p. 21 | Subject Matter by M. E. KERN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jan 19, 1905

Subject Matter

By M. E. KERN

Bible Teaching—No. 3

Subject Matter

In regard to the matter to be studied in the Bible classes of our academies and colleges, I have this suggestion:—

3. Let the pupils be thoroughly grounded in Old and New Testament history before taking up Bible doctrine as such in regular class work. Let our young people take the Bible as it was given, without any manipulations on the part of the teacher. Without this thorough grounding in the Bible story, our young people can not study Bible doctrine in its proper setting, nor can they even understand many of our sermons. Many of the terms which we use are not comprehended by, or mean very little to, the young people who have not studied the Old and New Testament history story. Such expressions as “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” “the God of David,” “the house of David,” “the prophet of sorrow,” “the cedars of Lebanon,” “the latter rain,” “the synoptic gospels,” “the day of pentecost,” are examples.

A recent writer says: “Topical study alone has a tendency to degenerate into a mere human commentary of the Word, hence will not bring the desired results. The studying of selected texts is similar in process to extracting from a bean the germ of life, and planting it. Possibly it might gain an existence from the soil about it, but the probability is that it would die for want of nutriment in the proper form. Surrounded by plant food, it would still be too weak to make use of it. Christians may be indoctrinated, and yet fall, because not versed in the Bible as a whole. Doctrines should be taught in their proper setting. It is true that Christ opened all truth to his followers.”

Definite Outlines

As to the method of instructing the young people in our schools, unless it be those in the junior and senior years of our colleges, let me suggest that,—

4. There should be definite and systematic outlines for the student to follow. In our text-books on other subjects we have definite directions as to how the student is to proceed in order to acquire the knowledge desired. Step by step he is led along according to the laws of his own mind; he learns system, and his power for thinking accurately is increased. If in Bible study we say to the class, “Take the next chapter,” or, “Study the subject of the sanctuary,” and give no explanations or directions as to how the student is to proceed, he becomes discouraged, and thinks the Bible a dull book. Definite directions and definite assignment of the lesson is one of the fundamental laws of pedagogy.

M. E. KERN.