June 5, 2007
High Fructose Scripture
Is verse-by-verse bible teaching nutritious?
There are many dangers in ministry. Jesus warned about the yeast of the Pharisees. Paul warned about engaging foolish controversies. But what about enumerated chapters and verses in the Bible-are those numbers added by editors a threat to sound teaching? John Dunham from the International Bible Society addresses their unexpected impact.
What was the last thing you ate? If it came from a package, you could probably scan down the list of ingredients and find high fructose corn syrup. What is that stuff anyway? Suffice it to say, it’s a readily available, cheap substance that makes food taste good. A manufacturer’s dream. But is it good for you? Does it harm you? Think for a moment how ubiquitous this stuff is. We take for granted that our food will have high fructose corn syrup, so we eat it without a second thought.
You know what else is like that? The chapters and verses in the Bible. What was the last Scripture passage you read? While you were reading, you probably encountered various numbers strewn throughout. If you had seen those numbers in any other book, it would have seemed odd. But chapter and verse numbers have become part of the fabric of the Bible over the last few centuries. Are these numbers good for you? Will they harm your Bible reading? Chapter and verse markings have become ubiquitous, and people rarely stop to question the ramifications of their inclusion in the sacred text.
So why do we have them anyway? Chapter numbers were first added to the Bible in the 1200s to facilitate the process of reading Scripture publicly. The breaks were inserted to make the readings approximately the same length. Verse numbers entered in the 1500s in order to help scholars locate specific phrases as they worked in the burgeoning field of biblical commentary.
These additions to the text came from good motives, and were undoubtedly helpful to the people who used them for the reasons above. But are they helpful in all the ways we use them today? It’s not like they are an inspired part of the text. There were, in fact, various number systems developed for Scripture. (Did you know that one version of Matthew had 68 chapters?) But once a particular system became standardized, we never looked back. Chapters and verses were here to stay.
Some people have recognized the deleterious effects of these numbers over the last few generations. (See for instance The Message or The Bible to Be Read as Living Literature.) Sometimes sentences are broken in unnatural places. Verse numbers cause oral readers to insert breaks where none was intended. And perhaps worst of all, the story of God and his creation becomes chopped into little bits as “God’s Owner’s Manual for Life” or “Bible Promises for Expectant Mothers Named Cathy.” People naturally look to their favorite verses to provide comfort or instruction without regard to the author’s point in the surrounding context. Similarly, chapters tell me where to stop reading, sometimes at the most inopportune times.
Verse jacking, taking verses and using them for something other than what was intended, is endemic to our culture.
I hear people quote from Isaiah (55:11, for those keeping score at home) all the time saying, “God says his word won’t return to him empty.” I too have used that sentence to assure people that their quoting a Bible “verse” will surely be effective given this promise. But what happens if we look at the context? When you read the surrounding stanzas of the oracle, it emerges that God is foretelling his people’s return from exile, and further, even the removal of the curse from the creation. From Genesis and John we see that the very word of God is effective in creation. Isaiah says that God’s word will bring about re-creation, restoration and renewal.
Think about the storied approach to the Bible versus the spoon-fed bits approach in the context of discipleship. When you started ministering in your current church, did you sit a staff member down and ask them to list all the inside jokes you might encounter? More than likely, you let the jokes happen, and as they did, someone explained to you why they were funny. They told a story. They discipled you in the story of your staff. Similarly, as you lead your church in seeing what God is doing in the Bible, help them to engage the story organically, not as a laundry list of anecdotes.
While a smaller understanding of a phrase of Scripture may be technically correct, it is tremendously helpful, actually necessary, to see it within the context of God’s bigger story. In our bumper sticker culture, that’s a tall order, but it’s like choosing a natural sweetener over a cheap substitute. It’s just better in the long run.
John Dunham is a WordWright at International Bible Society. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife Susan and learned recently that whitewater kayaking is really hard work if you paddle improperly.
Posted by UrL on June 5, 2007
Comments
Good article. Are you just pointing out a problem or are you making a recommendation? Is the IBS going to start pushing new versions, sans chapter and verse numbers?
I, for one, would like to see some of the better translations in versions without all the extra markup.
Unfortunately, I think the current system is so deeply ingrained that I can't imagine something like that becoming popular enough for a publishing house to make any money on, and it seems like $money$ is the main motivator for the current plethora of versions.
Chuck
Posted by: Charles Cherry at June 5, 2007
Good thoughts, and it certainly would be worthwhile to have a copy of the Bible around without verses to use for reading and reference. However, I personally think the benefits of chapter and verse numbering outweigh any negative.
The "verse jacking" phrase was quite nice. I think I'll start using it.
Posted by: Adam G. at June 5, 2007
I agree with Chuck that it's doubtful a chapter- and verse-less version of popular translations will be published, absent a prospective market. But this would be a substantive addition to a Bible market hyperlarded with useless variations. So I hereby second Chuck's motion: publishers, if you print a NIV, TNIV, or NRSV without chapter and verse headings, I'll buy it! That makes two of us. Anybody else? In terms of numbers, we won't be able to compete with the Prayer of Jabez fan club, but we might be able to approach the critical purchasing mass of Bible Promises for Expectant Mothers Named Cathy (fuschia bonded leather w/tri-color ribbons and presentation page version)."
PS Please spare us the devotional text boxes and [in this case, useless] thematic cross-references as well.
Posted by: Tyler at June 5, 2007
I agree. Any while we are at it, why is scripture usually in columns?
Posted by: tony at June 5, 2007
What is your proposed solution? I can not imagine a pastor stepping up to the mic and saying open to the book of John, fast forward to the part about...
With so many versions of the Bible that would be causing more people to get frustrated and either not read along...or worse not come.
I agree that pastors need to read in the metanarrative and in the whole context. I believe places like Calvary Chapel and others that do line by line exegesis have something going for them.
Posted by: Carl Holmes at June 5, 2007
One thing I can't stand is this popular mode of scripture memorization where you memorize disconnected verses from various books depending on what your study topic is that week. Disjointed bits of text like that are very difficult to retain long-term because of the lack of context. In contrast, I memorized all of 1 Cor 15, Psalm 139, and Acts 17, and retain them to this day (probably with minor mistakes), because they constitue complete narratives.
Posted by: John M. at June 5, 2007
How are the football game missionaries going to do their work if they can't make a poster that says "John 3:16"? Do you know how hard it would be to write the whole thing out on a sheet? And there's zero chance it'll make it on TV.
Posted by: Kevin Jackson at June 5, 2007
Thank God for the scholars and let's get rid of the fisherman.
Can you imagine the error in this world if we didn't cross the t's and dot the i'. Why there would be many churches saying different things. There would be a constant thriving for churches to grow and this world would be running amok in crime and wars. people would be divorcing and abortion would be an everyday thing.
Thank God that He trusts us to figure this thing out for Him. The agony He must go through in hoping that we come through. Let us continue in searching the scriptures in hope that in them we might find Life.
And as for the Frutcose... Don't judge a man unless you have walked in his moccasins.
Just kidding (not)
Posted by: richard at June 5, 2007
Yes and no, they are helpful, but can hurt understanding of the text. As long as we do not allow the numbers to cut off reading, then no they are not harmful.
www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
Posted by: Matthew at June 5, 2007
I think that a good way of marking the chapters and verses would be to put them only in the margins and let the text flow with breaks only where a break in thought occurs. When reading a book I generally try to finish a thought if not a chapter before putting the book down. Most books have a clearly defined break when a chapter is over. I am not sure whether the scriptures are that clearly defined. I know that I am just starting to discover the discontinuity that chapters and verses have caused in my understanding of scripture.
Posted by: Dan J. at June 5, 2007
I don't find chapter and verse identifications to be a problem. I just ignore them. By the time one is ready for the 'meat of the word' one should be able to do that.
John M. - who doesn't like topical scripture memorization programs: I spent most of my growing up years memorizing scripture that way and I wouldn't trade it for the world. As to having those verses called to my memory; the Holy Spirit pops them out as needed and sometimes I'm thinking, "where did that come from?" I also advocate your style of entire passages. "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." Psalm 119:11
Posted by: Melody at June 5, 2007
Timely post! I am finishing up my last paper before graduating seminary. It's an exegetical paper looking at the Hebrew text of Malachi 3.6-12. The televangelists "money" verse, "test Me, I beg you, and see if I won't open up the windows from heaven." Now in it's original context it's referring to post-exile, remnant Israel who is disillusioned by their seeming abandonment by YHWH. When YHWH says test him by bringing tithe and offering into the store house, he is not saying I'll shower from heaven mansions, luxury cars, and the like. He is saying I'll bring RAIN. A few verses earlier we learn of fields that have gone dry and so YHWH will return to them a land that will sustain them. This verse does not mean God is a cosmic vending machine waiting to have 10% tokens put into him so he can saturate us with material goods. Besides the tithe is to refocus Israel on God and his sustainting them and sure some abundance will come. But televangelists almost always preach this as incidental regarding God and focus on what we get which is not even the focus of the passage!
Posted by: Sam Andress at June 6, 2007
@Tony: Columns are a way of conserving space and reducing whitespace. I have a single column Bible and in some books of the Bible half the page is blank. The columns is a side issue compared to the rest of this post. I hope that helps.
I think that most of our Bibles today exist to distract us from reading God's word. Especially, when you encounter a two full page inset that totally distracts from the chapter you were reading. God's word does not need any help.
Posted by: Rick Shott at June 6, 2007
Is this a discussion about something that doesn't really matter..... The main thing is whether or not we are encouraging those we influence to read the Word of God every day and hide it in their heart--whatever that looks like. I have read important discussions here. Please don't follow rabbits....
Posted by: Lauree at June 6, 2007
Chapter and verse divisions may be a necessary evil, but there are some work-arounds. My Bible study software (WordSearch) allows me to view/print Scripture without chapter and verse divisions, and I find that helpful.
Also, we project Scripture for corporate reading during our worship gatherings and intentionally leave out the verse markings when we do so. The Scripture is still referenced by chapter and verses so that people can look it up on their own if they like, but it's read without those artificial divisions.
Posted by: Dan at June 6, 2007
perhaps an even more substantial and pervasive argument against using chapter/verse would be the fact that the texts weren't originally written that way? in fact, most of the Greek manuscripts didn't even have spaces between the words. the question we need to answer is this: are the chapter and verse markings actually damaging the original content of the passage?
i.e. the Romans 13 passage about government and submission looks extremely different if we see that Paul is continuing a thought that starts in 12:14. there is just an assumption that new chapter marking means new idea. without the markings, would the connection of the whole letter/book become more apparent?
just some thoughts.
peace
Posted by: subversion inc. at June 6, 2007
Especially in the N.T. letters like 1 and 2 Timothy, chapter and verse distinctions take away from a reading of the letter instead of adding to an understanding. Good points in your article!
Posted by: Jodi-Ann at June 6, 2007
Like John M. I try to memorize passages in context rather than just individual verses. It helps prevent me from using Scriptures like bits of fortune cookie wisdom. Or worse, little magical sayings that I use to ward off evil.
Not that I think memory verses work this way for everyone! I like the chapter/verse system overall, though I think it often gets used to "proof text."
Posted by: Mark Goodyear at June 6, 2007
Centuries of fruitful ministries would suggest that your thinking is erroneous.
Posted by: Tami Martin at June 6, 2007
Is the division of verses and chapters really the reason for people not gaining an understanding of the bible? My experience is that people have been taught that 10 minutes a day will make the devil go away. This is much more detrimental to biblical understanding. My experiences is that the vast majority of believers in Christ spend little if any time reading the bible at all. My experiences is that we have conditioned people to come to church to be fed instead of teaching them to feed themselves. I don't think this is much if any issue at all.
Posted by: leoskeo at June 7, 2007
This article is typical of the deconstructionist mindset so prevalent amongst many Christians today. No responsible preacher is ignorant of the limitations of the chapter and verse divisions in the Scriptures. We understand context and the importance of telling the whole story as the biblical authors and the Holy Spirit intended. The problem with this type of critique is that it fails to propose a better alternative. Criticizing traditional exegetical/devotional helps (such as Bible chapter and verse divisions) without proposing a more accurate way is not helpful. There are too many Christians in ministry today who thrive off attacking our heritage without offering a solutions to problems they address.
Posted by: glenn krobel at June 7, 2007
I am just happy that this whole issue is being highlighted. Lack of mindfulness in using chap. and verse can have an adverse effect on the literary integrity of the text under consideration and its interpretation thereof. So does referring to epistles, which are in fact letters, as books. I don't know about anyone else but I read something I label a book and something I call a letter very differently. Think about the last time you eavesdropped on a tele-conversation ...
Of course, let's not forget the undiscerning use of the phrase "Word of God". More often than not, when this phrase appears in the NT - your usual suspects like Ephesians (chp.6), 2 Timothy(other than chp. 3) or John 1 - it does not refer to scriptures. Nor does Psalm 119 speak about the "Bible"; it probably only refers to the Torah.
The people of God should be made more aware of the lenses/assumptions(in terms of form) that we bring to the study of scriptures. It decidedly affects our interpretations ... Hopefully, such awareness will make us aware of some habitual pitfalls along with the realization that this is an ongoing battle. As for a pure, pristine and untainted (not to forget the more imflamatory "inerrant" and "infallible") text,... nuf' said ...
God continues to remain bigger that this and every other possible/potential/actual distortion to our historical faith, and it is he who upholds us and leads us into all truth through his Spirit. And because of this, we should be aware of all infelicities/shortcomings and depend on GOd as never before ...
Posted by: Kelvin Lawrence at June 8, 2007
This is a great article! i'm loving it man. I bought a Bible calledt he message remix (its something different from the King James version-really different). It is fun to read and there are less verses. trust me u flow when u read the Bible without interuptions. Like verses. lol!
Posted by: Godwin Tom at June 8, 2007
Good writeup.I'm aware that verses have a way of giving the whole message a new meaning,or cutting it short.take for example, a promise followed by a condition.most people read and memorize the promises forgetting that there's a condition attached to it. But on the other hand,i think verses make teaching easy.you cant teach someone the word from a chapter with 63or more verses and then u read the whole thing,u'll bore the person,and sometimes not everything said in a chapter will apply to u,it might just be a sentence turning out to be a verse.i understand chuck's aguement,but i dont see anything wrong with chapters and verses.
Posted by: Inyang Iboro at June 13, 2007
This is why I grew to love The Message by Eugene Peterson. I was finally able to read the text without unnatural breaks in it. Though I admit I had to purchase The Message Remixed with the verse numbers included. The whole chapter and verse thing is so ingrained in me that I just cannot imagine removing it. I do try to read the whole thought at once and try to keep the “big picture” in mind when reading.
Posted by: Johnny Brooks at June 18, 2007
I also get frustrated with Ch & v numbers - why not just print them in the margin beside the text rather than within the text itself?
However what bugs me more than Ch & v numbers is the added 'headings' to passages every few verses. These hinder the ability of scripture to talk to the reader by 'prescribing' the topic - but every modern translation has them.
Oh for a good translation that was just the words of scripture with a really decent margin to write notes in
Posted by: GordonG at June 22, 2007
What bugs me is some of the arguments that people are making here, that go something like this:
"How are pastors/preachers supposed to teach without the chapters and verses? How are people supposed to follow along? etc."
What did teachers do BEFORE there were chapters and verses? What did teachers do BEFORE there was the printing press and everyone had their own copy? I think this is one of the author's points: We are SO entrenched in the way we currently read/teach scripture that we can't even fathom that it could ever have been and different. Or that it could ever be different again...
THIS is the positive side to Deconstructionism, "glenn krobel", it's tearing away and exposing the things that people are unable to recognize as just that: TRADITIONS and not absolutes. You're right that when we deconstruct, there must be something else to go to. But there is always going to be that uncomfortable time (now!) in between where we were, and where we're going...
Posted by: curtis at June 29, 2007