What is intelligence? And how do we teach a subject so that people really learn it? These were the questions on the mind of Benjamin Bloom, Max Englehart, Edward Furst, Walter Hill, and David Krathwol when they collectively published a framework for education in 1956. It became known as Bloom’s Taxonomy and it has been with us ever since. It is most often described as a pyramid with six layers, each layer building on the one before it. The layers have slightly changed their definitions over the years. Here I have the most current representation:
The first/bottom layer is remembering (or knowledge). This is the ability to recall facts that you have learned ab
The second layer is named “understanding”. People on this step are able to explain or describe the concepts.
The third layer is the application layer. On this step people can use what they have learned to apply it to new situations.
The fourth layer is called “analysis.” It is here where people can draw connections among ideas. The tried and true “compare and contrast” language lives here.
The fith layer is the evaluation layer. Here you can use what you have learned to justify a decision.
The final/top layer is the create layer. People who make it here can use what they have learned to create new work associated with their mastery of the subject.
Now, where do you think most people are on this list when it comes to bible study?
I asked this of my class and was told most people are on just the first level. We are lucky sometimes to even be that far. So what can we do to get better at bible study? How can we climb that pyramid of Boom’s taxonomy when it comes to biblical learning? For that I think we can turn to something much older than Bloom and company. We can go all the way back to Socrates.
The Socratic method is a way of learning in which the people simply ask questions. There is no lecturer at the head of a classroom here. Just a number of people who ask pertinent questions about the subject in an attempt to learn more.
So let’s take a passage from the bible and apply this method to it. Maybe we will all learn something.
John 8:1-11
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Let the questions begin.
Why bring this woman to Jesus? What if Jesus had not been there teaching that day? What would have happened to her? Wouldn’t they just bring her to be accused by the courts? And where were the Romans? Weren’t they in charge? Jesus was later brought to Pilate, but the only reason that happened is that the Jews couldn’t do it without help from the Romans. So isn’t it curious that no Romans were around?
Was this a test then, for Jesus? If he had said “stone her,” couldn’t the crowd have used that as fodder to show he had no compassion? And if he said “let her go,” wouldn’t they have said he was against the Jewish law?
What about the man? Here is the law from Leviticus:
Leviticus 20:10
10 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.
That seems plain and simple, doesn’t it? Both people are to be put to death. Why bring just one person? Was there ever a real crime to begin with, or could this have just been a setup, with the woman in on it?
What are the practical consequences of Jesus’ answer? Who is without sin? How can we have a system of justice at all when we know everyone is flawed in some way? What is the role of compassion in the courts?
Jesus’ only commandment to the woman is to go and leave her life of sin. Is this a miracle of sorts? Do you think her life was changed by this? How would you respond if you were freed from punishment by God and told to leave your sinful life?
Did you learn anything? If so, I hope you keep it up. This is a great way to dive deep into bible study.
God Bless