TrueRoots · Blog

I have been thinking about what I would like to see in Bible software. There are many good titles already out there, both commercial and free, some designed for academics, some for preachers with Greek language training, and some for the average layman without much formal Bible training (non-college). There are apps for smart phones and PDAs, web sites with a host of resources, and software for almost any computer type and operating system.

One of the old sermon tapes I have been working with goes deep into the ancient Greek manuscripts, describing the process of copying the texts, and how errors are accounted for by comparing the many fragments against each other. There are several key Greek texts we use today, each taking a differen approach to the process of analyzing the many manuscripts to determine its final reading. As a result, many translations have footnotes hinting at the differences in the various texts and manuscripts.

One approach resulted in the "Majority Text" which is a fairly simple method. Review all the manuscripts for a verse (or even a word or phrase) and use the reading that is most common, no matter what the textual merits might be. For instance, there might be many copies of a verse, but with a reading that is obviously not what the origional monograph likely read (because it simply makes no linguistic sense, for example, or the reading is clearly a copyiest error of repeating, jumping ahead or behind, etc.) and the later scribes repeated the mistake.

Another approach was that of Erasamus (spelling?) in the Middle Ages, who developed one of the earliest Greek New Testaments for scholars, compiling as best as he could from the available manuscripts. He is on record as not trusting the accuracy of several of the most complete manuscripts he had, and he did not have very many to work with. Furthermore, some verses and even longer sections were missing from his available Greek manuscripts, so he had to translate them from the Latin texts to recreate the missing Greek. Some years later, as an advertising ploy, a publisher deemed his work to be the "recieved text" instead of just a compiled Greek text.

The text commonly used today is that published by the United Bible Societies and Nestle-Aland (the same text but with different footnoting systems for different needs of translators, students and scholars). This is the "critical" text, not as in "nit-picking criticism" but as in a carefully and scientific analysis of the many textual fragments to evaluate and "score" or "weigh" the merits and demerits of each, then compiling a complete Greek text based on the best analysis.

There may be several other Greek texts, and scholars sometimes use other early texts in various languages besides Greek to compare against the Greek, such as Latin, but I don't need to go into that here.

When you carefully compare the three major Greek texts I have mentioned, you soon see that there is a great consensus on the bulk of the New Testament. Something like 80 % total agreement, very remarkable considering other old documents such as Homer's Illiad and Odyssey, for which there are only a few copies and these are quite divergent from each other. Scholars generally believe that even in the 20% where the major Greek texts differ, most of these variations do not result in a change in meaning, and none actually show any difference in the teachings of the New Testament.

Naturally, supporters of one text might claim that the others are flawed, but most scholars believe that the disagreements between the major Greek texts are so minor that they wonderfully show how remarkably well preserved God's inspired Word to be.

My dream software would help anyone willing to do the careful analysis of the ancient manuscript fragments and the leading Greek texts (M, TR, UBS/N-A) and see for themselves exactly how the Greek texts were developed.

I think that a photograph of each text fragment should be available for anyone to examine. But to be useful, each fragment ought to be connected to the book-chapter-verse of the Bible software in a way that you can move back and forth between the several Greek texts, other ancient translations, and whatever English (or even world language) translations the user has available. So, if I wanted to study Mark 16:16, I could quickly see how it appears in each fragment, by photograph, as well as each Greek text. And compare how the various translations utilize the ancient manuscripts and the Greek texts.

But going beyond the photographs, I would like a literal interlinear Greek (and English or whatever language) of each manuscript fragment, preferably with Strong's numbers available -- or links to any other Greek dictionary or lexicon -- to help the student see just what this fragment said.

Beyond that, each fragment should have an accompanying article describing the history of the fragment, such as where it was found, its presumed date of writing, and notes about the merits and weaknesses of the text. That is, if this includes a known scribal error, or suspected error, what kind is it and why experts think it. In a way, this is what the UBS/N-A Greek texts dovin footnootes. However, I am imagining far more information, presented so that the student can actually see an image of the manuscript fragment, its transcription(s) and remarks including the "grade" assigned to it.

This would be a massive project, and not one that I could hope to even begin, since I lack the resources, computer programming skills, Greek knowledge, access to a photo library of the ancient manuscripts, and even the skills as a student, to do more than dream about it.

And for all I know, some expensive piece of Bible study software might already do all of this! But if this kind of resource does not yet exist, perhaps by describing it, somebody might yet one day determine the structure necessary to build it, and then a team of "engineers" could assemble the pieces of the puzzle, so that it could become a finished project an a valuable too not only to the academic Greek scholar, but to those with basic Greek skills, or no skills at all.

If I had the money, I might find some people to build a prototype. I imagine it would be easiest to start with a small epistle, such as Jude, or even Philemon, so that various approaches can be tested in small scale.

Once a good test ("beta") version was developed, perhaps an "open source" community of developers, scholars, and "technicians" could take over, releasing version 1 to the public, one book at a time, until the entire New Testament was available.

My best hope is that this would be available as an add-on module (or set of modules, because of the size) for free software like eSword, perhaps several free Bible programs. Even better, perhaps versions could be made for every significant Bible program, still offered for free, so you could continue to use your commercial or free program of choice and the features you are accustomed to having.

Another option is to have the data available only as an internet resource, linked to other web-based resources such as translations, Greek dictionaries, and commentaries, but not as a stand-alone program or a module. Perhaps it could be made to work as a "live" extension to some Bible software, but not installable for off-line access.

Depending on copyright issues, the project may not be available for free. Perhaps one or more of the Greek texts is simply unavailable the way I would like to use it, without elaborate licensing and royalties. And perhaps the photographs would also be unavailable, for much the same reason. For these reasons, and perhaps because it might be more difficult and expensive a project than I imagine, this might have to become at least shareware (crippled at that!) or even commercial software published by a major Bible software company like Logos. But even if it is a commercial release, simply having the ability to personally examine the underlying ancient manuscripts of the New Testament would be a boon to many students of the Bible.

Just like any book or software, some surely would attempt to use it to discredit one translation or Greek text or another. Some would try to undermine Christianity, others would use it to support or attack various doctrines, and who knows what other abuses might arise. But with such a wealth of material available, any good student would be able to point out where a manuscript is being used improperly!

If you were in charge of developing a new piece of Bible software, what features would you like to include?

What Bible software do you currently use, and why?

What do you think of my "Visual NT" idea? Do you think it might be useful to preachers and scholars? What would it take to be helpful to those who are good students but don't have any real knowledge of Biblical Greek?

Who knows? If this already exists, then perhaps somebody can point me to it, and I can write a folliwup in the future. But if this is not availabe yet, perhaps somebody will begin to develop it something as I have suggested here, so that "all the world may know" the Word of God is real and just as reliable today as it was "back in the day" . . .

I hope to see your comments soon!

On Facebook, you can comment easily. On LiveJournal, I screen every comment because of spam. But if you are not sending spam, your comment should post within a week or less. Likely within 48 hours!

Monday, 14 November - my birthday
After work Sunday night the day started clear and cold. There was frost on my windshield so I had some scraping to do before taking Shirley, a coworker, to get her regular bloidwork done. She doesn't drive, nor her husband, so several of see that she makes it to and from work. Sometimes she treates me to breakfast, too, and that is a nice treat! We got some treats at Dunkin' Donuts on our way back to her home; sandwiches for both of us and donuts for her husband as well. I took some donuts home to serve instead of my birthday cake, since I was spending the rest of the day alone. It was nice to head for home, but I was thinking about my own bloodwork, too - I had eaten at work so I couldn't get it today. (I forgot about it Tuesday.)

 

Tuesday was a good day for sleep, but a phone message reminding me about my doctor's appointment let me know it was Wednesday, not Thursday as I had thought. Good thing their new computer system called! 

 

Wednesday
Since I had confused the day of my appointment, and had forgotten the previous week, I did not have new bloodwork results for my tiny, petite lady doctor to review. Instead, we worked off the last set and today's vitals, and added the insulin that she wanted to start me on last quarter. I will continue my current meds as well, until we see how my treatment works. As is proper, she looked at my bare feet and said they seem good but for my dry heels, for which she recommended I use Lamasil (antifungal) and Eucerin (heavy moisterizer cream) to avoid the risk of cracking skin. (Of course, I bought generics, but each was still close to ten bucks!) While there, I had my blood drawn by Robin, the nice "vampire" lady, and scheduled my next appointment. The new process is to scan copies of all paperwork into the computer, so there was a delay trying to find my next bloodwork order. There had been an in-house misunderstanding, but eventually I was set free - a little more than two hours after I had arrived for my appointment!

 

When I stopped by my pharmacy, I realized that I did not have a papet script for insulin, although I had the two sample pen sets. Several scripts had been called (or faxed?) in for me, but again, not the insulin. I didn't have time now to deal with it, and we hoped the script would show up later.

 

After stopping by my apartment to put my insulin in the 'fridge, I headed to meet my daughter for lunch at the Buck Horn Cracker Barrell, about half an hour's drive west. I had to get some gas, too, since my warning light was on. This Sheetz was about three more cents a gallon than the one outside Hazleton, only five miles away!

 

Arriving at the Cracker Barrell, I was surprised and happy to see Brandon, my (step) son as well as my daughter. I had not expected to see him today, but it seems that AmberRose is staying with him for now while her mom and step-dad fix the flood damage to their home. I wanted lunch, but they ate off the breakfast menu, and since it was my birthday and Brandon is looking for a job, AmberRose treated for both of us. She told the waitress it was my birthday, I protested that it had been on Monday, so the waitress said she would not sing but I would still get my free desert! I was interested in the fruit cobbler but not  the blackberry, so I ended up having the decedant chocalate cake and ice cream, the more expensive option! In "honor" of my diabeties, I shared much of it with my kids instead of hogging it all to myself.

 

We headed to Brandon's apartment to spend some time together, and I carried in some gifts for Brandon (catching up for his August birthday) but AmberRose had to fetch her own box from the car, in the rain. Her stuff wasn't so much gifts but things of hers I have had from her bedroom several apartments ago, or things I was "downsizing" into her care.

 

After some conversation, I showed Brandon the world I had been exploring and "manscaping" on my Android tablet using Minecraft PE, then we all got busy with the game Total Miner on his XBox 360 system. This is another cube-based "world" in which you add or remove cubes of different designs or textures, something like a much more realistic kind of virtual Lego set. Some of these game only offer a creative or construction mode, but others also have some gameplay elements such as creatures with which you can interact, and multiple players whom you can team up with to jointly edit - or argue about each other's changes! Total Miner, like others, has requirements on how easily you can use certain elements. For instance, you have to find "templates" before you have access to some tbings - they function like recepies. You also have to find certain "elements" like gold before you can use them. . . fascinating game, and a real time-waster like any game can be!

 

I finally left for home about nine in the evening, about five hours later than I had planned, and I was so tired that about ten miles later I had to stop outside Mainville, on the back road between Bloomsburg and the Hazleton area. I really don't know how long I napped, but a cop woke me up when he rapped on my window. I motioned "just a monent" and turned down the radio and lowered my window. "Are you all right, sir?" he asked, and I replied that I just was very tired and had to rest for a little bit but that I would be leaving soon. He accepted that, cautioned me about  carbon monoxide with the engine running, and left. I considered resting some more, but those few minutes had refreshed me enough that I was able to head for home safely. Its one thing when you are very tired, and another when you are fighting to keep your eyes open! I know when I can't stay awak, and believe me, I know when to stop and rest! So, on to home. . .

 

Thursday
I slept all night Wednesday, knowing I had messed up my sleep schedule by hanging out with my kids playing that video game, so I tried to sleep in Thursday morning. Still, I woke up about eight in the morning. Still groggy, I headed to the recliner in my living room, where I managed to nap off and on all morning. Finally, about three in the afternoon, I gave up on sleep and got started on my "day." I had some dishes to do, and some laundry, and there were many birthday wishes remaining on Facebook I wanted to individually thank. Then, it was time to leave for work, and so. . .

 

Looking at our sign-in clipboard, I saw the "H" after my name. The supervisor saw me and said, "John, you have a holiday. . . " and I replied, "I'm going home!" This was a scheduled night off, which I had known about, but with all of Wednesday's activities, I had somehow forgotten! I was getting paid my base rate, only "losing" the eight bucks of shift differential, so driving the unnecessary 40 miles really only cost me a few dollars in gas. I had things I could be doing at home anyway!

 

Friday
Although I had thought about getting a nap overnight, especially since I was off, I ended up staying awake instead. It took more time and aggravation on Dell's website, trying to download the updated drivers for my "new" Dimension 2400 PC. Although they claim you can use another browser, it seems that you can only use Internet Explorer! In theory, you can use Chrome to get individual files, but I had no success. But when I tried IE, I was able to download all eight as a group without problems! When Dell asked me to complete a user experience survey, I complained about having to use IE. (Although I use Firefox, Pale Moon, and Chrome for most of my work, this is why I have IE - and for Microsoft's Update service, too.)

 

Friday was payday, but I also had a church leader's seminar to attend. So, off to Wal-Mart to get a few things, including money orders and blank DVDs, then home. Can't leave the milk in the car all day! LOL. . .  Filled up my gas tank, at the Sheetz that was less expensive, and joined my senior friend (roughly a 70+ southern gentleman) to travel to Scranton. We were joining about 40 others, mostly pastors and church leaders, for a free lunch at a Chinese buffet.

 

This was a seminar which was as much a demonstration of products as any thing else, although the marketing was very low-key. The premise is to tell how churches can enhance their communication with its members and extend its reach beyond the worship service in several ways. Within the service, not only using good sound systems but also video can help the congregation hear and remember the message, but recording it makes the lesson accessable for replay at other times and places.

 

One idea is to place the file (recording) on the Internet, so members and even strangers can get it for their MP3 players to listen on the go. With web searches, people may find your lesson from anywhere around the world, and in many places where Christian outreach is severely restricted, good teachings online can be vital!

 

Another approach is to record just the sermon, and immediately after the sermon's close start making copies of the CD (or video DVD in many cases!) so that copies are available as soon as the service is over. People seem to take the disks while the lesson is fresh, but offer it next week? No thanks! If you can get it into their hands while they still want it, they'll happily take it home, and then they are far more likely to use it and share it with friends and family. 

 

There is an interesting split between the video and audio recordings: videos do grab people's attention, especially when they are made with graphics like the text of scriptures, but they also require more expense up front and more attention from the end user. Audio recordings, in any format, are less expensive and far more portable. The user can do dishes, drive their car, or so many other things while listening to a sermon (or the Bible, or whatever else, if course.)

 

Speaking of the spoken word, Kingdom (tapes and electronics, their old name) and other places offer not just audio Bibles but also audio Bibles and packaging so that a church (or individual) can duplicate and distribute it without copyright issues (license) very affordably. One commercial painter listens to the Bible several times a year with an MP3 player strapped to his shoulder. Others use CDs the same way, and some of us still use cassettes! The Bible is best heard, perhaps with an open text to follow along, and when it is read this way we retain more and likely will "read" it more often and in longer sections than if we had to rely on the printed text.  We grow stronger when we are immersed in the Word, and it is far more immersive to hear it than to read it in silence! Some congregations embark on a fellowship-wide "reading" challenge and over several weeks manage to get near 100% participation.

 

There was more to the seminar, including the idea of sharing in your church not just sermons from your own preacher but also others you trust, and Kingdom has good recordings of well-known testimonies (Chuck Colson and some star sports figures, for example) and apologeticists of the Christian faith that a church could copy and distribute as they wish. Some give these away at diners and truck stops, or urge their members to share the recirdings with their friends and neighbors.

 

Personally, I plan to continue listening to the Bible on tabe (becauze my car has a tape player and I have several sets) but I also plan on getting and making copies of some version of at least the New Testament to give away at cost. (Just the cost of media and postage.) I will give some copies to local poor people, and will investiagate the pre-recorded Bible MP3 players as well.  How about it? Care to join me in following "faith comes by hearing" and listening to God's Word?

 

Several people I know were also at the seminar, including Joe Gandia from Beaumont Free Methodist, Joyce Hergert from Mountainview Community Church, and Steve Gandia from Living Hope Community Church (both Free Methodist, White Haven and Nescopeck, PA, respectively.)

 

My friend had several stops to make, and in Sam's Club Wilkes Barre I ran across another old church friend. At Harbor Freight, I found a 10-watt megaphone for $8 and I bought two, one for a ministry and one of my own.

 

I got home after five, bed six to nine, then off to work. I was so groggy that the time got away from me while at home, so I was a little late out the door! And as I expected, it was very difficult staying awake when there was nothing going on, but "no harm, no foul" and everything was done as needed. . . and it felt very good to get home to my own bed Saturday morning! 

 

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I will get back to Proverbs this week, with the next essay due Thursday morning.

 

I welcome your comments on Facebook or via LiveJournal, but comments there are screened and it may take several days before I approve them. You are always free to send me a private message if you do not want to go public. I would love to hear how your church uses the Internet and various media and technology. I also want to know about how you "read" the Bible, and if you benefit from an audio Bible in some way. Plus I simply want to know you're reading me!

Posted via LiveJournal app for Android.

According to my Mom, I was born about 9:00 AM. I guess she should know, but with two older brothers and four younger sisters, maybe she could have gotten the details confused! "Just sayin' " as people say these days. It doesn't really matter to me what time I was born, I guess, but in our society we do seem to worry about the date. Try to get your driver's license a day early, and see what the DMV thinks about dates!

 

I sometimes have to ponder a bit to remember how old I am. I remember one summer in my early teens trying to remember how old I was. And this has happened several times to me over the years. In fact, during the class time Sunday morning I took a moment to subtract 1,964 from 2,011 to be sure I knew that I would turn 47 on tge 14th! Somebody I talked to later that morning said the same basic thing. Why might we forget how old we are? A woman said she never had a problem as a teen remembering how old she was! (Maybe things are different in mid-life?)

 

For many of us, most birthdays really don't offer up any real changes. Sure, some look forward to their 13th or 14th for religious or cultural reasons. And in much of the USA, age 16 means driver's license or at least tge permit (but some states are different, letting kids start younger or having limits on driving for several years yet.) Ages 18 and 21 are landmarks for many, as we grow closer to becoming a legal adult. But some are emmancipated early, and some of us struggle with being an adult for the next 80 years or so! Since I was from a "dry" family, being able to drink was not a big deal. It took some years after I turned 21 until I had my first drink!

 

Other birthdays are milestones of sorts. Reaching 25 was no problem, but I gained some perspective when I stood in the lunch line at Freed-Hardeman University that day and realized I was not just 25 years old, but that I had put a quarter-century of living on my body! (And many would say I had yet to begin my adult life, as I was marginally independent as a student still looking forward to my degree and potential career!

 

I must say that age 40, a problem for many people, didn't bother me. Or my 45th. Actually, I don't remember anything special about these birthdays! And, honestly, today will come and go with little fanfare (but many of my Facebook friends had already sent me best wishes yesterday! And for those, and those electronic greetings and any cards yet to come, Thank You!) My daughter wants to have brunch with me on Wednesday. She's in college and works as well, making it hard to get together. She was willing to see me today, but my plans mostly include getting lots of rest after a long weekend.

 

I wonder bow I will react to turning 50 in a few years, or "double nickles" or 60, 62, 65. . .  many people say they feel like they are still a teen in their heart, but the body betrays them at every turn! We are often amazed at people in their 80s and 90s who are still active, working becauze they can't see stopping, jumping from airplanes or running the NYC marathon or even climbing mountains. They put us younger folk to shame! They say that age is more in the mind, and many of them choose to get active after their mid-life and not before. There is hope for all of us, after all. We have a choice, we can get fit and do more than ever, if we simply choose to begin.

 

I am looking forward to getting bifocal glasses this year. Whenever my insurance will let me, anyway. One eye exam a few years ago warned me that I was headed that way, and over the kast year I have increasingly taken off my glasses and gotten closer to my "work" so I can see, whether it be trimming my fingernails, reading my Bible or some other book, or digging into the guts of some computer in the quest for better performance on a poor man's budget!

 

In a few days I expect to begin taking a low dose of insulin, someghing my doctor wanted to begin last quarter. I resisted then, but have come to realize that if your body simply is not producing enougb natural insulin, no amount of diet, exercise and medications will make up the difference. With treatment, I do not spike high, but I seldom drop low either. This is a change everybody says to avoid, but the experts say that beginning a little insulin will actually make a big difference in how I feel.

 

My job goes well. I have worked in the same space for over 17 years now, on the overnight shift, and outlasted a number of coworkers, patients, supervisors and upper management. We have seen many changes iver the years, and there is no reason why I might not make retirement a some point down the road. Give me 14 more years, and at age 60 I will have 30 years of state service. Maybe I will be able to retire then? Of course, the rumors have had my facility colsing for the last 30 years, and it could happen in the next 10 or 20. I hope not, but it's in God's hands. . .

 

I never expected to be single at this stage of my life, and I know I am not alone. So many of my friends and classmates are also living the fallout of making bad choices in marriage, whether it was choosing a spouse poorly or failing to do all we could to rebuild the love that we once had earlier in our marriages. (Yes, there are other factors; I am generalizing.) Perhaps I will remain single for the rest of my life, and doing so means I would be able to keep the lifestyle of relative freedom I now "enjoy." But being single and free has its costs, too, as much risks to our physical health as our emotional state and our emotional well-being. Many studies show clear benefits in marriage, even if the marriage is not especially romantic and deep. Many find a stability in life when it is shared, when they are committed to the relationship, when they have built a trust and faith in each other. I imagine that at least some of the world's arranged marriages result in couples who have learned to love each other, even if it is not a Snow White and Prince Charming romance. If they can do it, and build a relationship with faith, fidelity, trust and commitment, why couldn't we who choose our spouses do the same?

 

I know I will have a lot of changes to make if I were to remarry. I might have to give up some of my computer hobbies.  I might have to sell off some of my collection of novels (which I have already begun over a year ago) and do the same with some of the other things I have. But is this so hard? I have nowhere near the collection one contact has, a scholar, with large storage units packed with article clippings, books and other materials for his religious studies research. Compared to him, my challenge is easy as pie! Just give me my office, and she can have hers as well. . .  I figure with a double income and inexpensive tastes, "we" ought to be able to afford some house with the extra "bedrooms." See, I am willing to give up a lot to make a marriage work!

 

Besides marriage, my health and job, what else faces my future? Well, somehow I think God wants more of me than just attending the worship services of an out-of-town congregation that best matches my understanding of His Word and how the church was designed. So what does God want me to do? A friend says I ought to be preaching, but I don't know if that is what God wants. I can see myself teaching a Bible study, and I already am sharing from Scripture on Facebook and with my blogging and other activities. Is this enough? What does God want of any man (or woman) anyway? How do I answer the inescapable fact that He is the creator and, given that fact, has the authority to direct my ways? He has the right of creation, of ownership in a sense, to require that I worship Him or face His consequences. He has the right, as well, to instruct me in the requirements of how He wants to be worshiped. How do I respond to  His power, authority.  justice and mercy, His holiness? If He is God, and I am not, what's my answer?

 

I may be somewhat old, compared to a child, and I may be pretty young compared to a centuranian, but at 47 I still have answers to find and years to go. I don't have the luxery of a lifetime, but I have some time to do whatever work God calls me to do. Part of that is to be a father to my son and daughter, to faithfully do my work as an employee, and if I marry again to be a good husband and the spiritual head of my houzehold for my wife. I know I don't have all the answers, and never will on this earth, but I can share what I have learned and strive to continually learn as I continue my journey around the sun and in the Sun.

 

Some of the words at the end of Ecclesiastes would be goid to think on now. Go look up the last chapter or so, and pray for me as I bravely go into my new year. It is for Him because without Him, I would simply not be me.

Posted via LiveJournal app for Android.

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. KJV

How many ways, one might think, can Solomon tell us to "just grow up"? In a sense, that is much of what Proverbs is all about. But it seems that back then, as now, good advice is sorely needed and seemingly seldom taken! The writers of Proverbs are, after all, largely dispensing "common sense" good advice, but it is a part of our nature to act rashly and without good judgement, especially while we are young. Of course, many an older person has tripped up over somethin that others say is obvious! Still, if we begin reading these verses when we are quite young, perhaps their thoughts will become a part of us, and influence our ways as we grow up.

The purpose of Proverbs, to continue the introduction we have been reading, are to give prudence, in the rendering of many translations, or subtilty, and knowledge and discretion. Some of these words are parallels to those in the prior verses, yet each word has a different slant to them, or weight or feel. That is the nature of synonyms. Similar, but not exactly the same meaning. And words do change meaning over time. Except for Latin, which is not in daily use today - but even Latin changed over its life from its early years to the end of the Roman era.

I found it interesting that the King James had one word but most others use something different. (I am working from the KJV, ASV, ESV, NASB, and NIV as the most representative of the "scholarly" translations in common use, but I do look at others.) Actually, there is no surprise when the KJV uses a differeng word, since the common KJV is roughly 150 years old. It is more surprising that the other translations agree much of the time with each other! (Or is it? This should affirm the reliability of our basic texts of the Bible.)

The fourth purpose of Proverbs, as the NET points out, is "to impart" prudence and discernment. This phrase means "to give," reinforcing the idea that Wisdom is truly a gift of God.

So, what is subtilty, and what is prudence? The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge gives us discretion or advisement. The New Living Translation uses discernment. I looked outside the Bible realm for some contemporary insight, and things got interesting pretty quick!

Prudence, to start with the more contemporary translation of the Hebrew word, is from the Latin meaning "to see." Prudence, according to Wikipedia, "is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. It is classically considered to be a virtue, and in particular one of the four Cardinal virtues. In modern English, the sord has become increasingly synonymous sith cautiousness. In this sense, prudence names a reluctance to take risks, which remains a virtue with respect to unnecessary risks, but when unreasonably extended (i.e. over-cautious), can become the vice of cowardice.

The word "subtilty" was defined by Google as (1) the quality or state of being subtle; (2) a subtle distinction, feature, or argument. Not very helpful, but that's what happens when we don't look at the root word. So, Google defines "subtle" with (1) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe; or (2) delicately complex and understated. Dictionary.com gave "fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to percieve or understand." Related words are "discerning" and "clever."

Wikipedia had more to say on "subtlety" than I ever expected, but I was redirected to another word in a way that was completely new to me. You'll have to go see for yourself, but I have extracted some thoughts here for your enjoyment. At first, you may think, what does this have to do with the Bible? And you may be right. But it shows how words change meaning, how culture and traditions change and evolve over time. We have to be careful that we do not presume to understand what a word means when it is in a document produced in another era!

Wikipedia redirected me from "subtlety" to "Entremet" which is from the Old French, literally "between the servings." In modern French cusine, an entremet is a small dish served between courses, or simply a desert. Orginally, it was an elaborate form of entertainment, sometimes ornemantal food (edible or not).

Dishes that were intended to be eaten as well as well as to entertain can be traced at least to the early Roman Empire. The function of the entdemet was to mark the end of a course at a banquet. It punctuated each stage of a banquet, serving as a conversation piece. [In high society, and various cultures, especially when gatherings involved long periods of travel, feasts were social events lasting for hours or dven longer, and the interlude allows the food to settle between courses. Of course, one did not eat large portions of each dish when there were dozens of courses and perhaps hundreds of items to enjoy!]

In late medival and early modern England, entremets are referred to as "subtleties." The English term was derived from an older meaning of the word "subtle" with the meaning "clever" of "suprising." An example is "four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie," in which the live birds were slipped into a baked pie shell through a hole in the bottom. The guest who cut the pie would be quite startled at what he'd find! In the 17th century, the Duke of Buckingham devised a pie concealing a dwarf, a forerunner of our "lady popping out of a cake."

Enough of non-religious sources! "Clever" food tricks and feast entertainments aside, we have more valuable things to learn. I consulted my New International Version Study Bible and the New English Translation's study notes, and found a few thoughts worth sharing. And these thoughts actually do shed some light on the text, which is what this essay is all about.

The NIV note on "prudence" explained the term as meaning "good judgement or common sense." (That's a little different than the contemporary usage!) The Hebrew word is used in the negative sense of "crafty" outside Proverbs.

The NET notes provide "prudence, craftiness, cleverness" as synonyms for shrewdness. The idea is that of "a shrewd plan of action, whether good or evil." The notes say, "It is used negatively of planned deception (Joshua 9:4). . . . The related adjective described the serpent as 'shrewd, crafty, cunning' (Genesis 3:1). . . . The term is used positively of a morally prudent lifestyle (Proverbs 8.5, etc.). . . . . Proverbs provide a morally shrewd plan for life."

The NIV study Bible notes point out that the word "simple" appears about fifteen times in Proverbs. It is similar to, but still a different word than "fool" which appears many times, beginning in 1:7. The "simple" are those who are easily led astray, lack judgement, are immature, inexperienced, and naive. The study notes reference Proverbs 1:22-23. The NIV text note says, "The Hebrew word rendered 'simple' in Proverbs generally denotes one without moral direction and inclined to evil."

Scripture is the best commentary on Scripture, showing by its interconnected nature that it just was not a set of fables and other writings forced together by some ancient scholars, but in truth having a source that is greater than the human mind. Taking a look at some cross references is always a good idea. A full concordance (like Strong's, Cruden's or Young's) can give you all of the verses that list a word (a near or exact match) but they are often keyed to a particular translation (typically the KJV). Nave's Topical Bible gives you more leeway in finding related passages with synonyms, but similar to using a concordance, when you are studying passages of text, you want to find parallel and related texts! Thompson's Chain Reference can be quite useful in this situation, but the cross references found in many Bibles are easier to use. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is another good source for cross references, and there may be other such collections. (I have one such list in a commercial Bible software package.)

Considering the first words, subtlety or prudence, you might want to read Proverbs 1:22-23 and 9:4-6. They are more than I wish to quote directly. But I will quote some others!

Proverbs 8:5 "You simple people, use good judgement. You foolish people, show some understanding." (NLT)

Psalm 19:7 "The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. (NLT) -- I remember a memory chorus that runs from verses 7-11. Such songs go far in helping to memorize important passages! If only more were set to music!

Psalm 119:130 "The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand." (NLT)

Isaiah 35:8 "And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God's ways; fools will never walk there." (NLT) -- Is this a figure of speech? Recall the words of John the baptizer, who called for repentance. "Prepare the way," he said, because the Messiah was coming.

Regarding the phrase, "To the simple," there are many texts that give us a way to wisdom. You may start by reading Proverbs 7:9-24. It will only take a few minutes, and this passage tells a story!

Proverbs 8:17 "I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me." (NLT) -- Don't be content to be simple!

Proverbs 8:32 "And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful." (NLT) -- Not peace as the world knows it, not the 'pursuit of happiness' we Americans are promised, but in Christ a joyfulness that springs from true peace, eternal security, and lasting contentment.

Psalm 119:9 "How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word." (NLT) -- This reminds me of a hymn, "How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts." We have an anchor, one that is based on the rock of our salvation. We build a firm foundation, like the wise man in the children's song, then continue to abide in our Savior in prayer, in study of His Word, and by actively practicing our faith.

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 & 12:1 "Young people, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. <10> So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. <12:1> Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, 'Life is not pleasant anymore.' " (NLT)

2 Timothy 2:22 "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts." (NLT) -- I for one have not always had a pure heart, nor did I obey the first thought. From experience I can say these are not commands to make us fuddy-duddies, but because there is a world of hurt that comes when we compromise our faith and Christian values. What do we stand for? Why is it OK to watch what TV we do, or listen to the music we choose? Do these choices line up? Or do we shame ourselves and our Savior?

Titus 2:6 "In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely." (NLT) -- You need the context of this verse to make the most use of it. The "same way" is advice on living as a Christian, essentially, first to old men and women, as well as the younger folk, in part so the world cannot make accusations about us. The guidelines for every Christian's behavior are only a little less stiff than those given for elders and deacons in other texts. And why not? We are all called to live to a higher standard, not one based on a rulebook or a set of laws, but by the principles of "imitating Christ" and, truely, the foundations are found in Proverbs!

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I hope you are getting some value out of this blog series. I find the research profitable, but it does take a while. This isn't some quick and easy daily devotional! And I trust you'll forgive my mis-spellings and typos. I try to avoid both, but using a touch screen on my Android makes it easy to mess up and difficult to fix up! I am learning how to apply some formatting, but it is not easy! It would be much simpler if I were using a regular laptop or desktop computer!

If you don't mind, please comment on this essay and the series. On Facebook, you can easily leave a comment. On LiveJournal, your comments are screened and that may take a few days. You can always send me an email directly - you likely have my address already! This series already is feeling too ambitious, but I think soon the essays will come faster and more frequent, as I move beyond the introduction. I won't be looking up so many words, for starters! But again, please give me some feedback!

Thanks for reading! And feel free to spread the word about my blog. . . Who knows where my thoughts will help somebody in need?

"To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgement, and equity;" (KJV)

Continuing the purpose of Proverbs, this verse brings in a few more key words for us to consider. A string of related words began in v. 2, and continues here in the third verse: "to know," "to percieve" (or to understand), and now "to recieve." The chain continues in verse four with "to give," and the balance of the introduction develops the purposes outlined in this chain of thought.

"To receive" reminds me of a radio broadcast, which requires both a transmitter and a receiver for the program to be meaningful. This is basic communications theory. In order to communicate, there has to be both a "sender" and a "reciever." You cannot "hear" what the other party does not "send." (This also assumes that there is a message being intentionally shared, which supposes there is intelligence behind the message.)

Naturally, there can be barriers to good communication, which can result in a complete failure or simply enough "noise" or distractions to prevent the message from being fully understood. Noise in our lives might be the entertainment choices we make, like music or movies and television, or competing sources of information such as news and commentary media.

God clearly intends to communicate with us, but He is a gentleman and refuses to constantly shout above the din. In fact, we seldom can recieve much of His message of love and hope until we get quiet and are able to listen to His soft voice. God uses His "indoor voice" frequently -- not because He has a sore throat, but because He is seeking an intimate relationship with us. He wants our full, undivided attention.

Elijah learned something about hearing God in 1 Kings 19:9-13. After confronting Jezebel about her wickedness, Elijah fled for his life fearing he was the only remaining faithful prophet of God. He hid in the wilderness, and God came near. Elijah could not hear God in the windstorm, or the earthquake or fire, although it was God displaying Himself as He passed by. God spoke in a gentle whisper, and that is when Elijah knew the sound of the Master's voice. (Compare John 10:1-15, describing how the flock knows the shepherd's voice.) Although God could have shouted in the storm, He prefers to address us in love and not in loud temper.

We have to put ourselves in a position to recieve before communication can happen. Proverbs 2:1-9 is a passage that elaborates on this idea: hear, listen, and other words are used repeatedly.

Job 22:22 echoes the theme of listening - hearing - recieving the message. Job's friends had much wrong, but Eliphaz was right in this: "Listen to His instructions, and store them in your heart. " (NLT) This theme is one we see repeatedly in Scripture, not just the book of Proverbs. Hear, keep, treasure God's Word!

But just what are we to recieve? What is the gist of the message we are to hear? Or, what is the purpose of the message? "RECIEVE INSTRUCTION."

Let's break the verse down and consider the key words.

We are to recieve instruction concerning "wisdom." Here, we find our old enemy, the language barrier, once again hinders us. The English word has several meanings, while the Hebrew uses specific words in this instance for an exact meaning. (Sometimes the situation is reversed, with the English being more exacting and the Hebrew or Greek being more diverse in meaning.) The word for "wisdom" in the first verse refers to "skill" but in verse three it is more specific, "applied skill" such as that of an artisan or musician. (Nelson's Student Bible Commentary, © 2008.)

The New English Translation (NET Bible) uses "skillful living" in this verse, but "wisdom" in the second verse. The study note says "The noun 'wisdom' could be nuanced 'moral skill.' There is a skill to living in a way that your life has meaning, that there is something of lasting value resulting from your character and example. This is the means of crating an honorable legacy for your descendants."

Here in verse three, the Hebrew term means "discipline of prudence," describing the results of a self-disciplined life (NetBible). These are the kind of choices that Paul refers to when he talks about the athlete who trains so that he is prepared to win the race. Similarly, we are to prepare our minds with knowledge of our faith so that we are not found drifting without a rudder and swept away on the storm-winds of false doctrines. This is the grounding in Scripture knowledge that prepares us to "earnestly contend for the faith" and to "always be ready to give an answer" about what we believe.

It is not enough to simply "be saved" - we have to have an active, not a passive, faith. We cannot simply be "bench warmers" on Sunday morning, letting "the pastor" (shepherd, literally) or preacher or elders and deacons do the work of the Christian. Even more than the wise person of the Old Testament, we as Christians must grow in Bible knowledge and practical spiritual wisdom because we are fighting a determined and cunning foe, who sneaks about like a thief seeking to steal and destroy.

This is where many believers fall short - choosing the broad and easy life that leads to dustruction, in effect thinking themselves to be more wise than God by refusing to put their faith into practice. How prudent is it for a soldier to refuse to learn how to use his weapons? We ought to be in training for battle, putting on the whole armor that God has given us! And this includes not just the tools of offense and defense, but the knowledge and wisdom in how to use the training and armor.

Wisdom, as we will see in a few chapters, is sometimes personified as a kind and gracious woman, wishing to give benevolently her divine gifts to all who will recieve. Dictionary.com says wisdom is "the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgement as to acrion; sagicity, discernment, . . . " Wikipedia says "wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions so that universal principles, reason and knowledge prevail to determine one's actions. Wisdom is also the comprehension of what is true or right coupled with optimum judgement as to action."

What more are we to recieve, to learn?

We are to recieve instruction about "justice." Justice, according to Dictionary.com, is "the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness." Wikipedia says, "Justice is a proper, harmonious relationship between the warring parts of the person or city." Wikipedia also mentions Plato's defination in his "Republic." Studies at UCLA in 2008, according to Wikipedia, indicate that a sense of justice, or fairness, is hard-wired into our brains. However, historically there has been a sense of justice as being distinct from fairness. Justice was sometimes seen as divine retribution while fairness was the standard by which humans were supposed to deal with each other.

We are to recieve instruction concerning "judgement." Judgement, from Wikipedia, "is the evaluation of evidence in the making of a decision.

We are to recieve instruction about "equity." Equity, from Dictionary.com, is "the quality of being fair or impartial; fairness; impartiality: the equity of Solomon."

It would seem that justice, judgement and equity, as used in Proverbs, are all based upon wisdom, and so we are not surprised that these ideas are found all throught these 31 chapters. This series of essays should move faster from here, as the foundation has been laid with Solomon's introduction. The ideas in these first few verses are key to the rest of the book, however, so that the extra time spent here was not wasted.

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I had written far more in my notes, but wanted to finish this essay and get it posted. I wrote more about our innate talents and abilities, and the spiritual gifts that we recieve that take us beyond our natural self and into a whole other realm. But adding all that would further delay this essay, make it much longer, and maybe making a good thing go wrong with overkill.

What are your thoughts? You may email me directly or comment on Facebook, or directly in LiveJournal. Because of spam, I screen all comments on LJ. It may take several days until I approve your comments.
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Since I have a Galaxy tablet computer running the Google-created Android operating system, I was really wanting Bible software to run on it. Until I get another Windows laptop, I need a good way to do sime basic Bible study when I am away from my printed references. This tablet lets me do many things that a laptop can't do, but it is not good at running multiple windows or word processing. Still, being able to go online anytime, anywhere, is quite helpful. I could use some online resources, of course, but wanted something more local.

Early on I searched the Android "Marketplace" and found a few Bible applications ("apps") but they really didn't seem to have the features I needed. These were intended for basic daily devotional reading, not study, and several didn't even offer much in the way of translations! One was clearly just for a "thru the Bible in a year" approach, because you could not readily drill down through book and chapter to any specific verse. One I found recently was a little better, and did provide an audio reading as well. That could be a big help in devotional reading, as you read along and the narration helps you stay focused on the text.

Having decided that I really needed some good tools, I recently searched again, this time for "Bible Study" and found a number of apps. The feature set and product quality varies a lot, but your needs may be a lot different than mine. Some of these apps have tools available on-line for free, but to download them you have to purchase them. Others have a range of free downloads, and I will mention some of what I installed. I am only going to describe the five that I think are most useful to somebody wishing Bible study apps on their Android. If you have questions after reading this essay, feel free to ask. I will try to give you answers. This essay is just an overview and hopefully if you have a similar device, my remarks will help guide you. Some of these may also be in the Apple store for the iPad, iPhone and related devices, but I cannot say for sure about that.

Bible Reader by One Tree Bible Software has a number of translations and some other resources available, many for purchase and download. For free I installed a good basic set of translations. I also have several eBooks including one of quotations of many of our founding fathers thru Lincoln affirming the Bible. There are many titles
available for purchase. A nice feature of this app is the ability to view two titles in parallel, or just read one at a time. It is searchable in three steps (book, chapter, verse) which makes it fairly fast at looking up references. This app is worth looking at, especially for the various extra-biblical (non-research-oriented) resources. It might make a good secondary app, but I think a serious student will go elsewhere first.

MySword has a range of resources and features, plus several options for taking notes, so it might be one of the best apps for many users. It includes a good range of translations and references. It also has a good journal interface, with the ability to keep several sets of notes and journals (such as during group study, sermon notes, and personal thoughts. You can manage your notes in several ways, but there does not seem to be an option for sharind directly to Facebook. The notetaking feature is perhaps the best I have seen. I downloaded for free a number of translations and references, and there are more available which I will eventually install. I feel that MySword has a cluttered interface, with a row of icons at both the top and bottom of the screen. MySword is based in part on the discontinued "Pocket E-Sword" by Rick Myers, developer of the excellent and free "e-Sword" computer software. MySword also credits "The Word" software for various library modules. Various features like the size and number of journals, the kind of search, and some settings are limited in the free version, but a donation of any amount will suffice to unlock the preminum features. If you can tolerate the many icons on the display, this seems like an excellent package for somebody who likes a lot of options at your fingertips.

KJV Bible, by Tecarta, has a number of good features. However, only the KJV itself is included. You can access others online, and there are a number of titles you can purchase and download. For instance, you can get either the NIV Study Bible for $19.99, or just the notes without the NIV text for $14.99. Either one seems to give you the maps, cross references, and concordance that you would find if you purchased the paper book. I am not sure which NIV this is, whether the newer 2011 or the preferred 1984 original. This app lets you make margin notes, and you can share your notes and scripture online via Facebook or other services. You can view two texts in parallel, which does help to compare translations for study. If you have a connection, and the data plan for it, using these texts "live" instead of installed locally is not much of a hardship. Since many of the newer translations are available this way, having this app might be very useful to many people. In a class study group, this might be one of the ways to effeciently access a lot of translations! This app opens, after a splash screen, to a clean and simple display with just a menu row at the top with the scripture below. Three taps get you quickly to any reference, by book, chapter and verse. A tap function lets you select a verse, then with an icon tap a menu opens to let you highlight, copy, bookmark, share by Facebook or email, use the audio reader function, or write a margin note. The narration is a stilted computer reader in a female voice, not one you would use frequently, but still might be helpful in some situations. This app is probably the best if you are a serious note-taker and journaler, especially after unlocking the full feature set.

Cadre is one of the really useful apps I found. I was able to download a good handful of translations for free, as well as some other references. There are more available for purchase as well. Cadre opens to the scriptures, displaying both a top and bottom menu. Search for a particular text is simple, using three taps for each of book, chapter and verse. One of the bottom menus is "tools" and here there are a large number of items. One tool is search, which is quite versatile. Another tool you may use frequently is the Library, where you can manage both the available and installed resources. This may be one of my main "go-to" apps because of its features and clean interface, although other apps have more to offer.




The app I think has the most resources freely available for download is the BIBLE, which has a red book for an ivon with the words "Holy Bible" on its cover. It has several audio versions available, which you stream online, including the NIV 2011 and 1984 editions. It allows you to set bookmarks, write notes, use several different daily Bible reading plans, and share online. Although it does not seem to have references, it does have a large set of translations, many of which you would have to purchase in other apps, or inly use online. I downloaded for free about fourteen free translations, with perhaps more available than any other app. I particularly like this edition of the NETBible, because it has the full set of notes that in most situations you would have to pay for. The NETBible (NET) is a "New English Translation" done on-line by a truly global group of scholars and Bible students. It is the first to leverage the Internet itself, rather than just email, to jointly translate and review the work. Further, it has extensive notes that go deep into the manuscripts, instead of casually saying "some manuscripts say. . . ." and even if you distrust the text or the translation itself, this kind of open analysis ought to make this a vital tool for your Bible study! "Bible" opens with a splash screen, then a clean six-icon menu screen. Simply tap on the Bible icon and the text opens. A nice book-chapter-verse picker quickly gets you to any text. In addition to the numerous English translations freely available, there are about 40world languages available with at least one translation. This might be very helpful for both foreign and domestic missionaries! One language supplied is Ancient Greek, but I don't know what manuscript base this might be. In addition to the many translations in this app, which alone makes it a "must have" on my 'Droid, is the ability to add bookmarks and write notes. Like some others, this app also offers several reading plans to aid in your daily devotions. Furthermore, you can share online what you are reading, but I have not looked at this feature yet. Overall, this is one of the best Bible apps despite not having any additional references available, largely because it has a number of translations freely available in many languages. Additionally, some of the translations include a narrated form available, provided you are on-line. Some translations such as the NIV are only available when you are online, but having access without having to purchase them is quite a blessing!

There you go: my thoughts on some of the best Bible study apps on the Android market, and all are free (although spending some money gets you more features or resources in some of them. I am still undecided which ones I will use most, and when, but I hope my descriptions will help you consider the options. Actually, most Bible students will probably end up using several, based on which features they need most at any moment. I hope that, if you have an Android device, you will try out several of these, and then let me know which one you use most!

As always, please give me some feedback -- at least so I know you've skimmed over this review! I have to screen the comments on LiveJournal, because of spam, but my Facebook readers are able to easily add their thoughts. And please do!

KJV: "To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;"

With this verse we begin the meat of this study, although the first seven verses are still an introduction stating the purpose of Proverbs. In other words, why were these wise sayings collected? Several key words appear in these verses and come up repeatedly over the 31 chapters of this book. Of course, ideas like wisdom, instruction, knowledge, and understanding, do fit in with the very idea of proverbs, even the sayings we receive from our ancestors. Most traditional sayings are intended to share some inherited knowledge or insight gleaned and shared over the generations. Sadly, some of these traditional sayings turn out to be false or misleading, based as they are on human experience and even superstition. However, this collection of proverbs, although not always "true" in every situation, are still a "universal truth" which establishes a principle by which we can live.

The first idea to consider is "to know." We "know" that some things are true, from experience, even if we do not understand the "how" or "why" behind them. For instance, we "know" that gravity pulls thrown objects back to earth eventually.

You may remember the religious idea of "gnosticism," the idea of "secret knowledge" which Paul addresses several times in the New Testament. This religious belief supposes that only members of the group can access the deeper or hidden truths of the religion or religious writings. Paul addresses the idea of secret knowledge in passages such as 2 Corinthians 11:4. The apostle John also addressed the idea of knowledge up front, beginning his gospel that way. (1 John 1:1 etc.)

Incidently, the idea that the Christian faith is to be public, and not something secret, is part of the reason why many Christians do not join secret clubs, socities or organizations. We are to be public about our faith, and there are no secrets reserved for the faithful. "He who has eyes to see, let him see."

So, what are we to "know"? Wisdom! And instruction - we must be teachable, and learn discernment. We have to judge what others say to us, because not all words are wise, or helpful or edifying and encouraging.

Wisdom is such an important concept that Solomon gave it human form - personification, a special kind of metaphore. Using the illustration of a woman acting like a sidewalk evangelist, Solomon helps us to see that gaining wisdom is valuable. And wisdom, an attribute of God, does have a ffemimine quality.

The next word is "perceive" or "discern," depending on which translation you are using. The English words are related, conveying similar meaning but with different emphasis. "Perceive" relates to gaining understanding using our senses. "Discern" is related to comprehension.

«Discernment is a tetm used to describe the activity of determining the value of a certain subject or event. Typically, it is used to describe the activity of going past the mere perception of something, to making detailed judgements about that thing. As a *virtue,* a discerning individual is considered to possess *wisdom,* and be of good *judgement*; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.» (Wikipedia, DISCERNMENT, accessed 8-26-2011)

Cross references from this verse, using the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Proverbs 4:5--7 is part of a passage where a father encourages his son to seek wisdom. One translation reads, in verse seven, "The first step to becoming wise is to look for wisdom, so use everything you have to get understanding." (ERV) Kind of like the idea that the first step to getting healthy is recognizing you have a problem, the first step to wisdom is knowing you lack it - in essence, that you are a fool! Wisdom is not something that comes naturally to mankind; it is something we have to seek in humility. Romans talks about the foolishness of man, "thinking they were wise, they became fools." We willingly trade what is good for what is temporarily satisfying, not realizing we will not be sated long. Every sin is fun for a little while, but eventually it is empty.

Proverbs 7:4 urges us to "love wisdom like a sister," (NLT) so that, rather than being a stranger to us, wisdom is like a family member, something to cherish and protect. (Doesn't this suggest that wisdom can be lost?)

Proverbs 8:5 urges people (not just young people, either!) to think before they act; to consider the possible consequences. Don't act with impulsivity! "Use good judgement," the NLT reads. There are times when we must act quickly, but wisdom gives us the ability to act even when we don't have all the facts for an informed decision. Without wisdom, we may act rashly if we act hastily. Wisdom is the difference.

Proverbs 16:16 compares wisdom and good judgement to great wealth, to silver and gold.

Proverbs 17:16 talks about who can profit from instruction and so become wise. "It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning." Some people just don't learn from their mistakes.

Deuteronomy 4:5--6 is part of the history of ancient Israel, after God gave the Law to Moses and Moses tries to teach the people what God requires - and desires - of them. The Law is not some meaningless system of pointless rules and regulations. It has a purpose! "Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, 'How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!' " (verse 7, NLT).

In 1 Kings 3:9--12, Solomon asks God for wisdom, and because he asked for that instead of great walth, power, fame, etc. , God not only gave Solomon great wisdom, but also wealth, fame, and power. (Read 1 Kings 3:4--15; compare 1Kings 4:29--34 and 2 Chronicles 1:2--13 for more of Solomon's quest for wisdom. Also read my blog post on Proverbs 1:1.) Solomon explored many pursuits in his life, but ulimately declared that outside of God's Way, all is folly. In fact, he wrote an entire book (Ecclesiastes) about the emptiness of a life without God, no matter the goals one pursues. Compare Ecclesiastes 1:2 and 12:8--14.

2 Timothy 3:15--17 contains words that help explain why Ecclesiastes is part of the Bible, and some insight into how to apply texts that do not seem to have any value, to our Christian life. Scripture gives us wisdom, Paul told Timothy, and from Scripture we learn about salvation. All scripture is useful, Paul says, not always as rules for the Christian (for Christ abolised the law of sin and death, after all!), becauze all Scripture ultimately comes from God, who is Truth, is trust-worthy, does not lie, and does not change. (This implies that Genesis is no myth!)

Much more can be said about wisdom and knowledge, but Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes 12:12 bear repeating: "But, my child, let me give you some further advice. Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out." (NLT)

I could go on for pages still, and better minds than mine probably have, in discussing wisdom and discernment. But, there is no substitute for personal study. A glance at the text of Proverbs will show that words such as wisdom and knowledge are often repeated. A concordance will give you many references for these words, far more than we can easily comprehend! But when we study the passages of the Bible in context we see how full of meaning God's Word truly is. As we work our way through Proverbs, we will touch on many of the same themes repeatedly. It seems that, just like Israel, we learn slowly!

Your thoughts and comments on my essays are always welcome. On Facebook, you can comment immediately, but my LiveJournal blog readers have to wait for me to approve their remarks. Since my blog is public, sometimes I get spam comments.

Are you reading a chaper of Proverbs every day? This is fairly simple to do and should take ten minutes or less of your time. I have recorded from a CD to tape so I can listen to the text, which takes just under ninety minutes. If I burn a CD of Proverbs, perhaps I can let it play in the background as I sleep. With each chapter as a different track, maybe I can use the shuffle mode . . . what do you think?

This verse is one of several that tell of the authorship of Proverbs. Proverbs 10:1 and 25:1 echo this verse's declaration of Solomon's authorship, while 30:1 begins a collection of sayings - proverbs - by Agur, son of Jakeh. Proverbs 31:1 begins the sayings of King Lemuel. Most of the book, then, is attributed to Solomon, whom the Bible declares to be the wisest of all men.

1 Kings 4:29--34 describes how Solomon became so wise. This passage tells us that he is credited with 1,005 songs and 3,000 proverbs. Solomon was also an early naturalist, describing plants, animals, birds, reptiles and fish. He also was a teacher, and men were sent by the kings of the world to learn from him.

1 Kings 3:4-15 (and the parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 1:2-13), tell how Solomon came to seek wisdom. God, in a dream, offered Solomon whatever he desired, but Solomon apparently felt insecure and inadequate compared to his father, King David. Verse nine is key: ". . . give your servant a discerning heart. . ." (Compare 2 Chronicles 1:10, ". . . give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people. . .") Ecclasiastes 12:9-10 describes how Solomon, 'thr teacher,' "imparted knowledge to the people . . . and set in order many proverbs."

Jesus used proverbs and sayings in His earthly ministry, although He commonly used stories -parables - and not the shorter sayings, to give instructions and to lay the foundations of faith. In John 16:25 Jesus states that although He has been speaking with figures of speech, He would soon be speaking plainly to His disciples. After His resurrection, Jesus fulfilled this promise. Before then, Jesus spoke in parables, saying "he who has ears, let him hear." Many people who were in Christ's audiences were not ready for the deeper messages of the coming Kindom of God, so Jesus showed compassion and told moral stories. He often had to explain further to His disciples, who even then failed to understand much of what they heard.

Paul, like preachers and teachers of all kinds to this day, also used proverbs, word pictures, and figures of speech to convey (spiritual) truths. Metaphores and other literary devices are part of our daily life, and we pepper our conversations with these illustrations. (See, I used one in the last sentence!) We are no strangers to using proverbs, altbough we are more apt to freely quote Shakespeare or Ben Franklin's "Poor Richard's" than the Bible.

Taking some time to get familiar with Proverbs will be very rewarding, and the exercise will show that the Bible need not be the mysterious, cryptic book many make it out to be.

If you have never done so before, may I suggest you try reading one chapter of Proverbs a day, every day? With just 31 short chapters, there is one for every day of most months. Even better, you can read them out of order, and even if you miss a day you won't be confused. Try this for several months, a task that may take less than fifteen minutes a day for most people, and see how the Bible begins to make a difference in your life! (Maybe after several months, you will want to read from a different translation. Doing so will help bring out ideas you missed before.)

I hope that my series on Proverbs will be helpful to you, or at least interesting! Please comment or ask questions, and together we'll grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding! Readers on Facebook can comment readily, while my readers on LiveJournal should know that I have to screen your comments because I do get spam. It may take several days before I unscreen your comments.