Reading by chapter in Biblical order ...
A few months back, I had asked for the reason for using chapters (or verses) as the reading divisions, rather than logical texts breaks. I had also asked about the propensity to read the books in "Biblical sequence" - a late and unstable element. The best answer I received was simply ease of use.
Well, I have run into some English history that may help explain this (American?) quirk. You know that fellow named Cromwell who replaced the Book of Common Prayer with The Directory for the Publick Worship of God. Listen to what it says:
"All the canonical books of the Old and New Testament (but none of those which are commonly called Apocrypha)
shall be publickly read in the vulgar tongue, out of the best allowed
translation, distinctly, that all may hear and understand.
How large a portion shall be read at once, is left to the wisdom of
the minister; but it is convenient, that ordinarily one chapter of each
Testament be read at every meeting; and sometimes more, where the
chapters be short, or the coherence of matter requireth it.
It is requisite that all the canonical books be read over in order,
that the people may be better acquainted with the whole body of the
scriptures; and ordinarily, where the reading in either Testament
endeth on one Lord’s day, it is to begin the next."
This, at least, takes me 1 step closer to answering my questions. Now don't you think the resources to answer my question should have been in Logos - I'm sure its out of copyright. [Just kidding - Logos is not strong in this sort of resource - I didn't really expect it.]
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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8:1 all the people gathered together in the plaza which was in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had commanded Israel. 8:2 So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.) 8:3 So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noon before the men and women and those children who could understand. All the people were eager to hear the book of the law.8:4 Ezra the scribe stood on a towering wooden platform constructed for this purpose. Standing near him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. On his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 8:5 Ezra opened the book in plain view of all the people, for he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book, all the people stood up. 8:6 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people replied “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.8:7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah – all of whom were Levites – were teaching the people the law, as the people remained standing. 8:8 They read from the book of God’s law, explaining it and imparting insight. Thus the people gained understanding from what was read.
Dave
===Windows 11 & Android 13
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Dave Hooton said:
8:8 They read from the book of God’s law, explaining it and imparting insight. Thus the people gained understanding from what was read.
Biblical Studies Press. 2006; 2006. The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ne 8:1-8). Biblical Studies PressYes, from the exile the Jewish reading of the Torah is continuous in either a 3 or 1 year cycle. But the breaks are logical not the arbitrary chapters. The scroll of the 5 Megilloth (sp?) is a sequential read. And I have found some hints of a sequential use of Psalms (similar to the Divine Office). All other passages seem to be non-sequential, non-chapter. I would love to have a video of Ezra's reading - it could resolve several textual and liturgical questions.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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MJ. Smith said:
Bible Study: Methods and Techniques (in early infancy)
Cool site, well organized. Looks like it will be very useful. You might want to fix the typo in "Lessons and supporting matterials" (no double 't' in materials)
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Rosie Perera said:
<snip>
Cool site, well organized. Looks like it will be very useful. You might want to fix the typo in "Lessons and supporting matterials" (no double 't' in materials)
Maybe the authour was Brittish.
[:D]
Eating a steady diet of government cheese, and living in a van down by the river.
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Rosie Perera said:
You might want to fix the typo in "Lessons and supporting matterials" (no double 't' in materials)
Thank you. Some people see double - I type double [:D]
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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