Since we’re hanging out and chatting about how to study the Bible, you can be confident I have some kind of love for the topic. But where have I been? What have I done? From whom have I learned? It makes a difference as you read what I’ve written what my background is. If you are ignorant of any of my history, can you believe what I’m saying or understand from where I’m coming?
Background
Originally I’m from Northwest Washington, saved in a church that highly valued scripture. Even to the point that it eventually attracted many of the employees and scholars of Logos Bible Software. I was able to rub shoulders with some of the most intelligent and knowledgeable students of the word out there.
Over time, an associate pastor was hired who also not only valued scripture but highly valued people. He was the first to identify me as a “student of the word”. As someone who had been a physician trained at Princeton and then decided to become a pastor since he spent so much time counseling anyway, I saw him as an expert learner. His moniker for me inspired me to not only want to learn more but actually pursue learning. There’s a difference.
Education Opportunities
I’ve enjoyed listening to Dr. Robert Stein teach a seminary level class on biblical hermeneutics at least five times (approximately 30 hours in the lecture series) in the last ten years (biblicaltraining.org).
Attending an Acts 29 Bootcamp in 2009, I became acquainted with the preaching of Matt Chandler who then introduced me to Tim Keller who then introduced me to C.S. Lewis.
This is the world in which I’ve been able to grow and flourish.
Just like knowing what resources I’ve used and that they haven’t included any kind of formal training, you can probably see that I’ve got this passion for learning but maybe I’ve had other responsibilities or priorities pressing on my life. You’re right!
Other Experiences
I’ve spent the last 26 years being a stay-at-home mom and homeschooling for 19 of those years. Seven years ago, we moved to a small mountain town where I spent 2 years preparing for and building our current home–with my own hands! For about 6 years I’ve been pursuing my goal of becoming a functional potter with my own studio and my own online business.
Maybe you wouldn’t discern the details, but you would know there was something to the fact that I enthusiastically learned “on the side”.
But more importantly, let’s turn to the author of Ephesians.
What Do We Know About Paul?
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
In order to know about Paul, I used my bible software to look up all the references to Saul and Paul. You can use a concordance (book) or a website like studylight.org or the NET Bible . The references I found particularly pertinent are listed here:
- Acts 8:1-3
- Acts 9:1-30
- 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:21
- Galatians 1:11-2:14
- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
- 1 Timothy 1:12-17
- 2 Peter 3:15-16
I decided to dwell on these specifically in my own preparation to study due to the assortment of authors and descriptions of Paul’s life. Not only did other people give accounts of his life (Luke and Peter), but Paul gives his testimony to various recipients emphasizing different points. That allows us students to get more facets of his life.
Let Scripture Interpret Scripture
Additionally, doing this research into the back story of Paul keeps us tied to the Bible. We don’t initially need to go to other documents to find out about the author. Maybe some other time we can delve into outside resources, but this is Bible study. Not book study. Let the Bible say what the Bible says. Some of what Paul said is hard, like Peter told us, but whatever is straightforward–let’s take it and hold onto it.
What did I conclude?
Conclusion
In case you can’t read my actual notes…
Paul was a religious bully: if you didn’t do religion like him you deserved to be arrested, bound, and taken to prison.
Jesus chose Paul exactly because of his persecution of those in the Way.
Unbelievable grace was given to him in salvation.
Since that glorious grace was given to him, Paul did the next step. Paul did what the Lord asked him to do.
Wrap Up
Our Bible Study Bite for today is to know that knowing some of the back story of a person helps us to understand another person’s words. We can’t know another person’s heart truly, but as we get to know one another we start to get glimpses of who they are and can hear what they are saying as opposed to only hearing their words.
Knowing some experiences of Paul or for some of you, having them refreshed, will aid our effort at comprehending the book of Ephesians.
I am curious about the symbols you use in your note-taking (for example, I see the triangle, heart, and cross used several times). Do your symbols correspond to a particular note-taking system, or have you developed your own type of short-hand system?
Hi Sarah! I don’t remember if I came up with the symbols or I gathered them from elsewhere. I use a triangle for the Father, heart for love (usually), and the cross for Jesus.