Resources to empower biblical literacy
I have a shelf full of Bibles in my home, and I like each one for a different reason. We are stuck with words to describe what is often indescribable. One turn of the phrase may help you grasp the meaning better than another. After all, none of us is speaking Biblical Hebrew, Koine Greek, Aramaic or even King James’ English anymore. When I attempted to translate passages during my seminary career, I usually got close to the New International Version. But today, I really resonate with Eugene H. Peterson’s THE MESSAGE. I don’t think it matters so much which translation you read, as long as you get something rewarding out of it. That is what drives most translations. So, try several translations to see which one is really speaking to you.
Also, as 21st century humans, are lives are very different from Biblical life so, it helps to understand some of the history behind the reading and how the different kinds of literature found in the Bible convue meaning. That’s the role of study guides. Most versions included notes to help you. If you don’t own a bible get one that you can read and generally understand. If you are totally lost, go for a children’s edition. Don’t be embarrassed, just get a Bible you can read and start reading it.
Here’s my best advice: buy or borrow a Bible in the following order:
1. Lutheran Study Bible, New Revised Standard Version Copyright © 2009 Augsburg Fortress. ISBN 978-0-866-9713-7 (enlarged print) or ISBN 978-0-8066-8059-0 (hardcover). A great translation done by a committee and honored by many Christians with helpful study notes, maps, timelines, and a short guide to personal Bible reading. Think of it as a one stop shop to begin.
2. THE MESSAGE by Eugene H. Peterson.
Get a paperback copy of the New Testament and Psalms as a minimum. Go for the full Bible if you can afford it.
3. If you belong to a different denominational group, ask what your church recommends as the third copy or as the first with the Lutheran Study Bible as your third.
Once you start asking questions and don’t find study helps that answer them, you can consider supplemental resources to empower your understanding:
- Living in the Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Peter Connolly, Israeli editions 1988, 1990,1992,1993,1994,1995,1997.2000, STEIMATZKY LTD, PO Box 11, 11 Hakishon St. Bnei Brak 51114, Israel. Copyright © Peter Connolly 1983. This is an excellent read to help understand life in Biblical times. You can find other suitable references for social, cultural, and political aspects of the Bible. Buying used books will help keep the cost down.
- You can always google a verse or a topic. Just remember you may end up on a website that has a particular bias as an explanation. Feel free to send me a note if you want advice.
- Some people forget that the early Christian church did not really have a Bible. While the converted Jews had the old testament, the new thing that God was doing wasn’t written down yet. Oral tradition shared the stories of Jesus’ life and teachings until they were written down. It is the realm of the Holy Spirit and the community of believers which together determine interpretation, meaning and impact of the words on the written page, as we have them now in the form of the Bible. Understanding what you read requires on openness to this Holy Spirit to guide you. Most believers pray before they read to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give them understanding.