S T A R T I N G
W I T H
S C R I P T U
by Pastor Joel Wight Hoogheem (joel@lordoflife.org)
Making sense of Scripture, understanding what’s happening in any given biblical text, and listening for God’s voice through it all are difficult to do. If you’ve ever felt as though you’re in over your head when you read the Bible or you just don’t know where or how to start—do not despair. You are in very good company. Reading the Bible is not easy. It’s why reading the Bible is a spiritual discipline. As with any other discipline, it takes a high degree of dedication, a willingness to learn, and a deep commitment.
Bible 101
This brief article can’t cover all the aspects that go into reading the Bible, but I’d like to offer a couple ideas about helpful ways to start. First, it’s good to
know there are a lot of different Bible translations. The texts of the Bible were originally written in Hebrew (the Old Testament) and Greek (the New Testament). This means that for those of us not fluent in the ancient forms of those languages, we have to read translations. Each translation has a different theological perspective. That’s not a bad thing; it’s just worth noting that every translation is biased because translators have to make thousands of decisions about how different words and concepts should be rendered in English. While we absolutely affirm that Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit, it’s also important for us to be wise and aware about the very human decisions that go into bringing these inspired words to us today.
Comparisons of 2 Corin
4
new revised standard version (nrsv):
common english bible (ceb):
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!
