WHO ADDED THE CHAPTERS? - Conclusion

 All of that, however, created a problem. The scholars produced many different and incompatible systems. In one of them, Mark's Gospel was divided into almost 50 chapters, not the 16 we have now. In Paris in Langton's day, there were students from many countries, and they brought with them Bibles from their native lands. However, lectures and students could not share references. Why? Because the chapter divisions in their manuscripts simply did not match.

So Langton developed new chapter divisions. His system "caught the imagination of readers and scribes, "states The Book-A History of the Bible, and it "spread rapidly across Europe." He gave us the chapter numbering we find in most Bible today. 

Next time: WHO ADDED THE VERSES? 

From the jw.org publications

WHO ADDED THE CHAPTERS?

 English cleric Stephen Langton, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, is credited with adding the chapter divisions to the Bible. He did this early in the 13th century C.E., when he was a teacher at the University of Paris in France.

Before Langton's day, scholars had experimented with different ways of dividing the Bible into smaller sections or chapters, mainly, it seems, for reference purposes. You can imagine how much easier it would have been for them to find a passage if they had to search through only one chapter rather than a whole book, such as the book of Isaiah with its 66 chapters. 

Next time: WHO ADDED THE CHAPTERS? - Conclusion

From the jw.org publications

NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES - Conclusions

 The lack of chapters or verses, however, did pose a problem. Paul could only identify his quotations with such words as "just as it is written" or "just as Isaiah foretold." (Romans 3:10; 9:29) And it would have been very difficult to find those quotations unless you were very familiar with all "the holy writings." 

Furthermore, those "holy writings" were not one simple message from God. By the end of the first century C.E., they consisted of a collection of 66 separate books! That is why most Bible readers today are glad to have numbered chapters and verses that help them find specific information, such as the many quotations in Paul's letters.

'So, you might ask, 'who put the chapters and verse numbers in the Bible?' 

Next time: WHO ADDED THE CHAPTERS 

From the jw.org publications

NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES

Consider what the manuscripts of "the holy writings" that were available in Paul's day looked like. One is shown here-a portion of the book from the Dead Sea Scrolls. What do you see?  Solid blocks of text! No punctuation. And none of the numbered chapters and verses we use today. 

Bible writers did not divide their message into chapters or verses. They just wrote down the whole message God gave them so that the readers could also get the whole message, not just tiny parts of it. Is that not what you what you want when you get an important letter from someone you love? You read the whole letter, not just bits and pieces of it. 

Next time: NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES - Conclusion

From the jw.org publications

Chapters and Verses-Who Put Them in the Bible?

 IMAGINE that you are a Christian living in the first century.  Your congregation has just received a letter from the apostle Paul. As you listen to it being read, you notice that Paul often quotes from "the holy writings," that is, the Hebrew Scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:15) 'I would really like to see the text she is quoting from him,' you say to yourself. But that would not have been easy. Why not?

Next time: NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER -LEARNING AN IMPORTANT LESSON

 After several years in the circuit work, we were invited in 1978 to serve at Canada Bethel. Not long after, I learned a painful but important lesson. I was assigned to give a one-and-a -half-hour talk in French at a special meeting in Montreal. Sadly, my talk did not hold the audience's attention, and a brother from the Service Department offered me counsel about it. Frankly, I should have realized then, as I have since, that I am not the most gifted speaker. But I did take the counsel very well. Our personalities seemed to clash. I felt that he was being overly critical-he did not offer any commendation. I made the mistake of judging the counsel based on the way it was given and the way I perceived the person who was giving it.

A few days later, a member of the Branch Committed spoke to me about the matter. I admitted that I had not responded well to the counsel and expressed regret. Next I spoke to the brother who had counseled me. He graciously accepted my apology. That experience became an object lesson in humility that I will never forget. (Proverbs 16:18) I have prayed to Jehovah many times about this, and I am determined never again to view counsel negatively.

I have now been at Canada Bethel for over 40 years, and since 1985, I have had the privilege of serving on the Branch Committee. In February 2021, my dear Sheila fell asleep in death. In addition to coping with her loss, I am facing my own health limitations. But Jehovah's service keeps me busy and happy that I "hardly notice the passing days." (Ecclesiastes 5:20) Although my days have had some challenges, the joys have far outweighed them. Putting Jehovah first in my life and enjoying 70 years in full-time service have been truly rewarding. I pray that our young brothers and sisters continue to put Jehovah first too, for I am convinced that they will also enjoy a rewarding and exciting life that is only possible when we serve Jehovah. 

Next time: Chapters and Verses -Who Put Them in the Bible? 

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - A DIFFICULT DECISION - Conclusion

 I began to volunteer on Saturdays at the construction site of a new Assembly Hall in Norval, Ontario. In time, i was asked to serve as the Assembly Hall overseer. Sheila's health was improving, and we felt that she could handle this assignment. So we moved into the Assembly Hall apartment of June 1974. We were so happy to be back in full-time service!

Thankfully, Sheila's health continued to improve. Two years later, we were able to accept an assignment in the circuit work. The circuit was located in Manitoba, a Canadian province known for its frigid winters. However, we thoroughly enjoyed the warm fellowship of the brothers and sisters there. We learned that it does not really matter where we serve-the key is to keep on serving Jehovah wherever we are.

Next time: LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - LEARNING AN IMPORTANT LESSON

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - A DIFFICULT DECISION

 In 1973 we had to make a very difficult decision. Sheila had been coping with some serious health problems. While we were in New York for a convention, she broke down and told me: "I just can't go on! I'm exhausted and sick so much of the time." She had been serving with me in West Africa for over 14 years. I was so proud of her faithful service, but we needed to make some changes. After discussing our situation and praying long and hard about it, we decided that we should return to Canada were we could better care for her health. Leaving our missionary assignment and the full-time service were by far the most difficult and heartrending decisions we had ever had to make.

After arriving in Canada, I obtained employment with a longtime friend who ran a car dealership in a town north of Toronto. We rented an apartment, bought second-hand furniture, and were able to make the move without going into debt. We wanted to keep our life simple, hoping that one day we might be able to get back into full-time service. To our surprise, that hope was realized sooner than we ever thought possible. 

Next time: LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - A DIFFICULT DECISION - Conclusion

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER -SERVING TOGETHER IN CAMEROON

 In 1961 we were assigned to the country of Cameroon. Being asked to help establish a new branch office, I was very busy. As a new branch servant, I had a lot to learn.  Then in 1965 we learned that Sheila was pregnant. I admit the thought of becoming parents took some time to get use to.  But just as we were getting excited about this new responsibility and making plans to return to Canada, we experienced a devastating loss. 

Sheila suffered a miscarriage.  The doctor informed that our unborn child was a boy. That was over 50 years ago, but we never forgot it. Although deeply saddened by what happened, we remained in our foreign assignment, which we dearly loved. 

Brothers in Cameroon often faced persecution because of their political neutrality. The situation was particularly tense during presential elections. Our worse fears were realized on May 13, 1970, when Jehovah's Witnesses were officially banned. The beautiful new branch facility, which we moved into only five months earlier, was confiscated by the government. Within a week, all the missionaries-including Sheila and me were expelled from the country. It was hard to leave the brothers and sisters behind because we cared so much for them and worried about how they would fare in the days ahead. 

We spent the next six months at the branch office in France. There I continued to do all I could to care for the needs of our brothers in Cameroon. In December of that year, we were assigned to the Nigeria branch, which began looking after the work in Cameroon. The brothers and sisters in Nigeria received us warmly, and we enjoyed serving there for several years. 

Next time: LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER -A DIFFICULT DECISION

From the jw.org publications

LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - GILEAD AND POSTPONED EXPECTATIONS - Conclusion

 The days between assemblies, I showed or film The New York Society in Action in nearby villages. To do so, I would project the film onto a white canvas sheet strung up between two poles or two trees. The villagers loved it! For many, it was the first movie they had ever seen. They applauded with great vigor when they watched the scenes of people getting baptized. That film really helped those who saw it to realize that we were a united worldwide organization. 

After some two years in Africa, I was excited to attend the 1958 international convention in New York City. What a joy to see Sheila, who came down from Quebec, where she was serving as a special pioneer.  We had been corresponding by letter, but now that we were together again, I asked her to marry me, and she accepted. I wrote brother Knorr and asked whether Sheila could attend Gilead and join me in Africa. He agreed. Sheila finally arrived in Ghana. We were married in Accra, on October 3, 1959. We felt that Jehovah had truly blessed us for putting him first in our lives.

Next time: LIFE STORY/AS TOLD BY ANDRE' RAMSEYER - SERVING TOGETHER IN CAMEROON

From the jw.org publications