Dive In "Pericope"

Today’s word is pericope. (Really yesterday, but I haven't been feeling that great so it's today's too!)

It is a Greek word (pa-RIH-kōp-ee) that means “cutting around." Kathy gives Mark 3:1-6 as an example. There is a definite beginning and a definite completion to that passage. She reminds us to look beyond the chapter, verse divisions of the Bible, to read until there is an obvious completion to that story.

So, here I go looking for a pericope. I found my way into Matthew 12. The pericope I found began in verse 38 "One day some teachers......." There is a subtitle in my Bible at verse 46 that in the past would have been like a stop sign to me. This time I continued to read. Verse 46 begins "As Jesus was speaking to the crowd.......", it didn't say he had left and that this was a new crowd. He said as He was speaking to the crowd. That says to me it's the same bunch of people. There are 49 verses in chapter 12, but this story completes itself in Chapter 13 verse 1 where it says "Later that same day, Jesus left the house and went down to the shore." He left the house ends the pericope. At the shore begins a new lesson.

For years I've heard my Dad and pastors say, read the whole text. If something is really speaking to you, back up and read what's going on before and after. This little Greek word, has given me a new perspective.