Sermon St.Mary　Magdala Society Toyohashi

Bible StudyCONCEPT

Bible Study

Japanese Bible Study.

There is a long tradition for Japanese to participate in English Bible Study to improve their English. Such people are welcome to participate in this Bible Study, where factors relevant to a better comprehension of the English language are also taught. Japanese Christians and those interested in having a greater understanding of the Bible, traditionally like to study through the medium of English, because they frequently find concepts or ideas are easier to comprehend in English than in Japanese.

Participating in the Bible Study is free. Although it is a ladies’ group, all are welcome to come, stay or go as they please. 　　　

Teacher
Reverend Ivan Cosby (Rector)
The Church of Ireland (Traditional Rite)

Timing

classes are held on Saturdays on ‘Zoom’ every two weeks, usually the 2nd and 4th week of each month.
The class period lasts 11⁄2 hrs.
In Winter between last week-end in October to last weekend of the following March.
The Bible Class starts at 07:00 hrs GMT (16:00 hrs Japan Time.)
In Summer between the last weekend of March to the last week-end of the following October, the Bible Class starts at 07:00 hrs British Summer Time (15:00 hrs Japan Time)

Format

The class starts with Prayer in English
The passage of Scripture to be studied is read aloud by the students
Vocabulary / Grammar / Pronunciation / Comprehension is respectively explained and corrected.
What can be learned from the passage, its theological significance etc is explained and discussed verse by verse in English.
The explanations and teaching is then translated into Japanese
Questions arising are discussed in English / Japanese
The class ends with prayer in Japanese.

Bible Used

English Good News Bible is read in class because the language has been simplified and is of a level that best suits the language ability of the class.
The teaching and instruction, however, is based on the Authorised Version (King James Bible.) This is because the Authorised Version, being based on the Received Texts is considered more reliable than translations that rely heavily on either or both the Codex Sinaiticus or Codex Vaticanus.
Where a passage in the Good News translation conveys a different meaning to that found in the Authorised version, the difference is explained.

Current Subject of Study: St John’s Gospel

Miscellaneous