Instant "like" on this one. I belong to a large-group study (shrinking now as we lose the older folks) where I repeat this over and over again, also, especially in the NT, pointing out the connecting words that relate the statement in which they appear to others.
The chapter and verse numbers are useful as coordinates for locating a passage. I use them for that and ignore them otherwise.
For any kind of deep study, the original languages are important. Essential, I would say. Looking up a lexical form in Strong's doesn't do it, especially for those who don't know what a lexical form is, or a gloss. High-quality original-language commentaries are available, in varying grades according to the reader's proficiency in the languages.
But that would require an awful lot of time, trouble, and expense to go to just to get a good feeling from "reading the Bible". (If Paul can wax sarcastic, so can I.) Although, after being in that large group for several years, pointing out, when necessary what the original texts actually say and how they connect, and what other scriptures they derive from, working from my commentaries and lexicons (electronic media on a tablet PC that I can carry with me), I do get a fair number of inquiries from certain of the group members that want to understand more clearly what they are reading.
Your final sentence warms my heart! It really does.
I sense the Holy Spirit is straightening out the mess we made, perhaps in most cases, with well-meaning intent. But that doesn't mean there still isn't a mess and Jeremiah 29:11 is the classic example of this. Much money has been made hawking this "verse" as a promise from God to individual American Christians and sadly, most simply did not have the maturity or discernment to view it in its context. And so they plopped down $29.95 for the plaque on the wall! :)
Then, you'll need someway to understand culture - and this is a little more challenging depending on the detail you're looking for and able to see through the biases. I recommend reading Christian and Non-Christians writers on this. Here's my partial book list.
Booklist
What if Jesus was serious about the church – Jethani
The Churches the Apostles Left Behind – Brown
A new History of Early Christianity – Freeman
The Community of the Bloved Disciple – Brown
The Rse of Christianity – Stark
Early Christian Doctrines – Kelly
Cultural Christian in the Early Church – Williams
Early Christianity and it Sacred Literature – McDonald & Stanley
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes – Richards & O’Brien
The Rise of Western Christendom – Brown
Perpetua’s Passon – Salisbury
Essentials of Newt Testament Greek – Summers (For grammar and parsing)
Instant "like" on this one. I belong to a large-group study (shrinking now as we lose the older folks) where I repeat this over and over again, also, especially in the NT, pointing out the connecting words that relate the statement in which they appear to others.
The chapter and verse numbers are useful as coordinates for locating a passage. I use them for that and ignore them otherwise.
For any kind of deep study, the original languages are important. Essential, I would say. Looking up a lexical form in Strong's doesn't do it, especially for those who don't know what a lexical form is, or a gloss. High-quality original-language commentaries are available, in varying grades according to the reader's proficiency in the languages.
But that would require an awful lot of time, trouble, and expense to go to just to get a good feeling from "reading the Bible". (If Paul can wax sarcastic, so can I.) Although, after being in that large group for several years, pointing out, when necessary what the original texts actually say and how they connect, and what other scriptures they derive from, working from my commentaries and lexicons (electronic media on a tablet PC that I can carry with me), I do get a fair number of inquiries from certain of the group members that want to understand more clearly what they are reading.
Your final sentence warms my heart! It really does.
I sense the Holy Spirit is straightening out the mess we made, perhaps in most cases, with well-meaning intent. But that doesn't mean there still isn't a mess and Jeremiah 29:11 is the classic example of this. Much money has been made hawking this "verse" as a promise from God to individual American Christians and sadly, most simply did not have the maturity or discernment to view it in its context. And so they plopped down $29.95 for the plaque on the wall! :)
Thanks for this… do you have a resource list for the “high-quality original language commentaries…. in varying grades”?
Here's those I have on my shelf or have used
- "Rodney J. Decker's "Reading Koine Greek: An Introduction and Integrated Workbook"
- The New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT) (Eerdmans)
- The New International Greek Testament Commentary (NIGTC) (Eerdmans)
- Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary (1871, updated editions)
There are a number of interlinear bibles that will provide you with Koine, Aramaic and Ancient Hebrew - this is where I start.
Then, there a many online tools like a good lexicon: https://www.koinegreek.com/koine-greek-dictionary
Then, you'll need someway to understand culture - and this is a little more challenging depending on the detail you're looking for and able to see through the biases. I recommend reading Christian and Non-Christians writers on this. Here's my partial book list.
Booklist
What if Jesus was serious about the church – Jethani
The Churches the Apostles Left Behind – Brown
A new History of Early Christianity – Freeman
The Community of the Bloved Disciple – Brown
The Rse of Christianity – Stark
Early Christian Doctrines – Kelly
Cultural Christian in the Early Church – Williams
Early Christianity and it Sacred Literature – McDonald & Stanley
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes – Richards & O’Brien
The Rise of Western Christendom – Brown
Perpetua’s Passon – Salisbury
Essentials of Newt Testament Greek – Summers (For grammar and parsing)
How this helps.
Wow thank you very much! Will keep me busy for years!
You're quite welcome. Check back from time to time and let me know what you're discovering in your adventure into original languages and cultures.