There have been some recent press articles about the difficult nature of at least one of the GCSE exams this summer. One recorded how students had left their EdExcel Maths paper and taken to social media to complain that one of the questions was ‘impossible’. The truth of the matter was that it was indeed very difficult, but for the most mathematically able of the students it was solvable. 

Another more amusing account came from the GCSE Chemistry paper, where a short teaser posed to students near the beginning asked them to finish the sentence ‘Limestone is Calcium ______’. If there was any doubt over the answer from those taking the exam, a cursory glance through the rest of the paper would have helped considerably. One of the questions further on began with the statement ‘Limestone is Calcium Carbonate.’

It was a show of uncharacteristic magnanimity from the exam board.  

Those who read the bible can have similar experiences. For some it is a mystery, confusing and impenetrable. For others it contains the answers to any question you care to throw at it, if only you study it with enough care and for long enough. Neither of those really gets to grips with what the bible is.

From a time when only those with years of learning and knowledge of Hebrew and New Testament Greek could speak with clarity about the bible, we now have umpteen varied translations in English. They all have something to commend them. From the beauty of the 400 year old King James Version, which has contributed so much to our culture, to the Good News Bible, with its turn of speech that has a great deal more modern tone to it. Each enables us to hear God speak through ancient words. 

It may not be the place you go to to find answers to what’s the best thing to eat, what holiday destination might be good, or if your choice of wall colour is truly holy.

But for a glimpse into the mind of God, and the story of his promise of hope to a broken world, there’s no better place to start.

(July 2015)