Week 9 Discussion

WEEK 9 DISCUSSION by (Name) Professor Course Institution Date Week 9 Discussion A transformative process is the one that takes place when we study and teach the Bible. It is not just about transferring knowledge. The Bible is not a historical document that needs to be made relevant. Instead, it is an active force that actively shapes those who come into it in openness. Dykstra questions the idea that the Bible is dead and unresponsive. He stresses that “the Bible happens to us.” Rather than being read, we are being read. This view changes how we are to approach Bible study. The Bible cannot only be examined as an object. The text is a living text acting on us. It challenges individuals and communities.[Craig Dykstra, Growing in the Life of Faith Education and Christian Practices (Westminster Knox, 2005).] If the Bible is alive, the responsibility to teach and preach it is complete. It is not only a part of the role of the teacher to impart historical facts. Teachers must give the Bible a space in the hearts of learners. Hays rejects the idea that theology comes after historical analysis. He argues that historical and theological readings go together. If we wish to engage the Bible completely, we must bring faith and academic rigor. Teachers should not put the meaning into the text. Instead, they should enable learners to see how the Bible is tal...