Have you ever thought about the chapter and verse numbers in the Bible?
Other than when looking up a passage, I mean. “What is there to think about?” you may ask. Well, chapter numbers, verse numbers, and section headings may be affecting the way you interpret the Bible without you even knowing it.
The reason this can be a problem is that chapter numbers, verse numbers, and section headings were not in the original texts of the Bible, so they aren’t inspired. Our current chapter divisions were made in the 13th century, and verse divisions the 16th century (according to Wikipedia). Section headings are made anew each time a new Bible translation is produced. Since they aren’t original, all of these divisions should be treated like footnotes: helpful information, but not a word from God. But how can chapter and verse numbers affect how you interpret the Bible? They’re grouping things, and these groupings affect the relationships you see between passages.
Apparently the show took an interesting turn after the reboot….
For example, in the 1984 edition of the NIV, there is a section heading in between and 12. As a result, many readers interpreted on their own, without considering their connection to . They read Paul’s statement that “I press on toward the goal” (v. 14), and, because Paul didn’t say what “the goal” is, they tended to read into the text their own view of the goal of the Christian life. But in Paul says exactly what he means by the goal of the Christian life: “knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…[to] gain Christ…that I may know him.” Knowing Christ is the specific goal Paul is striving for. By introducing a section heading between these passages, the translators made it harder for readers to see the close connection between them. Thankfully, in the 2011 edition of the NIV, the section heading was moved to after , so now this connection is easier to see.
How can you avoid letting chapter numbers, verse numbers, and section headings influence your interpretation of the Bible?
- Get a non-study Bible. Ideally, this Bible should have as few section headings and footnotes as possible—only footnotes offering alternate translations where a word was in doubt.
- Do a manuscript study. Copy the passage you’re studying into a word processor and delete all the chapter headings, verse numbers, section headings, and footnotes. You’ll be amazed how you’ll see connections you never saw before. But how do you decide how much of the text to look at? To do that…
- …Focus on literary units. Think through the point the author is making, and group together the sentences that seem to be about the same topic. This forces you to think through the author’s argument yourself, rather than relying on a Bible translator to do it.
Have you ever noticed chapter numbers, verse numbers, and section headings affecting your interpretation of a passage? Have you ever tried doing a manuscript study? How did it go? Let us know in the comments!
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3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (ESV)
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)