How do you read the Bible correctly? What does one need to consider? Time, culture, etc

2. 'The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon', oil on canvas painting by Edward
Poynter, 1890, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Wives
Concubines

3. Salomon the Wise, Writer of Three O.T.Books
A Polygamist ?
Should we also have more wives ?
Or do you need to interpret the Bible?
Take account of the time, culture etc.?
'The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon', oil on canvas painting by Edward
Poynter, 1890, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Wives
Concubines

4. Lamech, (2) Adah and Zillah (Gen 4:19).
Abraham (3+) Sarah, Hagar (Gen 16:3, 21:1-13), Keturah(Gen 25:1),
and concubines (Gen 25:6).
Jacob (4) Leah and Rachel (Gen 29:28) Bilhah (Gen 30:4) Zilpah (Gen 30:9).
Moses (2) Zipporah (Ex 2:21, Ex 18:1-6) an Ethiopian woman (Num 12:1).
Gideon (“many wives“) (Judges 8:29-32).
Elkanah (2) Samuel's father Hannah and Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:1-2).
David (8-22+)
Michal (1 Sam 18:27, 19:11-18, 25:44; 2 Sam 3:13-14, 6:20-23), Abigail of
Carmel (1 Sam 25:39, 1 Chr 3), Ahinoam of Jezreel (1 Sam 25:43, 1 Chr 3),
Eglah (2 Sam 3:4-5, 1 Chr 3) and Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:24). Maacah (2 Sam
3:3, 1 Chr 3), Abital (2 Sam 3:3-4, 1 Chr 3) and Haggith (2 Sam 3:3, 1 Chr
3). Ten concubines, or wives as they are referred to in 2 Sam 5:13, 15:16,
16:21-23, 1 Chr 14:3
Solomon (700 wives and 300 concubines) 1 Kings 11:3.
Do you need to interpret the Bible? How do we do that?

5. “However much we might try to be
objective to look at things honestly, fairly,
logically, without preconceived notions - we
inevitably bring our own ideas,
culture, moods, and
experiences into whatever
subject we approach.” Clifford Goldstein, Adult
Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, July 1,2006 p.14 http://ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/06c/less02.html

6.  Youthful
 Vigorous
 Athletic

7. Pantocrator, Dapni, Greece,
1100 C.E. (Mosaic)
regal Jesus,
all-powerful imperial ruler
judge
unchanging in majesty

8. Head of Christ
Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1658
 Gentle
 Had suffered
 Understands
 Comforting

9. Head of Christ
Warner Sallman, 1940
 Loving
 Non threatening
Thoughtful
 European

10. The Epic of American Civilization: Modern Migration
of the Spirit Jose Clemente Orozco, 1932-34
 liberator
•from injustice and
•from dominance by
•the ruling class.

11. Processional Cross
Francois-Xavier Goddard, c. 1950
 African Features
 conveying
spiritual qualities

14. “However much we might try to be
objective to look at things honestly, fairly,
logically, without preconceived notions - we
inevitably bring our own ideas,
culture, moods, and
experiences into whatever
subject we approach.” Clifford Goldstein, Adult
Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, July 1,2006 p.14 http://ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/06c/less02.html

17. Paul
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MESSAGE
Words
LooksLooks
GesturesGestures
TonesTones
PosturesPostures
SilenceSilence
You & Me
Pre-natal
Genetic
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I Wrote YOU READ
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Time–2000years
Language-Translations
God
spoke
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Slide from public domain

18. “Study to show thyself approved
unto God” 2 Timothy 2:15
“Allow no one to be brains
for you, allow no one to do
your thinking, your investigating, and
your praying.”
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 307

19. Reasons Why We Can’t Just Read The Bible
We have to consider:
 Nature of the self-limiting God
 Nature of the writer
 The nature of Scripture
 The nature of time elapsed
 The nature of translations
 The nature of the reader

20. Genetic
Cultural
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I Wrote
“The Lord speaks to human beings in
imperfect speech, in order that the
degenerate senses,...may comprehend his words.
Thus is shown God’s condescension. He meets
fallen human being where they are… for
infinite ideas cannot be perfectly
embodied in finite vehicles of thought.
E.G.White letter 121, 1901.
self-limiting God

21. Genetic
Cultural
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Genetic
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I Wrote
“The Bible is written by
inspired men, but it is
not God’s mode of
thought and expression.
It is that of
humanity.
MS.24, 1886; The Testimony of Jesus, 15-18
The Writer’s thoughts are
affected by

22. “If a man is caught
lying with the wife of
another man, both of
them shall die…
So you shall purge the
evil From Israel.”
Deut. 22:22
# 129
If a married
woman
and man
are caught
in adultery
both die
“If a man is
caught lying
with the wife
of another man,
both of them
shall die…”
Deut. 22:22

23. Genetic
Cultural
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Mental
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I Wrote
“The Bible must be given in the language
of men. Everything that is human is
imperfect. Different meanings are
expressed by the same word.
There is not one word for each distinct
idea.”MS. 24, 1886; The Testimony of Jesus, 15-18

24. Writer’s words, his culture’s ideomatic expressions:
Prv.22: 28
“Remove not the ancient landmark,
which Your fathers have set” RSV
Meaning ?
Do not make changes from the way we
have always done things
Do not steal
Do not remove Guideposts that direct
travelers from town to town
Do not remove boundary markers

25. Bible contains many
different Literary Forms
• History
• Genealogies
• Chronicles
• Laws
• Poetry
• Proverbs
• Prophesy
• Riddles
• Drama
• Biographies
• Parables
• Letters
• Sermons
• Apocalypses

26. How would you write an advertisement
to sell your house?
By comparison what would a legal
document of the sale of your house
look like ?
•Emphasize the positive features while
•De-emphasizing negative features.
•Exaggeration ingredient of advertising

27. Literary Example of Proverbs
• Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
• Prov 16:3 (NIV)
•Is this really true ?
Proverbs are worded to be memorable,
not necessarily theoretically accurate

28. Genetic
Cultural
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Emotional
Mental
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Family Origin
FILTERS
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I Wrote
Should we apply
today a 2000 year
old statement ?
“Let the women keep
silent in the churches;
for they are not
permitted to speak,…
And if they desire to
learn anything, let them
ask their husbands.”
I Cor 14:34-35 (NASV)
“Show no pity: life for life, eye for
eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand,
foot for foot” Deut 19:21

29. Writer
FILTERS
NoOriginalAutographs.
OnlyManuscripts,Copies
changedmeaningsofwords
God
spoke “ ‘Don’t you think
there might have
been some
mistake in the
copyist or the
translators?’
This is all
probable…” MS 16,1888;
The Testimony of Jesus, 12-13

30. Manuscript variants:
Did John the Baptist say ?
“This is the son of God”
or as other manuscripts say:
“This is God’s Chosen One”
John 1:31

31. “I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible,
yet when copies of it were few, learned
men had in some instances
changed the words, thinking that they
were making it more plain, when in reality they
were mystifying that which was plain, by causing
it to lean to their established views, which
were governed by tradition.”
Early Writings, 220, 221

32. Genetic
Cultural
Gender
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Emotional
Mental
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Genetic
Cultural
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FILTERS
MESSAGE
I Wrote
“Different meanings
are expressed by the
same word;
there is not one word
for each distinct idea.”
MS. 24, 1986. The Testimony of Jesus, 17.
“ ‘Don’t you think there
might have been some
mistake in … the
translators?’ This is all
probable…” MS 16,1888; The
Testimony of Jesus, 12-13

33. We dropped
the Atom
Bomb.
A dramatic example of words having a
variety of meanings and can be
translated differently:
The Allies ultimatum to Japan
Japan responded that the
government would mokusatsu
Mokusatsu may mean:
“to consider” or
“to take notice of”
The Japanese meant they would
consider surrender. Our
Translator translated Japan would
“take notice of”

34. How do you Translate ?
1.Word for Word - literal translation
Ex.: “I am full” (Sono piena)
2.Thought for Thought – dynamic
equivalent
3. Paraphrase – translate ideas

35. RSV
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, …and after my skin has been thus
destroyed, then without my flesh I shall see God.”
ASV
And after my skin, even this body , is destroyed, Then
without my flesh shall I see God;
Louis Segond
Quand ma peau sera détruite, il se lèvera; Quand je n'aurai plus
de chair, je verrai Dieu.
Translator chooses the Meaning
Job 19: 25, 26
KJV
“For I know that my redeemer liveth,…and though after my skin
worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see
God.”

36. Word vs Thought Translation
• 1 John 3:17
– KJV: “shutteth up his bowels” (intestine)
–NIV: “has no pity”
• Colossians 3:12
– KJV: “put on bowels of mercies”
–NIV: “clothe yourselves with
compassion”

37. Genetic
Cultural
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Mental
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Family Origin
Genetic
Cultural
Gender
Racial
Emotional
Mental
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FILTERS
FILTERS
MESSAGE
I Wrote
“we inevitably bring our own
ideas, culture, moods, and
experiences into whatever
subject we approach.”
Clifford Goldstein, Adult Sabbath School
Bible Study Guide, p.14

39. Genetic
Cultural
Gender
Racial
Emotional
Mental
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Genetic
Cultural
Gender
Racial
Emotional
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FILTERS
I Wrote