Great Adventure Notes - September 23, 2010

To view ALL Great Adventure entries go to: 
http://catholicnotebook.blogspot.com/search/label/Great%20Adventure


Yes, I am doing the Great Adventure Bible Study again! I learn something new every time -- I remember things that were tucked away somewhere deep in my brain! Most importantly,  I fall more deeply in love with Scripture.


I will be recording some notes, questions and answers, definitions, important references and resources here for class use. Let the fun begin!

Definitions:

Typology (in Scripture): the doctrine or study of types or prefigurative symbols.

Prefigure: to show or represent beforehand by a figure or type; foreshadow.

Foreshadow: to represent, indicate, or typify beforehand

Christocentric: Christ-centered, Concentrating on Christ.

Deuterocanonical:   The 7 books that Protestants took out of the Bible
It should be noted that protocanonical and deuterocanonical are modern terms, not having been used before the sixteenth century. *1

Mnemonics help you recall facts and remember things with minimal effort.  Mnemonics are highly efficient as learning or memorizing strategy!
The multi-colored beaded bracelet used in the Great Adventure Bible Study is an example of a mnemonic (pronounced: new-mon-ic) device.

Important Quote

"Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." St. Jerome 

General Notes

Where does Scripture fit into Catholicism? 

It is meant to be lived in on a daily basis.

The Word of God comes to us in Scripture and Tradition.  the Jews posess written and oral word -- Moses as an example. We carry on with this as Jesus did (and Paul did).

The Bible is the inspired word of God -- in Hebrew the definition for inspired is "God breathed."

Inspired by God means that the Holy Spirit is the principal author. 

66 in Protestant Bible (They took out 7 that they call the Apocrypha)

73 Books in our Bible (Those 7 books are called the Deuterocanonical)

We have maintained these since the Councils of Rome, Hippo and Cathage  (etc.)

Council of Rome (382)

The Church decided upon a canon of 46 Old Testament books and 27 in the New Testament.

Council of Hippo (393)

Local North African Church council in union with and under the authority of the Bishop of Rome approved a list of OT and NT canon (same as later approved by the Council of Trent 1546)

Council of Carthage (397)

Local North African Church council in union with and under the authority of the Bishop of Rome approved a list of OT and NT canon (same as later approved by the Council of Trent 1546)

Note: At the Council of Rome in 382, the Church decided upon a canon of 46 Old Testament books and 27 in the New Testament. This decision was ratified by the councils at Hippo (393), Carthage (397, 419), II Nicea (787), Florence (1442), and Trent (1546).

We Catholics are people of The Word -- The Living Word -- Jesus Christ.
The word in fullness is Scripture and Tradition. . . . what was passed on to us by the Apostles

The CCC
has 4 pillars (look at the order - important)

1. Creed (lion's share of the CCC-largest part)
2. Sacraments and Liturgy
3. Moral Law (10 Commandments)
4. Prayer

1. Creed: Salvation History - the big picture - our story
2. Sacraments and Liturgy - that how you get into the story and means of grace to STAY in the story
3. Moral Law - your personal script. How to conduct yourself.
4. Prayer - Christianity is not a solitary spirit. How God finds us.


The Bible
Poetic literature
Prophetic literature
Historical literature
Epistles literature
Apocryphal literature
Gospel literature

It is Important to Know Your Story
Do you know where you came from?

Where you are?

Where you are going?

Why and how?

 . . . . example -young girls flocking to the movie, The Titanic. Going more than once. Because it was the story and they didn't have a story.

Salvation History is our story!

GOOD TO KNOW THE NARRATIVE - Many have lost the narrative thread. 

. . . . . the funny example of trying to read Gone with the Wind without the storyline

What Great Adventure Bible Study Does

It simplifies. We take the big picture and reduce it to 12 periods of salvation history. These 12 time periods can be easily memorized (use any of the mnemonics: colors, names of time periods, bracelet, bookmark, fold-out timeline, chart on pg 39).

The Organization of the Time Line (from top to bottom):

The 12 Period's names

Supplemental Books 

Narrative Books 

God's Family Plan: Covenant Periods 

Northern Countries

The Land of Canaan (50 miles west to east & 150 miles north to south)

Southern & Egypt

World Power
Secular History

SOURCES & more resources: 
Defending the Deuterocanonical - an article by Jason Evert
*1 - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03267a.htm 
Catholic Apologetics Notebook -  
http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap010100.htm 

Vatican Timeline

I found this Vatican Timeline at VaticanTimeline.com. I thought it looked like a great Easter present for the family. At $25.00 it isn't inexpensive but looks to be of high quality.

Has anyone any experience with this company?

They also offer a Vatican Board Game. The author is Stephen Haliczer is a Distinguished Research Professor at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. Dr. Haliczer received his B.A. from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, and his Ph.D. from St. Andrew's University in Fifeshire, Scotland.

Here is an interesting quote of Haliczer's:

"The Vatican board game really is an effort to dispel some of the mythology surrounding the Catholic Church. In popular culture there’s not only a great deal of curiosity about the inner workings of the Catholic Church, there’s also a great deal of confusion because of the secretive nature of some of its deliberations and processes. . . . I think (playing this game will help people) understand a great deal more about it, and they’ll see that the process involves a careful nurturing of talent over a long period of time. In other words the cardinals that do emerge as possible papal material are cardinals that are seasoned. They have a distinguished record in a pastoral sense as archbishops. For example Pope Benedict XVI, as Archbishop of Munich, was very widely respected in his role as pastoral leader. And then they have experience in two very important areas, serving in episcopal organizations like bishops conferences and synods on the one hand, and serving the central administration of the church, the curia. My game reflects that."

H/T to VoxNova's contributor Blackladder for this find. Original VoxNova post here.

Pope Gloria Olivæ (Glory of the Olives)

The most famous and best known prophecies about the popes are those attributed to St. Malachy. St. Malachy of Ireland was born in 1094 and died in 1148. After entering the priesthood at the age of 25, he quickly rose through the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, ultimately attaining the position of Archbishop of Armagh by the time he was 35 years old. It was said that we was a healer and a worker of miracles. But throughout the ages, he has been remembered for his extraordinary gift of prophesy.

In 1139 he went to Rome to give an account of the affairs of his diocese to the pope, Innocent II. While in Rome, he received (according to the Abbé Cucherat) a powerful vision of the future wherein was unfolded before his mind the long list of illustrious pontiffs who were to rule the Church until the end of time.

Malachy’s final prophesy reads:
In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oues in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis ciuitas septicollis diruetur, & Iudex tremêdus iudicabit populum suum.
Finis.

TRANSLATION: In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people.
The End.

St. Malachy gave his manuscripts to Pope Innocent II and they remained unknown in the Roman Archives until its discovery in 1590 (Cucherat, "Proph. de la succession des papes", ch. xv). They were first published by Arnold de Wyon, and ever since there has been much discussion as to whether they are genuine predictions of St. Malachy or forgeries. Some summize that the silence of 400 years on the part of so many learned authors who had written about the popes, and the silence of St. Bernard especially, who wrote the "Life of St. Malachy", is a strong argument against the authenticity of the manuscripts. This is not at all conclusive if we adopt Cucherat's theory that they were hidden in the Archives during those 400 years.
These short prophetical announcements, in number 112, indicate some noticeable trait of all future popes from Pope Celestine II, who was elected in the year 1130, until the end of the world. They are enunciated under mystical titles.

Those who have undertaken to interpret and explain these symbolical prophecies have succeeded in discovering some trait, allusion, point, or similitude in their application each pope. The symbolism is tied to a Pontiff's country, name, coat of arms or insignia; birth-place, talent or learning, the title of his cardinalate, the dignities which he held etc.

For example:

• The prophecy concerning Urban VIII is Lilium et Rosa (the lily and the rose); he was a native of Florence and on the arms of Florence figured a fleur-de-lis; he had three bees emblazoned on his escutcheon, and the bees gather honey from the lilies and roses.


• Again, the name accords often with some remarkable and rare circumstance in the pope's career; thus Peregrinus apostolicus (pilgrim pope), which designates Pius VI, appears to be verified by his journey when pope into Germany, by his long career as pope, and by his expatriation from Rome at the end of his pontificate.

Those who have lived and followed the course of events in an intelligent manner during the pontificates of Pius IX, Leo XIII, and Pius X cannot fail to be impressed with the titles given to each by the prophecies of St. Malachy and their wonderful appropriateness:

• Crux de Cruce (Cross from a Cross) Pius IX
• Lumen in cælo (Light in the Sky) Leo XIII
• Ignis ardens (Burning Fire) Pius X

There is something more than coincidence in the designations given to these three popes so many hundred years before their time. We need not have recourse either to the family names, armorial bearings or cardinalatial titles, to see the fitness of their designations as given in the prophecies.

Crux de Cruce (Cross from a Cross) Pope Pius IX: The afflictions and crosses of Pius IX were more than fell to the lot of his predecessors; and the more aggravating of these crosses were brought on by the House of Savoy whose emblem was a cross.

Lumen in cælo (Light in the Sky) Pope Leo XIII see picture right~~> Pope Leo XIII was a veritable luminary of the papacy.

Ignis ardens (Burning Fire) Pius X: Quote from the Catholic Encyclopedia 1913 edition: "The present pope (Pius X) is truly a burning fire of zeal for the restoration of all things to Christ."

Again, the last of these prophecies concerns the end of the world: "In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End."

It has been noticed concerning Petrus Romanus ("Peter the Roman"), who according to St. Malachy's list is to be the last pope, that the prophecy does not say that no popes will intervene between him and his predecessor designated Gloria olivæ (Glory of the Olives). It merely says that he is to be the last. Cornelius a Lapide refers to this prophecy in his commentary "On the Gospel of St. John" (C. xvi) and "On the Apocalypse" (cc. xvii-xx), and he endeavours to calculate according to it the remaining years of time.

Here are The Prophecies. Info includes:
Pope Numbers 167 through 267
The Pope's Name (& Reign)
The Motto Numbers 1 through 111
Motto (and explanation)

167 Celestine II (1143-1144)
1 Ex castro Tyberis(from a castle on the Tiber)
Hist.: Celestin II was born in Citta di Castello, Toscany, on the shores of the Tiber

168 Lucius II (1144-1145)
2 Inimicus expulsus

169 Eugene III (1145-1153)
3 Ex magnitudine montis (Of the greatness of the mount)
Hist.: Born in the castle of Grammont (latin: mons magnus), his family name was Montemagno

170 Anastasius IV (1153-1154)
4 Abbas Suburranus

171 Adrian IV (1154-1159)
5 De rure albo (field of Albe)
Hist.: Born in the town of Saint-Alban

Antipope: Victor IV (1159-1164)
6 Ex tetro carcere

Antipope: Paschal III (1164-1168)
7 Via trans-Tyberina

Antipope: Calistus III (1168-1178)
8 De Pannonia Tusciæ

172 Alexander III (1159-1181)
9 Ex ansere custode

173 Lucius III (1181-1185)
10 Lux in ostio

174 Urban III (1185-1187)
11 Sus in cribo

175 Gregory VIII (1187)
12 Ensis Laurentii

176 Clement III (1187-1191)
13 De schola exiet

177 Celestine III (1191-1198)
14 De rure bovensi

178 Innocent III (1198-1216)
15 Comes signatus (signed Count)
Hist.: descendant of the noble Signy, later called Segni family

179 Honorius III (1216-1227)
16 Canonicus de latere

180 Gregory IX (1227-1241)
17 Avis Ostiensis (Bird of Ostia)
Hist.: before his election he was Cardinal of Ostia

181 Celestine IV (1241)
18 Leo Sabinus

182 Innocent IV (1243-1254)
19 Comes Laurentius

183 Alexander IV (1254-1261)
20 Signum Ostiense

184 Urban IV (1261-1264)
21 Hierusalem Campaniæ (Jerusalem of Champagne)
Hist.: native of Troyes, Champagne, later patriarch of Jerusalem

185 Clement IV (1265-1268)
22 Draca depressus

186 Gregory X (1271-1276)
23 Anguinus vir

187 Innocent V (1276)
24 Concionatur Gallus

188 Adrian V (1276)
25 Bonus Comes

189 John XXI (1276-1277)
26 Piscator Tuscus

190 Nicholas III (1277-1280)
27 Rosa composita

191 Martin IV (1281-1285)
28 Ex teloneo liliacei Martini

192 Honorius IV (1285-1287)
29 Ex rosa leonina

193 Nicholas IV (1288-1292)
30 Picus inter escas

194 Nicholas IV (1288-1292)
31 Ex eremo celsus (elevated from a hermit)
Hist.: prior to his election he was a hermit in the monastery of Pouilles

195 Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
32 Ex undarum benedictione

196 Benedict XI (1303-1304)
33 Concionator patereus

197 Clement V (1305-1314)
34 De fessis Aquitanicis (ribbon of Aquitaine)
Hist.: was archbishop of Bordeaux in Aquitaine

198 John XXII (1316-1334)
35 De sutore osseo(of the cobbler of Osseo)
Hist.: Family name Ossa, son of a shoe-maker

Antipope Nicholas V (1328-1330)
36 Corvus schismaticus (the schismatic crow)
Note the reference to the schism, the only antipope at this period

199 Benedict XII (1334-1342)
37 Frigidus Abbas (cold friar)
Hist.: he was a priest in the monastery of Frontfroid (coldfront)

200 Clement VI (1342-1352)
38 De rosa Attrebatensi

201 Innocent VI (1352-1362)
39 De montibus Pammachii

202 Urban V (1362-1370)
40 Gallus Vice-comes

203 Gregory XI (1370-1378)
41 Novus de Virgine forti (novel of the virgin fort)
Hist.: count of Beaufort, later Cardinal of Ste-Marie La Neuve

Antipope: Clement VII (1378-1394)
42 De cruce Apostilica

Antipope: Benedict XIII (1394-1423)
43 Luna Cosmedina

Antipope: Clement VIII (1423-1429)
44 Schisma Barcinonicum

204 Urban VI (1378-1389)
45 De Inferno pregnani (From the hell of Pregnani)
Hist.: He was a town called Inferno in the region of Pregnani.

205 Boniface IX (1389-1404)
46 Cubus de mixtione

206 Innocent VII (1404-1406)
47 De meliore sydere

207 Gregory XII (1406-1415)
48 Nauta de ponte nigro

Antipope: Alexander V (1409-1410)
49 Flagellum Solis

Antipope: John XXIII (1410-1415)
50 Cervus Sirenæ

208 Martin V (1417-1431)
51 Corona veli aurei

209 Eugene IV (1431-1447)
52 Lupa cælestina

Antipope: Felix V (1439-1449)
53 Amator crucis

210 Nicholas V (1447-1455)
54 De modicitate lunæ

211 Callistus III (1455-1458)
55 Bos pascens (grazing ox)
Hist.: Alphonse Borgia's arms sported a golden grazing ox

212 Pius II (1458-1464)
56 De capra et Albergo

213 Paul II (1464-1471)
57 De cervo et Leone

214 Sixtus IV (1471-1484)
58 Piscator Minorita

215 Innocent VIII (1484-1492)
59 Præcursor Siciliæ

216 Alexander VI (1492-1503)
60 Bos Albanus in portu

217 Pius III (1503)
61 De parvo homine

218 Julius II (1503-1513)
62 Fructus jovis juvabit

219 Leo X (1513-1521)
63 De craticula Politiana

220 Adrian VI (1522-1523)
64 Leo Florentius

221 Clement VII (1523-1534)
65 Flos pilæi ægri

222 Paul III (1534-1549)
66 Hiacynthus medicorum

223 Julius III (1550-1555)
67 De corona Montana

224 Marcellus II (1555)
68 Frumentum floccidum

225 Paul IV (1555-1559)
69 De fide Petri

226 Pius IV (1559-1565)
70 Æsculapii pharmacum

227 St. Pius V (1566-1572)
71 Angelus nemorosus

228 Gregory XIII (1572-1585)
72 Medium corpus pilarum

229 Sixtus V (1585-1590)
73 Axis in medietate signi

230 Urban VII (1590)
74 De rore cæli

231 Gregory XIV (1590-1591)
75 De antiquitate Urbis

232 Innocent IX (1591)
76 Pia civitas in bello

233 Clement VIII (1592-1605)
77 Crux Romulea

234 Leo XI (1605)
78 Undosus Vir

235 Paul V (1605-1621)
79 Gens perversa

236 Gregory XV (1621-1623)
80 In tribulatione pacis

237 Urban VIII (1623-1644)
81 Lilium et rosa

238 Innocent X (1644-1655)
82 Jucunditas crucis

239 Alexander VII (1655-1667)
83 Montium custos

240 Clement IX (1667-1669)
84 Sydus Olorum (constellation of swans)
Hist.: upon his election, he was apparently the occupant of the Chamber of Swans in the Vatican.

241 Clement X (1670-1676)
85 De flumine magno

242 Innocent XI (1676-1689)
86 Bellua insatiabilis

243 Alexander VIII (1689-1691)
87 Pœnitentia gloriosa

244 Innocent XII (1691-1700)
88 Rastrum in porta

245 Clement XI (1700-1721)
89 Flores circumdati

246 Innocent XIII (1721-1724)
90 De bona Religione

247 Benedict XIII (1724-1730)
91 Miles in bello

248 Clement XII (1730-1740)
92 Columna excelsa

249 Benedict XIV (1740-1758)
93 Animal rurale

250 Clement XIII (1758-1769)
94 Rosa Umbriæ

251 Clement XIV (1769-1774)
95 Ursus velox

252 Pius VI (1775-1799)
96 Peregrinus Apostolicus

253 Pius VII (1800-1823)
97 Aquila rapax

254 Leo XII (1823-1829)
98 Canis et coluber

255 Pius VIII (1829-1830)
99 Vir religiosus

256 Gregory XVI (1831-1846)
100 De balneis hetruriæ (bath of Etruria)
Hist.: prior to his election he was member of an order founded by Saint Romuald, at Balneo, in Etruria, present day Toscany.

257 Pius IX (1846-1878)
101 Crux de cruce (Cross of Crosses)
Hist.:Pius XI was the last Pope to reign over the Papal States (the middle third of what is today Italy). He ended up being a prisoner of the Vatican, never venturing outside Vatican City. A much heavier burden than his predecessors.

258 Leo XIII (1878-1903)
102 Lumen in cælo(Light in the Heavens)
Hist.: Leo XIII wrote encyclicals on Catholic social teaching that were still being digested 100 years later. He added considerably to theology.

259 St. Pius X (1903-1914)
103 Ignis ardens (ardent fire)
Hist.: The Pope had great personal piety and achieved a number of important reforms in the devotional and liturgical life of priests and laypeople.

260 Benedict XV (1914-1922)
104 Religio depopulata (Religion laid waste)
Hist.: This Pope reigned during the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia which store the establishment of Communism.

261 Pius XI (1922-1939)
105 Fides intrepida (Intrepid faith)
Hist.: This Pope stood up to Fascist and Communist forces lining up against him in the lead up to World War II.

262 Pius XII (1939-1958)
106 Pastor angelicus (Angelic Shepherd)
Hist.: This Pope was very mystical, and is believed to have received visions. People would kneel when they received telephone calls from him. His encyclicals add enormously to the understanding of Catholic beliefs (even if they are now overlooked because of focus on the Second Vatican Council, which occurred so soon after his reign).

263 John XXIII (1958-1963)
107 Pastor et Nauta(pastor and marine)
Hist.: prior to his election he was patriarch of Venice, a marine city, home of the gondolas

264 Paul VI (1963-1978)
108 Flos florum (flower of flowers)
Hist.: his arms displayed three lilies.

265 John Paul I (1978)
109 De medietate Lunæ (of the half of the moon)
Hist.: Albino Luciani, born in Canale d'Agardo, diocese of Belluno, (beautiful moon) Elected pope on August 26, his reign lasted about a month, from half a moon to the next half...

266 John Paul II (1978-2005)
110 De labore Solis (of the eclipse of the sun, or from the labour of the sun)
Hist.: Karol Wojtyla was born on May 18, 1920 during a solar eclipse. He also comes from behind the former Iron Curtain (the East, where the Sun rises). He might also be seen to be the fruit of the intercession of the Woman Clothed with the Sun labouring in Revelation 12 (because of his devotion to the Virgin Mary). His Funeral occurred on 8 April, 2005 when there was a solar eclipse visible in the Americas.


267 Benedict XVI (2005-)
111 Gloria olivæ
Hist.: A branch of the Benedictine order is called the Olivetans. The Holy Father chose the name "Benedict". He took the name Benedict, in part, to honour Benedict XV, a pope of peace and reconciliation. Perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the World, and thus carry the olive branch.

In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oves in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis civitas septicollis diruetur, & Judex tremêdus judicabit populum suum. Finis.
TRANSLATION: In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End.

sources: Catholic Encyclopedia 1913 edition, http://www.catholic-pages.com/,

Great Adventure Bible Study

To view ALL Great Adventure entries go to: 
http://catholicnotebook.blogspot.com/search/label/Great%20Adventure

I have just started The Great Adventure Bible Study Course by Jeff Cavin.

What a great way to study the Bible! The chronological story & timeline is taking us from covenant to covenant. Bible stories I have heard all of my life fit like puzzle pieces into the bigger story of salvation history. Here is the Basic Lesson Overview.

LESSON #1 – AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE

LESSON #2 – THE EARLY WORLD
Beginning “in the beginning,” Lesson #2 discusses what happened in the Garden of Eden. Moving through the common questions about creation, evolution, and Adam and Eve, this Lesson teaches how to read the first few chapters of Genesis and shows why understanding the beginning of the story is so essential to understanding our own role in it.

LESSON #3 – THE PATRIARCHS
In Lesson #3, we climb the family tree, taking a look at the historical narrative in Genesis, beginning with Abraham. We find out who “begat” whom and what this means to people living thousands of years later. This lesson also focuses on specific characters and how each of them, lived out the invitation to surrender to God and trust Him completely.
The question that reoccurs is, “Do you thrust your God?” That there are consequences to disobeying God become crystal clear.

LESSON #4 – EGYPT AND THE EXODUS, JOSHUA AND JUDGES
This lesson gives a fresh perspective on classic figures like Moses, obscure characters like Rahab, misunderstood personalities like Samson, and little known people like Ruth.

You will take a deeper look at the seemingly “tough love” of God, the hardness of the hearts of His children, and the merciful opportunity God gives us to start over after we fall.

LESSON #5 – THE KINGDOM OF GOD: UNITED AND DIVIDED
In Lesson #5, we learn what happens when God gives us what we want rather than what we need. Study will focus on the highs and lows of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, learning the lesson the children of God should have learned along the way: that there is a God and that “we are not Him.” Particular attention is paid to the themes of power, popularity, and pain as we examine the lives of the kings of Israel and Judah.

LESSON #6 – THE EXILE, THE RETURN, AND THE REVOLT
The sixth lesson walks through the little known periods of the Exile (to Babylon), the return to Israel, the rise of the Greek Empire, and the Maccabean Revolt. We discover some of the most exciting figures and situations in the entire Bible!

LESSON #7 – JESUS AND THE GOSPELS: THE MESSIANIC FULFILLMENT


This lesson offers everything people have been waiting for (even if they don’t yet know it)—a chance to encounter Jesus Christ in a personal way. Here we walk through the story of Christ, learning about Mary, St. Joseph, and others that Jesus touched. We are taught to look through an entirely new lens, one that shows us in a profound way just how much God really loves us. Far from being “the same old story,” this lesson draws life from the Bible texts and gives fresh breath to a Gospel that some may have long ago written off.

LESSON #8– THE EARLY CHURCH AND THE CHURCH TODAY
This final lesson begins with Jesus’ resurrection and walks through a brief history of the early Church. Focusing on the lives of the apostles and St. Paul, we will learn how the story of salvation history is still being lived out in our own lives and how we can “enter into” the story ourselves.. We'll see that we are not merely an “extra” in a movie but are playing a central role. Also, we will learn the importance of making prayer a regular part of our lives.





Theological Statement concerning The Great Adventure’s Approach to Scripture
The primary purpose of The Great Adventure Bible Study Series is to provide a simple catechesis to Catholics on Scripture. Although its authors and instructors are well-steeped in Catholic biblical scholarship, The Great Adventure is catechetical in nature and does not treat Scripture in an academic manner. The goal of the program is modest—namely, to introduce Catholics to Scripture and provide them with a basic biblical literacy.

Given its catechetical and evangelistic nature, The Great Adventure focuses on the final form of the text, using what is often referred to as a canonical or narrative approach to Scripture. This approach is common throughout the Catholic tradition. Hugh of St. Victor, for example, in his Didascalicon, writes that the best way to teach Scripture is to start with the narrative books so that the beginning student can grasp the overall story of the Bible before diving into more complicated matters. The list of books that Hugh suggests is nearly identical to the books used in The Great Adventure Bible Timeline study (see The Didascalicon of Hugh of St. Victor, book six, chapter three.) In 1993, the Pontifical Biblical Commission, in its document The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, observed that recent developments in biblical scholarship have emphasized canonical criticism, i.e., the final form of the text. This approach, both ancient and new, is characteristic of our method.

Although the catechetical nature of The Great Adventure commends the synchronic methods of biblical interpretation, we also fully embrace the diachronic methods that are indispensable to understanding the final form of the sacred text. In order to understand the intentions of the human authors, whom God inspired, one must be attentive to their historical circumstances, culture, and modes of writing (see Dei Verbum, no. 12). The text of Scripture must always be studied within its historical context. As such, The Great Adventure series always seeks to use history and its related fields of study to shed light on the biblical text. The authors of The Great Adventure therefore recognize and employ diverse methods to help discover both the human and divine aspects of Sacred Scripture.

Jeff Cavins developed The Great Adventure in 1984 when he realized that many Christians did not grasp “the big picture” of the Bible. Though people knew selected stories, they were not able to connect them into a full narrative. His answer was to identify the books of the Bible that tell the story from beginning to end. By reading just those 14 “narrative” books, a chronological story emerges. From this idea grew the immensely popular Bible Timeline program, that teaches the story in a way that is easy to remember, and helps people to continue reading Scripture on their own. Hundreds of thousands of people have learned to read the Bible through this system.

The Bible Timeline is Step One in a four-part foundational Bible study. Step Two, Adventures in Matthew: The King and His Kingdom, focuses on Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises of the Old Testament touching on Jesus’ establishment of the Church and the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Building on The Bible Timeline and Adventures in Matthew is Step Three, Adventures in Acts: Foundations of the Church and Spread of the Kingdom. By showing how Christ’s work continues through each of us in the Church today. Step 4, Adventures in Revelation completes the foundational series by demonstrating how the Kingdom established by Christ in the Church is intimately connected with the Kingdom of God in Heaven, especially through the celebration of the Mass.