Chapter 7

It is odd that we would wait until Chapter 7 to explore the Bible, the book of Christians. Actually, that is a little misleading because we have been studying the Bible from the very beginning of this book. But sooner or later we have to ask questions about the Bible itself: what it is, how it came to be, who wrote it, and why it holds authority for Christians. Christians often call the Bible the “Word of God,” and so it is, though we must be clear about what that exactly means. It is the “Word of God” because it tells the story of God and God’s love for the world, a love so vast and deep that it led God to come as Jesus Christ. We call this the story of redemption, which culminated in the incarnation. Thus, the Word of God as recorded in the Bible tells us the story of the Word of God made flesh. The written word points to the incarnate Word. The Bible is the book of Christians, which means that Christians see it as authoritative, and they take it seriously, or at least should. That does not mean Christians worship the Bible. It is not an idol. It does not have magical powers. We will not be in trouble if we lose a Bible, or spill coffee on it. The Bible points beyond itself; it tells us about God and his work in the world. We read and study the Bible to know, trust and follow the final Word of God, namely, Jesus. God gives us power to do just that through the Holy Spirit. In this way the story of redemption will become our story, the God of redemption our God. Read Psalm 1 first, and then read Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi incrementally, as if it were a commentary on Psalm 1.

Psalm 1; Philippians 1:1-11

Psalm 1; Philippians 1:12-30

Psalm 1; Philippians 2:1-18

Psalm 1; Philippians 2:19-30

Psalm 1; Philippians 3:1-16

Psalm 1; Philippians 4:1-23

Now use Psalm 1 as a prayer. Think about what your life would be like if you lived as the “wicked”? What would it look like if you lived as the “righteous”? How does the Psalmist describe both kinds of people? What does it mean to become “like a tree . . .”?

What did you learn about the Bible in the chapter, the Bible study, and the spiritual exercise. How can the Bible become a living Word to you rather than a dead book? How can you make it your own?

Psalm 1