The Bible is big — a collection of many books. To decrease physical thickness, most Bible publishers will use very thin paper, with each side containing two columns of small-font text. Thus, reading all of the Bible is a daunting prospect — doing so is generally considered a major feat.
Overshadowed by concerns of size is whether the version of biblical Scripture that one is reading is an accurate translation. We generally trust that such an esteemed tome would be assiduously translated. And surely any inevitable artifacts of the translation process or small errors would have been noted and cleaned up over the centuries. Right?
Well, as demonstrated in the following video, corrupted translations still exist. And they can have a disproportionately large impact in our understanding and interpretation of Scripture.
This video is a tour de force — both in study and presentation. It makes clear that studying can be very complex. But the results are very gratifying. Some study methods demonstrated here include:
- multiple translations and versions (Hebrew, Greek, English)
- contemporary historical accounts (Flavius Josephus, Paul the Apostle)
- contextual scriptural information (persecution of Isaac)
- archeological information (Egyptology)
Repetition of information through various media and the use of experts — an “appeal to authority” — are effective means of indoctrinating a passive audience.
But we are to be diligent:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
As the above video demonstrates, rigorous analysis and sound reasoning can refute even seemingly innocuous statements and resolve contradictory texts in a compelling way.
To be diligent in our studies, we must become adept at using these study methods and habitually apply them.