Peter T, I'll have to seek out a copy of the book you mention. It sounds like something I would enjoy puzzling over.

Years ago, a friend showed me a copy of a text that opened new worlds of understanding for me, regarding biblical scholarship. I think it was The Oxford Bible . . . but I don't own it, and it's been a long time since I've seen it.

One thing that I found striking is that scholars can't even agree upon the proper first letter of the first word of the bible. I recall the camps basically split into two sets of understandings, one favoring the interpretation that translates as "in the beginning," but the other saying that this was just a stylized way, given the original language, of saying "when."

The difference that would make is actually rather profound, if you think about it.

And so on.

Herring405