Guiding Grammar

One of the things to be aware of is the difference between a translation of the Scripture (which goes from one language to another) and an interpretation of Scripture (deciding what the author meant). The further we go from the original source, the more likely we are to have some error in what we are reading. Therefore, a literal word-for-word translation of the Scriptures will be more accurate than one that paraphrases. At the same time the literal translation will require more knowledge by the reader into the cultures and lifestyles found in Scripture to be properly understood. Assuming that one is not reading the original language of a passage, it is often helpful to look at multiple translations of Scripture to try and gain an understanding of what is meant by the original author.

For many people, understanding a passage comes mostly from picking out the keywords. This can be useful, but as is often the case, the easy route has its dangers. When looking through multiple versions of translation, we can quickly see that different translators use different keywords for the same passage. There is also the possibility that the author has added words not found in the original (often, but not always, these are marked such as being in italics). Such additions can entirely change the meaning of a passage since these often come with the theology of the translator. When working with keywords we must also be careful when using older translations since words in a language can change meaning over time.

Many clues to understanding a portion of Scripture can be found in the type of text that is used in the passage. Much of Scripture is written with a direct, literal, and factual meaning which is usually easy to comprehend. Other parts of Scripture are given in figurative or symbolic wording. Other accounts are given in the form of a parable to teach lessons on multiple levels, as figures of speech or idioms, and even as sarcasm. These require a closer look into what exactly is being stated or spoken about. We can also encounter commandments, poetry, and prophetic phrases. When specialized words are used instead of everyday language, this should be taken note.