Bible study with a non-Catholic Christian?

[paseo]

Hopefully I placed this thread in the right room, if not, mods please move it to the correct one and thank you for doing so.

I’ve read on some threads here on CAF that some people have done Bible study with non-Catholic Christians. I was wondering if anyone who has some experience with this would share their insight. The thing is, I somehow got myself into a bible study with a non-Catholic Christian. And given that I’m still a baby in my own knowledge of the Catholic faith, this might not have been the best idea to do :doh2:

Anyways, I was hoping to get some help from anyone who has had experience in this on how best to approach it; what I should do to prepare, how I should carry out my part of the discussion, basically any advice you may have. We’re using the ESV translation which I know is a Protestant translation.
I figured that I would read the ESV passages and their notes and then read the corresponding passages from my DR Bible and I’m using the Agape Bible study (www.agapebiblestudy.com/) and also the Credo Bible study (credobiblestudy.com/) that have been referred to on the forum by some people. I’m using free online resources because unfortunately right now I don’t have the resources to buy any books - so any other free resources that you can refer me to, I’d greatly appreciate it.

We don’t really have a structure on how we’re going to carry out the study, but basically we’ve decided to choose a book, then start chapter by chapter; we’d each read through the chapter, read through the notes and commentaries, then meet up to discuss what we’ve learned and so on. I’m not sure if this is a common approach to Bible study, since this will be my first ever (I know, not the best idea uch: ) so if you have suggestions on this too, please feel free to share it!

Any help is highly appreciated!

Thank you and God bless

 

[Razanir]

Get a Catholic study Bible? That’d be my first instinct.

Ignatius is really good for the New Testament (and Genesis and Exodus). Navarre is the name I’ve heard for the Old Testament.

 

[TRH1292]

Hopefully I placed this thread in the right room, if not, mods please move it to the correct one and thank you for doing so.

I’ve read on some threads here on CAF that some people have done Bible study with non-Catholic Christians. I was wondering if anyone who has some experience with this would share their insight. The thing is, I somehow got myself into a bible study with a non-Catholic Christian. And given that I’m still a baby in my own knowledge of the Catholic faith, this might not have been the best idea to do :doh2:

Anyways, I was hoping to get some help from anyone who has had experience in this on how best to approach it; what I should do to prepare, how I should carry out my part of the discussion, basically any advice you may have. We’re using the ESV translation which I know is a Protestant translation.
I figured that I would read the ESV passages and their notes and then read the corresponding passages from my DR Bible and I’m using the Agape Bible study (www.agapebiblestudy.com/) and also the Credo Bible study (credobiblestudy.com/) that have been referred to on the forum by some people. I’m using free online resources because unfortunately right now I don’t have the resources to buy any books - so any other free resources that you can refer me to, I’d greatly appreciate it.

We don’t really have a structure on how we’re going to carry out the study, but basically we’ve decided to choose a book, then start chapter by chapter; we’d each read through the chapter, read through the notes and commentaries, then meet up to discuss what we’ve learned and so on. I’m not sure if this is a common approach to Bible study, since this will be my first ever (I know, not the best idea uch: ) so if you have suggestions on this too, please feel free to share it!

Any help is highly appreciated!

Thank you and God bless

Unless you are well versed in Catholic - Protestant relations, you know the Catechism very well, and have a basic knowledge of history of the Church, then I would not recommend going into a study with Protestants. Especially sense those studies are often simply “What does this text say to you?”, and you need to be prepared to give the sound interpretation in light of Church Tradition.

 

[TK421]

Hopefully I placed this thread in the right room, if not, mods please move it to the correct one and thank you for doing so.

I’ve read on some threads here on CAF that some people have done Bible study with non-Catholic Christians. I was wondering if anyone who has some experience with this would share their insight. The thing is, I somehow got myself into a bible study with a non-Catholic Christian. And given that I’m still a baby in my own knowledge of the Catholic faith, this might not have been the best idea to do :doh2:

Anyways, I was hoping to get some help from anyone who has had experience in this on how best to approach it; what I should do to prepare, how I should carry out my part of the discussion, basically any advice you may have. We’re using the ESV translation which I know is a Protestant translation.
I figured that I would read the ESV passages and their notes and then read the corresponding passages from my DR Bible and I’m using the Agape Bible study (www.agapebiblestudy.com/) and also the Credo Bible study (credobiblestudy.com/) that have been referred to on the forum by some people. I’m using free online resources because unfortunately right now I don’t have the resources to buy any books - so any other free resources that you can refer me to, I’d greatly appreciate it.

We don’t really have a structure on how we’re going to carry out the study, but basically we’ve decided to choose a book, then start chapter by chapter; we’d each read through the chapter, read through the notes and commentaries, then meet up to discuss what we’ve learned and so on. I’m not sure if this is a common approach to Bible study, since this will be my first ever (I know, not the best idea uch: ) so if you have suggestions on this too, please feel free to share it!

Any help is highly appreciated!

Thank you and God bless

I think attending a non-Catholic Bible study would be a bad idea for you unless you are already well-versed in the scripture and feel prepared to give sound, doctrinally correct responses according to Magisterial teaching. For one, you don’t want to reinforce the widespread protestant belief that Catholics are ignorant of the scripture, which unfortunately has a lot of merit to it. We are all ambassadors to Christ, and ambassadors should be good representatives. Second, you don’t want to say something false and end up propagating that view. Even then it seems kind of like a minefield, because an evangelical Bible study group is going to be interested in evangelical answers.

If you do end up attending, be conservative in your responses and make it clear that you are not speaking infallibly on behalf of the Church. Some people would say that you should never attend a protestant Bible study for fear of being lead astray. I don’t really buy that view, because as a Catholic, you’re pretty much bringing a gun to a fist fight. The Magisterium is right and protestants are wrong, and the Church has the most theologically rational and consistent responses to everything and anything. However, if you do end up hearing something that makes you doubt or wonder, please remember that there is going to be a solid Catholic rebuttal to whatever it is you heard. Don’t just run with whatever it is your heard and then never bother to check-up on a 2nd source. If you do, it is your own fault.

God bless.<3

 

[paseo]

I probably should’ve been clearer, it’s not a study group - it’s just me and friend deciding to study the bible together.
Thank you for the responses so far.

 

[zz912]

It can be fruitful (especially for your friend) if you remain dependent on the Church and Her teachings as your support. I would suggest getting the NT Study Bible by Dr. Scott Hahn. It has lots of notes so you can relate the passages to others, and understand the context behind the passages.

As you move forward, I would ask your friend to lay out their beliefs, and explain them. Then take a look in your study bible, and bring the belief here to see if it has any large problems with it.

 

[dronald]

If you’re both well intentioned, then I see no issue. What could possibly go wrong? If he’s going to attack your beliefs then it’s a bad idea, but it sounds like you both want go gain a greater knowledge of the Scriptures and in that I see no harm.

 

[ClearWater]

As far as I know, the Catholic Bible has 7 more books than the Protestant Bible. In addition, I think there are other differences which could lead a person to interpret the meaning, differently. The Catholic Bible guides us with difficult scriptural passages having interpretation below, in the small print. I don’t think Protestant Bibles normally have that. So, as a Catholic, a Catholic Bible is essential.

Also, you would really need to learn, with and from, a fellow Catholic, one who already understands the Bible and can explain it.

 

[Razanir]

As far as I know, the Catholic Bible has 7 more books than the Protestant Bible. In addition, I think there are other differences which could lead a person to interpret the meaning, differently. The Catholic Bible guides us with difficult scriptural passages having interpretation below, in the small print. I don’t think Protestant Bibles normally have that. So, as a Catholic, a Catholic Bible is essential.

Also, you would really need to learn, with and from, a fellow Catholic, one who already understands the Bible and can explain it.

Tobit, Judith, 1/2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, parts of Esther and parts of Daniel. (Imagine me panting as if I said that really quickly) 'Tis a shame, though, Tobit’s one of my favorite books of the Bible, and the Song of the Three Holy Children in Daniel 3 is one of my favorite passages.

Other than that, it’s mostly just differences in sources. So the Protestant RSV includes “For thine is the kingdom…” with a footnote saying some sources exclude that, whereas the RSV-CE doesn’t include it, but has has a footnote that some sources do. There’s a few other spots like that, but that should give the idea.

 

[paseo]

Thank you for your responses and kind suggestions!

Although for the purposes of our study together we’re using the ESV, I myself am using the Douay Rheims (I can barely pronounce this, so hopefully I at least spelled it right) and the RSVCE.
I’ve read suggestions on other threads in this forum about using Dr. Scott Han’s bible study, and though I’ve researched and read good reviews about it, unfortunately, as I mentioned in the OP, at this moment I’m not able to get the book due to limited resources, i.e. I don’t have money to buy the books So I’m relying on free online resources as well as this forum.

If you’re both well intentioned, then I see no issue. What could possibly go wrong? If he’s going to attack your beliefs then it’s a bad idea, but it sounds like you both want go gain a greater knowledge of the Scriptures and in that I see no harm.

Yes, basically all we wanted to do is study the bible. I don’t have any friends whom are practicing Catholics, and all of these Catholic friends live far away anyways. The only friend I have whom has ever expressed interest in studying the bible just happened to be a Protestant, and so we somehow came to a plan of studying together.

I guess my feeling of this idea not being the best is after realizing that I myself do not have a good grasp on Church teachings, and so was trying to figure out what I can do in my own time to prepare for our discussions, so that when we talk, I’d be able to remain within Church teachings.

It can be fruitful (especially for your friend) if you remain dependent on the Church and Her teachings as your support. I would suggest getting the NT Study Bible by Dr. Scott Hahn. It has lots of notes so you can relate the passages to others, and understand the context behind the passages.

Yes! This is what I want to make sure to do, remaining dependent on the Church teachings. Right now, I’m using the 2 free resources I mentioned in the OP, Agape Bible Study and Credo Bible Study, both I came across in a bunch of threads here on the forum. Also, just recently found references to biblestudyforcatholics.com/ and free study guides for the NT Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, which I think could come in hand even though I don’t have the actual study bible.

As you move forward, I would ask your friend to lay out their beliefs, and explain them. Then take a look in your study bible, and bring the belief here to see if it has any large problems with it.

Thank you for this suggestion - I will make sure to do this as our study progresses!
We’re not planning to do big portions at a time (chapter by chapter or a number of verses at a time) and we’ll take things at our own pace, so hopefully by doing that, I’ll be able to bring whatever questions or differing beliefs that come up here to the forums.

Again, thank you for your responses, and if any more suggestions or advice come to mind I’d greatly appreciate them.

God Bless,
Theresia.