently explains how that through the devoted application of all phases individuals and group Bible study participants are sure to “fall in love with God’s Word” (p. 3). Ferrin presents and or describes Scripture internalization as taking in the truth and then applying it to everyday life or living. Ferrin pointed out that the benefits of understanding biblical messages book by book include the Living Word of God becoming a reality within persons that grow more enjoyable and rewarding as time comes and goes.

Created by Johannes Gutenberg, The Gutenberg Bible was the first mass produced book through the use of a moveable printer. Known for its artistic Latin writing, the Bible only has forty-nine copies remaining, one residing at the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. The Gutenberg Bible exhibits religious qualities from the message, directly from God, and the original purpose of the creation of the Bible.

     If we use the Weslyan definition of sin we find that there are four elements that lead to sin a personal voluntary act. The first of these is to use God as a standard. He is perfect and flawless, as we should strive to be. The second is man as a free personality. God gave us free will to decide our own actions; He did not just make us drones. The third makes sin a live option. It is something that is always there and we can always choose to do what God would have us do or go against His will. The fourth is a deed committed. This goes back to the third one. Sin is a willful act against God. We must choose right or wrong.