|
 |
One main
difference between reading and studying is writing down what you
learn. This isn't just so you'll remember it later. The very act of
writing requires you to formulate your thoughts clearly. Writing
forces you to recognize fuzzy thinking for what |
it
is and push beyond it. Write down what you're learning because it
helps you understand it better.
I
recommend that you begin a notebook in which to record your
observations or research. Forty years ago I began taking notes on
8-1/2" x 11" binder paper. In the left margin I would
record the date. In the top right corner I would record the book,
chapter, and verses of the passage I was studying. This made it easy
to file my notes in scripture order. I began with a single 3-ring
binder, but now my binders fill a five-foot bookshelf and beyond. I
look back at some of my early insights and am reminded of how the
Holy Spirit has taught me over the years.
Start
small, but take notes in a way that can be expanded easily. Another
approach is to get a bound book that you can take notes in -- a kind
of journal. (I've tried that, too.) Journaling has great value, but a
bound notebook that contains many topics is difficult to organize or
index in such a way that you can find your notes on a particular
verse in the future. That's why I really like the binder paper
approach. You could also take notes on a computer, naming the files
in such a way that you can find them again or search an entire folder
for a word or phrase. It's probably a good idea to print out your
notes when you're finished and file them, however, since computer
files have a way of getting lost after a few years.
I am so
glad I began the habit of note-taking with my Bible study. Now when I
study a passage again, I know what I learned the last time I studied
it and what I need to explore next. For Bible teachers, small group
leaders, and preachers, such a notebook of previous studies becomes
especially valuable.
Get a
Good Translation
One of the
keys to learning the Bible is to get a good translation. You know, of
course, that the Bible wasn't written in English, but in Hebrew (and
a bit of Aramaic) in the Old Testament and Greek in the New
Testament. A translation tries to render the original language into
clear, accurate English. There are two types of translations:
1. Literal
word-for-word translation. This makes for accuracy, but can be
pretty wooden to read out loud. A good example of this type is the
New American Standard Bible.
2.
Dynamic thought-for-thought correspondence. Here the translator
takes a thought in the original language and tries to translate it
into the same concept in good English, without being tied to the
exact words in the original. A good example of this might be Today's
English Version (TEV).
The best
study Bible contains a balance of both. You want a careful, accurate
translation, but one that reads easily and clearly for family
devotions or public worship.
Another
issue is the underlying Greek and Hebrew text. The KJV translators
worked with the best texts available to them in 1611, but in the last
150 years we have gained a much more accurate understanding of what
the original text must have been. Nearly all modern translations are
enriched by the translators working from the most accurate Greek and
Hebrew texts possible.
Here are
some of the most popular English translations. Your church or
tradition may have a particular preference, but any one of these
might be a good choice for you:
* The
King James Version (KJV, 1611) is, of course, the granddaddy of
our English Bibles. For its day it was a very accurate translation
and is still used in many congregations today. In 1984, the New King
James Version (NKJV) was published as a whole Bible by Thomas Nelson.
Translators modernized the language of archaic words substantially
and removed most of the "thee's and thou's," through the
original language basis remained the same as the KJV of 1611. For
churches with a strong King James tradition, the NKJV is a popular alternative.
* The
New International Version (NIV) was first translated as a whole
Bible by evangelical scholars in 1973, with revisions in 1983 and
1988. It is an excellent balance between readability and accuracy of
translation. For years it has been the most popular newer translation
in the United States, especially among evangelical churches.
* New
American Standard Bible (NASB or NASV), translated by the Lockman
Foundation, was published in the whole Bible in 1971 and revised in
1977. Its big strength is its consistency in literally translating
words and tenses. It is known as a very accurate translation, though
perhaps not as easy to read aloud as some others.
* New
Revised Standard Version (NRSV, 1989) and its predecessor the
Revised Standard Version (RSV, 1952) are careful translations in the
King James tradition. Several Protestant denominations prefer the
NRSV. It is both accurate and readable.
Of course
there are many other modern translations, many of them good for
serious Bible study, too numerous to list here. The original Living
Bible and The Message are not translations, but
paraphrases. They can be refreshing to read but aren't good Bibles
for careful study.
Learning
to Use a Study Bible
After
you've decided what translation to use, I encourage you to purchase a
study Bible, since it will contain a number of tools in one volume
that can help you dig deeper. Nearly every Bible publisher offers a
study Bible. Your local Christian bookstore can help you figure out
which one is right for you. Here are some of the features that you'll
come to appreciate:
* Cross References.
In a column next to the text, a study Bible lists several other
verses with a similar idea or theme. For example, for
"Nicodemus" in John 3:1, my Bible refers me to John 7:50
and 19:39 where he appears again. For "Rabbi" in verse 2,
the cross references send me to Matthew 23:7 which has nine more
references on this topic that I can explore. These cross references
won't be comprehensive, but will point out the main passages that
discuss this idea.
* Bible
Book Introductions. It's important to know something about the
author, date, themes, circumstances, and intended audience of the
Bible book or letter you're studying. In most study Bibles you'll
find one to three pages of introductory comments for each book with a
brief outline.
* Study
Notes or Annotations. Study Bibles have footnotes at the bottom
of the page to help explain some of the more obscure ideas you'll run
across -- a kind of mini-commentary. Remember, these aren't part of
the Bible itself, but can often point you in the right direction in
your study. These notes are usually indexed for easy reference.
* Concordance.
You've had a verse on the tip of your tongue, but don't know exactly
where it is. A concordance helps you find a Bible passage if you can
think of a key word or two that the verse contains. A concordance can
also help you find other verses that teach a concept or use a word
found in the passage you're studying.
* Topical
Index. In addition to a concordance, some study Bibles have a
separate topical index that helps you find scripture references on a
particular topic.
* Maps.
Part of understanding what's happening in narrative passages of
Scripture is learning the geography, the location of cities, battles,
mountains, valleys, enemies, etc.
Other
features you may find include articles on various topics, a brief
Bible dictionary, outlines of topics and Bible books, index of place
names, time lines, and so on.
<1 2 >
