Herma and Herman Neutics

Maybe the most important advice for Bible Reading we can give you.

Never assume you know what a passage means. Even if you understand every word in English translation don't assume that what it means to you as a 21st century American is what it meant to its ancient readers. Investigate everything. Always ask yourself "What would this word, concept, image, or phrase mean to an ancient Israelite?

Here's the deal. The Bible is written for us but not to us. The only way to get the message for us is to do our best to understand what the message was to its original hearers. If we don't get that we won't get what God intends for us to hear,

So, doubt (what you think a passage means) and verify (work to discover what it meant to its original hearers in order to hear and obey.

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