Need for Annotation

It seems a self-evident truth that one cannot read a chiastic Biblical passage in a chiastic manner unless one knows where the beginning and end of the chiastic unit is.   Because reading some of the Old Testament poetry this way is essential to obtaining an understanding of the text, there is a significant need for some annotation in the published Scriptures to indicate the beginning and ends of these passages.  This annotation would supplement, and certainly not replace, the existing chapter and verse numbering.

The nonprofit had been a strong advocate for a standardized notation across the translations and printings, to prevent confusion among Bible readers.  For example, differences already exist in what the meaning of italics stands for.   Such a notation should be tested for impact before being introduced.

Philosophy of Annotation

Whenever something is added to the Scriptures, it is automatically an intrusion into His inspired Word.  Keep in mind that the chapter and verse numbering added in the Middle Ages is itself a non-inspired addition.  The form of the media matters.  In electronic media, notation or potentially even coloration of words can be turned on and off at the click of a button.  Thus, one can declare it to be non-scripture when a notation or other helps are activated.     (Alternatively, information can be provided only when a cursor is paused over a certain location as some electronic media do.)  However, for printing on paper in traditional paper bound Bibles, this is not an insignificant issue, and there are theologians who rightfully feel strongly about it.   It may be an acceptable compromise to place these annotation marks along with the chapter and verse numberings in a column besides the text.  (Remember that the chapter and verse numbers themselves are an addition to the inspired text.)  Thus, these notations are adjacent to the text, but not in the text.    A personal opinion (stated by some others) would be that footnotes take the reader’s eye and mind off the text and are less desirable for this reason.  The general detraction of footnotes has been recognized by people in the industry, and this is a difficult problem.    

The following is an excerpt from page 155 of Isaiah Revisited

Attributes of Structural Annotation

For information to be placed into the Scriptures in some manner, there are many attributes that are needed, or required.  If an annotation were added to Bible printings haphazardly, the consequences would be detrimental.  Here are some of the needed attributes:

• It seems self-evident that there must be standardization across all Biblical printings and all books of the Bible.  To not do this would leave readers confused and would make it difficult to switch from one translation or version to another.

• The notation should be symbolic and thus language independent.  Arrows, triangles, or some other symbols can make the notation accessible to people of all languages.

• While it is strongly felt that the notation should be outside the verbiage or text (as it is in this printing), it must also preserve horizontal paper space.  The addition of the index or notation column probably drops the font size by at least one point, perhaps two.  This is a serious consequence for those who have difficulty reading smaller fonts.  If at all possible, the notation could use the same column as the chapter and verse number.

• There must be quality control, which means agreement by theologians, and some use of a system to measure and present the level of agreement, such as a chiastic strength (agreement) index.

• The impact on the readers should be tested.  This potentially means printing several types of notations and measuring comprehension and other outcomes.

Significance of the Change

Somewhere in the last 2000 years, knowledge of the chiastic nature of the text greatly deteriorated.  The introduction of a linear chapter and verse numbering system in the Middle Ages superimposed Western linear thinking onto the text, and this likely contributed to a loss of the chiastic reading.  The effect that re-emphasizing such knowledge can have to the average Christian should not be underestimated.  Whatever is accomplished must be pursued with prayer, and it must be done properly.  This change is at least as significant as when chapter numbers and verse numbers were introduced in the Middle Ages.

A substantial program will be required.  It may be that there are already ongoing efforts along these lines, and we want to urge the funding or continued funding of these efforts.