A good translation should, as much as possible, attempt to represent the original wording as it left the original author’s hand. One problem, however, is that the Bible isn’t like the Declaration of Independence, where we can go back and look at the original document. No “originals” have been preserved. What we do have are thousands of handwritten copies (manuscripts).

What’s incredible is that these copies are almost completely identical with one another. Although there are differences between manuscripts, a vast majority of the time these differences are very minor alterations. For example, sometimes manuscripts will have different spellings of a name, or perhaps will contain “scribal notes” that were likely added to clarify passages that might have been confusing. These differences between manuscripts are called “variants.” In almost every case, textual variants are easily explained, and they almost never make any significant impact on the meaning of the text. The striking degree of similarity between the manuscripts gives scholars a high degree of confidence regarding the original wording of the text.

But there are some textual variants that are more difficult to solve. That’s why most translations will offer footnotes that say “Some manuscripts add…” or “Some manuscripts do not have…”. Pay attention to those footnotes. They can help you to be aware of those places where scholars aren’t as certain about the original text.

When scholars try to determine the original wording, there are a few key pieces of evidence they consider. Most scholars will tend to give more weight to older manuscripts (although sometimes this will be debated). In the Old Testament this often comes down to a choice between the Masoretic Text (primarily medieval era copies of the Hebrew text) and manuscripts of the Greek Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament that dates all the way back to 250-150 BC!). The Masoretic text is newer, yet it contains the original language. The Septuagint is older, so although it is a translation, it may be based on even older and more original Hebrew texts. So when differences occur between the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint, which is more reliable? This is sometimes a tricky question to answer and scholars love to debate this sort of thing.

Sometimes textual problems can be solved simply by using logic. Where variants exist, usually the variant that most logically explains how all the others came about is usually presumed to be original. For example, in Mark 1:2 the NKJV reads “As it is written in the prophets“, while the ESV (following different manuscripts) reads “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet.” What follows is a quotation that combines Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. If the original text read “Isaiah the prophet”, it would be easy to explain why a later scribe would attempt to “correct” the text to simply read “the prophets”. But if the original text read “the prophets”, it would be more difficult to explain why a scribe would specify “Isaiah”. So while we may not be 100% certain which wording is original, it’s probably good guesswork to assume that Mark originally referred to Isaiah (which makes sense, since Isaiah is the more significant of the prophets he quotes). But, as with most all textual variants, it makes little to no difference as to the overall meaning of the text.

Since we want to know what the original author wrote, it is an incredible blessing to know that there are so many manuscripts standing behind our translations. Where uncertainty exists, it’s good to know why. And in all the other places, where our Bible doesn’t include those footnotes, it’s very reassuring to know that there is little to no uncertainty that we do in fact have the original words of the author.

Over several centuries the King James Version of the Bible has been the most widely used translation in the world. Of all the popular English translations, the KJV is most certainly the most elegant. It has a beautiful, lofty, and poetic feel to it. Despite it’s archaic way of speaking, it remains surprisingly readable.

For many people, when they think of the Bible, they think of the beautiful and lofty language of the KJV. This isn’t entirely a bad thing. When it comes to daily Bible reading, it can be a good practice to have a favorite translation and stick with it. Consistency and familiarity can aid in memorization.

But for better Bible study, it is good to remember that the Bible wasn’t written in high, lofty, special language. The New Testament was written in “common” or koine Greek (pronounced “koinay”). There have been numerous archeological discoveries of Greek manuscripts that have been discovered that show that the version of Greek used in the New Testament was the same kind of Greek people would use in other forms of communication at that time. It was just the normal language. The same could be said for the Hebrew and Aramaic texts in the Bible. They were simply written in the common languages of their day.

When Jesus taught, He used common language. When Luke documented the history of the early church, he did so in common language. When Paul wrote his letters, he wrote as a common person writing to common people. Yes, they were respectful and reverent towards God. Yes, their words are special by virtue of being inspired by the Holy Spirit. But they used the common vernacular of their day.

Although every translation has it’s pros and cons, this is one advantage of newer translations that try to put the Bible into everyday English. For Better Bible Study, remember that the Bible was written by common people for common people and it used common language.

The Bible presents itself to us as God’s word. Paul wrote that “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (1 Tim. 3:16). Peter said the prophets wrote Scripture as they were “carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). It was not uncommon for the prophets to attribute their words directly to God, using phrases such as “The word of the LORD came to me” (Jer. 1:4). Paul said as much when he claimed that he was writing “things God has revealed to us through the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:10). When New Testament writers quoted from the Old Testament, they frequently attributed those writings directly to the Holy Spirit (eg. Heb. 3:7). The Bible is a divine book.

At the same time, the Bible doesn’t pretend to be anything less than a fully human book. The Bible says as much about itself. As Hebrews 1:1 says, “God spoke to our fathers by the prophets“. 2 Peter 2:21 says that “men spoke from God”. The Bible contains all the diversity you would except from a book written by dozens of men over hundreds of years. The writers spoke different languages. They wrote with different styles. The brought different experiences into their writings. They presented different perspectives and emphasized different facts. The Bible is a human book.

It’s important to remember that although the Bible is 100% divine, it did not simply drop from heaven on golden tablets, independent from human cultural and historical influences. It is filled with human fingerprints. When men wrote scripture, they wrote the words of scripture while they experienced real historical situations. Some authors wrote personal letters to address real life situations. Some authors wrote poems and prayers in response to real events they experienced. Several of the books even appear to have been compiled into their final form by editors, just the way other human books would be compiled. Luke even admits to using human sources to craft his book (Luke 1:1-4).

But recognizing the human element in Scripture does not mean that the finished product is anything less than 100% divine. The Bible is not 98% divine, but with a few human errors scattered throughout. The Bible is not 98% human, but with a few overarching divine ideas here and there. The Bible is 100% divine AND 100% human. Yes, the book was written by humans, but the Holy Spirit was involved in breathing out every single word. Yes, the book was compiled by humans, but they compiled scripture as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. In the end, God’s word is still God’s word. It is “perfect”, “sure”, “right”, “pure”, “clean”, and “true” (Ps. 19:7-9). Recognizing God’s word as divine doesn’t make it any less human. And recognizing God’s word as human doesn’t make it any less divine.

Here’s why this is important. We can recognize God’s word as inspired, and still ask questions about human authorship such as “What was the historical occasion that motivated the author to write this book?”, “When was this book edited into it’s final, canonical form?”, “How did this author’s culture and historical setting shape the way he was using certain images?” In the same way, when we identify the human author’s historical and cultural influences that shaped his writing, that shouldn’t lead us to the conclusion that the book is any less divine. The Bible is both 100% divine and 100% human.

I have a circle of close friends who love to talk about the Bible with each other. It’s an incredible blessing. If you have friends like that, you know what I mean. Not only do we hold each other accountable, but we challenge each other. We ask each other questions. Sometimes we disagree with each other and have fun little debates among ourselves (and they really are fun, unlike many of the heated social media debates we see). We push each other for deeper clarity. Ultimately, we are always learning from each other’s studies. Not only does this lead to better Bible study, but it also helps us to develop and maintain a much deeper level of friendship with one another.

Unfortunately, I suspect that many Christians don’t have these kind of conversations with friends. For many, the Bible is just not a regular topic of conversation with their friends. For some, Bible conversations can feel forced or awkward. I don’t think they know what they are missing out on.

If you don’t talk about the Bible regularly with Christian friends, try it. Share with a friend what you’ve learned lately. Ask them what they’ve been studying. There’s always a chance the conversation just won’t take off the way you hope, and that’s okay. But keep trying. Maybe set up Bible study group. Maybe look to develop relationships with other friends who do share your interest in talking about the Bible. If you can find friends who will talk about the Bible with you, it will bless the quality of your Bible study, and it will bless your life.

I know there are rare instances of people who are simply born with brilliant minds, but on average, most of us are well… average. But that’s okay. There’s lots of “average” people who can become experts in their particular field of study. Most brain surgeons aren’t born as child prodigies. They become experts by putting in long hours of hard work. It doesn’t happen over night either. It usually takes years of study and practice for someone to be considered an expert. Perseverance is the key.

It’s the same way with Bible study. Proficiency in the Bible is about perseverance, not intellect. Those Christians who know their Bibles really well grew to their level of knowledge through continual repetition. Studying the Bible isn’t difficult. It’s as easy as reading, taking notes, asking questions, and thinking critically about what you discover. It just takes time and perseverance.

Age is no obstacle either. A 17 year old who studies his Bible continually throughout a year can gain a year’s worth of knowledge just the same as if a 42 year old did the same thing. An 80 year old who has never seriously studied their Bible can study every day for a year, and gain a years worth of knowledge just the same as if a college student did the same thing.

The key is actually doing it. So even if you’ve gone years without ever getting into Scripture in a way that moves beyond occasionally reading your Bible, it’s never too late to start. Next year at this time you will be a year older. Whether or not you gain an additional year’s worth of Bible knowledge depends on what you do between now and then. So don’t put off getting into Scripture.

When it’s time to listen to a sermon, open your Bible. When the preacher is referring to a particular text, read the surrounding context. Look up cross references. Even if the preacher has the scripture on a powerpoint, you should still open your Bible.

I also recommend taking notes. When the preacher raises a good point from the text, write it down. Jot down questions that come to mind. If you think the preacher says something that isn’t exactly right, write down why you think the preacher has missed the point. If you take notes during a sermon, you have already moved beyond passive listening.

Listening to a sermon is not a substitute for studying our Bibles, but it can be a time that prepares us for better Bible study. Of course, some preachers are better speakers than others, and some sermons have better content than others. If we’re in the habit of simply listening for the preacher’s opinions about the text, there’s a good chance we’ll find ourselves either confused (because we don’t understand how he reached his conclusions) or bored (because we’ve already heard that person’s opinions numerous times before). But if we listen to the sermon with the goal of learning God’s word better, it can be a good time to grow more familiar with the Bible, regardless of the skill level of the preacher.

I’ll be honest. I just don’t have a much time to study by Bible as I wish I did. I’m a busy guy. I work full time. I stay involved in the church. There’s always chores that need doing. I have a family, and they deserve my time and attention as well. I understand what it means to be pressed for time.

But that’s not the only reason I don’t have enough time to study. I also waste too much time. It’s easy to spend too much time on Facebook. Plus, I like to relax every now and then. I like to watch tv shows and movies to unwind at the end of a long day. If I really wanted to find more time to study my Bible, I’m sure I could find it. But sometimes, I would just prefer to chill out on the couch and turn my brain off.

I know I’m not alone in the continual struggle of time management. With this in mind, here’s one tip for better Bible study that doesn’t take much time. If you only have five minutes, use it.

If you get ready for work in the morning and have five extra minutes before it’s time to leave, open your Bible. If you are sitting in a waiting room at the doctor’s office, open up your kindle app and read a few paragraphs of that book you are working on. If you are sitting in a Domino’s parking lot waiting to pick up supper, read something. Carry a book in your car, just in case you find five minutes. Next time you have enough time to just browse Facebook, make the conscious decision to open your Bible app instead.

First of all, you won’t feel that guilty, depressed feeling that you get when you know you’ve wasted too much time on social media (you know what I’m talking about). Secondly, you will be surprised to see how much you can learn in five minutes. Nobody becomes a Bible expert over night. Our knowledge of the Bible grows as the cumulative result of thousands of incremental sessions. Thirdly, when we study for five minutes, sometimes we study just enough to make us hungry to come back for more. Maybe we read one or two interesting paragraphs, but don’t have enough time to finish the whole section. Five minutes is enough time to motivate us to study again at the first opportunity. Finally, five minutes of study can be enough time to plant some new thought or question into our minds that we can continue to meditate on as we go about our other activities.

Of course we should still be intentional about setting aside larger blocks of time for Bible study. But since we all have such busy lives, when we have five minutes, we should use it.

Some Christians have been trained to be suspicious of scholarship. Throughout history, the Christian faith has been attacked in numerous ways from the writings of “Christian” scholars. “Christian” scholars have been known to undermine the authority of scripture, challenge the historicity of biblical events, and completely recharacterize well-known biblical figures. It makes sense why some would be suspicious.

But it would be a serious error to ignore scholarship. Ignorance is not a virtue. As a Christian, we should care deeply that people want to learn more about scripture. No one earns a PhD without putting in a tremendous amount of work and learning a great deal in the process. Christian scholars aren’t always right in the points they argue, but they are usually very skilled in crafting strong arguments. It would be foolish to simply ignore what someone has to say simply because they are a scholar.

On the other hand, some Christians seem to develop the habit of idolizing scholarship. It would also be a serious error to simply support whatever the latest scholarship says without carefully examining the merits of their arguments. In the same vein, it would be a mistake to ignore or dismiss the arguments made by non-scholars simply because they do not have degrees. Arguments should be weighed on their own merits, not on the accolades of those making the arguments.

Christians should not bow to everything scholars have to say. Scholars are still human. They can make mistakes. They can have agendas. They can be unintentionally influenced by their own presuppositions. They can mistakenly overemphasize certain pieces of data, and underemphasize others. Having a degree doesn’t necessarily make one right. Respect scholarship, but no not idolize it.

The way to respond to scholarship is not ignore it or pretend like ignorance is a virtue. If we really believe it is important to learn everything we can about the Bible, we should develop the habit of responding to scholars by putting in the hard work of thinking deeply about their arguments, and then confirming or critiquing what the scholar says based on the strengths or weaknesses of those arguments.

I consider myself blessed to have been surrounded by some really good influences when I was a teenager. Like many kids that age, the kids in our youth group were able to come up with lots of good questions. If we came across a difficult, or strange sounding scripture, we would ask what it meant. If we came across a scripture that seemed to challenge what we had been taught, we would ask about it. Sometimes we would play devil’s advocate, and argue for a different point of view, just to see if the beliefs we had been taught could withstand the scrutiny. We weren’t trying to be difficult or rebellious. We just wanted to figure things out on our own.

I can remember quite vividly a time when we were asking some challenging questions, and our Bible class teacher just kind of threw his hands up and very honestly admitted “I don’t know. I just don’t know. That is a really good question. Let’s just keep studying, and maybe in time we can figure it out.”

That stuck with me. There are times when humbly admitting “I don’t know” and “just keep studying” are some of the very best answers we can give. With that answer, he both admitted his own lack of omniscience, and pointed us back to the Bible for our answers.

As I grew older and began talking with others about their experiences growing up in the church, I learned that not all kids were blessed with that kind of humility. For many, when they asked questions about difficult passages, their Bible class teachers would just tell them that the passage was too difficult, and it wasn’t really that important anyway. Or if they asked a question that challenge a deeply held belief, the Bible class teacher would simply look up a cookie-cutter answer in a commentary, and then dismiss the question. Although these teachers were probably just trying to protect their students from drawing erroneous conclusions, the students walked away feeling like certain questions about the Bible were simply off limits.

There are many knowledgeable teachers, preachers, and commentary writers out there, and we can certainly learn a lot from other people’s perspectives. But the true object of Bible study is the biblical text itself. “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Prov. 30:5). The Bible will often provoke questions, but the Bible will not mislead us. We need to be dedicated to understanding the text, all the text, no matter what questions it may raise, or what conclusions it may lead us to. Don’t allow anybody to protect you from the Bible.