January 1. Reading the NT Together

ResilieNT New Testament Reading Plan

Kicks off: Monday, January 4th

In Acts 8:34-35, we read about the power of communal Bible study:

“Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.

‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.’

The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.'“

This reminds me of a chapter in Sitting At The Feet Of Rabbi Jesus. The chapter, “Get Yourself Some Haverim,” introduces the vital concept of communal Bible study:

“If you crack open the door of an Orthodox Jewish Yeshiva (seminary) study hall, you might expect to be greeted by utter silence. After all, the students need to learn massive amounts of information. But if you anticipate a scene in which all heads are bowed, with each student pouring silently and intently over the ancient texts, you will be mistaken. Instead what will greet you is the din of multiple conversations. Pairs of students will be standing at podiums facing each other, animatedly discussing the fine points of each text. Bespeckled students will have one hand poised over an open volume while the other hand gestures wildly, the debate waxing and waning. If one student doesn't understand the passage, the other tries to explain it. Together they think of possible interpretations of the text. This gathering of students is called havruta, and each student is studying with a haver to master the text.

At first glance, this seems like such a strange study technique. But through the ages Jewish thinkers have considered it vital to study the Scriptures in the presence of other people. A famous line of rabbinnic advice before Jesus's time was this: "acquire for yourself a rabbi, and get yourself a haver." In ordinary usage, the word haver can simply mean a companion or a close friend. But here it actually means someone who is willing to partner with you in grappling with scripture and with the rabbinic texts.

As critical as it was to suited with a rabbi, it was considered essential to have one or tow people who could learn right along with you.”

We all have easy access to some Haverim. Let’s make the most of it throughout 2021 as we roll deep in God’s Word.