Bible

Answer: You are correct in understanding that the books of the Bible, as originally written, were not divided as we find today with chapters and verses. Originally they were written as narratives, stories or letters. Hundreds of years before there were bound books as we have today, the texts of the Bible were preserved on scrolls that would be rolled up for storage.

Prior to the 12th century there were no divisions added to the text of Scripture. But in 1250, Cardinal Hugo divided each of the books of the Bible into chapters. About 300 years later, in the mid 1500s, verses were also added. The purpose is to aid in finding a particular passage, which indeed these divisions do. The drawback is that these divisions often interrupt the thought pattern of the author. So when we read and study the Bible, we need to keep this in mind and look for flow and context from one chapter or verse to the next.

Answer: There are many different versions of the Bible available today, including many that are designed specifically for young people. Addressing these differences, our free booklet, How to Understand the Bible, says, "The most helpful tool for Bible study is, not surprisingly, a Bible—or, more properly, several Bible versions, among which you can compare wording. People will often seek to find the translation that is most accurate, most literal or easiest to read. However, no single translation fits all these requirements.

"More than 60 English versions of the Bible are available. We can divide them into three broad types: word-for-word, meaning-by-meaning and paraphrased. Most Bibles explain, on their introductory pages, which approach was used in preparing that particular version.

"The word-for-word versions most accurately follow the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts. Generally speaking, the King James Version and its modern counterpart, the New King James Version, are word-for-word translations" (p. 12).

Because the New King James Version combines translation accuracy and modern language, most scriptural quotations in literature produced by the United Church of God are from this translation.

"What about meaning-to-meaning versions? They, too, can be valuable, as secondary sources, to put the Scriptures into more-understandable wording…The New International Version…the Revised English Bible, Good News Bible and Jerusalem Bible are other popular meaning-to-meaning translations.

"Paraphrased Bibles, such as The Living Bible, can be useful. The Living Bible can be described as an interpretive translation. Its goal is to make the Bible easily understandable. Caution is necessary in working with this text, however, because the authors exercised poetic license to transform some basic terms according to their own religious ideas.

"Paraphrased versions can be consulted to better grasp the story flow but should not be used to establish doctrine. They should be considered poor sources for accurately determining the meaning of any text" (p. 13).

Given the many choices of Bibles available today, our recommendation is that young people use the New King James Version as their foundational Bible. Other translations can then be added to augment their biblical studies. For additional information on this subject, consult our free booklet, How to Understand the Bible (http://www.ucg.org/booklets/UB/).

Answer: This question is vitally important because we need to be sure of our relationship with God. In fact, the Bible itself teaches us to "prove all things" (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV). In order to have confidence in the Bible as God's inspired Word, we suggest the following steps.

1) Begin by proving to yourself that God does exist. If you don't really know that He exists, your thoughts and actions will waver.

2) Once you know for a certainty that God exists, consider what literature He inspired to be preserved for us today. The Bible claims to be the direct words of God. Furthermore, there are many internal proofs that show there is no other book like it. For example, the Bible has accurately predicted history and proven itself scientifically accurate thousands of years prior to the discoveries of science.

3) Begin living by God's words of instruction as found in the Bible. Psalm 111:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever." As you follow God's instructions in your own life, you will grow in understanding and confidence in your decision.

To help you follow these steps, we recommend reading the two free booklets: Does God Exist? (http://www.ucg.org/booklets/GE/) and Is the Bible True? (http://www.ucg.org/booklets/BT/).

Answer: The claim that there is a secretly embedded code in the Bible discernible by computer calculations has created much interest of late, but knowledge of such a code is not necessary to understand the Bible. While it is true that God inspired the Scriptures in a way that veils their meaning, the key to understanding is God's Spirit—not a codebook, computer or clever mathematician.

The apostle Paul wrote that "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God... nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). The Spirit of God is a gift to the children of God, not restricted to a few who discover the keys to a hidden code.

Notice also the words of a related prophecy found in Isaiah 29:10-14: "For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes [blocked your understanding]... The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed [closed, unable to be understood], which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, 'Read this, please.' And he says, 'I cannot, for it is sealed.' Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, 'Read this, please.' And he says, 'I am not literate.'

"Therefore the Lord said: 'Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.'"

People will be able to understand spiritual truth, not because they discover a secret code by mathematical formula, but rather because God supernaturally opens their minds. God reveals truth to those whom He calls, who show themselves willing to obey Him (Acts 5:32).

We invite you to request a copy of our booklet titled Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion, which explains what the Bible says about how a person comes to repentance, receives faith, undergoes baptism, receives the gift of the Spirit of God and understands God's spiritual truths. You can request or download it at www.ucg.org/booklets.