Suggested guidelines for studying Scripture

I highly recommend going to the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and taking their online courses for studying the Bible. They are free and most excellent. The information provided here is paraphrased from the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology Online Bible Study Beginner’s Course No. 1 – Lesson One, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation - Dei Verbum. Please, if anyone believes that something here is in error, let me know.

Thanks,
Your humble moderator, Seeker

Guidelines for Studying Scripture

1. Christianity is based on the Word of God. However, the Word is not a book, He is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. [1]

2. God reveals Himself and the Holy Spirit speaks to us through Scripture, Tradition, and the Magesterium. [1][2][3]

3. Though Scripture was divided into various numbered books, chapters, and verses by men, the message of the Word of God is seamless. [1]

4. Properly understood, Scripture does not contradict Church teaching and Church teaching does not violate Scripture. Thus, we must read Scripture in light of Tradition and the teachings of the Magesterium for these are also guided by the Holy Spirit. For Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit "will guide you into all the truth.” [5] He also said, “I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” [6] St. Paul also described the church as “the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.” [7]

5. Scripture is the work of human authors and the Holy Spirit. Human authors wrote the Bible, but God inspired them so they wrote what He wanted them to. As such, the Bible is without error. [1][2][4]

6. The Bible is also a literary work. As such, it uses “literary forms, devices, structures, figures, etc.” These things also help us to understand its meaning. [1]

7. The Bible was written long ago and is a product of that ancient world. Thus, we also need to look at how the people at that time saw the world and recorded history. They were not necessarily interested in recording history as a bunch of facts like we think of modern historians as doing. [1]

8. Along these lines, the Bible contains a spiritual message and provides a view of history in the spiritual context of salvation. It records our “salvation history.” [1][2]

References:
[1] St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, Beginner’s Course No. 1, Lesson One
http://www.salvationhistory.com/online/beg...ss1_lesson1.cfm

[2] DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON DIVINE REVELATION, DEI VERBUM, Nov 1965, Pope Paul VI
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_council...-verbum_en.html

[3] Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 81-82

[4] Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 105-108

[5] John 16:13 (RSV)

[6] Matthew 16:18 (RSV)

[7] 1 Timothy 3:15 (RSV)