How to Train with Your Sword Sword of the Spirit How to Train with Your Sword

Becoming Proficient With the Word It takes time It takes work both individually and in community

7 Concepts for Reading the Bible Treat it as a story Identify with a character Identify and read different genres appropriately

7 Concepts for Reading the Bible Select a translation that speaks to you Read as an act of devotion Read both alone and with others Resist the urge to sanitize the Bible

Studying the Bible Don’t intermingle Bible study with Bible reading Have more than one Study Bible to reference Balance familiarity with memorization

Good Verses to Memorize Proverbs 3:5-6 2 Corinthians 13:14 Romans 12:1-2 John 14:6 Micah 6:8 Hebrews 4:12 Matthew 28:18-20

Translation Word for Word (Formal Equivalence) Thought for Thought (Dynamic Equivalence) Inclusive Language Note: all translators seek a level literalness

NASB ESV KJV NIV NLT Word-for-Word Paraphrase Thought-for-Thought AMP NKJV MSG NASB ESV KJV NIV NLT

What is Inclusive Language? English Spanish brothers = hermanos sisters = hermanas siblings = hermanos

New International Version Most Common and Popular translation (1978) Balance of word-for-word and thought-for-thought Reading Grade Level: 7 A modern translation acceptable to many denominations

King James Version Completed in 1611, current edition 1769 Word-for-word Reading Grade Level: 12 Protestant response to inaccuracies in earlier English translations

English Standard Version Completed in 2001 Word-for-word Reading Grade Level: 8 A modern, readable, accurate translation in the tradition of Tyndale and KJV

New Living Translation Completed in 1996, revised in 2004 Thought-for-Thought Reading Grade Level: 6 An easy-to-read modern version

New American Standard Bible Completed in 1971, revised in 1995 Word-for-word Reading Grade Level: 11 Most literal translation

Study Bibles Study Bibles are important Every Study Bible has some bias (as do translations) Have more than one for balance Should include notes, introductions to books, cross references, dictionary, concordance