Biblical Mythbusting

Proposal for a new Bible study series.

Over the last 10+ years of church attendance, I have encountered a bewildering number of unsound and ill-informed presuppositions about the character and nature of the Bible being held by even the most mature Christian members, laity and leadership alike, that have resulted in terrible misinterpretations and misapplications of Scripture. Only half-jokingly, I refer to these misapprehensions collectively as “myths.” In an effort to dispel some of these myths, and the presuppositions that support them, I proposed taking a short series of seven “mythbusting” Bible studies at my church, RBC, starting in March or April of this year.

The following are descriptions of each study as I currently envision them.

Bible Myths Busted

A Book of Spells
This study discusses the nature and transmission history of the Bible, with a special emphasis on the construction of the New Testament.

I Can do All Things
This study explores the differences between biblical interpretation and biblical application, demonstrating how to distinguish between sound and unsound interpretation, and between legitimate and illegitimate application.

The Chosen and the Church
Through exegesis of a representative selection of Gospel parables, this study establishes that the fundamental context for the earthly ministry of Jesus is the salvation of believing Israel and the condemnation of unbelieving Israel.

From Zero to Hero
This is an interactive study of the Merciful Samaritan passage in the Third Gospel (Luke 10:25–37), exploring how the conventional interpretation of the passage is often at odds with the text.

The Party Animal
Another interactive study, this time on the Wedding at Cana passage of the Fourth Gospel (John 2:1–11), exploring how the conventional interpretation of the passage is often at odds with the text.

It’s the End of the World
This study examines the triple tradition material of the so-called “Olivet Discourse” of Jesus (Matt 24:3–25:46; Mark 13:3–36; Luke 21:7–36). Although not an interactive study, once again, the mismatch between the conventional interpretation of these passages and the texts themselves will be explored.

“Soon” means 2,000 Years and Counting
This study is a follow on from the previous study of Jesus’ Olivet discourse. By comparing the synoptic Olivet Discourses with Revelation 4–21, it will be established that the Apocalypse is the Fourth Gospel’s “missing” Olivet Discourse.

Approval to hold these studies in the church was given last year, but no firm dates have been set as yet. Watch this space.

God bless.