Have you noticed the paragraphs in your Bible?
These micro-segmentations of the Bible have been going on for millennia. It is not just at the so-called verse level. It has happened by page length in some ancient formats, paragraphs without verses, varying by Jewish or Gentile heritage and many more. The manner of Biblical micro-segmentation is by no means rigid.
Relevance?
In his letter to the church, James admonished that not many should become teachers. Here is how the translators of the ESV made James’ words accessible to us.
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers… (James 3:1a–ESV)
What? Why not? Isn’t teaching others an honorable thing? Read on for James wastes no time in answering this question.
…for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1b–ESV)
“Oh great, I am a teacher.” I cannot recall aspiring to this, but I suspect my aspirations matter not a lot. James was not associating stricter judgment with aspiring to teach but actually teaching. So here I am. For more than a decade I have been tromping through the scriptures and tacking up lessons on the minds of others.
[Read more…] about 1 John 3:19-24–Assurance of salvation is from actions and faith