The Whats and Hows of the Bible
The SIM SCF Bible Conference took place on 24 and 25 January with approximately 20 attendees.
On the first day, we explored Bible Canonisation and Translations, an eye-opening session that examined what makes the Bible trustworthy. The Apocrypha, a facet I was previously unfamiliar with, was also introduced. Regarding Bible translations, the speaker highlighted that it would be helpful to cross-reference different translation versions as they have been translated with varying priorities in mind. This was a new insight for me and a skill I plan to adopt in my Bible studies. During the session, we tried our hand at translating an interlinear Hebrew text to the local context. While our teams struggled to draw out the meaning of the text using colloquial language, it was a fun and insightful exercise that deepened my appreciation for the complexities of Bible translation.
BR101 class
On the second day, we delved into Bible Reading (BR101 and BR101+). In BR101+, we studied and compared 1 Chronicles 21:1–17 and 2 Samuel 24:1–17. We saw how the Bible repeats and affirms different biblical events across different texts, albeit the slightly differing details that caused some confusion. It also allowed us to practise what we learnt on the first day as we discussed the variation in the two texts brought out by the different translation versions.
Mulling over the Bible at BR101+ (Ling Yi is in the middle)
The Bible Conference reiterated the importance of reading deeper into Scripture to understand the context behind what was written. This reminded me to check the lenses behind which I read the Bible. The sessions also reinforced the usefulness of reading in community – not just with a physical group of people, but also with commentaries to aid our understanding of the text. It also taught me that there is value in each Bible version, whether to lend ease of understanding or for alignment with the original language.
Though it was short, the Bible Conference strengthened my commitment to studying the Bible with greater intentionality in my devotions.
– Ling Yi, SIM, Bachelor of Business (International Business), Year 1
