Additional Information on Tools of Bible Study Part Sources of Information to Help with Interpretation For the interpreter, books (and other written materials) are almost as essential as a saw and hammer are to a carpenter. What kind of books should the interpreter use? Hebrew and Greek helps. Since the Bible was originally written primarily in Hebrew and Greek, to the extent possible, we should become familiar with and learn to use Hebrew and Greek helps to interpret the Bible. (See page.) Concordance. A concordance lists, in alphabetical order, all the uses of every word (or every significant word) in the English Bible and each verse where it is found. It may also indicate what Greek or Hebrew word is translated by the English word we are researching. A concordance is useful in at least two ways. () If we know a verse, or part of a verse, but we do not remember where it is found, we can use a concordance to find the verse. () If we are studying a specific subject, a concordance is helpful because we can use it to find nearly everything the Bible has to say on that subject or at least every time an exact word is used in the English Bible. Two useful concordances are Young s Analytical Concordance and Strong s Exhaustive Concordance. In addition to listing every usage of a word in the English Bible, both books tell more about the meaning of a word in the original language. Strong s indicates the Greek or Hebrew word from which the English word was translated by including a number after the word in the main part of the concordance. The student can then use that number to find the Greek or Hebrew word in Greek and Hebrew dictionaries in the back of the book. Young s lists the English usages under the Hebrew and Greek words they translate (and gives a brief definition of those words) and A few chapters were written in Aramaic, a language closely related to Hebrew and using Hebrew letters. Aramaic was the common language used by the Jews in the post-exilic period (after the Jews returned from Babylonian captivity). Robert Young, Young s Analytical Concordance to the Bible, rev. and corr. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 98). James Strong, The New Strong s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 990). then includes sections which give all the various ways each Hebrew and Greek word is translated (and the number of times it is translated in each way). 4 A Topical Bible. A topical Bible lists together Bible verses which relate to a particular topic. It differs from a concordance in two primary ways. () It contains not just the references to verses, but also the text of the verses. () The collection of verses under each topic is not limited by an exact word which names the topic. Under the mercy of God, for instance, may be found passages which demonstrate God s mercy but do not use the word mercy. A topical Bible is especially helpful for surveying some of what the Bible teaches about a subject that is introduced in a passage we are trying to interpret. A Bible Dictionary and Encyclopedia. A Bible dictionary or encyclopedia defines and discusses Bible words names of people, places, and things, as well as various Bible topics. If we are studying Paul s speech in Athens in Acts 7, for example, we might want to look up such words as Athens (v. ), Epicurean and Stoic philosophers (v. 8), and Areopagus ( Mars Hill ; v. 9; KJV). A Bible Atlas. A Bible atlas is a book of maps relating to the lands of the Bible. When we are studying Acts, for instance, we need good maps to help us know where the events that we are reading about happened. A Bible Survey and an Introduction. Old and New Testament surveys and introductions can be useful to the interpreter, especially by helping him understand the larger context of the passage 4 One disadvantage of using these books is that they give the words only as found in the King James Version. If another version is used, Young s or Strong s can still be useful if adjustments are made. Strong s originally listed words according to the KJV text. It has now been adapted for use with the English Revised Version, the American Standard Version, and the NIV. Notice the word some in this sentence. As interpreters, we should remember that a topical Bible, like every other book, was put together by fallible men and may not fully or accurately cover the topics it includes.
he is studying the book in which the passage is found. While these sources may include general introductory material about the Scriptures (regarding inspiration, text, canon, and so forth), they will also provide an introduction to each book, discussing its author, audience, date, and purpose. They will include something about the contents of each book of the Bible. When using one of these books (as with other books), the interpreter should be aware of whether or not its author was writing from a liberal orientation. 6 Comments by a liberal author may be useful, but the interpreter should beware of any conclusion based on assumptions that reject the verbal inspiration of the Bible. A Book on Bible Customs and Cultures. Good books are available to help the interpreter understand Bible customs and cultures, which may in turn help him understand biblical teaching in its own context and apply it more appropriately to his own culture. Other books. Sometimes a passage we are interpreting will be discussed at length in a book on some Bible subject. Periodicals. Articles in periodicals such as those found in Truth for Today 7 may discuss the passage we are seeking to understand. Information found in periodicals may be especially useful because it should be the result of the latest research done on the subject. A Word Book. Numerous books (and sets of books) deal with the meanings of Bible words. In some of these, the Bible words are listed in their Greek or Hebrew form; in others, words are listed as they are found in the English Bible, but the meaning of the words in the original are discussed. A helpful example of the second type is Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 8 6 In this context, a liberal viewpoint, in the main, rejects the verbal inspiration of the Bible. (See Two Views of the Scriptures Found in Written Materials on page.) Generally, books written by members of the church of Christ are not liberal. Also, books published by Baker, Zondervan, Eerdmans, or Moody will not usually be liberal in this sense of the word. 7 Preachers and teachers of the gospel can obtain a subscription to Truth for Today by writing to Truth for Today World Mission School, 09 S. Benton, Searcy, AR 74 USA. 8 W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White, Jr., Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 996). We ought to be cautious about accepting any assertion made by an author solely on his own authority. When a writer speaks authoritatively with regard to the meaning of Bible words or Bible customs, we should ask, What qualifications does he have to make such pronouncements? We should never accept anyone s word about the original meaning of the text of a Scripture, but always ask concerning what we read, What is the evidence? Even good, sincere people with scholarly credentials may reach faulty conclusions. Their reasoning may be based on wrong assumptions, or they may be influenced by a personal agenda or by individual biases. Consequently, when we read what others have written, we must read critically. We can use materials with which we disagree, but we must use them carefully. Computer Resources. The computer is a valuable tool for recording and saving the fruits of our research. In addition, a computer can help us research a biblical passage; it can be used to access the kinds of books listed above on free (or paid) websites. 9 Through libraries, we can also gain Internet access to many periodicals. In addition, CD s can be purchased for computers, providing, in effect, a library of written materials on a single disk or two. Recently published sets of books commentaries and dictionaries, for instance are available on CD s. Many free websites offer sermons, Bible studies, and articles on a wide variety of Bible topics. Further, Bible programs are available for the computer- literate programs which will do for the Bible student most of what he can do for himself using the tools discussed above and more. Some advice should be followed with regard to using the Internet for Bible study. () Most of the books that are available on the Internet for free, or the books found on Bible programs, will be old; their copyrights will have expired. To buy recent works on CD s will cost about the same as the new books would cost. () Almost anything can be found on the Internet, including good information and bad. Therefore, we must be careful how we use that material, since we can usually know little or nothing about the source of that information. 9 Articles from Truth for Today may be accessed online at www.biblecourses.com and are available without cost.
Helps for Studying Greek and Hebrew Hebrew Bible, Greek New Testament. Copies of the Scriptures in the original languages can be very helpful to those who can read those languages or even recognize words in them. Interlinear Hebrew Bible and Interlinear Greek New Testament. An interlinear Bible has the Greek or Hebrew text with the equivalent English word(s) written directly beneath the Greek or Hebrew word(s). An interlinear Bible also includes the English text. The interlinear Bible or New Testament can make it possible for one who does not know Hebrew or Greek to discover what original Hebrew or Greek words or phrases are translated by the English text. Lexicons. Hebrew and Greek lexicons give the meanings of the Hebrew and Greek words found in the Bible; they are essentially dictionaries. If we want to comprehend what a passage means in the English Bible, it is helpful to understand something about the Greek or Hebrew words from which it is translated. For that purpose, a good lexicon can be used. One problem an interpreter might have is that the words are listed in a lexicon in the original language; for instance, the word for love in Corinthians is agape. To find that word in a Greek lexicon, we would look under agape rather than under love. To find a word in a lexicon requires a minimal knowledge of Hebrew and Greek; it is helpful, for instance, to know at least the Hebrew and Greek alphabets. Analytical lexicons. Both Hebrew and Greek analytical lexicons are available. An analytical lexicon gives a brief definition of the words in the Hebrew or Greek language. Theoretically, it contains every form of every word in the Hebrew Old Testament or the Greek New Testament. After listing each word, it parses (analyzes grammatically) the word, identifying parts of speech, case, number, gender, tense, person, and other useful information. It then indicates the root word from which the word is derived. This practice of giving both the form of the word found in the text and the root word is important, since Hebrew and Greek words change forms depending on their usage. The original words from which a text was translated may be difficult to find in a lexicon, since lexicons list (in alphabetical order) only root words, not the many forms of those words. Organizing Information Using a Filing System A helpful tool for any student of the Bible, and especially for those who will spend their lives teaching and preaching God s Word, is a filing system. The important thing in developing a filing system is simply to keep materials and to store them systematically, in a way that they can easily be found when they are needed. What should be filed (or kept)? Anything that might be of use in the study of the Bible! We should save the notes we have made while studying the Bible (and we should make notes as we study). Also, we ought to save the notes we make while attending Bible classes or listening to sermons. We can save tracts and magazine and newspaper articles. We should save our own sermon and Bible class outlines, along with notes that will help us find materials we have read in books or periodicals. What system should be used to file the materials that are saved? While filing systems can be purchased, each preacher can develop his own. Whatever system is used, the objective should be to make it possible to find quickly and efficiently any material which might be useful in future study of the Scriptures. By being conscientious about filing the materials we have found or acquired, we can, over the years, build a collection of valuable resources for understanding, applying, and proclaiming God s Word. For example, if you read a good explanation of the passage about being baptized for the dead ( Corinthians :9) and want to make sure you can find that information again when you need it, you might () cut out the article and file it under baptism or baptism for the dead and then put a note about the article in the file for Corinthians or () file a note about the article and where to find it under both baptism (or baptism for the dead ) and Corinthians. I have three sets of files: () a topical file; () a biblical file (with a folder for each book of the Bible and, for the New Testament, each chapter of each book); and () a sermon file containing the sermons I have preached over the years. Other teachers and ministers use different methods to keep materials.
Additional Information on Tools of Bible Study Part What Translation Should Be Used? Since the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, it must be translated before the average person can read it. We can be thankful that it has been translated into many languages. For about 0 years (from the middle of the seventeenth century to the end of the nineteenth century), English-speaking people had, as a rule, access to only one version of the Bible the King James Version. Today, readers of English have many versions from which to choose. In recent years translations have multiplied. Many newer versions have followed closely in the King James tradition holding on, as much as possible, to the wording and style of the KJV and preferring, to a great degree, a literal, wordfor-word translation. These include the English Revised Version (88), the American Standard Version (90), the Revised Standard Version (9), the New American Standard Bible (977), the New King James Version (979), the New Revised Standard Version (989), the New American Standard Bible updated edition (99), and the English Standard Version (00). In other versions translators have attempted to use up-to-date terminology to express the same ideas found in the original languages. Some versions have been free translations, and some have been paraphrases. Most notable among the versions which are not word-for-word translations is the New International Version (984). (The NIV has recently been updated.) The translation theory which lies behind the NIV is dynamic equivalence a theory which rejects the necessity of translating the original word for word, seeking instead a translation which reproduces in the minds of readers today thoughts equivalent to those that the original would have produced in the minds of the first readers. This statement is true for non-catholics; the Catholic Church has its own English version. More information about translations is given in Jack P. Lewis, The English Bible from KJV to NIV: A History and Evaluation (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 98) and Jack P. Lewis, Questions You ve Asked About Bible Translations (Searcy, Ark.: Resource Publications, 99). What translation should be used? When choosing a Bible for personal use, the following criteria should be considered:. The primary criterion for judging a version is whether or not it accurately represents the original, not its agreement with an older version. In general, a translation produced by a committee is more likely to be accurate than one produced by an individual.. Readability should also be considered. Can the text be easily understood?. For personal study, a more literal translation should be used not because a literal translation is better, but because there is less danger of a translator s bias inserting itself into such a translation. 4. A translation should be evaluated on the basis of the purpose and methods of its translator(s). If the translation claims to be a free translation or a paraphrase, we should not criticize it because it is not literal.. For Bible interpretation, the best approach is to use several translations. We always ought to compare how other versions (besides the one we commonly use) translate the passage. Finally, we should keep the matter of translations in perspective, remembering two important facts. () Anyone can be saved if he or she will read almost any translation as a whole and obey it. () Every translation is imperfect. In any version there will be words, phrases, sentences, or passages which do not well represent the original. The real question in interpretation is not Which version is best? but Which version has the best translation of this specific passage? The writing of the Scriptures was an inspired process; translation of the Scriptures is not. There are exceptions to this rule, such as the New World Translation used by Jehovah s Witnesses. 4
Additional Information on Tools of Bible Study Part Two Views of the Scriptures Found in Written Materials Written materials such as books, commentaries, periodicals, and articles found on the Internet may reflect a liberal or a conservative view of the Scriptures. The conservative view of the Scriptures is based on a belief in the verbal inspiration of the Bible ( Timothy :6, 7). A liberal view denies the divine inspiration of the Bible. In order to help a student to identify writings based on liberal assumptions, the following contrasts between the two ways of looking at the Bible are presented. A conservative view of the Scriptures:. The books of the Bible are, for the most part, unified works.. The books of the Bible were written, usually, by one man whose name often appears at the be ginning of the book. If the text does not name the author, ancient traditions concerning au thorship are usually accepted.. The books of the Bible were written at a relatively early date. 4. When the Bible speaks of events as having happened, they are regarded as historical.. Since the Bible is inspired in its entirety, it is unified, containing no real contradictions. It is possible to speak of a Bible theology a theology taught throughout the Bible. 6. The reader s task is to study and understand the Bible to find out what God requires of him and how he can be saved. A liberal view of the Scriptures:. The books of the Bible are, for the most part, composite works, compiled from a variety of sources and put together by editors (redactors) over a very long time.. The books of the Bible were written, in many cases, by individuals whose names we do not know. A name appearing on the book does not prove authorship, nor do traditions concerning authorship.. The books of the Bible were written at a relatively late date. 4. The fact that the Bible says something happened does not prove that it actually occurred. The historical portions of the Bible are a combination of fact, legend, and myth. Accounts involving the miraculous are non-historical, since miracles cannot occur.. Since the Bible is not divinely inspired, it contains contradictions. In fact, different writers and different books teach different theologies. One cannot, therefore, speak of a unified Bible theology. 6. The student s task is to discover through the biblical writings the history of the text and of the people it describes. In addition, the liberal view of the Scriptures includes a denial of the deity of Jesus, the virgin birth and resurrection of Jesus, and the reality of miracles. It also denies the existence of a personal, loving God who has intervened in human history. Protestants who affirm these realities are often known as conservatives or evangelicals or fundamentalists. ( Fundamentalists is a term intended to insult conservatives; most conservatives would not use it of themselves.) Versions of the Bible In recent years there have appeared [many new translations of the Scriptures].... Each of these is a translation with strengths and weaknesses, some better than others, some worse. Not one of them is so perverted that one misses the message of the Scriptures.... They all agree 98% with each other. This should give assurance that one can trust the translations. Compare them. It is easy to see where one is incorrect. By studying a number of translations, it is possible to gain the fine shades of meaning and all the facets of the original. You Can TRUST Your Bible, Neale Pryor Copyright, 009 by Truth for Today ALL RIGHTS RESERVED