To the editor:

Bible scholars tell us there are four ways to study the Hebrew Bible.

The average Westerner reads “at” the Bible, assuming he/she will discover its complexities and mysteries by cursory reading. This most obvious way of reading the book is “once-over-lightly,” known as a P’shat level of understanding.

Those who desire to understand its message at some depth will spend time examining the “hints” or “suggested” Hebrew-cultural meanings, the Remez level.

As one continues exploring for insights, the Drash level is the third, interpretative and homiletic level.

The serious student will use Strong’s Concordance of Hebrew, an invaluable tool. Any written work that’s endured two or more language translations has subtle changes from the original. Strong’s compares and contrasts these subtleties.

The fourth level of understanding – according to Hebrew sages – is the Sod level. This level brings us to the secret meaning. Each Hebrew letter has an accompanying numerical value. The gematria meaning of an individual word holds secret implications.

The Jews are known as the “People of the Book.” Believers are indebted to them for passing the Tanakh down through their generations without error.

Sadly, the first copies of New Testament books and letters were destroyed and/or lost. However, they were written by Jewish- and Hebrew-speaking writers including the disciples Paul and other Jewish leaders. Only early Greek translations survive.

To surmise that the Bible is a mythological book without a thorough study at all levels of understanding is naive and uninformed.

Carrol Mills,

Lawrence