Bible Basics - Steve Ray

Where's the *#?&@!% Hammer?
Your personal Bible study blueprint.

This was his third time up the ladder and Jim was fuming. His tool belt was full of stuff, but it seemed the things he really needed were never there. His wife had even run to the hardware store for him six times, but he was still coming up short.

Earlier, when he tried to use a nearby rock to slam a nail into a two-by-four, he put a dent in his house's siding and sprained his wrist. He tried using a kitchen knife for a screwdriver, bent it out of shape (and his wife too!) and cut his finger. When he grabbed the swivel chair for a stepstool, he ended up spinning around and pitching headlong into the geraniums.

Finally, Jim decided to quit. He tossed his tool belt aside, shoved the ladder into the bushes and yelled at the dog. The kids knew enough to stay clear, but the poor dog never did learn.

This was not Jim's first attempt at fixing up the house. Over the years their home had fallen into serious disrepair — all for the lack of a few tools and a little knowledge.

At the dinner table that evening, everyone was quiet as Dad grumbled about his failures. The kids nodded to each other and with half-hearted resolve, decided to go ahead and ask him to help with the Bible questions for their CCD project. Dad had a Bible on his dresser and they knew he read it once in a while. So, Johnny asked.

Jim seemed to get his second wind and ran up the stairs to grab his Bible. "Yes, son," he said, "the answer to your question is, let's see, right here, I think. I read that just last month. Wait, I'll find it." The kids sat in rapt attention as their father flipped back and forth through the Bible for several minutes before tossing it on the table saying, "Rats, I can't find it!"

The kids cautiously asked their second question, "Dad, what is the Pentateuch?"

Jim had a look of puzzled consternation. "Frankly son, I don't know. I don't remember reading about that in the Bible." He began muttering about how he couldn't seem to get anything right and what was this world coming to anyway.

As the years went by, the kids looked elsewhere for the answers to their questions about God and the Bible. The end result is not a happy one. Dad and Mom go to Mass alone now, and the kids have grown to show little interest in the Catholic Church — or in carpentry either, for that matter. Sad, and all for the lack of a few tools and a little knowledge.

When I was 17 years old, I fell in love with Jesus. My mentors advised, "Read the Bible, young man, read the Bible." I had a Bible but it was such a big book. Even though I was raised in a Christian home that cherished the Bible, it was still an overwhelming tome.

One of my friends told me I needed a "tool belt" and a selection of "quality tools" — Bible study tools. I headed right down to the bookstore. Today, you can also turn to bookstores and other helpful resources (such as Catholic magazines and computer software) to help you study the Bible. Had our friend Jim received similar advice, he could have answered his kids' questions, earned their respect and helped them to grow in the Faith.

The Bible was written over a long period of time that ended about 2,000 years ago. The language and culture were different than they are today. St. Peter informs us that in Scripture, some things are "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:16). Fortunately, we have an abundance of quality tools to help us study and discover the truth of the Bible.


Tools for the Tool Belt

First, a few good Bible translations are essential to enable you to get the full "flavor" and meaning of a passage.

I recommend the Revised Standard Bible: Catholic Edition published by Ignatius Press. The New American Bible, The Jerusalem Bible and the New American Standard Bible are well-rounded additions. And the Precise Parallel New Testament is a gold mine with six translations side by side, including the original Greek text.

Look for Bibles with good Catholic footnotes and cross-references directing you to other passages containing related words or ideas. There are excellent Protestant translations, as well, but one must be cautious of the frequent inherent bias, especially in the footnotes and comments.

Second, it is essential to study the Bible within the Tradition of the Church. The tools are easily available. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a marvelous resource tool with a Scripture and topic index in the back. Fr. John Hardon's The Catholic Catechism is also very helpful. The Christian Faith by Neuner and Dupuis is a thorough study of Catholic doctrine with an extensive scriptural index. William Jurgens' The Faith of the Early Fathers gives a quick reference to the Fathers' use of Scripture.

Third, every theological tool box should contain reference tools, starting with a good Bible dictionary. Try the Dictionary of the Bible by John McKenzie or The New World Dictionary/Concordance to the New American Bible. The Harper's Bible Dictionary and the Protestant New Bible Dictionary are both excellent sources for biblical information.

A good Bible atlas and a few solid Catholic commentaries are also very helpful. And a good concordance is absolutely indispensable, listing every word in the Bible alphabetically to help you find verses quickly and easily.

There are also many lexicons (dictionaries) of the original languages to help you understand the original meanings of Hebrew and Greek words.

There's a short list of helpful Bible Study books and software on my website at www.Catholic-Convert.com. Envoy magazine sells most of the books you'll need.

Fourth, everyone with a computer should consider some of the wonderful offerings now available. The Logos Library System offers a Catholic Scholar's pack with the Latin Vulgate, Jerome Biblical Commentary and a host of other sources, including the Church Fathers. Welcome to the Catholic Church by Harmony Media is a wealth of Catholic reference material. And of course, the electronic Catechism of the Catholic Church on CD ROM is a must for all computer aficionados.

Steve Ray leads a large parish-based Bible study in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Visit his Web page at www.catholic-convert.com.