Reading Scriptures Intelligently: Using Your Bible's Notes - Page 2© alberto esmeralda
Page 2
Jun 1, 2000
In order to give the reader an idea of what I have in mind when talking of marginal notes and footnotes to the Bible, I am presenting two modern translations which I have found useful not only for personal reading but also for instruction. These are the Jerusalem Bible and the New American Bible. Click on the links below for a graphic illustration of each:
http://www.geocities.com/abetesme/helps/... http://www.geocities.com/abetesme/helps/...
Four Rules for Using The Notes
1. The explanatory notes of some modern translations of the Bible normally elucidate what is already explained in a general way in the introductions to the individual books. The reader should have read the introduction if he/she expects to profit from explanatory notes.
2. Check the notes only when the context does not help in understanding the passage being read. What has been explained in the previous article cannot be laid aside even here. The notes found in your Bibles do not exempt one from using one's capacity to understand a given passage. Most often the understanding of a given passage (and even a word) depends a lot on the context of that passage (or word).
3. The notes are meant to be guides. Do not treat them as the Word of God. Like the numerical references that we find in our bibles, marginal notes and footnotes have been supplied by human beings whose ministry to the Word have moved them to aid their brothers and sisters in the faith in the study of the same Word that has enlightened them in the first place. And no matter how enlightened they may be, they can not become substitutes to the Holy Spirit who is the primary author of Scriptures.
4. Once a note (whether marginal or footnote) has helped you understand the passage, stop reading it. Enough said. This last rule only elucidates what is already implied in Rule No.3.
In the next article I will be giving a concrete example of how these Rules work.
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Thanks Bob for the comment. I think that the Bible you just mentioned is also available here. I'll check it out and perhaps see what kind of help it gives. You know, I also use an old KJV bible tha ...
-- posted by agustinongpinoy
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Alberto,Although I'm an evangelical Protestant, I'm a regular visitor to Scriptural Studies - Catholic because I'm also interested in the reading of the Scriptures intelligently and in faith. ...
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