St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church Scripture Studies Week 1
WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” - 1 Peter 3:15
“We have the right and duty, individually or in group, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known to all men throughout the earth.” - Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) paragraph 900
“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” - Saint Jerome, Early Church Father and Doctor of the Church
WHAT RESOURCES WILL WE USE FOR THIS CLASS?
• Catholic Bible RSVCE (73 books) – EWTN app • Catechism of the Catholic Church – magisterial document – Laudate app • Writings from the Church Fathers – www.newadvent.org • Papal Encyclicals – www.papalencyclicals.net • Church Council writings – www.vatican.va
GOALS OF THIS COURSE
• Teach only what the Catholic Church teaches • Understand God’s message of love and mercy • Learn Church doctrine (purgatory, Mary, communion of saints) from Scripture • Understand the Sacraments as described in the Bible • Understand the harmony between both the Old and the New Testament. Read scripture in context.
HOW DO WE INTEND TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS?
• Read scripture using Jewish and Catholic lenses • Show how the Old Testament prefigures the New o The New Testament is concealed in the Old, the Old Testament reveals the New (St. Augustine) o Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish (the Old Testament), but to fulfill it.” – Matthew 5:17 o “Since the law (OT) has only a shadow of the good things to come” – Hebrews 10:1 • Show how the Sacraments were instituted by Jesus
During this course, we will: • Outline the chronology of Salvation History • Follow the sacred bloodline from Adam to Jesus • Point out the covenants that God made with mankind • Discuss Church Doctrine and the Sacraments when pertinent • When appropriate provide apologetic methods on how to defend the faith.
The last 15 minutes of the class will be used to answer questions. The course will run 6 – 8 weeks, with breaks for Christmas and summer. Completion of this course may take 5 + years.
Next week: HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE?