Live your theology.

For Lost in Translation, I take a document written in ye old tymey English and put it into modern terms. More or less.  Today’s subject is from the Directory for the publick (translated public) worship of God.

Of Publick Reading of the Holy Scriptures

READING of the word in the congregation, being part of the publick worship of God, (wherein .i.we; acknowledge our dependence upon him, and subjection to him,) and one mean sanctified by him for the edifying of his people, is to be performed by the pastors and teachers.

Reading the Bible publicly is a part of worship.  By reading God’s Word in our worship services we’re demonstrating that we are completely reliant on His revelation (found in His Word) for our lives.  We also show the Scriptures to be authoritative by making it a part of the worship service.  ”one mean sanctified” is another way of saying that this is a method that God has shown as being helpful for the wisdom of the congregation.  The public reading of God’s word has been practiced throughout church history, in the Old Testament and New (Nehemiah 8:1-8, Luke 4:16-19)

Pastors are good to read and so are teachers.  It sounds cute when little kids recite memory work.  Not really appropriate for worship, though.

Howbeit, such as intend the ministry, may occasionally both read the word, and exercise their gift in preaching in the congregation, if allowed by the presbytery thereunto.

Interns are allowed to read Scriptures to the congregation.

All the canonical books of the Old and New Testament (but none of those which are commonly called Apocrypha) shall be publickly read in the vulgar tongue, out of the best allowed translation, distinctly, that all may hear and understand.

No Apocrypha, because the Apocrypha is not inspired.  This may lead to some confusion, as Roman Catholics include the Apocrypha in their Bibles… but – The Apocrypha was never cited by Jesus or the apostles.  No Apocryphal book claims to be inspired by God.  The early Church did not give the Apocrypha any esteem or list it as a canonical book — so there’s not reason to treat it as such.

In the King’s English (or latin), vulgar means common.

Best allowed translation.  Here we go!  This is where the KJV-onlyists get angry at the Westminster Divines.  A big part of the Reformation was making the Scriptures available to the common person.  Those cooky radicals had the audacity to believe that Christians should, you know, understand the Word of God.  Same principle holds today.  Trouble is,  language evolves.  Awful used to mean awesome, but now it means… awful.  So a hymn like “How Sweet and Awful” means something completely different if you aren’t able to translate the English to English (read: American).  Maybe we’re not at the point where the KJV is entirely unreadable, but we’re getting close.  Maybe it’s the fault of parents, maybe it’s the fault of a lax education, but it’s reality.   Also, some older translations aren’t very adept at getting the original languages right, so they don’t even really qualify for the “best” portion of the Divine’s guidelines.   Now, just because a Bible is translated into a language you can read & understand, doesn’t mean it ought to be used.  There are a lot of really bad or unfaithful translations that are otherwise readable.  If you pastor or elders can’t explain why The Message isn’t the ideal version of Scriptures to use for worship… maybe think about finding a new church.

How large a portion shall be read at once, is left to the wisdom of the minister; but it is convenient, that ordinarily one chapter of each Testament be read at every meeting; and sometimes more, where the chapters be short, or the coherence of matter requireth it.

It is requisite that all the canonical books be read over in order, that the people may be better acquainted with the whole body of the scriptures; and ordinarily, where the reading in either Testament endeth on one Lord’s day, it is to begin the next.

We commend also the more frequent reading of such scriptures as he that readeth shall think best for edification of his hearers, as the book of Psalms, and such like.

This is the minutia.  The Pastor should determine how big a portion to read, but a good guidelines is a chapter of each testament (or more if it’s a short chapter).    You should be reading through the whole of Scriptures — that means Arminian churches will have to turn the page from John 3:16 and Reformed churches will have to reading something other than Ephesians 1 every once in a while.   The chapter per book limit isn’t a prerequisite.  If the pastor or Elders feel that reading a Chapter of Scriptures would be beneficial to the congregation – go for it.  It’s OK to sing one fewer hymn every once in a while.  Really, it is.

When the minister who readeth shall judge it necessary to expound any part of what is read, let it not be done until the whole chapter or psalm be ended; and regard is always to be had unto the time, that neither preaching, nor other ordinances be straitened, or rendered tedious. Which rule is to be observed in all other publick performances.

Reading God’s Word publicly is a big deal.  I’m a fan of standing during the reading, but that’s a personal preference.  God’s revealed Word to His people is kind of a big deal.  It is inerrant.  It is special.  Our clarifications, while often helpful, can’t touch the Word.  Knowing this, the divines want a clear distinction.

Beside publick reading of the holy scriptures, every person that can read, is to be exhorted to read the scriptures privately, (and all others that cannot read, if not disabled by age, or otherwise, are likewise to be exhorted to learn to read,) and to have a Bible.

Read your Bibles at home too, kids.