Shownotes
Welcome to Day 1600 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
Bible Study – More Practical Tools – Meditation Monday
Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! Wisdom is the final frontier in gaining true knowledge. Our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, seek out discernment and insights, and boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend; this is Gramps; thanks for coming along on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy Today is Day 1600 of our Trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, Meditation includes reading and reflecting on God’s Word and in prayer. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and making sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you, too, will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.
We are continuing our series this week on Meditation Monday as we focus on Mastering Bible Study through a series of brief insights from Hebrew Scholar, Dr. Michael S. Heiser. Our current insights are focusing on practical tools for Bible study. Today let us meditate on:
Bible Study – More Practical Tools
· Insight Sixty-Nine: Learn About Reverse Interlinears and Their Use
In the previous insight, I introduced interlinear Bibles—specifically, those in a traditional interlinear format. An even more powerful tool is the reverse interlinear.
Like traditional interlinear, a reverse interlinear displays lines of English and the original biblical language. The traditional interlinear format has the Hebrew or Greek line on top, which means the English word order is disrupted. Unlike traditional interlinear, a reverse interlinear puts the English line on the top. Check out today’s Wisdom Journal for an example of John 3:16 using a reverse interlinear.
An obvious advantage to the reverse interlinear format is its readability. It has the correct English word order. Also, concordance numbers are included. But the benefits go beyond the aesthetic. Reverse interlinears in Bible software allow Bible students to link to many Hebrew and Greek word research tools that don’t use concordance numbers. The reason is that the creation of a reverse interlinear involves directly linking each word of the translation to the Hebrew or Greek word from which it derives.
· Insight Seventy: Use More Than One Translation in Bible Study
The wording of my advice for the day is deliberate. I could have said. “Use more than one translation for Bible study,” but I didn’t. I’m recommending that you use more than one translation in Bible study. There’s a significant difference.
The first option might lead you to think that I’m advising you to switch Bible versions from time to time when you study Scripture. That isn’t the case. Instead, I’m suggesting that you have several translations at hand while you’re studying. That’s why I chose to word my advice as I did.
Having several English Bible versions open is very useful for detecting something in a verse or passage that might deserve serious attention in your study. Let’s look at a couple of examples. The first one is Genesis 49:10.
New Living Translation
The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants,
until the coming of the one to whom it belongs,
the one whom all nations will honor.
King James Version
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
The two translations are quite different. If you were using more than one translation, you’d notice that easily. If you were just switching translations for a while, you’d never see that. A clear difference like this is a signal that something is going on in the original biblical text that matters for interpretation.
Let’s look at Romans 8:1 this time.
New Living Translation
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
King James Version
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Again, there’s a dramatic difference. The KJV is twice as long. And the difference matters. The KJV seems to suggest that one reason we’re not condemned is that we’re living (walking) in the Spirit as we should. Are works part of the reason we are not under condemnation? How good must we be? We need to study what’s going on here to find out. And now you know because you compared translations.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
That is a wrap for today’s Meditation. Next week we will continue our trek on Meditation Monday as we take time to reflect on what is most important in creating our living legacy. Thank you for joining me on this trek called life. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’
If you would like to listen to any of the past 1599 daily treks or read the daily Journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day will be downloaded to you automatically.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and Journal.
As we take this Trek of life together, let us always:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to ’Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday’! See you tomorrow for more daily wisdom!