22 June 2023
I always knew we weren't alone, but that it was difficult to find others on the Net who were talking about the same things. Thanks to one of my readers, I've found at least one: Michael S. Heiser. With a PhD, he brings a much stronger academic background than I can. The specific area of convergence is that he emphasizes accounting for the Ancient Near Eastern outlook on the Bible.
I took the time to read some of his previous posts and I like what I see. If you understand what I've written in the past, you know there is no way I would give anyone a blanket endorsement, nor would I expect any of you to swallow everything I write. Still, I want to recommend reading Heiser for his careful analysis of things.
On another note, there's a whirlwind of changes rushing through my world in the background, and it could affect my posting here. I'm compelled to try some new ideas for the process of writing and posting and keeping track of what I've written. I'm trying different software, among other things. It will surely affect my scheduling of posts, but I'm still committed to posting something every day when possible.
One of the pots constantly boiling over in my soul is seeking to establish a vision of how to make all of this stuff work. Not just as is, but we need to consider where it should take us. Somehow, what we choose to do in relative isolation should lead to what the Lord does in community. I'm utterly certain that He's got something up His sleeve, and it would spoil things if we saw too much too soon. We must get from here to there.
At the same time, I want to avoid pushing my private answers onto others.
This is not a blog for leadership and community, but of ideas about the process. I have full confidence that God can lead you just as well as He does me. I have no doubt some of you hear more clearly than I do. But there's a richness to what I've found such that I cannot keep it to myself. You may not need to read it, but I need to tell it.
I've mentioned previously that I'm convinced this opportunity will be taken away sooner or later. Everything in this world has an expiration date, though it's not always printed in plain sight. The idea is to change ourselves in preparation for things we cannot imagine. And I'm sure we will be surprised at what stays the same.
Another branch out: Bible Translations. As you may know, I'm not happy enough with any English translation to rely on just one for my studies. I've used the NASB 1977 edition here most of the time, but there are times when I think the Lockman Foundation scholars miss the point. Sometimes I might produce my own translation, though I'm hardly a translator myself, just someone who knows how to look at a few questions.
At any rate, I am likely to begin quoting from the NET Bible, too. I argue with a lot of their phrasing choices, especially in the Old Testament, but at least their translators note the variations possible in their margin notes. Plenty of translators ignore or hide the variations. It's a lot less work if that kind of thing is right there in the margin notes, than having to dig it up in numerous reference books.
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