The Senior Bible Year by M. E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 64.

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The Senior Bible Year

By M. E. Kern

Assignment

Jan. 1. Genesis 1 to 3: Creation; sin; salvation.

Jan. 2. Genesis 4 to 7: Enoch; Noah; the ark and the flood.

Jan. 3. Genesis 8 to 11: A new beginning; Babel.

Jan. 4. Genesis 12 to 15: A man of faith; tithing; the covenant.

Jan. 5. Genesis 16 to 19: Lot delivered; Sodom destroyed.

Jan. 6. Genesis 20 to 22: Abraham's faith tested.

Announcement

The interest that has been manifested in the Bible Year by REVIEW readers is greatly appreciated by the editor and by the Missionary Volunteer Department, for it is by the "word of his grace" that we are built up in the Christian life. Acts 20:32. The assignments will be run again this year, not in partial chronological order, as last year, but in consecutive order according to our English Bible. Short notes will also be given, which it is hoped may be of some help to the reader in securing a general and comprehensive knowledge of the Word of God.

It has been decided to outline a Bible Year for the Juniors which will omit portions of the Bible which are not so easily understood by children, and will make it easier for them to complete the reading in a year. The assignments and notes for the Junior Bible Year will be found in the Youth's Instructor.

Bible Reading by Books

Almost every Bible reader knows that originally its books were not divided into chapters and verses. The division into chapters was made in the early part of the thirteenth century, and the division of the chapters into verses was made after the art of printing had been invented, about the middle of the sixteenth century.

While these divisions are very convenient for reference, they have doubtless in many cases served to obscure the meaning. The books of the Bible are like other books in that there is an introduction, a development, and a conclusion. Every book of the Bible has an object, as well as a subject, and to really get its message one needs to read it through without reference to these artificial divisions. To stop at the end of a chapter or verse, often breaks the thought of the book, and hence obscures the meaning. While the Bible has many short, terse sayings, it is not a string of aphorisms (unless it be some parts of the book of Proverbs).

Topical study is all right after a comprehensive survey has been made, and when the general study is continued; but topical study alone, without much study of the contexts from which the texts are taken, is very likely to lead to misinterpretations. The person who studies this way only is likely to think of the Bible merely as a collection of texts to which he may go for blocks with which to construct a creed to his liking, or for ammunition with which to bombard an enemy.

The best understanding of the Word cannot be obtained by making topical study the first or only method. It is possible that under exceptional conditions the germ might be taken from the grain of corn, planted, and made to grow, but an all-wise Creator embedded it in the starch of the grain from which its early life should be nourished.

So we would earnestly recommend all our people to take up the reading of the Bible through during 1917. There are many professed Christians who have never read the Bible through. And while we give an assignment for each day, it is more with the idea of telling you at any particular date whether you are keeping up with the reading. We recommend the reading of a whole book at a sitting when possible. And if time will permit, a rereading will more than double its value to you.

M. E. KERN.