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Message from the Rector
By The Rev. Dr. Vincent Joseph Kopp
Dear Good People of St. Stephen’s,
As we draw closer to scheduling a Bible Study for parishioners, let's recall what the Book of Common Prayer says:
“The Holy Scriptures, commonly called the Bible, are the books of the Old and New Testaments; other books, called the Apocrypha, are often included in the Bible.
The Old Testament consists of books written by the people of the Old Covenant, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to show God at work in nature and history.
The New Testament consists of books written by the people of the New Covenant, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to set forth the life and teachings of Jesus and to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom for all people.
The Apocrypha is a collection of additional books written by people of the Old Covenant, and used in the Christian Church.
We call them the Word of God because God inspired their human authors and because God still speaks to us through the Bible.
We understand the meaning of the Bible by the help of the Holy Spirit, who guides the Church in the true interpretation of the Scriptures.” (Adapted from questions and answers found on pp. 853 - 854)
To know this much from our Catechism is to know a lot about the Bible already.
We could delve deep into details about different manuscripts, translation challenges, or how interpretations change with new insights, but the truth of the Bible remains unchanged for us: it is a work of the Holy Spirit that contains the Word of God.
It is through engagement with the Word — in conversation, if you will — that we get what God has to say to us in all times and in all places.
Put differently, like all works of the Holy Spirit, the Bible requires our participation. This is where “Bible study” comes in; this is where we dare to step out from the shadow of our favorite verses or proof texts and engage the whole Bible as we received by the Episcopal Church — the prime reference against which we measure our traditions, reasonings, and individual experiences of God, who envelops us at all times and in all places.
Let Us Pray:
61. A Prayer of Self-Dedication (pp. 832-833)
“Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to thee, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly thine, utterly dedicated unto thee; and then use us, we pray thee, as thou wilt, and always to thy glory and the welfare of thy people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”
In Christ,
Vincent+
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