Lectionary Notes: Index

October 4, 2007

This section has fallen into disuse, but I have not ceased studying the lectionary. The problem is that I tend now to write about what I study in several different places, all now blogs, which makes updating, commenting, and so forth much more convenient. In the list below I provide the link to the blog, and also a link to an RSS feed of only those posts from that blog related to the lectionary. Here is a list:

• Threads from Henry\'s Web (Lectionary RSS Feed)
  On this blog I stick with general topics related to the intersection between the Bible, science, and society. That means there will probably be few entries here, but there will be some, especially in application of the text to social issues.
• Participatory Bible Study Blog(Lectionary RSS Feed)
  This is the place for exegetical notes and some of the technical issues.
• The Jevlir Caravansary (Lectionary RSS Feed)
  What's a fiction blog doing on this list? Here I sometimes place either special paraphrases of the passage, fiction related to the topic, and even Bible stories retold in a modern context.
• Jody's Devotionals (Lectionary RSS Feed)
  As I study the texts, they often provide me with fodder for the daily devotional for my wife's list. Due to her work schedule, I'm contributing to this list quite a bit at this point.
• Running Toward the Goal Podcast (Lectionary RSS Feed)
  This is a devotional podcast. In most cases there will be a transcript for those who prefer to read rather than listen.

But the key element here is the new RSS feed that combines all lectionary related posts. It is Henry Neufeld on the Lectionary.

Immediately following will be my most current post on the lectionary in full, and links the the most recent 50. At the start, some of these will be very old, but they will become more current as time goes on.

Henry Neufeld on the Lectionary Aggregator

Most Current Post

Previous Posts

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Lectionary Notes: Index to Old Entries

2nd Sunday of Easter, 2005, Year A
Easter Evening Lectionary, 2005, Year A
Lectionary 24: 17th Sunday after Pentecost
Lectionary 25: 18th Sunday after Pentecost
Lectionary 26: 19th Sunday after Pentecost
Lectionary 27: 20th Sunday after Pentecost
Lectionary 28: 21st Sunday after Pentecost
Lectionary 29: 22nd Sunday after Pentecost
Lectionary 30: 23rd Sunday after Pentecost
Lectionary: All Saints Day
Lectionary 31: All Saints Sunday
Lectionary 32: November 9, 2003
Lectionary 33: November 16, 2003
Lectionary 34: November 23, 2003
Thanksgiving Lectionary, Nov. 27, 2003
First Sunday in Advent

Lectionary for Easter Sunday
Lectionary: Second Sunday of Easter, 2004
Lectionary: Third Sunday of Easter, 2004
Lectionary: Fourth Sunday of Easter 2004
Lectionary: Sixth Sunday of Easter 2004
Lectionary: Seventh Sunday of Easter 2004

For additional insight: Running Toward the Goal - related homilies

Lectionary Notes: Overview

Purpose:

These notes are intended as helps for preachers and Sunday School teachers who wish to work from the Revised Common Lectionary. Though this initial entry is only one week ahead, my aim is to publish them two to three weeks ahead of the date for their use.

This is not intended to function as a calendar. There are several good sites on the internet that list the scriptures for the various weeks. I just take all the scriptures and comment on them. This is not intended as a full commentary. I will frequently refer to other commentary resources. These are study notes that should help to get you started on the study of these scriptures.

I would be happy to correspond with anyone interested in pursuing this topic (henry@energion.com), and also invite you to visit the Energion-sponsored "Scholar's Corner" section on CompuServe's Religion Forum to discuss the notes, or other relevant areas of interest to you. The forum is free via the internet. You may use your AOL screenname and password to enter, or select a new one.

Contents:

Each week I will provide translations of the selected passages along with translation notes and comments. In addition, I may add any of the following:

Suggested grouping of scripture readings and topics
2. Point outlines for possible sermons or talks
3. Suggested reference sources and specific topics
4. A topical essay based on one of the outlines

Translation:
I struggled with the idea of providing my own translation. In general, I prefer to work from standard translations when teaching or preaching even though I study from the original languages, and normally prepare my own translation in the course of studying the text.

There are several problems with teaching from the original languages.

1. It tends to make the audience think that one can only really understand the Bible by use of the original languages. While I'm an advocate of study of the original languages where possible, I do not believe this is the only way to understand what the Bible is saying. Especially with the rich variety of translations we have in the English language, I believe anyone can have access to the Bible text.
2. It sets the teacher up as superior to professional Bible translators. I'm very wary of saying, "the Greek word used here really means" or "the Hebrew text actually says" as opposed to text translated by a qualified committee. I often do disagree, but it is better to say, "I believe a better translation would be" or something similar. All of us, of course, have strong opinions on certain verses and I'm no exception. You'll probably catch me calling various renderings "mistranslations" from time to time, but I like to keep that to a minimum.
3. It sometimes overawes the audience for the wrong reason. They think the teacher or preacher must be right because he's holding a Greek New Testament in his hand. The fact is that many, many preachers hold Greek New Testaments in their hands whilst making grave linguistic errors. The real answer lies in studying for oneself.

So why do I present my own "study" translation for these notes? Most current Bible versions are copyright. I considered using the American Standard Version which is now out of copyright, but I found its text a bit too archaic. Finally, I decided that despite the flaws in my own translation, the best idea would be to present it along with my notes. I ask that you not use this translation as anything other than a resource for study.

There are several characteristics of my study translation that you should be aware of. First, while I compare it to modern translations to some extent, I rarely correct it simply to make it smoother. I translate as I'm thinking about the verse. Sometimes this is woodenly literal, sometimes wildly paraphrastic. If it is paraphrastic, I will likely try to explain my reasoning in the notes. If it's wooden, I refer you to the abundance of good translations available.

Transliteration:
I use the schemes that are in use on the Bible Translations Discussion List (http://www.geocities.com/bible_translation/list) for both Greek and Hebrew whenever it is important to display the precise form of a Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek word. Otherwise, I use "sounds close" transliteration to make it easy for English speakers to pronounce what they read.

Divine Name:
In all cases of the occurrence of the divine name in the Hebrew Scriptures I use "YHWH." This will allow easy identification of where the divine name is used, which helps make sense of Hebrew passages, but does not present a pronunciation of the divine name.

References:
I will use a number of standard references, and will cite them in brackets [] by abbreviation. I list the references I expect to cite regularly in the list below. I will expand this list as I work. In cases of lexicons, dictionaries and commentaries, where the particular reference is quite obvious, I will just give the work. For example, the reference [BDAG] following discussion of a Greek word means that I used "A Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Third Edition" edited by Danker, under the appropriate article. Similarly [IDB] means the "Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible" again under the word being discussed. If there is doubt about what article I'm citing, I will include that. Commentaries will be cited the same way. For example, any volume in the Anchor Bible series will simply be [AB__] with the volume. In this case, it is that commentary relating to the text under discussion. For example, in Psalms 19, if I'm referencing the Anchor Bible commentary I would say use [AB Psalms I], first volume of the three volume Anchor Bible commentary on the Psalms. In addition, in the abbreviation list, I will give only the minimum information necessary to identify the work. Further bibliographic data will be available if there is a review on Energion.com. If there is, there will be a link to it in the abbreviation list. As I see that this list is being used I will improve the reference information.

Other references will be given in greater detail. On each reference in this list, I will include a link to purchase that item via Amazon.com. If you find these notes helpful, please consider making your purchases from Amazon after linking from this site. The referral fees help to keep the site running and make it possible for me to write these notes.

While I am fairly old fashioned and use many print books, I do now use the Logos Scholar's Library as a foundation for my study. In some cases, works cited are in the editions used in that library. I enthusiastically recommend the Libronix system as a whole, and their Biblical languages material in particular.

Abbreviations for Standard References:

Links on titles go to Amazon.com entry for that title.

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