Read the Bible Better with Marina L. McClure Marina L. McClure

How to Learn Something Meaningful from Genealogy in the Bible
Today, we’re exploring and growing in our understanding of genealogy in the Bible.

We’ll be discussing:


What to make of genealogy in the Bible – including what these passages are, and what they are not.
The ways in which Genealogy in the Bible is both purposeful in its inclusion and meaningful for our study.

How to Apply What You Learn
At the end, we’ll talk about practical techniques and approaches you can use when studying a passage of genealogy in the Bible. You’ll also learn how to make sure you don’t miss the significance in genealogy passages you come across as you read.

How This Helps You Read the Bible Better
It is so easy to zone out while reading through a list of begats; I’ve done it many times! When we pause, zoom out, and really engage our thinking minds, we get to remember that this isn’t a LIST. It’s a passage of scripture, intentionally noted, intentionally crafted, intentionally placed.

When we consider the things that these passages of genealogy in the Bible are and are NOT, we start looking at them differently. We start opening ourselves up to understanding what they were intended to be in the first place. That’s where the fun and the magic happen!

Watch for my upcoming teaching on the Genealogy of Jesus that starts the book of Matthew. Let’s put this learning into use! Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.

Also, learn more about Genealogy in the Bible by following my Instagram page. I’ll be sharing Bible fun-facts throughout the surrounding weeks that connect with genealogy.

Learn more at Marina's Website (www.MarinaLMcClure.com)

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How to Read the Book of Matthew from Matthew’s Perspective
This is part 1 of 2 teachings. You are going to understand more about the authorship, background, audience, and overall context of the Book of Matthew.

In part 1, you’ll learn:


Who wrote the Book of Matthew, what we need to know about him, and what evidence leads us toward these conclusions.
The time and place for the writing of this gospel, and
For whom this gospel was written.

What Context Can Do For You
These contextual mile-markers set you up for diving into your own study of the Book of Matthew. They also equipped you with perspective and insight that opens up and informs new avenues of study.

Exploratory engagement might be new for some of you, but I promise it’s lots of fun!

If you have no idea how to do that or what that might look like, download my FREE resource: Five Practices for Engaging Bible Study. I’ll link to that below

How to Apply What You Learn
At the end, I’ll make sure the setting and scene surrounding the book of Matthew are clear for you; in part 2, we’ll study some of the significant ideas and themes in this book. And you’ll already be ready!

More information is available at Marina's Website (www.MarinaLMcClure.com)

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The Body of Christ: How to Mine the Metaphor for All Its Wealth
Today, we’re going to look at the metaphor of the “Body of Christ” that is used many times in the New Testament. We’ll talk about:


The different ways this metaphor gets used.
What it means most frequently.
Examples of how / when it’s used – and by whom.
What we can learn by considering “The body of Christ” in various contexts as we study. And more!

Eliminating Meaningless Lingo One Christian at a Time
In Christianity, there can be a lot of “lingo.” Some of it is social, but a lot of it has Biblical roots. Digging deeper into these origins can help us make sure that 1) we don’t misuse them and 2) we really are able to connect in a deeper way with what it is that’s being communicated.

At the end, I’ll walk you through some simple questions you can ask yourself when you come across “the body of Christ” metaphor both in the scriptures and in conversation or other reading. You’ll be able to make sure you’re honoring and digesting its full Biblical meaning whenever you encounter it.

So, let’s jump in!

The Big Ideas and Helpful Highlights
Four Different Uses for The Body of Christ
There are four main ways this metaphor gets used in the Bible. They’re all in the New Testament (which makes sense if you give it a second), and all but one (noted below) are attributed to Paul.


The physical body of Christ, as in the human person, Jesus
The bread at the Lord’s supper
The temple of God (one reference in John 2:21)
The community of Christian believers

Being aware of these different uses is important when you encounter this phrase. That said, “the body of Christ” is most frequently used as a metaphor for the community of Christian believers. For that reason, most of the discussion in today’s teaching centers around that concept.

A Common Contemporary Concept

Paul did not come up with this metaphor on his own. In fact, there are many instances of philosophical writers of his day using the metaphor of the body to represent a group or gathered collection of people. Seneca, Philo, Aurelias, and other contemporaries of both Paul and Jesus used this metaphor.

For the rest of this article, including examples from scripture, check out the full post on my website. Some things are too long for show-notes! 


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How to Add New Dimensions to Your Study with Bible Maps
Today, we’re going to look at a familiar, but not often well-used tool: Bible Maps!

We’ll dig into this coming resource, and look at:


Why Bible maps can be a powerful tool for understanding more than just geography.
How to utilize a map alongside other approaches to Bible study.
Where and how to find good FREE Bible map resources.

Making the Colorful Pages in Your Bible Useful
By learning how to use Bible maps as a part of your approach to Bible study, you will definitely broaden and deepen the paths and approaches to exploring what you read. You’ll be able to connect more and more holistically to the passages AND begin to intuitively understand contextual ideas without even needing to dig for them.

At the end, I’ll give you a bunch of FREE resources so that you can be equipped for studying with maps beyond whatever you may have in your printed Bible.

So, let’s get started.

The Big Ideas and Helpful Highlights
Why Bible Maps?
This parallel, from Wayne Stiles, is our starting point for understanding the usefulness of maps:


When traveling, road maps give you insight into the distance between locations, which roads to take, and what points of interest to look for.
Topographical maps use contour lines in which each line represents the same elevation. This representation gives you an understanding of the “lay of the land”—the topography of a given terrain. It’s much more informative to see a topographical map than a flat map with no contours and curves.
A physical map reveals locations of rivers, mountains, lakes, seas—basically the physical features of an area.

These same things have an impact on our understanding of what we read in the Bible. (These examples continue the parallel and are also from Wayne Stiles.)


Highways—There was a major highway that ran the full length of Israel; this is the primary reason Israel had interactions with surrounding nations. HUGE importance.
Topography—Jerusalem, Megiddo, and many other sites had a significant military advantage because of their topography.
Physical Barriers—Rivers, seas, and lakes—and climate—all played a major role in shaping biblical events. Understanding their significance gives a greater understanding into the biblical narrative than you would have otherwise. [sic]

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The rest of this post (it was too long for show notes!), all the visuals, and oodles of links to free map resources are here on my website. Enjoy!


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Paul’s Highest Hopes for the Church in Colossians 1:9-12
Today, we’re going to study Colossians 1:9-12. As we study this passage, both verse-by-verse and as a whole, we’ll examine:


How Paul prayed for when he prayed for a growing church in Colossae.
Paul’s ideas about knowing God’s will
What Paul has to say about how to be “fully pleasing” to God.
And the rest of his hopes for this church and its people.

What’s Good for Colossae is Good for You and Me
We all care about understanding God’s will and living in a way that pleases God, right? In Colossians 1:9-12, Paul has some very clear, finite teaching he shares about what this looks like, how it happens, and how believers can understand – and as a result, grow in – these big fundamental spaces.

At the end, we’ll zoom out and take away some clear directions on things we can pursue and pray for in our own lives to be able to live into the ideals and ideas Paul lays out for the church at Colossae.

So, let’s get into it!

The Big Ideas and Helpful Highlights
First, let’s read the passage. Colossians 1:9–12 (NRSV) (Bold mine):
9For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

How Studying Colossians 1:9-12 Helps You Read the Bible Better
In this passage, Paul expresses his prayers and (presumably) highest hopes for the Colossians. His words reveal what Paul valued and emphasized in the pursuit of Christ in our lives. These verses show us the essence of (at least some) ideas that are key and central in our own lives of faith.

This understanding helps us reflect upon our own lives and aims; it also frames the rest of what Paul wrote to the Colossians. When we remember to consider this initial framework for the book, we will read various passages with more clarity and better understanding.

How to Learn Even More as You Read
As you read more of Colossians, use my FREE Guide, “5 Practices for Engaging Bible Study.” These flexible and simple practices will teach you new ways to engage and study as you read and study on your own. Sign up to download this valuable FREE resource below!

Watch for other exploration of the themes of Colossians in my Instagram and other social media feeds. I promise there’s more to learn! 


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Understanding Colossians Like Its First Audience Did
Today, we’re going to dive into a Colossians Overview, so that when we study this book, we can better understand it. We’ll look at:


Who wrote Colossians.
Why it was written.
What was going on in Colossae to prompt its writing.
And some of the big ideas of this book, and how they can impact us today.

Clarifying Context to Equip You for Curious Exploration
As you grow your understanding in these areas, you are better able to read and filter through your own study of Colossians with an understanding of which things might be most important. This Colossians overview will better equip you to receive this epistle. You will be able to better read it in the way its original readers would have.

So, let’s get started.

The Big Ideas and Helpful Highlights in Understanding an Overview of Colossians
Authorship
Most likely, Paul wrote the book of Colossians. As is possible with other letters attributed to Paul, some argue it may have been written posthumously by followers of Paul’s teachings. It may also have been written by a scribe or one of Paul’s disciples writing with his permission. However, it is most likely that Paul wrote this letter himself. The text itself identifies Paul, along with Timothy, as the authors of the letter. For the purposes of this Colossians overview, we talk about the book as if it was – with certainty – written by Paul.

As Michael F. Bird has highlighted in writing for Faithlife, Paul’s specific personal background uniquely equips him for his life’s work. He was an educated Jewish man, born in a Greek-speaking university town. He was also an educated Roman citizen. As such, he was uniquely equipped him to preach the news of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, to Greeks and Romans in the Eastern Mediterranean. His familiarity with their customs, languages, idioms, culture, and imagery powerfully enabled his ministry.

Audience
Paul sent this epistle (an epistle is a letter written for a wider audience, rather than an individual) to the Colossian church. Paul asks that the Colossians share this letter with surrounding churches as well.

As you continue to explore both a Colossians overview of your own, and as you dig into its chapters, use my FREE Guide “5 Practices for Engaging Bible Study” to help guide and refresh your study. This flexible tool shares new study ideas for anyone reading the Bible. The practices are useful alongside any section of scripture. Click here to get your FREE download!

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