September 1, 2010

Commentaries and Dictionaries

Posted by Will

We’ve been talking about Bibles and Biblical resources the past couple of weeks, and this week we will wrap up with a look at some dictionaries and commentaries you can turn to when you need to know more.

Because of the gap in cultures between when the Bible was written and today, there are often times when we will need to turn to additional resource to help us understand a particular passage of Scripture. We should always read, meditate upon, and pray about Scripture first, and use dictionaries and commentaries as support tools.

A Bible dictionary is primarily a tool to look up names and places that are unfamiliar to us, and to give us introductions and overviews of specific books and topics found within Scripture. There are single and multi-volume dictionaries available; two of the most popular and helpful single volumes are the New International Bible Dictionary and Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible.

Commentaries serve the purpose of offering an author’s exegesis (what the text meant at the time it was written) and hermeneutics (how we can apply the text now) on entire books of the Bible. Often the author’s own translation accompanies the commentary. Most commentaries are for use at the academic level and usually only discuss one book of the Bible at a time, but there are a few that are meant for all readers. N.T. Wright’s For Everyone Series is an accessible and affordable option for New Testament commentaries. This series is also expanding to the Old Testament with author_ John Goldingay_ providing the commentary. Currently Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are available, and Numbers and Deuteronomy are on the way at the end of the month.

For overviews and introductions to Bible study, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth and How to Read the Bible Book by Book are easy to read and provide essential information. For more in-depth looks at the hermeneutics of the Old and New Testaments, consider Old Testament Ethics for the People of God and The Moral Vision of the New Testament.

August 25, 2010

Resources

Posted by Will

Last week we talked about different translations of the Bible. This week’s blog is going to focus on some different daily approaches to reading and reflecting on God’s Word and some resources that can help you do both.

The Message//Remix:Solo is a self-described uncommon devotional. It contains portions of The Message translation of the Bible written by Eugene Peterson, and devotional content written by Jan Johnson, J.R.Briggs, and Katie Peckham. The daily readings give a passage of scripture with reference to its larger context and four short sections designed to help you read, think, pray, and live out the passage. This approach is known as the lectio divina (divine reading) technique and is intended to break through the barriers that present themselves when we immerse ourselves in God’s Word. Since it doesn’t provide the full text of the Bible, a separate full version of the Bible is necessary to have. It doesn’t have to be The Message; choose a translation you are comfortable reading.

While this sort of guided reading through the Bible can be extremely helpful, it is not the only way to engage with God’s Word. Simply reading the Bible on a reading plan and keeping a journal of impactful verses, thoughts, and questions is highly effective in transforming your daily life. There are several Bibles designed to help you read through it in a year. One of the most popular and helpful is The One Year Bible series. One Year Bibles are available in NIV, NLT, and ESV translations in print and several other translations online. One unique feature of the One Year Bible is its daily readings consist of passages from the Old and New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, so that the reader gets a balance each day. Their website offers daily reading plans that can be printed, so you can use it with the Bible you already own. Reading plans and printed Bibles are also available in chronological form, meaning the daily readings are organized in order the events actually happened, so the reader is able to understand the larger narrative of Scripture. Biblegateway.com also has several reading plans that can be printed or sent to directly to your email. Don’t let the fact that it is August stop you from finding a reading plan that works for you. All of the options listed above make it easy to start no matter what day of the year you decide to begin!

August 19, 2010

Bible Translations

Posted by Will

Because the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek (with a little Aramaic thrown in as well), most of us need a translation. There are three main approaches to translating the Bible into English. The first is what is commonly referred to as word for word or “literal” translation; the second is thought for thought or “dynamic equivalence” translation; and the last is paraphrase or “free” translation.

Scholars attempting a word for word translation try to represent each word in English as closely as possible to how it was used in the original language. Obviously this cannot be done with every single word since no two languages are alike, but they do their best to stay as close as possible to the manuscript.

Thought for thought translations aim to reproduce in English the thought or idea conveyed in the original language rather than reproduce every word. Usually these types of translations are easier to understand from a reader’s perspective because it incorporates terms, phrases, and grammar that modern readers are more familiar with.

While a paraphrase translation is based on the same manuscripts as a literal and dynamic equivalent translation, it differs in that it does not necessarily limit itself to the paragraph and sentence structure found in those manuscripts. Paraphrases often expand or amplify the thoughts and ideas being represented in the text. And since most paraphrases are undertaken by one scholar or author, they tend to have a very unique style of language.

There is not one “right” translation of the Bible. In fact, it is a good idea to read and study different translations as they are all helpful for particular uses. Thought for thought translations are great for everyday reading and meditation; word for word translations are particularly helpful for studying; and paraphrase translations can help readers see a familiar passage of Scripture in a new light.

Here are where some of the most common translations fall on the spectrum:

Word for Word

Thought for Thought

Paraphrase

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

New International Version (NIV)

The Message (By Eugene Peterson)

English Standard Version (ESV)

Today’s New International Version (TNIV)

The Living Bible (By Ken Taylor)

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

New International Reader’s Version (NIRV)

New English Bible

New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)

New Living Translation (NLT)

For more information about each of these translations, visit the Bibles section of the Resource Center, or refer to How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.

August 11, 2010

Christianity and Politics

Posted by Will

We will wrap up our By Popular Demand series this week with a look at the interaction between Christianity and politics. As Christians, determining our level of involvement with the political system and discussing our beliefs with others can be daunting and stressful. Dr. Joel Hunter has written a book, Right Wing, Wrong Bird, to help Christians in their political interactions. Don’t let the title fool you into thinking the advice offered is only for one side. Dr. Hunter lays out sound principles and practical suggestions for all Christians no matter what their party affiliation is.

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to what he terms “The Pilate Process.” As he explains, there is a lot we can learn from the interaction between Pilate, Jesus, and the crowd on the night of Jesus’ trial. Ultimately, Pilate avoided making a decision in order to protect his own interests and in an attempt to preserve some sort of political peace; the crowd got caught up in trying to prove a religious point in a highly charged emotional environment; and Jesus, with true tolerance, appealed to and spoke the truth.

Dr. Hunter reminds us that we are not called to stand idly by and be passive, but neither are we to put so much effort into being right and proving a point that we forget we are called first to love others the way Christ did. He finishes by describing practical ways everyone can be active in the political process by getting educated about the issues of the day, communicating with elected officials, voting, and for some, volunteering or running for elected office.

Right Wing, Wrong Bird will be available in the Resource Center this Sunday.

August 4, 2010

"WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT CHRISTIANITY?" RESOURCES

Posted by Will

This week we continue the By Popular Demand series by discussing what makes Christianity unique among other religions. The following books approach this subject from a range of different viewpoints and reflect some of the best thinking on the subject.

Mere Christianity is one of the best point-by-point examinations of the Christian faith and its basic tenets. C.S. Lewis does a masterful job of presenting the uniqueness of the gospel and what it encompasses if it we accept it as truth.

No consideration of Christianity is complete without examining the claims of Christ and a decision being made as to whether he was who he said he was. The Case for Christ is an in-depth look at who Jesus claimed to be in the Bible and a critical examination of whether or not we can take those claims seriously. The Case for Faith moves beyond examining the historical validity of Jesus and his claims and addresses barriers people have to accepting those claims on the basis of faith.

In Simply Christian, N.T. Wright paints a beautiful picture of God and his intention for humanity that encompasses the distinguishing factor of Christianity: Jesus and his free offer of grace and redemption.

The Reason for God is written from a perspective that fully appreciates the ever-widening gap between the skeptical secular and faith-based religious cultures that exist in this country. From being entrenched in both cultures, and now leading the congregation of Redeemer Church in New York City, Timothy Keller tackles some of the toughest questions about Christianity while at the same time lays out his reasons for believing that the gospel of Christ is still the answer for the problems that plague humanity.