REPRINT: How does a Quiz Work?

This post is re-printed here so that you can share it with any friends or family members who are curious about what Bible Quizzing is, in advance of the kickoff.

How does a Quiz Work?

The Basics

A Bible Quiz always works the same way:

• There are 20 questions in a quiz
• Quizzers "jump" to answer a question
• You have 30 seconds to answer a question (with certain exceptions)
• A correct answer is worth 20 points
• A wrong answer is deducts 10 points, plus the other team gets a bonus question to answer worth 10 points
• There are ways to earn extra points by
• Getting 5 questions right and none wrong (+10)
• Having 4 quizzers on your team get at least one question right (+10)
• Having 5 quizzers on your team get at least one question right (+10)
• At the end, the team with the higher score wins.  (If there is a tie, we go into a 5 question overtime session.)

"Jump"

Every quizzer sits on a chair during the quiz with a pad on the seat.  The pad contains two switches which are depressed when the quizzer puts pressure on it.  When a quizzer relieves the pressure - by standing up, moving their leg, etc. - they have "jumped" and an electrical current goes thru the pad to a box seen by the quizmaster.  The first quizzer to jump - and only the first - shows up as a light on the quizmaster's board.  Once that light is seen, the quizmaster will call on the appropriate quizzer

Kinds of Questions

• Regular Question:

Q:  In my first book, WHO?
A:  O Theophilus   [Acts 1:1]

• Multi-Part Question: 

Q:  2 Part:  I dealt with all that Jesus WHAT?
A:  Began to do and teach    [Acts 1:1]

• Reference Question:

Q:  According to Acts 1:20, For it is written, WHAT?
A:  in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate,
    and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’

• Situation Question:

Q:  WHO SAID IT? "Look at us,"
A:  Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John   [Acts 3:4]

• Finish-the-Verse Question:

Q:  He said to them… 
A:  … “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority..  [Acts 1:7]

REPRINT: Why Should I Quiz?

This post is re-printed here so that you can share it with any friends or family members who are curious about what Bible Quizzing is, in advance of the kickoff.

Why Should I Quiz?

The Tagline

We like to break down the appeal of Bible Quizzing into a simple tagline:  Learn God's Word, Make New Friends, Compete

Learn God's Word

Ultimately, Bible Quizzing is all about learning the Bible - God's own words to humanity.  As a quizzer, you won't learn a few quaint Bible stories, some watered-down theology, or a couple of hand-selected memory verses.  You will learn whole books of the Bible!  You'll learn to commit scripture to heart and mind, to read critically, and to understand the original meaning of the text.

We like to tell the story of a couple of past quizzers who applied to be missionaries.  They were in a group with seminarians, pastors, and Bible school graduates, and went through a rigorous test to check their knowledge of the Bible.  They got the top two scores in the entire group, outdoing men and women with MDivs and PhDs, and they realized it was all due to Bible Quizzing.

Make New Friends

There are not many ministries these days that reach out beyond the four walls of your own church or the small group of teens who make up your Youth Group.  But in Bible Quizzing, we compete against teens from other churches from our District (the northeastern USA) and some years from all over the country.  It is a chance to meet people from all over who share your love of Jesus, and form friendships that last a lifetime.

A number of past quizzers met their college roommate, their spouse-to-be, or their best friend in Bible Quizzing.

Compete

Let's be clear - Bible Quizzing is fun!  It's a sport where you test your mind and your heart as you compete with other teens to see who knows the most, who remembers the most, and who is the quickest to remember the material.  Like any sport, not every competitor is the same.  Some are amazing at memorization - it is not uncommon to find quizzers able to recite whole chapters or books of the Bible.  Some are amazing at recognizing key words or phrases - this was my specialty.  Still others are gifted at quick jumping and lightning-fast recall.  And some teens aren't great at memory, but are gifted in bringing the team together and encouraging others.  Whatever your gift, be sure we can use you.  And be sure you will have fun!

A Few Other Things

• Some Home Schoolers find Bible Quizzing a perfect fit for their curriculum.
• Some teens find the Bible Quiz Team to be a safe place to ease their way into the social side of the church.  As a smaller and supportive group with a focussed purpose, it is unintimidating.
• Some colleges offer Bible Quizzing scholarships.  If you're looking at a Christian college, be sure to inquire!

REPRINT: What is Bible Quizzing?

This post is re-printed here so that you can share it with any friends or family members who are curious about what Bible Quizzing is, in advance of the kickoff.

What is Bible Quizzing?

Summary

Bible Quizzing is a ministry of the Evangelical Free Church which brings together teens to study books of the Bible in-depth over the course of a school year.  We focus on learning the text - as well as getting information from the coaches on the context and meaning of the text - and compete with each other to demonstrate our knowledge.  Periodically - about once a month - we get together for a Quiz Meet with other churches in our District for a competition, and about twice a year we meet for a full-blown formal Quiz Meet, complete with trophies.

What is the Goal of Bible Quizzing?

Our focus and goal for the Bible Quizzing ministry is to store up the Bible in the hearts of willing teens.  The competition is a fun, but is just a means to the end of learning scripture.

How much is covered?

We go through a different section of scripture every year, covering anywhere from 1 long book of the Bible to five short books.  Over the course of a cycle, we cover gospels, history, and letters from the New Testament.

For next year, we are studying the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon - about 19 chapters.

If you go through all the possible years of quizzing, you will have learned 16 books of the Bible!

What would MY commitment be?

We have one practice a week, approximately 1 quiz meet a month, and once or twice a year we will do an overnight for one of those Quiz Meets.  We met from September to May.  There is no required cost.

How do I get more information?

1.  Read thru this website.  The sidebar especially has lots of useful information.
2.  Talk to teens currently in the Bible Quizzing ministry.
3.  Talk to the coaches.  You can e-mail us via the link in the sidebar.
4.   Keep coming back to this website.  It will be updated every day with new information.

GETTING READY: Bible Quiz Team Intro 2015-2016

Do you have a friend who is interested in Bible Quizzing?  This Introduction may be a useful resource in giving them a taste of what the ministry is about and how it functions.  Please pass it along to ANYONE you think may be a prospect.

INTRODUCTION: Why Should I Quiz?

At the Ministry Fair, some people may have been exposed to the Teen Bible Quizzing Ministry for the first time.  So, we want to give you a chance to get to know us with some basic, introductory posts.  This series will give you a taste for what Bible Quizzing is.

Why Should I Quiz?

The Tagline

We like to break down the appeal of Bible Quizzing into a simple tagline:  Learn God's Word, Make New Friends, Compete

Learn God's Word

Ultimately, Bible Quizzing is all about learning the Bible - God's own words to humanity.  As a quizzer, you won't learn a few quaint Bible stories, some watered-down theology, or a couple of hand-selected memory verses.  You will learn whole books of the Bible!  You'll learn to commit scripture to heart and mind, to read critically, and to understand the original meaning of the text.

We like to tell the story of a couple of past quizzers who applied to be missionaries.  They were in a group with seminarians, pastors, and Bible school graduates, and went through a rigorous test to check their knowledge of the Bible.  They got the top two scores in the entire group, outdoing men and women with MDivs and PhDs, and they realized it was all due to Bible Quizzing.

Make New Friends

There are not many ministries these days that reach out beyond the four walls of your own church or the small group of teens who make up your Youth Group.  But in Bible Quizzing, we compete against teens from other churches from our District (the northeastern USA) and some years from all over the country.  It is a chance to meet people from all over who share your love of Jesus, and form friendships that last a lifetime.

A number of past quizzers met their college roommate, their spouse-to-be, or their best friend in Bible Quizzing.

Compete

Let's be clear - Bible Quizzing is fun!  It's a sport where you test your mind and your heart as you compete with other teens to see who knows the most, who remembers the most, and who is the quickest to remember the material.  Like any sport, not every competitor is the same.  Some are amazing at memorization - it is not uncommon to find quizzers able to recite whole chapters or books of the Bible.  Some are amazing at recognizing key words or phrases - this was my specialty.  Still others are gifted at quick jumping and lightning-fast recall.  And some teens aren't great at memory, but are gifted in bringing the team together and encouraging others.  Whatever your gift, be sure we can use you.  And be sure you will have fun!

A Few Other Things

• Some Home Schoolers find Bible Quizzing a perfect fit for their curriculum.
• Some teens find the Bible Quiz Team to be a safe place to ease their way into the social side of the church.  As a smaller and supportive group with a focussed purpose, it is unintimidating.
• Some colleges offer Bible Quizzing scholarships.  If you're looking at a Christian college, be sure to inquire!

INTRODUCTION: How does a Quiz Work?

At the Ministry Fair, some people may have been exposed to the Teen Bible Quizzing Ministry for the first time.  So, we want to give you a chance to get to know us with some basic, introductory posts.  This series will give you a taste for what Bible Quizzing is.

How does a Quiz Work?

The Basics

A Bible Quiz always works the same way:

• There are 20 questions in a quiz
• Quizzers "jump" to answer a question
• You have 30 seconds to answer a question (with certain exceptions)
• A correct answer is worth 20 points
• A wrong answer is deducts 10 points, plus the other team gets a bonus question to answer worth 10 points
• There are ways to earn extra points by
• Getting 5 questions right and none wrong (+10)
• Having 4 quizzers on your team get at least one question right (+10)
• Having 5 quizzers on your team get at least one question right (+10)
• At the end, the team with the higher score wins.  (If there is a tie, we go into a 5 question overtime session.)

"Jump"

Every quizzer sits on a chair during the quiz with a pad on the seat.  The pad contains two switches which are depressed when the quizzer puts pressure on it.  When a quizzer relieves the pressure - by standing up, moving their leg, etc. - they have "jumped" and an electrical current goes thru the pad to a box seen by the quizmaster.  The first quizzer to jump - and only the first - shows up as a light on the quizmaster's board.  Once that light is seen, the quizmaster will call on the appropriate quizzer

Kinds of Questions

• Regular Question:

Q:  In my first book, WHO?
A:  O Theophilus   [Acts 1:1]

• Multi-Part Question: 

Q:  2 Part:  I dealt with all that Jesus WHAT?
A:  Began to do and teach    [Acts 1:1]

• Reference Question:

Q:  According to Acts 1:20, For it is written, WHAT?
A:  in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate,
    and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’

• Situation Question:

Q:  WHO SAID IT? "Look at us,"
A:  Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John   [Acts 3:4]

• Finish-the-Verse Question:

Q:  He said to them… 
A:  … “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority..  [Acts 1:7]

INTRODUCTION: What are we quizzing on next season?

At the Ministry Fair, some people may have been exposed to the Teen Bible Quizzing Ministry for the first time.  So, we want to give you a chance to get to know us with some basic, introductory posts.  This series will give you a taste for what Bible Quizzing is.

What are we quizzing on next season?

Books of the Bible

Some years, we only study a single book, but this year we are covering 5 of the epistles:

• Galatians
• Ephesians
• Philippians
• Colossians
• Philemon

Version of the Bible

There are many different English translations of the Bible.  We use the 2011 edition of the English Standard Version.  

How and When

We'll be studying approximately one chapter per week, but paced through the course of the Bible Quizzing season (September to May).  We recommend every quizzer read thru the chapter of the week twice every day.  We'll also meet once a week for a practice where we'll have a short lesson on the chapter - talking about context and importance of the material - and then we'll quiz as a team.  Practice will be about 1 hour long.

INTRODUCTION: What is Bible Quizzing?

At the Ministry Fair, some people may have been exposed to the Teen Bible Quizzing Ministry for the first time.  So, we want to give you a chance to get to know us with some basic, introductory posts.  This series will give you a taste for what Bible Quizzing is.

What is Bible Quizzing?

Summary

Bible Quizzing is a ministry of the Evangelical Free Church which brings together teens to study books of the Bible in-depth over the course of a school year.  We focus on learning the text - as well as getting information from the coaches on the context and meaning of the text - and compete with each other to demonstrate our knowledge.  Periodically - about once a month - we get together for a Quiz Meet with other churches in our District for a competition, and about twice a year we meet for a full-blown formal Quiz Meet, complete with trophies.

What is the Goal of Bible Quizzing?

Our focus and goal for the Bible Quizzing ministry is to store up the Bible in the hearts of willing teens.  The competition is a fun, but is just a means to the end of learning scripture.

How much is covered?

We go through a different section of scripture every year, covering anywhere from 1 long book of the Bible to five short books.  Over the course of a cycle, we cover gospels, history, and letters from the New Testament.

For next year, we are studying the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon - about 19 chapters.

If you go through all the possible years of quizzing, you will have learned 16 books of the Bible!

What would MY commitment be?

We have one practice a week, approximately 1 quiz meet a month, and once or twice a year we will do an overnight for one of those Quiz Meets.  We met from September to May.  There is no required cost.

How do I get more information?

1.  Read thru this website.  The sidebar especially has lots of useful information.
2.  Talk to teens currently in the Bible Quizzing ministry.
3.  Talk to the coaches.  You can e-mail us via the link in the sidebar.
4.   Keep coming back to this website.  It will be updated every day with new information.

DISTRICTS: Camp Orchard Hill

For Districts this year, we will not be staying in host homes.  Instead, we will be staying at Camp Orchard Hill.  This is a Christian camp located in Dallas, PA near to Fellowship Church (where the Dallas Team is from).

The cost to stay will be $10/person.  But for that price, the whole Bible Quizzing group will be staying together and be able to use the facilities on Friday night.

GETTING READY: How do Romans & James relate?

This was posted earlier in the year during the run-up to the season, but we'll be posting this "Getting Ready" series for James again to refresh your memory.

Romans and James are such different books, why are we studying them together?

It would be hard to imagine how the books of Romans and James could be much more different.  Different authors, different audiences, different emphases.  Some even argue they have different theologies!  (Martin Luther even once called James "a false gospel", in one of his grumpier moments.)  The only thing they have in common, it seems, is that they're both in the Bible!

But, really, Romans and James highlight the two inseparable sides of Christianity.

Romans has a focus on the grace of God.  Paul talks over and over about the fact that our salvation is a free gift, and that there was nothing in ourselves that made us worthy of Christ.  He highlights the fact that the Old Testament Law can't save anyone, which is why Jesus had to come and die and rise.  Romans takes our eyes off of ourselves and our own good deeds, and puts them onto God.

James, on the other hand, has a focus on what we do.  James agrees wholeheartedly that our works don't save us, but points out that such an amazing gift should spur us onto good works that will please our savior.  He challenges lazy or sinful Christians to examine themselves and start doing all the things Jesus commanded us to do.  James reminds us to remember while our eyes are on heaven, we're on mission on the Earth!

If you have Romans without James, you have happy Christians who are of no use to anyone.  If you James without Romans, you have busy Christians without any joy.  You need them both to be the men and women God called us to be.

GETTING READY: To whom was the Epistle of James written?

This was posted earlier in the year during the run-up to the season, but we'll be posting this "Getting Ready" series for James again to refresh your memory.

To whom was the epistle to the James written?

Like Romans, James is quite up-front about who he is writing to:

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
James 1:1

Of course, "the twelve tribes in the Dispersion" is not exactly a phrase you hear every-day in 21st Century America.  So, let's take each piece by itself.

First, the "twelve tribes".  This is a common way for Jews of Jesus's time to talk about the descendants of Jacob.  Jacob had twelve sons whose descendants became 12 tribes who eventually conquered the whole land of Israel.  Genesis 49 does a good job of listing the 12 sons (although for complicated reasons, the 12 sons and 12 tribes don't always exactly match up).  The "twelve tribes" is shorthand for "all of the Jewish people."

Second, "the Dispersion".  In other translations, it says "the Diaspora" which you may have heard in history class.  Both words mean "the scattering".  Originally, all of the Jews on Earth were located in Israel.  Then came God's judgement in the form of Assyrian, Babylonian, and eventually Roman Empires.  Babylon, especially, had a policy of splitting up conquered peoples to different places to keep them from organizing into resistance.  So, by the time of Rome, the Jewish people were scattered - or dispersed - throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe.

So, "the twelve tribes in the Dispersion" roughly means "all of the Jewish people in all of the world."  And, from the context of the letter, we know he was talking to Jewish Christians, in the hope that one day all Jews would embrace Christ.

GETTING READY: Who wrote the Epistle of James?

This was posted earlier in the year during the run-up to the season, but we'll be posting this "Getting Ready" series for James again to refresh your memory.

Who wrote the epistle of James?

Like the book of Romans, the epistle of James starts off telling us right away who the author was:  "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ"  (James1:1 ESV).  But unlike Paul, there isn't only one known early church leader by this name!  Jesus had two disciples who went by the name James:  James, son of Zebedee (brother of John) and James, son of Alphaeus.  However, it is unlikely that either of these men wrote this letter.  James, son of Zebedee, died about 44 A.D while this letter came after 60 A.D.  And while James, son of Alphaeus, is mentioned as an apostle, he is never mentioned again in scripture after the gospels and is not known among the church fathers as a writer of letters.

So, who is this mysterious writer?  Well, there is one other James who was quite prominent in the Early Church, mentioned repeatedly by other writers of the New Testament:  James, brother of Jesus!

• Matthew 13:55 mentions James as Jesus's brother
• Paul visited James in Acts 21
• In 1 Corinthians 15:7, Paul confirms that Jesus appeared to James after the resurrection.
• In Galatians 1:19, Paul confirms his visit to James.
• In Galatians 2:9, Paul indicates he views James as a "pillar" of the church.
• In Jude 1:1, the writer - also believed to be a brother of Jesus - identifies himself as a "brother of James"

(If it's not obvious, technically James would be the adoptive or half-brother of Jesus.  His mother was Mary, but his father was Joseph and not God.)

In fact, early church fathers are united in identifying James the brother of Jesus as the writer of this book.  So, all of the evidence points in the same direction.  And it is rare even among modern scholars to find anyone who has a different view.

GETTING READY: How do Romans & James relate?

This is our last week of the "Getting Ready" series, where we consider the high-level questions about these books.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

Romans and James are such different books, why are we studying them together?

It would be hard to imagine how the books of Romans and James could be much more different.  Different authors, different audiences, different emphases.  Some even argue they have different theologies!  (Martin Luther even once called James "a false gospel", in one of his grumpier moments.)  The only thing they have in common, it seems, is that they're both in the Bible!

But, really, Romans and James highlight the two inseparable sides of Christianity.

Romans has a focus on the grace of God.  Paul talks over and over about the fact that our salvation is a free gift, and that there was nothing in ourselves that made us worthy of Christ.  He highlights the fact that the Old Testament Law can't save anyone, which is why Jesus had to come and die and rise.  Romans takes our eyes off of ourselves and our own good deeds, and puts them onto God.

James, on the other hand, has a focus on what we do.  James agrees wholeheartedly that our works don't save us, but points out that such an amazing gift should spur us onto good works that will please our savior.  He challenges lazy or sinful Christians to examine themselves and start doing all the things Jesus commanded us to do.  James reminds us to remember while our eyes are on heaven, we're on mission on the Earth!

If you have Romans without James, you have happy Christians who are of no use to anyone.  If you James without Romans, you have busy Christians without any joy.  You need them both to be the men and women God called us to be.

GETTING READY: What is the layout to James?

The second book we'll be studying for the 2013-2014 season will be the epistle of James.  The next few weeks of the "Getting Ready" series, we will be considering the high-level questions about this book.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

How is the epistle of James laid out?

Last year, we studied the Gospel of Matthew so the structure of the book wasn't a big deal.  It was a story where event followed event.  Essentially, it was a biography of Jesus (though it had a point of view and an intended message).

This year, we are studying an epistle.  It's a letter that James wrote to Jewish people in the Roman Empire (and he probably had no idea it would one day be included into the Bible as scripture).  We study chapter by chapter, but Paul intended it as one whole lesson and argument.

Here is an excellent outline from Bible.Org:

I. Salutation (1:1)

II. Enduring Trials (1:2-18)

• A. Summary/Main Theme: The Testing of Faith (1:2-6)
• 1. Faith in God’s Sovereignty (1:2)
  2. Faith and Perseverance (1:3-4)
  3. Faith and God’s Gifts (1:5)
  4. Faith Vs. Doubt (1:6)
• B. Specifics (1:9-18)
• 1. Faith Vs. Doubt (1:7-8)
  2. Faith and Finances (1:9-11)
  3. Faith and Perseverance (1:12)
  4. Faith and Fatalism (1:13-18)

III. Applying the Word: Faith Within the Church (1:19–3:18)

• A. Summary/Main Theme: The Obedience of Faith (1:19-27)
• 1. Anger Vs. Obedience (1:19-21)
  2. Passivity Vs. Obedience (1:22-25)
  3. Speech and Obedience (1:26)
  4. The Impartiality of Obedience (1:27)
• B. Specifics (2:1–3:18)
• 1. Partiality Vs. Obedience (2:1-13)
• a. Summary (2:1)
  b. Hypothetical Situation: Rich and Poor Enter the Assembly (2:2-4)
  c. Rebuke for Showing Partiality (2:5-7)
  d. Conditions of Obedience (2:8-11)
  e. Principle (2:12-13)
• 2. Passivity Vs. Obedience (2:14-26)
• a. Summary (2:14)
  b. Hypothetical Situation: Impoverished Believer in your Midst (2:15-17)
  c. Rational Argument: Demons’ Faith is Passive (2:18-20)
  d. Biblical Argument: Abraham’s and Rahab’s Faith is Active (2:21-25)
  e. Principle (2:26)
• 3. Speech and Obedience (3:1-12)
• a. Summary: The Tongue as a Measure of Maturity (3:1-2)
  b. Argument by Analogy (3:3-12)
• 1) Analogy One: The Tiny Tongue (3:3-6)
• a) Bits in Horses’ Mouths (3:3)
  b) Rudders on Ships (3:4)
  c) Sparks and Forest Fires (3:5-6)
• 2) Analogy Two: The Tamed Tongue (3:7-8)
  3) Analogy Three: The Forked Tongue (3:9-12)
• a) Praising and Cursing (3:9-10)
  b) Fresh and Salt Water (3:11)
  c) Schizophrenic Produce (3:12)
• 4. The Wisdom of Obedience (3:13-18)

IV. Witnessing to Divine Providence (4:1–5:20)

• A. Summary/Main Theme: The Reward of Faith (4:1-10)
• 1. The Prayer of Faith (4:1-3)
  2. Friendship with the World (4:4-6)
  3. The Humility of Faith (4:7-10)
• B. Specifics (4:11–5:20)
• 1. Avoiding Worldly Influences (4:11–5:6)
• a. Slander in the Community (4:11-12)
  b. Boasting about Tomorrow (4:13-17)
  c. Warning to Wealthy Oppressors (5:1-6)
• 2. The Patience of Faith (5:7-12)
  3. The Prayer of Faith (5:13-20)

GETTING READY: To whom was James written?

The second book we'll be studying for the 2013-2014 season will be the epistle of James.  The next few weeks of the "Getting Ready" series, we will be considering the high-level questions about this book.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

To whom was the epistle to the James written?

Like Romans, James is quite up-front about who he is writing to:

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
James 1:1

Of course, "the twelve tribes in the Dispersion" is not exactly a phrase you hear every-day in 21st Century America.  So, let's take each piece by itself.

First, the "twelve tribes".  This is a common way for Jews of Jesus's time to talk about the descendants of Jacob.  Jacob had twelve sons whose descendants became 12 tribes who eventually conquered the whole land of Israel.  Genesis 49 does a good job of listing the 12 sons (although for complicated reasons, the 12 sons and 12 tribes don't always exactly match up).  The "twelve tribes" is shorthand for "all of the Jewish people."

Second, "the Dispersion".  In other translations, it says "the Diaspora" which you may have heard in history class.  Both words mean "the scattering".  Originally, all of the Jews on Earth were located in Israel.  Then came God's judgement in the form of Assyrian, Babylonian, and eventually Roman Empires.  Babylon, especially, had a policy of splitting up conquered peoples to different places to keep them from organizing into resistance.  So, by the time of Rome, the Jewish people were scattered - or dispersed - throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe.

So, "the twelve tribes in the Dispersion" roughly means "all of the Jewish people in all of the world."  And, from the context of the letter, we know he was talking to Jewish Christians, in the hope that one day all Jews would embrace Christ.

GETTING READY: When was the Epistle of James written?

The second book we'll be studying for the 2013-2014 season will be the epistle of James.  The next few weeks of the "Getting Ready" series, we will be considering the high-level questions about this book.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

When was the epistle of James written?

Unlike Paul's epistles, whose references can be fit into the narrative in Acts, James's letter is harder for scholars to pinpoint.  It was clearly written to Christians living in the first century (i.e. from 1 to 99 A.D.)  Various evidences indicate it was written between 47 and 60 A.D., possibly in the last years before James (brother of Jesus) was martyred in 62 A.D.  The book mentions the persecutions going on in Jerusalem as current affairs, which are recorded in Acts and elsewhere in church history.

GETTING READY: Who wrote the Epistle of James?

The second book we'll be studying for the 2013-2014 season will be the epistle of James.  The next few weeks of the "Getting Ready" series, we will be considering the high-level questions about this book.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

Who wrote the epistle of James?

Like the book of Romans, the epistle of James starts off telling us right away who the author was:  "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ"  (James1:1 ESV).  But unlike Paul, there isn't only one known early church leader by this name!  Jesus had two disciples who went by the name James:  James, son of Zebedee (brother of John) and James, son of Alphaeus.  However, it is unlikely that either of these men wrote this letter.  James, son of Zebedee, died about 44 A.D while this letter came after 60 A.D.  And while James, son of Alphaeus, is mentioned as an apostle, he is never mentioned again in scripture after the gospels and is not known among the church fathers as a writer of letters.

So, who is this mysterious writer?  Well, there is one other James who was quite prominent in the Early Church, mentioned repeatedly by other writers of the New Testament:  James, brother of Jesus!

• Matthew 13:55 mentions James as Jesus's brother
• Paul visited James in Acts 21
• In 1 Corinthians 15:7, Paul confirms that Jesus appeared to James after the resurrection.
• In Galatians 1:19, Paul confirms his visit to James.
• In Galatians 2:9, Paul indicates he views James as a "pillar" of the church.
• In Jude 1:1, the writer - also believed to be a brother of Jesus - identifies himself as a "brother of James"

(If it's not obvious, technically James would be the adoptive or half-brother of Jesus.  His mother was Mary, but his father was Joseph and not God.)

In fact, early church fathers are united in identifying James the brother of Jesus as the writer of this book.  So, all of the evidence points in the same direction.  And it is rare even among modern scholars to find anyone who has a different view.

GETTING READY: FTVs & Reference Questions

Before we jump into James, we wanted to get a few resources out to you for this upcoming year.  So, without further ado, here are some important links.  We'll be turning to James later in the week.

What are the Finish-the-Verse & Reference Questions for next Season?

We just got the list of FTV and Reference Questions for the 2013-2014 season, hot off the presses.  Click on either of the links below, or use the ones in the sidebar - both go the same place.  There is no pressure to start working on these now, but if you're bored in the mid-summer malaise, you have the option.

• Finish the Verses:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/0bm6s5l2fggpbwp/RomJamFTVCycle2013-14.doc
• Reference Questions:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/h9c5ivhfsv9x9dm/2013-2014_RomansJames_OfficialReferencesEFCA.pdf

GETTING READY: What is the layout to Romans?

The first book we'll be studying for the 2013-2014 season will be the epistle to the Romans.  The next few weeks of the "Getting Ready" series, we will be considering the high-level questions about this book.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

How is the epistle to the Romans laid out?

Last year, we studied the Gospel of Matthew so the structure of the book wasn't a big deal.  It was a story where event followed event.  Essentially, it was a biography of Jesus (though it had a point of view and an intended message).

This year, we are studying an epistle.  It's a letter that Paul wrote to real people in Rome (and he probably had no idea it would one day be included into the Bible as scripture).  He is trying to teach the Romans about Christianity, and address specific questions and problems that they had.  We study chapter by chapter, but Paul intended it to one whole lesson and argument.

Here is an excellent outline from Bible.Org:

III. Outline

I. Introduction: The Revelation of Righteousness (1:1-17)

• A. Salutation (1:1-7)
  B. Thanksgiving and Longing (1:8-15)
• 1. Paul’s Prayer of Thanks for the Romans (1:8-10)
  2. Paul’s Desire to Visit the Romans (1:11-15)
• C. The Theme of the Epistle (1:16-17)

II. Justification: The Imputation of Righteousness (1:18–5:11)

• A. Condemnation: The Universal Need of Righteousness (1:18–3:20)
• 1. The Guilt of the Gentiles (1:18-32)
• a. The Basis of Gentile Guilt (1:18-23)
  b. The Results of Gentile Guilt (1:24-32)
• 2. The Guilt of the Jews (2:1–3:8)
• a. The Stubbornness of the Jews (2:1-16)
  b. The Hypocrisy of the Jews (2:17-29)
  c. The Privilege of the Jews (3:1-8)
• 3. The Proof of Universal Guilt (3:9-20)
• B. Salvation: The Universal Provision of Righteousness (3:21–5:11)
• 1. Manifestation of the Universal Provision of Righteousness (3:21-26)
  2. Unification: The Universal God of Righteousness (3:27-31)
  3. Justification of Universal Justification: Proof from the Life of Abraham (4:1-25)
• a. Abraham Justified by Faith, not Works (4:1-8)
  b. Abraham Justified by Faith, not Circumcision (4:9-12)
  c. Abraham’s Seed Justified by Faith, not Law (4:13-17)
  d. Abraham Justified by Faith in the Promise (4:18-25)
• 1) Explanation of the Hope of Abraham (4:18-22)
  2) Application: Faith in Christ (4:23-25)
• 4. Exultation because of the Certainty of Justification (5:1-11)
• a. Present: Peace with God (5:1-5)
  b. Past: Powerlessness of Sinners (5:6-8)
  c. Future: Escape from God’s Wrath (5:9-11)

III. Sanctification: The Impartation of Righteousness (5:12–8:39)

• A. The Reign of Grace Vs. the Reign of Sin (5:12-21)
  B. The Rationale for Sanctification (6:1-23)
• 1. Union with Christ (6:1-14)
• a. The Divine Reckoning (6:1-10)
  b. The Believer’s Reckoning (6:11)
  c. The Believer’s Responsibility (6:12-14)
• 2. Enslavement to Righteousness (6:15-23)
• C. The Inability of the Flesh and the Law to Sanctify (7:1-25)
• 1. The Believer’s Relationship to the Law (7:1-6)
  2. The Law is Good but Sterile (7:7-13)
  3. The Flesh is Bad and Powerless (7:14-25)
• D. The Power of the Spirit to Sanctify (8:1-17)
• 1. Over Sin (8:1-8)
  2. Over Death (8:9-11)
  3. Over Slavery (8:12-17)
• E. The Goal of Sanctification (8:18-39)
• 1. Present Sufferings (8:18-27)
  2. Future Glory (8:28-30)
  3. Hymn of Assurance (8:31-39)

IV. Vindication of God’s Righteousness in His Relationship to Israel (9:1–11:36)

• A. God’s Past Dealings with Israel (9:1-33)
• 1. Preface: Paul’s Deep Sorrow because of Israel’s Great Privileges (9:1-5)
  2. The Grace of God’s Election (9:6-29)
• a. Seen in Israel’s History (9:6-13)
  b. Seen in Principle (9:14-29)
• 3. The Nation’s Rejection of the Messiah via Legalism (9:30-33)
• B. God’s Present Dealings with Israel (10:1-21)
• 1. Equality with the Gentiles (10:1-13)
  2. Obstinance of the Jews (10:14-21)
• C. God’s Future Dealings with Israel (11:1-33)
• 1. The Rejection is not Complete (11:1-10)
  2. The Rejection is not Final (11:11-32)
• a. The Present “Grafting” of Gentiles (11:11-24)
  b. The Future Salvation of Israel (11:25-32)
• 3. Doxology: In Praise of God’s Wisdom (11:33-36)

V. Application: God’s Righteousness at Work (12:1–15:13)

• A. In the Assembly (12:1-21)
• 1. The Consecrated Life (12:1-2)
  2. The Use of Spiritual Gifts (12:3-8)
  3. The Sincerity of Love (12:9-21)
• B. In the State (13:1-14)
• 1. In Relation to Authorities (13:1-7)
  2. In Relation to Neighbors (13:8-10)
  3. Because of our Eschatological Hope (13:11-14)
• C. In Relation to Weak Believers (14:1–15:13)
• 1. Judging and the Principle of Liberty (14:1-12)
  2. Stumbling Blocks and the Principle of Love (14:13-23)
  3. Selfishness and the Imitation of Christ (15:1-13)

VI. Conclusion: Paul’s Purpose, Plans and Praise in Connection with the Dissemination of Righteousness (15:14–16:27)

• A. Paul’s Mission Explained (15:14-33)
• 1. His Reason for Writing (15:14-16)
  2. His Work among the Gentiles (15:17-21)
  3. His Plan to Visit Rome (15:22-33)
• B. Final Greetings (16:1-27)
• 1. Greetings to Believers in Rome (16:1-16)
  2. Warnings about Divisive Brothers (16:17-20)
  3. Greetings from Believers with Paul (16:21-24)
  4. Final Benediction (16:25-27)

GETTING READY: To whom was Romans written?

The first book we'll be studying for the 2013-2014 season will be the epistle to the Romans.  The next few weeks of the "Getting Ready" series, we will be considering the high-level questions about this book.  If you have additional questions, don't be shy about e-mailing the coaches!

To whom was the epistle to the Romans written?

This again may seem like an obvious answer, given the title of the book, and the introduction from Paul in Romans 1:7:

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7

But what do we really know about the Roman church?  The book's content tells us a lot about them.

First, we know that Rome was a church that had started and thrived without having been planted by an apostle.  Paul, after his arrest in Acts 21, will eventually be sent to Rome as a prisoner and will bring the gospel to many people in the capital city.  But up until this time, they have had to make due with second-level teachers and leaders.  This explains why Romans sometimes reads like "Intro to Christianity", laying out the basics of the faith.  The Romans had never heard real doctrine before!

Second, we know that the Roman church contained both Jews and Gentiles (Gentiles - for those who may have forgotten - means "any non-Jew").  This created a good deal of tension in the church, because Jews observed the whole Mosaic law in addition to Christianity while Gentiles just wanted to follow the teachings of Jesus.  This pattern will be played out again and again in the early church, as Jewish Christians want to make Gentiles more Jewish, while Gentile Christians want to make Jews act more like Gentiles.  But this explains why Paul will spend a good deal of this book laying out the differences and similarities between Jew and Gentile.

Third, we know that Paul had high hopes for Rome.  If the capital of the Roman Empire were to become Christian, it greatly increased the possibility the gospel would eventually reach the whole Roman world.  At this time in history, the Empire reached from Spain in the East to India in the West, from Britain in the North to Africa in the South.  It was the greatest empire that had ever existed, and offered a chance to communicate the gospel in a common language to the whole known world.