“WHAT IS A PINION”
What is a pinion? Not opinion (an opinion is “a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter”). Pinion is different. It would be interesting to me, if the average person ran across the word “pinion”, would they know what it means? Maybe all of you do. This preacher is very ignorant about a lot of things, so I keep dictionaries, Thesauruses and The Synonym Finder close by. If you know what a pinion is, that’s good. You’re probably smart.
You may be thinking, “What is he doing? Why all this about a pinion?” Well it has to do with Bible translations. I am a dyed in the wool King James Version user. However, I read other translations and have many of them in my library, as well as, being able to search the Internet. Sometimes people latch on to new translations because they are new. Some seemingly think the King James Version is archaic so therefore we need a new one. So, if you use the New King James or The American Standard, continue on my brother, as they both are very good translations. Here is what brought all this to my attention. I am reading the ESV (English Standard Version) in the Psalms. The passage reads, “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler” (Ps. 91:4). Being unlearned as I am, I said to myself, “What is a pinion?” So, I went to my trusted KJV and read the passage, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” (Ps. 91:4, KJV). I knew what feathers were but I didn’t know what a pinion was. However, now I know what pinions are, as the definition of pinion is, “the terminal section of a bird’s wing including the carpus, metacarpus, and phalanges; broadly :wing” both definition’s from Webster’s Dictionary. Ok, Acuff why all the fuss about a word? Here are some lessons.
One, read your Bible. Use a trusted translation such as KJV, NKJV or ASV. Read other translations, if you choose, as you would a commentary. Read the Bible, daily.
Two, study your Bible. There is a difference in reading and studying. Studying is when you stop and search out the meaning of a verse or a passage. Do you know what the word “manifold” means? It means something different in an automobile than it does in the right passages in which it is used in the Bible. Don’t be in a big hurry to rush through a passage.
Three, keep some good helps available. Basics such as a Bible Dictionary, Haley’s Bible Hand Book, Gospel Advocate Commentaries or Coffman Commentaries, Young’s or Strong’s Concordance. If you do all your research on the computer, put certain places in your favorites such as Bible Gateway, Coffman Commentary, and e-Sword. I have a program called Accordance (some of it is free or you can purchase various tools from it).
Four, don’t let the daily grind of life keep you from studying. Everyone has much to do. It is very easy to say, “Oh well, I’ll do it tomorrow.” No you won’t! Because something else will come up tomorrow. All of us must discipline ourselves to search the scriptures.
Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).
Larry