The Art of Biblical Words session 2 highlights the importance of understanding the Bible as a cross-cultural text, emphasizing that effective communication requires a shared understanding of words, terms, and ideas. drawing on the insights of Hebrew Bible scholar John Walton, encourages me to recognize the cultural and historical gap between me and the biblical text. This gap necessitates a shift from a dictionary mindset to an encyclopedia mindset when interpreting biblical words.

The dictionary approach focuses on defining words in isolation, whereas the encyclopedia approach considers the broader cultural, historical, and linguistic context in which words are used. This shift is crucial because words don’t function in a vacuum; they are part of a larger language system shaped by culture, time, and people groups.

This nuanced understanding is essential for accurately interpreting biblical texts and avoiding misinterpretation. By adopting an encyclopedia mindset, readers can begin to sympathize with the author’s original context and gain a deeper understanding of the biblical text.

in simple words, I need to

1. Recognizing the cultural and historical gap between ourselves and the biblical text.

2. Shifting from a dictionary mindset to an encyclopedia mindset when interpreting biblical words.

3. Considering the broader cultural, historical, and linguistic context in which words are used.

4. Adopting a more nuanced understanding of biblical words and concepts.

if I do this applying these principles, I can develop a richer understanding of the Bible and engage more effectively with its teachings.