Jen Wilkin is a true Bible teacher. In this introductory session, she asks us two questions:
- Why are we here?
- Why should we study Gensis?
Jen Wilkin's goal is to demonstrate for us "clearly and finally the vast importance of being familiar with what the Old Testament has to say."
Why Are We Here?
Of course, it's to study 11 chapters of Genesis. Jen said this is called "The Primevil History." Her goal is that you will understand clearly what is in these 11 chapters. Another goal she mentioned is that you would not just know these chapters, but you would "know better how to study any passage of scripture when you're done."
Her view is that when you sit down to study the Bible, you're not just taking in information but actively learning. A quote from Howard Henricks says this "never do for your students what your students can do for themselves."
Jen desires us to be:
- Thinking critically about the text
- Drawing your own conclusions
- Flexing muscles that maybe you haven't flexed in a long time or not at all
- To know who God is
- Changed by that knowledge
- Acquire better tools to understanding the Bible
She stated that "there is no true knowledge of self apart from the knowledge of God."
Reading in Context and Repetitively
The Bible is a book and should be read in context. Many times you can jump from place to place in the Bible when you read. Or, you may read just particular passages and then try to apply them to your lives. Jen suggests a different approach.
How can I study in such a way that I will be changed? Transformed? (Romans 12:2) and follow the great command? (Luke 10:27). Being renewed in your mind is actually an expression of your love of the Father, Jen says. You need to engage your intellect when you study.
She gives key phases as you approach scripture. She calls this CIA.
Phase I: Comprehension
According to Jen Wilkin, this is where you need to start. Most of us are application readers - how can this change my life? She suggests that there are steps you need to move forward in first before you can properly ask the application question. This is the first step. Comprehension. When you read for comprehension, you are asking "what does the text say?" This is a huge guard against falling prey to false teaching, Jen says. A false teacher relies on you not knowing what the text says.
Phase II: Interpretation
Interpretation asks "what does the text mean?" You may feel encapable of getting this, thinking you need to get help from an expert or commentary. She asks you to allow yourself to "lean into and dwell in the "I don't know." Flex your muscles so to speak. Read the text repeatedly. Don't rely on study notes from your Bible or ask google or read a commentary to get the interpretation. The "I don't know" is actually "a sign that learning is about to begin."
Phase III: Application
Spending time figuring out what the text says and what the text means, you now can ask "how should this change me?" This is where you draw on your God-centered perspective to ask three supporting questions:
- What does this passage teach me about God?
- How does this aspect of God's character change my view of self?
- What should I do in response?
Guidelines for Study (per Jen Wilkin)
It is vital, Jen says, that you allow yourself to move through these three phases of understanding on your own.
1. Avoid all commentaries until comprehension and interpretation have been earnestly attempted on your own.
2. Use a Bible without study notes. It's too easy to get interpretation from what others have said.
3. Use cross-references. Scripture references in the margin or at the bottom are good to use. These deal with the same topic or theme you are reading.
4. English dictionary. Look up unfamiliar words.
5. Other translations. Jen uses the ESV in this study. Using other translations can expand your understanding of the meaning of the passage.
6. Print out a copy of the text. Print out a double-spaced copy of the text. This is useful in marking repeated words, phrases or ideas.
Why Study Genesis?
The New Testament gives us reasons why you should study the Old Testament. Look at 1 Corinthians 10:6: "Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did."
1. Good memories. The Old Testament gives you a wealth of information on how to forget God, how to disobey God, how to act like dummy. You can learn from their mistakes.
2. Gives us context. The Old Testament gives you context you need for the rest of the Bible. It will set up everything that the New Testament has to say.
3. Relevant to us today. The Old Testament is preserved for your sake. It still has relevance for us (I Cor. 9:10; Romans 15:4).
4. Genesis is the "seed plot" for the Bible. It is the place where all the seeds of history are planted and begin to sprout. All the themes for the rest of the Bible start in Genesis.
For this 10-session study, you will definitely need a workbook which starts you down the CIA process mentioned. The workbook will take you in-depth. The DVD sessions are intended to resolve most, if not all, of your unanswered questions from the homework.
Next: Session 2 The God Who Was in the Beginning - review by Sharon Garner
