SUMMARY:
- REINFORCE the original guidelines about single and double quotation marks.
- ADD scripture references AFTER paraphrased verses and verse mentions.
- CHANGE scripture references to include all the verses a preacher reads if they read more verses than they originally announce.
1. REINFORCE quotation marks guidelines.
If you haven’t been following our original quotation conventions in your previous transcripts, no worries at all! But for Rev Samuel’s messages, and onwards, we have decided it would be beneficial to once again reinforce these conventions to eliminate any confusion for readers. These conventions can be read up on, here. But here is a summary:
- Double quotation marks are ONLY used for exact, word-for-word quotations of scripture verses.
- Single quotation marks are used for everything else; paraphrased verses, anecdotal conversations and quoting people.
2. ADD scripture references AFTER paraphrased verses and verse mentions.
Previously we did not add in scripture refs for paraphrased verses so as to not confuse readers to believe the paraphrased verses are exactly written in scripture, however, as you may have noticed in Rev Samuel’s messages, there are many verse references from scripture - some exact, some paraphrased and some briefly mentioned. Hopefully, when double quotation marks are only used for exact verse references, the use of single quotation marks alongside a paraphrased verse would be differentiated from an exact reading. We believe it’s more beneficial for readers to know what exact verse references preachers are mentioning & paraphrasing, even if some will not read out that scripture reference themselves. Also, given the Reftagger installed on our website, users will have more verse references they can easily click on and read as a popup.
So what do we have to do?
- DECIDE where to change ChatGPT’s transcript’s quotation marks from single to double quotation marks and vice versa.
- ADD scripture references that aren’t explicitly stated by the preacher
Here are some examples, from the first camp message, of where scripture references should/could now be mentioned.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
- SHOULD be included for an exact verse:
Moses reminded the people even before they entered the land, "This law is your wisdom in the sight of all these nations, that they may see and know what nation is like Israel with such a God so near them, a God who is so wise and who gives such just and wonderful laws" (Deuteronomy 4:6-8).
- SHOULD be included for a paraphrased verse:
We are told in the book of Revelation, just as Solomon discovered in Ecclesiastes chapter 2. He goes through all that he had done, all that he had achieved, all that he had accomplished. ‘I made great works’, he said. ‘I built great houses, vineyards. I accumulated gold, the treasure of all the provinces, all the kingdoms.’ (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8).
- COULD be included for a verse mention
And we read in Joshua chapter 2, when the people came into the land and the spies were sent into the city of Jericho, we read how Rahab testified that they had heard of the people of Israel, they had heard of the God of Israel, they trembled at the God of Israel because they had heard how He had brought them out from Egypt with a mighty hand, they had heard of the plagues that had fallen on Egypt, they had heard of how the kingdoms on the east of the Jordan River had been destroyed by the people defeated (Joshua 2:9-11).
→ Here, no verse is directly being mentioned or read, but from the context given, a quick search of scriptures (via Google or manual) reveals that Rev Samuel is referencing verses 9-11. Rev Samuel often will mention the chapter he is deriving evidence from, however, if the mention is vague or spans a whole chapter (or more), then the reference may not be necessary. This is why this instance of scripture ref is only a “could”, as we understand it may be tricky to find references that aren’t directly mentioned. But, prayerfully, this searching of scriptures on our part, would be a blessing for us as it strengthens our knowledge of God’s Word!
3. CHANGE scripture references to include all the verses a preacher reads, if they read more verses than they originally announce.
The last change is regarding scripture references outside of brackets. Sometimes we find that the preacher will indicate where the verse he is reading from begins, but will end up reading past that verse and does not directly indicate the verse where the reading has ended. So, for those instances, it makes the most sense to change the scripture reference to include the entire passage read.
Example from the first camp message:
In fact, if we look at Jeremiah chapter 44, this is even after the exile. The people were still thinking this way. Jeremiah chapter 44 and verse 17. This is the people, the remnant left in the land, speaking to Jeremiah. Jeremiah has spoken to them and called them to return to God, to trust in him, to obey him, but they reject this prophet, they reject this word. Jeremiah 44:17-18: "But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine."
- While Rev Samuel only mentioned verse 17, he read until verse 18, so the scripture reference before the reading becomes Isaiah 44:17-18.
Thank you all for your patience and willingness to adapt to all these changes! Our apologies for the long announcement, but hopefully it will mean no confusion. If that isn’t the case, please feel free to ask any questions and double-check whenever! Truly praise God for all your service and this avenue by which we can share the faithful preaching of His Word ❤️