NAVIGATING

 History and design of The Lutheran Study Bible (TLSB).  Why a Study Bible?  Getting to know the rigging and cargo, the basic tools in TLSB.  Applying the basic tools.  Guest Speaker, Rev. Dr. Steve Mueller.  Setting sail beyond the basics.  The TLSB in the Christian life.

 The story of TLSB has a rich history, stemming back to Luther and the Reformation.  Audio from Rev. Paul McCain, publisher and executive director of the editorial department of Concordia Publishing House.  Listen for historical highlights.  Why is it important to begin with a brief look at the history of TLSB?  Turn to the foreword on page xi of your study bibles.

This is the story of The Lutheran Study Bible. It is a story that began with a pastor’s desire to help people understand the Word of God and the Gospel message that permeates it throughout. May God bless all who use The Lutheran Study Bible so that they “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

 The story begins in 1521 in the Wartburg Castle with Luther:  New Testament published in September  The “Luther Bible”, including the Old Testament, was published in  Study bibles are historical, catechetical and scriptural. See Acts 8:  The “Bach Bible” prepared by Abraham Calov.  Dr. C.F.W. Walther and the Altenburg Bible.  Concordia Self Study Bible, with NIV translation.  The planning and development of TLSB.

Whoever believes and holds to Christ’s Word, heaven stands open to him, hell is shut, the devil imprisoned, sins are forgiven, and he is a child of eternal life. That is what this book teaches you – the Holy Scripture – and no other book on earth. - Martin Luther

You must always God’s Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle and the Word does not sound, the devil breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. On the other hand, the Word is so effective that whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used it is bound never to be without fruit. It always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not lazy or dead, but are creative, living words. – Martin Luther

 Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark learn and inwardly digest them that, by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.  What does this collect teach us about the study of God’s Word?  This prayer and others can be found in the front and back cover of TLSB.  Luther’s Prayer to Receive the Word.  In general, what the purpose of using a study bible?

 It’s repeated for a reason.  Think of the center of the circle as the verse you are looking at. Chapter, book, testament, etc. all are part of the context. context

 In other words, “what does this mean?”  One of the main features of a study bible are the commentary notes.  What purpose(s) do these commentary notes serve?  What questions would we ask to understand the context of John 12:12-19?

 Turn to page xxvi in the first pages of your TLSB.  The Lord speaks through His Word.  The Lord speaks through the words of the Bible.  The Lord speaks in two ways: Law and Gospel.  The Lord makes promises and fulfills His Word.  Taking a closer look at God’s two-fold Word of Law and Gospel. Turn to page xxxi in TLSB.

THE LAWTHE GOSPEL  Command/threat.  Shows our sin.  Lex semper accusat, the Law always accuses.  Slavery.  Kills and destroys  Conditional.  God’s secondary work ( alien ).  Results in pride or despair.  Promise.  Shows our Savior.  The Gospel acquits and declares us not guilty.  Freedom.  Brings to life and recreates.  Unconditional.  God’s primary work ( proper ).  Divine comfort and trust.

Getting to know the rigging and cargo, the basic tools of The Lutheran Study Bible.

 We start at the very beginning…the table of contents.  Front matter.  Major divisions of the Bible.  End matter,

 The Books of Moses  The Books of History  The Books of Wisdom and Poetry  The Books of the Prophets  The Gospels  The Pauline Epistles  General Epistles  Each division has an introduction. For example, turn to page 3 of TLSB.

“The unity of Scripture is not imposed upon Scripture but found there” – Robert Preus.  From page 3, turn to page 1 for quotations on the Old Testament.  Turn to page xlv; a brief look at the Unity of Scripture.  The introduction to the New Testament is found on page  Page 1551 begins a treatment of the time between the testaments and the Apocrypha.

 Engravings illustrate the text. See page xiii.  Many of the tools are similar to those in the Concordia Self-Study Bible. See page xviii.  Take a closer look at some of the unique features in TLSB on page xx-xxiii.

 The Trinity Icon marks the passages about the triune God and Old Testament prophecies.  The Word and Sacrament icon marks passages about the means of grace.  The Mission icon marks passages about the Gospel and its effect.  The Law and Gospel icon indicates a summary and application of the Law and the Gospel in a given text, useful for devotion and study.

 The Introductions to each book of the Bible.  Chronology and overview.  Engraving that illustrate the text.  Luther’s preface to the book.  Challenges and blessings for readers.  Outline for the book.  Introductions that are more devotional than academic.  The footnotes are written by Lutheran pastors, professors and theologians, not re-cycled, borrowed or sifted.  Luther’s Small Catechism, page xxxiii.

 Brief essays for reading, understanding and applying the Bible in our daily lives - page xxv.  Devotional prayers included in the footnotes after every reading.  A two-year reading plan for the entire Bible - page lix.  Quotations from Luther, Lutheran church and early church fathers throughout the footnotes.

 A robust concordance on page 2243 of TLSB.  The English Standard Version translation.  Section headings are not inspired; they can be both helpful and harmful.  Cross reference system in the center column.  Footnotes, including commentary and translation variances when available.

 An outline of church history, page  A map of mission and challenges of early and medieval Christianity, page  The spread of Lutheran mission work timeline and map, page

 Look at Matthew 3 & 4.  Find the theological icons used throughout the footnotes. All four icons are used.  To whom and to what do these icons point?  How do they help us study God’s Word?  How could they become a crutch?

 See Hebrews 9:24-28, the epistle reading from Nov. 8 th.  In the footnote for 9:24, the word copies (Greek word for type) is explained.  Since we might want to look more at what the biblical usage of the word “type” is, we are directed to page  The right hand column of page 1904 has a brief definition of type.

 Back to Hebrews 9:  Notice the Law & Gospel icon in the bottom left hand column.  How is this section of Scripture used devotionally?  What is the Law?  What is the Gospel?

 Page 839.  Chronology of the psalms at the top of the page.  Overview down the left-hand column.  Extensive quotations from Luther.  Page 840 includes names of psalmists and their respective psalms.  Hebrew names for Psalms, page 841. Statue of David

 Key terms and phrases in the Psalms are found on page  Challenges and blessings for readers.  A table of Psalms for daily prayer and devotion.  Categories of the Psalms, page 846. A scroll of the Old Testament

 Turn to Mark 13:24-37, today’s Gospel reading.  The bold numbers in the center column correspond to the verses. They also overflow.  Let’s look at verse 26, “And they will see…”  Notice the superscripted letters “p” and “q”. These letters guide us to parallel passages.  What phrase from verse 26 does the letter “p” point to in the center column?  What about the letter “q”?

MARK 13:26 DANIEL 7:13 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man and he cam to the Ancient of Days and he was presented before him.

MARK 13:26BMARK 9:1 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And He said to them, Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.

 Useful for doing word studies, for example, on the word, “son” in Scripture.  Turn to page  Today’s Gospel reading talked about the Son of Man. Where else do we find the “Son of Man” language in Scripture?  How would the concordance be a tool to learn more about this phrase in Scripture?

 Turn to page lxxix ( Roman numeral 79 ).  Let’s take a deeper look at the topic of “the Last Days.” Turn to page lxxxv.  What Scripture passages are we pointed to?  What other topical headings might be related to the topic of the Last Day?

 Begins on page lxv (Roman numeral 65).  Includes:  Abbreviation list for Bible books, authors and citations.  Articles and chart lists – page lxxi.  A list of maps in the TLSB – page lxxiv.  Place-names of the Bible – page lxxv.  Biblical chronology and world history – page xcii ( Roman numeral 92).

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you have learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.