. Division Methods .
Jews imposed onto the Bible reading portions. In a Bible used in the Jewish community, headers appear at the beginning of each narrative. These reading portions are focused on the topic of the portion. For example, Noah is a reading portion focused on just Noah.
Roman Catholics imposed onto the Bible chapters. Archbishop Langston in Paris gave us the modern chapter divisions of the Bible circa 1205. Langston was the Archbishop of Canterbury and also took part in the events that lead to the Magna Carta.
Protestants imposed onto the Bible verse numbers. Robert Estienne, better known as Robert Stephanus, added verse numbers to different lines of text within the chapters of the Bible. These first appeared in Geneva in a 1551 edition of a Greek New Testament and in a 1571 edition of a Hebrew Bible. The Stephanus verse numbering system was universally accepted and first appeared in the 1560 edition of the English language Geneva Bible, the Bible of the Puritans and Pilgrims.
Roman Catholics imposed onto the Bible chapters. Archbishop Langston in Paris gave us the modern chapter divisions of the Bible circa 1205. Langston was the Archbishop of Canterbury and also took part in the events that lead to the Magna Carta.
Protestants imposed onto the Bible verse numbers. Robert Estienne, better known as Robert Stephanus, added verse numbers to different lines of text within the chapters of the Bible. These first appeared in Geneva in a 1551 edition of a Greek New Testament and in a 1571 edition of a Hebrew Bible. The Stephanus verse numbering system was universally accepted and first appeared in the 1560 edition of the English language Geneva Bible, the Bible of the Puritans and Pilgrims.
. Public Reading Cycles .
The tradition of a public reading the Law of Moses started with Moses. The scribe Ezra began the practice of reading the Hebrew Bible three days a week, Monday and Thursday mornings, and on the afternoon of the Sabbath. With 54 reading portions from the Law and the Prophets, the Hebrew Bible is read once a year among orthodox Jews. Among Conservative and Reform Jews, the Hebrew Bible is read over three years with 155 reading portions.
Among Roman Catholics, each Sunday a portion form the Old Testament and the Gospels is read, and psalms or hymns are sung. Since Vatican II, portions of the entire Bible are read each day using a Lectionary for Mass over a three year reading cycle.
Each faith system has its own reading portion cycles and methods for interpreting and practicing the Bible. After each reading, there typically follows a discussion of what the text meant then, what it means today, how to apply the principles read to our lives, or how to understand the alluded meanings of the text. In many Protestant, or non denominational, faith systems, however, there are no public readings of entire narratives or reading portions, but instead topical expositions are based on jumping from verse to verse.
Among Roman Catholics, each Sunday a portion form the Old Testament and the Gospels is read, and psalms or hymns are sung. Since Vatican II, portions of the entire Bible are read each day using a Lectionary for Mass over a three year reading cycle.
Each faith system has its own reading portion cycles and methods for interpreting and practicing the Bible. After each reading, there typically follows a discussion of what the text meant then, what it means today, how to apply the principles read to our lives, or how to understand the alluded meanings of the text. In many Protestant, or non denominational, faith systems, however, there are no public readings of entire narratives or reading portions, but instead topical expositions are based on jumping from verse to verse.
. Inspiration, Inerrancy, & The Truth of Scripture .
Smith, Steven C., Ph.D.
Smith, Steven C., Ph.D.
. Methods of Interpretation .
Articles
Article by Matt Slick, How to Interpret the Bible.
Article by Robert Velarde, How Do I Interpret the Bible?
Article by Art Sippo, Are there errors in the Latin Vulgate?
Article by Robert Velarde, How Do I Interpret the Bible?
Article by Art Sippo, Are there errors in the Latin Vulgate?