Interest Poll: Who would be interested in a CAF Bible study?

[Mannyfit75]

Looks good, but just one point – Mark is the shortest of the Gospels. Matthew is longer and is traditionally considered the oldest of the Gospels.

It is also thought as originally written in Aramaic by Matthew.

 

[vern_humphrey]

It is also thought as originally written in Aramaic by Matthew.

True – although we have never found an Aramaic version of Matthew, and all his quotes from the Old Testament come from the Septaugent. That’s not defiintive – there was no Aramaic version of the Old Testament (just short paraphrases called Targums) and the Septaguent was quite popular in Judea, as it was in the rest of the Jewish world.

 

[lak611]

Thanks FM! [SIGN]What a guy! What a guy!
[/SIGN]

I think…if you guys don’t mind, we should perhaps start with James because we have some “newbies” and because it’s brief yet meaty.

From here I think perhaps Mark…for the reasons stated above and again because it is brief.

After that…I would really like to drop back to the Deuterocanonicals with either Tobit or Sirach because the DCs are rich in insights and wisdom that many people are not familiar with. I agree on Deuterocanonicals, but not on doing Sirach. It’s a poetry book, like Psalms and Proverbs, and would be difficult since it goes all over the place. In general, I don’t like reading Psalms, Proverbs, or Sirach all the way through at once such as for a study. Tobit would be a better choice for a study since it is a historical book that makes sense to read in its entirety.

 

[lak611]

Annunciata, Church Militant, Efrain, Lak611, Serene, Subrosa, Verita, Vern Humphrey & WanderAimlessly:

I know that Philemon is short, but I never saw that as a good reason to start a Scripture Study Thread with a particular Book.

I agree. Personally, I think Philemon is too short for any serious Scripture Study. There are a few things that could be discussed (slavery, etc.) but nothing that would really be too compelling. My church Bible study that is coming up puts Philemon with Phillipians, Ephesians, and Colossians (the prison epistles).

 

[vern_humphrey]

I agree on Deuterocanonicals, but not on doing Sirach. It’s a poetry book, like Psalms and Proverbs, and would be difficult since it goes all over the place. In general, I don’t like reading Psalms, Proverbs, or Sirach all the way through at once such as for a study. Tobit would be a better choice for a study since it is a historical book that makes sense to read in its entirety.

Sirach is one of those books that are the exception to the rule that inspired writers wrote books. I would consider it wise to put it off until later in our study.

But you have now tempted me beyond all reason – so I must ask two questions:

1. Is there any part of the Bible the Catholic Church does ** not** consider inspired?
2. What part of the bible was written by Jesus?

(Warming: Trick questions.)

 

[aboverubies]

Count me in.

But not 'til after Lent. Giving up CAF. :crying:

I can’t trust myself to just check in for one thread.

 

[aboverubies]

May I make a suggestion pertinent to those who are converts like me? Hint: We may have missed a few books in our protestant bible studies.

 

[Shoshana]

I will try to join also in this study…For Lent I will still be posting for the Rosary for the priests and seminarians (this is proprity with me)…and hopefully join yours as well as Fr Leo’s but giving up CAF for Lent is not on my agenda at all…

 

[lak611]

Sirach is one of those books that are the exception to the rule that inspired writers wrote books. I would consider it wise to put it off until later in our study.

But you have now tempted me beyond all reason – so I must ask two questions:

1. Is there any part of the Bible the Catholic Church does ** not** consider inspired?

The INTRODUCTION to Sirach is not inspired. The rest of the book is.

1. What part of the bible was written by Jesus?

(Warming: Trick questions.)Sirach’s author was named Jesus (he is the son of Sirach). His grandson wrote the prologue and translated the book into Greek.

 

[Traditional_Ang]

Brothers and Sisters,

Here is something for those of us who go with the Patristic Dating of the Gospels:

TEKTON - Building Blocks for Christian Faith
**The New Testament/COLOR] - Gospel Dates, Gospel Authors, Gospels Freedoms
tektonics.org/ntdocdef/gospdefhub.html

Notes on Matthew:

*A date earlier than 70 for Matthew are also favored by:

The special story of the fish and the coin* (Mt. 17:24-7). This story would have been highly irrelevant once the Temple had been destroyed [Fran.EvJ, 121], and indeed, highly problematic, since after 70 the Temple tax went to support the pagan temple of Jupiter in Rome. Before 70, however, it would have been seen as a meaningful gesture of solidarity with the Jewish community. ([Wenh.RMML, 266-7] - It might be added that it is this story, and other stories unique to Matthew, that show the best forms of Greek ([Moul.BNT, 278], which may also indicate that their source was with the apostle.)

Other indications that the Temple is still standing. These are found in Matthew 5:23-4, 12:5-7, 23:16-22, and 26:60-1.

Our conclusion: the evidence demands that we recognize that in the Gospel of Matthew, we have “at least a significant deposit of Matthean tradition” [Keen.Mt, 40] – perhaps edited by a later student of Matthew’s, but I think, more likely, by Matthew himself. The evidence points to an original document of some sort in Aramaic, and to a later work (perhaps a translation, but more likely a work “from scratch” by a man competent in both Aramaic and Greek) which equates with our present Gospel of Matthew which may or may not have been influenced by Mark. Critics will have to show good reason why Matthew cannot be the author of this Gospel, and within the time of 30-70 AD (I say 50-65); I do not think that they can – unless they treat Matthew differently than all other ancient documents!

tektonics.org/ntdocdef/mattdef.html

I’m sure the others will be equally controversial and eye-openning.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael**

 

[Ferdinand_Mary]

The CAF Bible Study thread is now open and stickied.

Thank you to all who participated, this thread is now closed.

Mane Nobiscum Domine,
Ferdinand Mary