Podcast #6 Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream and the Gentile Empires
Archive for May, 2008
Podcast #6 Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
May 29, 2008Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
May 26, 2008Daniel went before King Nebuchadnezzar to interpret his dream with the vision God had given him in the night. Not only did the king want his dream interpreted, he also wanted the interpreter to tell him what he had dreamed so he could trust the interpretation. Not only did Daniel’s life depend on it, but the lives of his three friends and the lives of all the magi in Babylon did as well.
An Introduction to the Book of Daniel
May 23, 2008The Book of Daniel is an excellent example of Old Testament Apocalyptic Literature. While it gives us several descriptions of apocalyptic visions with all the symbolic imagery we associate with apocalyptic literature, it also gives us historical details of the life the Jews led during the Babylonian Captivity, especially for those in the Babylonian royal court. The prophecies in the Book of Daniel are highly significant, especially to the study of eschatology. However, the book is also seen by many as very controversial.
Podcast #5 Introduction to the Book of Daniel
May 15, 2008Podcast #5 – Introduction to the Book of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
How to Interpret Scripture
May 13, 2008The methods for the interpretation of Scripture, called “Scriptural Exegesis,” have gone through numerous changes throughout the ages. Disputes arose early in the Church between those favoring a literalist interpretation and those favoring a more allegorical or “spiritual” interpretation method.[i] It is very obvious that some passages of the Sacred text simply cannot be taken completely literally. On the other hand, it seemed reasonable to assume that those passages dealing with historical events should be given a literal interpretation. There have always been those, however, who have attempted to give, even to those elements of Scripture that seem obviously symbolic, a radically literal interpretation and those who would give even the simplest event in the Scriptures a radically spiritual explanation.
Through the majority of Church history, theology was an outgrowth of exegesis, and the Scriptures were interpreted according to those theological principles. Exegesis was done, primarily, by the clergy and even university theologians were usually priests. Their interpretations were then conveyed to the laity by parish priests. So the Scriptures aided in the development of theology and theology aided in the interpretation of Scripture. Without the Teaching Authority of the Magisterium and Sacred Tradition, one cannot properly interpret Sacred Scripture.[ii]
Podcast #4 – Apocalyptic Literature and Biblical Prophecy
May 7, 2008Podcast #4 Apocalyptic Literature and Biblical Symbolism
Introduction to Biblical Prophecy – Part 3
May 7, 2008Biblical prophecy is difficult to interpret, as noted in our last article. So many Catholics simply shy away from any study of it whatsoever. Their attitude seems to be, “God will do whatever He wants to do anyway, so why should I even bother with it?” After all, if all the theologians and “experts” can’t seem to agree on what it means, what chance would the average Catholic have?
However, prophecy makes up some 35% of all the Scriptures. That’s more than one-third of the Bible, and that’s a lot of God’s word to ignore. It was important enough for God to give these prophecies and to preserve them for thousands of years, so they must be pretty important.
Podcast #3 – Interpreting Biblical Prophecy
May 1, 2008Podcast #3 Interpreting Biblical Prophecy
Introduction to Biblical Prophecy – Part 2
May 1, 2008In order to discuss specific Biblical prophecies in any meaningful way, we must first understand the nature of Biblical prophecy. We must know what Biblical prophecy is and what it is not. There appears to be a basic misunderstanding about the nature and purpose of Biblical prophecy that extends, not only to the average lay person, but which also includes many in the scholarly community.
