I was just thinking to myself the other day, why were chapters and verses in the Bible, but precious few other books?
Most people would say to make it easier to read, easier to locate "scriptures"
I mean, when you write a letter to a friend, do you break it down into chapters and verses? The book of Philemon is a prime example, less than one page of the Bible, yet it has about 25 verses or so.
Becasue there are chapters and verses in the Bible, there are thousands and thousands of reference points. You can also take verses out of context, by reading them and not reading what's around them.
The W/T Society often quotes dozens of scriptures in a single watchtower article, without regard for the scriptures around them.
In this case, taking verses out of the Bible, you have an enormous amount of potential for misapplication and misinformation.
For example, if you read the scripture (don't have it with me now) about 'this generation will by no means pass away" (Matthew 24), you could make 'it fit' the 21st century. But if you read the context around that particular verse, you would find that Jesus was only talking about the generation of the Jewish people living at the time.
I do not believe this verse was meant to refer to people living in the 20/21st centuries.
So, does the Bible having chapters and verses obscure the Bibles message? When did this practice occur?
Appreciate your feedback