Bible I: Ancient Words

In this episode, we look at how books and fragments of ancient text became the Bible. 

Here is the word list for our translation exercise: And / they were astonished / at / the / teaching / of him / He was / for / teaching / them / as / authority / having / and / not / as / the / Scribes.

Here are a few versions of Mark 1.22:

They were amazed at his teaching, for he taught as one who had real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law. (NLT)

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. (KJV)

Everyone was amazed at his teaching. He taught with authority, and not like the teachers of the Law of Moses. (CEV)

They were surprised at his teaching–so forthright, so confident–not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars. (The Message)

They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (NRSV)

Here’s a handy graphic to explain Q:

Graphic by alecmconroy (CC BY-SA 4.0)

And some of the readings shared in this episode:

Genesis 1.1-5: In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Genesis 2.4b-9: In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up–for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; 6 but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground–7 then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

1 Corinthians 14.33b-35: As in all the churches of the saints, 34 women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

Philippians 4.1-3: Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 2 I urge Euodia and and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.