Let’s review the top two things you’ll need for studying your bible, with a third suggestion that’s optional, but strongly suggested!
First, you will need a good Bible translation.
During these studies, I’m going to show you some exceedingly important Greek words that stand behind an English translation. I’m going to take you back to what St. Paul originally wrote in the Greek New Testament and show you exactly how I found out about these things, and what they mean. To avoid confusion, we need to be working off the same English translation.
I would recommend (quite strongly) that you get a copy of the Revised Standard Version-Catholic Edition. Ignatius Press publishes many great RSV/Revised Standard Version Catholic Editions for you to pick from. The one I am using is a small compact size version that has traveled with me all around North America. It’s a great size and contains both the Old and the New Testaments.
I don’t recommend the New American Bible used by many Catholics. I don’t think it is a very strong or accurate translation compared to the RSVCE. The word order is often very different from the RSVCE which becomes problematic when I’m pointing something out. You will see in future episodes how a single word can make all the difference in your understanding of the entire epistle of First Thessalonians.
If you’re an evangelical, you are extremely welcome to join us. Our common bond is the Bible. If you don’t want to buy a Catholic Bible, then get yourself a copy of the ESV, the English Standard Version, which is perhaps the most accurate version that there is right now in the English language.
Interestingly, the translators of the ESV updated the RSV findings from the Dead Sea Scrolls. There is a Catholic edition of the English Standard Version which is called the ESV-Catholic Edition distributed by the St. Augustine Institute. They are great Bibles!
Secondly, you need a working Bible.
We’re going to try to really understand biblical prophecy. My goal is that you can understand the Bible for yourself. My job is to train you so that you can understand your own Bible, understand biblical prophecy, and be able to share it with friends and family. I recommend a gel or dry highlighter because some of these words have incredible importance. Don’t use your liquid highlighter! It will bleed right through the thin pages of a bible. You will need a dry or gel highlighter.
Third, I would recommend you find a good audio Bible.
Personally, I listen to the ESV translation of the Bible. I suggest you find one without noise, and by noise, I mean people trying to jazz up the narration with background noise, music, etc. This subtracts from what you can gain from the Bible. Anything you need in addition to what you read or listen to in the Bible, is provided by the Holy Spirit. That additional noise is going to crowd out the power of the Holy Spirit communicating to you.
If you get an audio Bible, you can start to listen to it while you’re making breakfast in the morning or working in the garage. You can easily listen to First Thessalonians ten times during the week! When we come together for Bible study, you’ll be familiar with what the Bible says so my job can be to help you understand what it means so you can apply it to your life.