COOL TOOLS: Online Interlinear Bible

An interlinear Bible is one which gives you the translated English text in parallel with the relevant original Greek or Hebrew text of the scripture. It is a great resource if you are curious EXACTLY what a specific word or phrase meant when the original writer put it down. These tend to be expensive, but now you can find free tools to do the same thing online! If you're interested to see the language the original writers were working in, it is worth clicking through and trying it out.

A Chonological Bible

For those who have never read much of the Bible, it can come as a surprise that the order of the books in the Bible do not have much to do with when they were chronologically written. True, Genesis comes first and Revelations comes last, but many of Paul's epistles were written in the midst of the action chronicles in Acts. Well, one scholar is looking to give us a different view of scripture by publishing a Bible that is arranged chronologically. Of course, not all Bible scholars agree, but I can see it being a useful tool for study.

So, for example, whole sections of Isaiah and Nehemiah are reordered to better reflect an accurate historical timeline; the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are merged into one based on Mark's chronology; and some of St. Paul's letters (which traditionally appear later in the New Testament) are woven into the Book of Acts.

Some biblical scholars, however, aren't buying the idea.

"I would say, generally speaking, that scholars would have no interest at all," said Pat Graham, a professor at Emory University in Atlanta. "What it ends up being is something that laypersons find helpful — or would think it would be helpful. Any biblical studies expert worth their salt would not have much interest in this at all, except as kind of a curiosity."

Tips for Reading the Bible in a Year

Bible Quizzers and their families tend to be more interested than most in reading scripture. If you are one of those who wants to try and read thru the Bible in a year, then these tips may be helpful.

I can recommend an alternative that might be helpful. Start with Genesis, then go to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and James. Read one chapter each day; that will take about six months. Also read one Psalm each day; there are 150.

And, of course, the advantage for quizzers is that you already are reading thru Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Collossians, and Phiemon!

Interesting Study on the "Armor of God"

Were you intrigued by Ephesians 6's discussion about the Armor of God? Why not click on over to this study of the Armor of God and related verses elsewhere in scripture. It shows where the concepts originated and how they were fleshed out over time.

#The Sword of The Spirit - The Word of God

Isa 49:2 (NAS) He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me; And He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver.

# Matthew Henry: "To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack; but it is enough, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifies evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they rise within; and answers unbelief and error as they assault from without. A single text, well understood, and rightly applied, at once destroys a temptation or an objection, and subdues the most formidable adversary."

Heb 4:12-13 (NKJ) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

2 Cor 6:7 (NIV) ...in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left...

Ps 149:4-6 (NIV) For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honour and sing for joy on their beds. May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands.