!Attention! This article is for longer-term Christians who already know what is meant by, for example, the new birth of the Spirit.
You may have come across the idea that Bible study is best left to the experts and that the ordinary believer should stick only to the interpretations of the church/experts. But the truth is that God’s Word is available to each of us, and the desire for a deeper understanding of it is a natural part of our journey with God. There is no reason to feel guilty if you want to compare a translation of the Bible with the original text, for example in Greek or Hebrew. On the contrary, such study can enrich your faith and deepen your understanding of God’s Word. This has happened to me, and you can find my testimony at the end of this article. 🙂
At Enthusiastic Self-Learners, we believe that God Himself reveals Bible verses to man. So he does not interpret them himself or with the help of any church. He reveals some things and leads man to discover some things by his own study. (Read on in the article.)
If God is the author of the whole Bible, why can’t He help you interpret it? 🙂
Why check translations with the original texts?
Bible translations are the product of human (and not born again of the Spirit) translators who, while trying to be as faithful as possible to the original, can be influenced by a variety of factors, from cultural context to their own interpretations. By studying the original languages more deeply, you may discover interesting things that are not apparent in the translation and better understand what God really says.
The original languages of the Bible, such as Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, can reveal the broader and deeper meaning of certain passages. What may seem clear in one translation may have additional layers or different meanings in the original that are worth exploring.
How to get started with verse checking
Even if you don’t have a deep knowledge of Hebrew or Greek, there are tools that can help you compare translations with the original texts. One of the most popular tools are the Strong’s numbers. This system, created by James Strong in the 19th century, makes it easy to find the original words in the Bible and their meanings.
Using Strong’s numbers: Each word in the Bible is assigned a specific number that corresponds to its original Hebrew or Greek word. Using these numbers, you can find the original expression and explore its meaning. There are online tools and apps that allow you to quickly look up these numbers and compare them with the translation.
Interlinear Bible: You can see how each word has been translated and compare it to the actual translation. Some interlinear Bibles also include Strong’s numbers directly below the words, allowing you to easily refer to the original meanings.
Concordances: concordances are lists of words in the Bible that list all the passages in which those words are found. Some concordances also include the original Hebrew or Greek words and their meanings, which can help you better understand specific texts.
Bible commentaries: Bible commentaries often include information about the original languages and historical context, which can be helpful when studying difficult passages.
Online resources and apps: There are many apps and websites that offer access to the original texts, Strong’s numbers, and various translations of the Bible. For example, apps like BibleHub or Blue Letter Bible make it easy to explore different translations and original texts.
Learn indigenous languages
Another way, although a little more complicated, is to learn the indigenous languages. It’s been a few weeks since I started learning Biblical Greek, and I’ve already discovered a few things.
Now my testimony: I prayed to the Lord to reveal a few verses to me because I had a misconception about them. I was riding on a train one day thinking about them when the right solution came to me from God in my thoughts. And since then, some theological doctrines have made sense to me. I don’t want to write here what the specific doctrines are because I’m not going to argue with anyone. I just want to point out that I have experience with God’s revelation of verses.
Studying the Bible in light of the original languages is not just for theologians or spiritual leaders. Each of us has the opportunity to get close to God’s Word and discover its depth. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, to explore and seek the truth. God’s Word is for each of us to guide and inspire. A deeper understanding of the texts can strengthen your faith and relationship with God, while allowing you to better discern what is truly God’s will and what may be the result of human interpretations.
Have a wonderful time and God bless you all. 🙂
Your Mary from the Enthusiastic Self-Learners team
