Introduction to Hearing God through the Scriptures

Introduction to Hearing God through the Scriptures

Week 3

How to Study the Bible

- Practical Information

Different Versions

Formal Equivalence (aka “literal” or “word-for-word”)

Tries to Replicate Form

Pro: These versions are closer to the original writing and it may be more likely to understand the original meaning.

Con: I t may be written in a way hat is harder or at least more awkward to read.

Functional Equivalence (Dynamic Equivalence, “idiomatic”)

Tries to Replicate Meaning

Pro: Versions that are more Functionally Equivalent are written in an attempt to be more easily understood.

Con: The translators are adding more interpretation into the text, so what you are reading is their interpretation of what the text says. It may not be what was actually intended. And it is harder to determine what was originally intended because of how they have changed it.

Reading

Larger sections

Shorter sections

OT – NT

Books and genres