Context provides the backdrop against which individual verses gain depth, clarity, and accuracy in meaning. The Bible encompasses various genres, including historical narratives, poetry, prophecy, parables, and epistles, each with its unique style and purpose. Consequently, extracting isolated verses from their surrounding passages risks distortion and misinterpretation.

First and foremost, historical context illuminates the circumstances and cultural milieu in which biblical events unfolded. Understanding the historical background helps decipher the intended message and relevance of a particular verse.

Moreover, literary context encompasses the immediate verses, chapters, and the overarching narrative of each biblical book. Just as a sentence gains meaning within a paragraph, and a paragraph within a chapter, Bible verses derive their significance within the broader textual framework. Ignoring this context can lead to selective reading, misrepresentation, and doctrinal misunderstandings.

Furthermore, linguistic context delves into the original languages, idioms, and cultural nuances embedded in the Bible. Translating ancient texts into modern languages inevitably entails nuances and challenges. Exploring the original languages, such as Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, deepens our understanding of biblical concepts and enhances the accuracy of interpretation.

Additionally, theological context ensures coherence with the broader themes and teachings of Scripture. The Bible constitutes a cohesive narrative of God’s redemptive plan for humanity, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Viewing individual verses through the lens of the Bible’s overarching message safeguards against misinterpretation and doctrinal error.

In practice, applying these principles requires patience, humility, and diligence. Consulting reputable commentaries, studying historical resources, and engaging in prayerful reflection can facilitate a better understanding of Scripture. By delving into the richness of context, readers uncover profound insights, discover timeless truths, and encounter the living Word of God.

In conclusion, the importance of reading Bible verses in context cannot be overstated. Context serves as the compass guiding our interpretation, safeguarding against misinterpretation and distortion. Embracing the fullness of context enables us to discern the deeper meanings, relevance, and transformative power of Scripture in our lives. As we embark on this journey of exploration, may we approach the Word of God with reverence, discernment, and an unwavering commitment to truth.

The post Understanding the Importance of Context: Why It Matters first appeared on Gary Eugene Howell.

You’ll eventually want to read the entire Bible. However, if you’re just starting out, and have never read from the Bible before, it’s probably not a good idea to start at the beginning. As a new Christian, the Old Testament can get you mired down with its odd names, lengthy genealogies and monologs about unfamiliar weights and measurements.

The entire Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ. So, it’s much better for a new Christian to start by reading Jesus’s arrival. Begin by reading the New Testament first.

Further still, it’s not even necessary to read the New Testament in order. You should, however, start with either Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

The New Testament serves as a foundational guide for Christians, offering insight into the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. after acquainting yourself with the Gospels. The important aspect is not the sequence but the commitment to engage with the scripture regularly and prayerfully.

The Bible is not merely a historical document or a literary work; it’s considered the inspired word of God. Therefore, approaching its texts with prayer and seeking divine guidance can provide understanding and spiritual growth.

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45)

As you embark on your journey through the Bible, remember to seek spiritual guidance and approach the text with reverence and humility, allowing its wisdom to transform your life.

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1 Peter 2:2 NLT, Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

we’re reminded that life isn’t sustained solely by physical nourishment but also by the words from God’s mouth. Similarly, 1 Peter 2:2 compares our need for spiritual nourishment to that of a newborn craving milk.

Do not overlook the importance of feeding our souls through daily Bible reading.

Consider the analogy of going without food for a day, a week, or even a month. The consequences are dire; our physical health suffers, and prolonged starvation could lead to death. Similarly, depriving our souls of spiritual sustenance by neglecting the Bible can lead to spiritual malnourishment.

Just as our bodies need food every day, our souls require daily sustenance from the Word of God. Reading the Bible daily, including Sundays, offers profound benefits. Regular engagement with scripture fosters spiritual growth and deepens our relationship with God. It shapes our perspectives, strengthens our faith, and equips us to live lives reflective of His love and truth.

In a fast-paced world filled with distractions, it’s easy to overlook the significance of daily Bible reading. Yet, by prioritizing this practice, we invite God’s transformative power into our lives. Let’s commit to feeding our souls with the life-giving words of Scripture each day, knowing that in doing so, we nurture our spiritual well-being and draw closer to the heart of God.

The post Nourishing Your Soul: The Value of Daily Bible Reading first appeared on Gary Eugene Howell.

Ghosting on Bible pages

While paperback Bibles offer convenience and affordability, their durability may sometimes fall short of expectations. The lightweight construction of paperback covers and bindings renders them susceptible to wear and tear, especially with frequent handling and transportation. Over time, the covers of paperback books may become creased, torn, or otherwise damaged, compromising their aesthetic appeal and structural integrity. The adhesive used in binding paperback books may weaken, leading to pages loosening or even detaching from the spine, resulting in them getting lost.

Paperback Bibles are designed to be inexpensive and thus may not withstand heavy use or rough treatment as effectively as their more expensive counterparts. However, if the ghosting effect often seen in more expensive bibles featuring thin sheets of paper, is a distraction to you, try a simple paperback Bible. Most paperback Bibles cost less than $10 and many even less than $5 new. But be aware that it may not last a long time before you have to buy another.

The post Ghosting vs No-Ghosting first appeared on Gary Eugene Howell.

One of the fundamental reasons behind my dislike for the KJV Bible is its language. The English used in the KJV, while beautiful and rich in its time, has become increasingly difficult for modern readers to grasp. The thou’s, thee’s, and ye’s, along with other antiquated expressions, create unnecessary barriers to understanding the message of the Scriptures.

As a believer, I acknowledge the importance of engaging with the Bible regularly to deepen my faith and understanding. However, I find it counterproductive to wrestle with language that no longer resonates with contemporary speakers. Christianity faces numerous challenges in today’s world, and deciphering Elizabethan English should not be one of them.

Despite my reservations about the KJV, however, I recognize its value as a reference tool for comparing different Bible translations. For that reason I own more than one King James Version Bible. Its influence on subsequent translations and its role in shaping Christian theology cannot be overlooked. The KJV has left an indelible mark on the history of Christianity, and its legacy continues to endure.

However, I firmly believe that Christians should have access to Bible translations that resonate with their contemporary language. The message of the Bible is timeless and transcendent, but its delivery should be accessible and understandable to all. In a world where communication evolves rapidly, it is imperative that the Scriptures remain relevant and relatable to people from diverse backgrounds and linguistic abilities.

In conclusion, while I acknowledge the historical significance of the King James Version Bible, I cannot overlook its shortcomings in terms of accessibility and understandability. As Christians, we should strive to make the Word of God accessible to all, free from unnecessary linguistic barriers. By embracing modern translations that convey the scriptures in contemporary language, we can ensure that the Bible continues to resonate with believers across generations.

If you are trying to decide which translation of the Bible you should read, start by asking Jesus. James 1:5 says, If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.

Then while you’re waiting on the Lord, visit a thrift store or a flea market where Bibles usually cost a dollar or less. Buy for yourself two or three different translations and try each of them. See which one you are drawn to most.

Photo credit: flickr Creative Commons, The Holy Bible – 1611 King James Version by Robert

The post Why You Might Dislike the King James Bible first appeared on Gary Eugene Howell.

I recall between 2008 and 2012 it took me four years to read the entire Bible. Not because I was reading slowly and carefully and studying the scriptures diligently, but because I would read for a half hour a day over the course of two or three days and then not pick up the Bible again for three weeks.

But beginning around 2022, I began seeing the need for the implementation of personal self-discipline and had begun reading the Bible with consistency and regularity even when I didn’t feel like it.

But a short time ago I asked my wife if there was any value in reading other Christian books. I said “Why bother when you could just read the Bible?” For certain, a man is a fool if he forsakes the word of God while embracing the words of man.

But Last night I purchased for 99cents, a used copy of Francis Chan’s Crazy Love. I’m only on page 29 and already while reading it I feel an inward excitement and enthusiasm toward God that in the past I have only ever experienced while personally associating with a person who had deep spiritual wisdom and enjoyed sharing that wisdom with me.

Thus, it occurred to me that the value in reading Christian books is to receive that inward sense of being spurred on toward love and good deeds and to experience anew that excitement and enthusiasm for following Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I’m feeling now that I want to include in my daily activities, the regular reading of Christian books in addition to the Bible.

I’m going to create, here on this blog post, a list of the Christian books I’ve read that encouraged and motivated me.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Tortured for His Faith by Haralan Popov

Photo credit: flickr Creative Commons, Books read in 2021 by Brett Jordan

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The Christian Bible with its Old and New Testaments is the most valuable thing that exists on planet earth. The good news it contains is worth more than all the money in the world because the Bible reveals to us the key to eternal life through Jesus Christ.

But as a physical product, Bibles are merely paper and ink. Inexpensive paperbacks, printed on cheap paper can be purchased new at a store like Walmart for less than five dollars.

You may recall back in 2021 that several Dr. Seuss books fell victim to cancel culture. Someone, or some group, decided they were offended by Dr. Seuss, the author of several children’s books. They announced they wanted to cancel said books. And to my great dismay, the copyright holder of Dr. Seuss’s books agreed and said they would no longer print those particular titles by Dr. Seuss.

What bothered me most was the nagging feeling of what’s next. Could we, in our lifetimes, see the Bible get canceled? The more I thought about the Dr. Seuss books; that it wasn’t just protesters announcing they wouldn’t buy Dr. Seuss; it was the actual publisher who bent their knee to social pressure and said they would no longer print the books.

There are only a handful of Bible publishers in the US. These companies publish loads of Christian material in addition to printing Bibles, so it’s not farfetched to suggest that, like Dr. Seuss, if these publishers ever bowed to future social pressure, they might agree to stop printing the Bible.

We’ve already seen that Canada recently passed a bill unanimously, to outlaw the telling of transgender people that they have a need for repentance. It’s just one small step short of banning the bible in Canada.

One of the things that happened immediately after the announcement that Dr. Seuss’s publishers would cease publishing the titles in question was that people rushed to the internet, to their local bookstores, to thrift stores and used book shops trying to find copies of Dr. Seuss. They were buying up Dr. Seuss books anywhere they could find them. People understood that they weren’t going to be available in the future.

I thought “If Bible publishers ever announced they weren’t going to publish Bibles anymore, there would quickly come a time when a person wouldn’t be able to even find a used Bible. A Bible for sale would be a rarity at best.

I once met a missionary who served in Shanghai China, a city with a population of 24 million people. He told me that in a city of 24 million, there was only one bookstore in the entire city that sold Bibles, and they never carried more than one or two copies. The store couldn’t advertise their Bibles so for the millions of people that lived in that city, it was basically impossible to find and purchase a Bible.

With all of these thoughts swirling in my head, I began thinking about my children. I have a 5-year-old and a 3-month-old. What would happen, when they’re 50 years old and the Bible is no longer available? What would happen if they couldn’t go to a store and buy one?

This began my desire to start collecting Bibles. Not for myself, I already have a few Bibles I read. But to start this collection as a future inheritance for my children and maybe even my grandchildren. If in their time, Bibles are hard to find, I will leave them with 50, or 75 or even 100 Bibles. I’ll leave them with different versions, with study Bibles, reference Bibles, teen Bibles, parallel Bibles, hard cover, paper back, etc.…. I want my children and grandchildren to have the word of God in abundance. I want them to be able to mark and highlight one bible and then start another. I want to leave an inheritance to my children and their children that leads to eternal life.

I went to a hardware store and bought two 27-gallon storage totes with the goal of filling them both with Bibles.

However, I didn’t want to bankrupt myself. I wanted to find used Bibles being sold for very little money. In my town there is a Goodwill outlet store, which I call the Goodwill bin store. It’s where the items that did not sell in Goodwill retail stores are sent and then sold by the pound at this outlet store. The store is more like a warehouse with huge bins each the size of a twin bed filled with clothes or shoes or toys or DVDs or books, etc…

They will frequently have four to five of these bins filled with books that nobody bought at their retail stores and now are just tossed in these bins for customers to rummage through. The books at this particular location sell for 80 cents each regardless of title, format or condition. Furthermore, the bin store represents the last and final stop for these books. If no one buys them here, Goodwill will send them to a paper recycler where they’ll be shredded and turned into cardboard.

My first time going to the Goodwill bin store to search for Bibles, I found a few, but they were in bad shape. Their bindings were broken and pages were falling out, they were scribbled and highlighted in, but none the less, I was excited that I had found them and could pay just 80 cents each for the invaluable word of God. I purchased all that I had found.

But shortly after that first outing, I was once again at the bin store and was talking to an employee who told me to my shock that every bin in the store, including the book bins, are switched out twice a day. Remember, these bins are nearly the size of a twin bed and are on wheels.

I was aware that this store dealt with large volumes of books, but I had no idea they were swapping out the bins twice a day!

That was when I realized I was going about this thing all wrong. I had previously been coming to the store once every two weeks and buying Bibles that were falling apart.

I immediately switched mental gears and decided to radically increase my standards and strategy.

No longer was I going to acquire Bibles that were damaged, torn, scribbled in or falling apart. All the broken, worn out Bibles I had previously purchased, I donated back to Goodwill.

From then on, I was only going to purchase Bibles in like-new or perfect condition. I wasn’t going to go there twice a month; I was going to walk into that store 3 and 4 times per week.

I was only going to buy the NKJV, NIV, ESV, NLT, HSC and NAS. No longer was I going to buy New Testament only Bibles. I was going to leave for my children and grandchildren the complete Word of God. And no longer was I going to purchase Bibles with tiny, tiny fonts. I want readily legible Bibles.

So, I started going to the Goodwill bin store multiple times per week, and I found that about every other trip I could buy a Bible in decent or really good condition. I was forgoing the Bible translations I didn’t like and those with small fonts and was picking only the really good ones. I was finding study bibles and reference bibles and I was paying only 80 cents each for them.

After a few months of shopping at the Goodwill bin store I had filled one of my two 27-gallon storage totes, but I began to notice that fewer and fewer Bibles were showing up at the store. What was going on? Why were Bibles becoming harder to find?

I began brainstorming and wondering if I could find other venues at which to purchase used Bibles. The first one that I thought of was garage sales, but because it was the middle of winter, no one was going to be hosting a weekend garage sale any time soon.

I turned to Facebook and found a group called Buy, Sell, Trade Everything Bibles. I joined the group but was quickly dismayed at the fact that the Bibles people were listing for sale on this site had price tags in the hundreds of dollars. I was seeing Bibles with asking prices of $200 and $300. I didn’t even know such expensive Bibles existed.

After scrolling through this Facebook group for a few days, looking at these ultra-high quality $200-$300 Bibles I began to think I had set my criteria at the bin store way too low. I had previously said that if a Bible wasn’t falling apart, I would buy it. But now I was seeing the Rolls Royce’s of Bibles. These high-end expensive Bibles were amazing. If I could find Bibles like that and acquire them for substantially less than they’re worth, wouldn’t it be amazing to fill my storage bins with those.

I wondered how people went about finding such nice Bibles. Like any good internet sleuth, I went to YouTube and searched for videos about how to find good quality used Bibles and that’s when I was confronted with yet another aspect of God’s Word I had no idea even existed.

There is an entire genre of entrepreneurial individuals who flip used Bibles for profit. It is their business model. I started this article by saying that the Bible is the most valuable thing in the world, and apparently there are people who make a tidy profit peddling in used Bibles. Again, I had no idea that such a thing even existed. Furthermore, I have to admit that I was rather offended by the very notion of it. The fact that these people viewed the Word of God not as something valuable to read for themselves but they viewed God’s word as a means to make money. It didn’t sit well with me until I said, “wait a minute…. think about the buyer.” There is an entire market of people out there who are willing to purchase the Word of God.

I had been passing over bibles at the Goodwill bin store simply because the font was too small or it was a version I didn’t favor.

It suddenly occurred to me, that I ought not pass over any Bible. Not only could I find and acquire the Bibles I want to leave as an inheritance for my children and grandchildren, but I could also take the unwanted Bibles I find and flip them for profit and use said profit to save up for the super nice, high quality Bibles I had seen in the Facebook group.

So why were Bibles becoming scarcer at the bin store? My suspicion is that perhaps other people have caught on to the fact that there is profit to be made flipping Bibles.

And while I still say, people ought to value the Word of God for themselves rather than for profit, none-the-less it’s still a worthy endeavor when thinking about the buyer.

Somebody out there wants God’s Word but perhaps they don’t have a bin store or a used book store near them. Perhaps it’s the middle of winter and they can’t shop at local garage sales.

Whatever the case may be, I’ve decided I’m going to be very excited that there are people out there who long for the Word of God and are willing to pay for it. I’m going to help them get it and then I’ll save up the profit to acquire even more copies of God’s Word that I can pass on to my children and grandchildren.

The post A Bible Collecting Journey first appeared on Gary Eugene Howell.