When Bible Tools Influence Bible Interpretation

Gary discusses an article by Daniel Hummel about how concordances made Dispensationalism—and a “scientific” approach to Bible reading—possible.

Having a basic knowledge of Greek to study the New Testament is helpful and can go a long way to help with interpretation issues in terms of how a passage literally reads. The Greek alphabet can be learned in a few hours since it close to our English alphabet. You can be reading the NT in Greek within a week even though you will not know how to translate what you are reading. But with a Greek-English interlinear cross-referenced to Strong’s numbering system and a basic biblical dictionary or lexicon, you will be able to determine the meaning of each Greek word.

A concordance lists most every word in the Bible and gives its English translation. A concordance like Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance also serves as a basic Bible dictionary. Strong’s comes in printed and electronic forms. It is keyed to the KJV. Different Greek words are often translated by a single English word. Consider the word “world” (2889: kosmos: John 3:16), (3625: oikoumenē: Luke 2:1), (165: aiōn: 2 Cor. 4:4). The KJV has “the end of the world” in Matthew 24:3 where the Greek word aiōn is used and not kosmos. It can be confusing when reading an eschatological chapter like Matthew 24. “World” and “age” have different meanings in terms of eschatology.

This is why a literal translation of the Bible is helpful. In addition to his Analytical Concordance to the Bible—where the original Hebrew or Greek words are listed as well as the pronunciation—Robert Young (1822-1888) also published several editions of his Literal Translation of the Bible (YLT). He also published the Concise Critical Bible Commentary that was “Specially Designed for Those Teaching the Word of God.” It’s his New Testament version of his Concise Critical Bible Commentary that American Vision is republishing. It’s an eye-opener when it comes to words often mistranslated and sometimes not translated in popular Bible translations, and you don’t need to know Greek to benefit from his commentary.

Robert Young’s Concise Critical Commentary on the NT

Most Christians cannot read and translate Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, the languages of Scripture into their native tongue. As a result, for most of us, we are dependent on translations. Vernacular translations began early. The Hebrew Scriptures, along with some Aramaic passages, were translated into Greek beginning in the third century BC. It is known as the Septuagint, often identified as LXX. Many Old Testament passages cited and quoted in the New Testament come from the Septuagint. Young’s Concise Commentary on the NT is a valuable tool that should be in every Christian’s library and used often.

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Gary discusses an article by Daniel Hummel about how concordances made Dispensationalism—and a “scientific” approach to Bible reading—possible. We take many of our modern study tools for granted, but each new help has brought with it challenges and unintended consequences to how we read and interpret Scripture.

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NOTE: This episode was recorded in 2022 before Daniel Hummel’s book, The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism, was released. You can get a copy here.

Read Daniel Hummel’s article on concordances here.

American Vision’s mission is to Restore America to its Biblical Foundation—from Genesis to Revelation. American Vision (AV) has been at the heart of worldview study since 1978, providing resources to exhort Christian families and individuals to live by a Biblically based worldview. Visit www.AmericanVision.org for more information, content and resources