One modern Western way of reading the Bible is to find “propositions” (declarative statements of truth about any state of affairs). Then, from the discovered propositions, inferences are made, conclusions are drawn, formal organized statements of beliefs are created (doctrines).

It is inevitable for the human mind to do this. Another way to interact with the Scriptures is to allow them to become a means by which the reader has an encounter with The Person(s) of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Person centered approach does not deny the Propositional way, rather, it allows the propositions made in Scriptures to become the supernatural ladder by which we climb and interact with God, Person(s) to person.

The writings of John will serve as the introduction to the Person(s) centered approach to the words of God as the means by which we get to know personally (not just about) the Persons of God, and especially Jesus as The Word.

NOTE FROM DR. GEIB:

Dear Westminster Class:

I made an inadvertent mistake today. I meant to say that certain followers of Islam associate the coming of the Messiah with the coming of Jesus as well, and it will be Jesus that destroys the forces of evil. I appear to have said that certain followers of Islam think that Jesus is the coming Messiah, which I did not mean to say or imply. Thanks for your patience, Agape

John