The chapter breaks in our modern Bibles are not inspired, and some of them are poorly placed. The original biblical manuscripts did not contain the chapter-and-verse system we use today. And I think this is especially important for Bible study: a chapter break should never be allowed to interrupt the thought of the inspired writer. Who put the chapter breaks there? The chapter divisions commonly used today are generally credited to Stephen Langton, an English churchman and later Archbishop of Canterbury, around the early 13th century, probably about 1205–1220. The system became widely adopted in Latin Bibles and eventually passed into English Bibles. The verse divisions came later. In the New Testament, Robert Estienne (Stephanus), a French printer, produced the verse numbering we essentially recognize today in the 16th century. His 1551 Greek New Testament is especially associated with the modern New Testament verse divisions. So, roughly: Original biblical text → no modern chapters/verses Stephen Langton → chapter divisions Robert Estienne → New Testament verse divisions And some breaks really do interrupt the thought. One of the clearest examples is Romans 7–8. Paul finishes Romans 7 by crying: > “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” —Romans 7:24 Then Romans 8 begins: > “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” That’s a tremendous transition, but we need to remember that Paul didn’t write “Romans 7” and then “Romans 8.” Those numbers were added centuries later. Another excellent example is 2 Corinthians 4:18 → 5:1: > “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…” Then: > “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God…” The thought continues seamlessly. And there’s a particularly interesting one in John 7–8. The narrative involving the woman taken in adultery occurs within a larger discussion surrounding Jesus’ teaching in the temple. The chapter number can make it feel like a new subject when it isn’t necessarily so. When we’re studying a passage, we should ask: > “Where does the writer’s thought actually begin and end?” rather than automatically assuming: > “The chapter starts here, therefore the subject starts here.” The chapter numbers are extremely useful for finding passages, but they’re not inspired divisions. In fact, sometimes the last verse of one chapter belongs more naturally with the next chapter, and sometimes the first verse of a chapter is actually the conclusion of the previous argument. One of the best habits in serious Bible study is therefore: Read the paragraph → read the whole chapter → read the surrounding chapters → then determine the context. That keeps an editorial number from becoming an interpretive authority. And this connects beautifully with “line upon line, precept upon precept” (Isaiah 28:10). Scripture should interpret Scripture—not the chapter numbers. Scott R. Holder writes for OUTLOOK on a variety of spiritual topics. An AI assistant was used in creating this article.

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Since its launch on October 28, 2025, Books to Believe In, a video podcast hosted by Daniel Royo and sponsored by Pacific Press, has featured authors and thought leaders behind meaningful Adventist books. For its 21st episode, Books to Believe In welcomes renowned Adventist historian, author, and educator George R. Knight for a conversation about Oysters, Hogs, and the Adventist Story and the questions behind his approach to Adventist history. To watch this and other episodes of Books to Believe In Podcast, visit the @AdventistBooks YouTube channel and explore the full podcast playlist here.  

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Each school year senior academies in the North America Division select a junior or senior student with a strong citizenship record, a personal commitment to witnessing and service, and an overall positive influence on their campus to receive a $500 scholarship, a plaque and an engraved Bible. Here are this year’s awardees: Over the past four years, Addison Gann has demonstrated servant leadership at Campion Academy. As the Student Association outreach director, she organized monthly service activities for students, from writing encouraging letters to meal packing for thousands. Beyond those big events, her classmates knew they could turn to her whenever they needed it. Whether it was for a healthy snack in the classroom or an encouraging word on the court, Addison uplifts everyone around her. She lived out her faith in tangible ways on our campus. Addison plans to attend Southern Adventist University in the fall and major in education.  From the moment Caiden Henton stepped on campus of College View Academy her freshman year has been an example of Christ through her kindness and goes out of her way to include others. Her fun and creative attitude on campus brings smiles and a light wherever she goes. She is dedicated to her academics, friendships, and continues to grow in Jesus as she asks hard questions, practices acts of service, and will step into spiritual leadership as our 26’-27’ leader of CVA’s Refocus Campus Ministries team. She has served on mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Peru.  She consistently demonstrates a kind and helpful attitude in preparation for these opportunities. Iosif Dubreuze is a student whose life beautifully reflects Christ’s love in action. Iosif has a committed relationship with Jesus, and that relationship shines through in everything he does. His faith is not just something he speaks about—it’s something he lives daily through kindness, humility, and a genuine, welcoming care for others. Iosif leads Bible studies, serves faithfully as a member of the Maplewood Academy Campus Ministries team, and brings a steady, Christ-centered presence wherever he goes. His calm demeanor and thoughtful spirit make others feel seen, valued and at peace.   A natural leader with a genuine heart for others, Kaitlyn Skinner sets a high standard in everything she does—academically, athletically and spiritually. As junior class president, an active member of the Midland Student Association and Campus Ministries, and a key player on both the volleyball and basketball teams, she somehow still finds time to encourage others and lend a helping hand. Her positive attitude, bright smile, and willingness to go the extra mile make her well-loved on campus. Whether she’s leading a meeting, designing a yearbook page, or cheering on a teammate, Kaitlyn embodies integrity, grit, kindness and compassion.   Eden Jaklich has made a lasting impact at Mile High Academy through her intentional care for others. She goes out of her way to welcome new students, helping them feel known and at home. Over four years, she has completed more than 300 hours of service. During the 2026 Belize mission trip, Eden played a key role in completing an art mural, working tirelessly to ensure the mural was brought to life. A faithful and kind friend, she supports others and will continue to be a light, uplifting those around her wherever she goes, making her a truly deserving recipient of this honor. Hailey Quevedo Sanchez is known for her unwavering kindness, strong sense of responsibility, and genuine care for others. She leads by example, modeling positive citizenship through her active involvement in school life. Hailey serves as MCA’s student body president, a role she has tackled with the same determination and team work she shows on the basketball court. Hailey’s heart for service is especially evident through her involvement in Campus Ministries where she often shares new ideas and steps forward when she sees a need. Through her actions, Hailey inspires her peers and reminds us all that leadership rooted in compassion has a lasting impact.  Lily Lay offers herself in service to others with humility and gentleness. But she also steps boldly into situations with a confidence in Jesus that comes from her personal relationship with Him. She shines because her heart is His. From creating church visit teams to preparing her fellow students to share a worship thought for chapel, Lily speaks God’s love into every room she enters. Her willingness to serve is not limited to the most exciting or visible forms of ministry. Most of her work is done behind the scenes as she trains her peers to make a difference on Sunnydale’s  campus and in the community. Her patience and selfless determination highlight how gifted she is.  

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Ask what drew our three teachers to V. Lindsay Seventh-day Adventist School in Kansas City, Kansas, and you will get the same answer in three different voices: God brought them here. What they found when they arrived was a school in the middle of something remarkable. Over the past two years, V. Lindsay has been reimagining what teaching looks like in a small, multi-grade Adventist school through a strength-based subject specialization model, where each teacher focuses on the subjects they are most gifted in across all grade levels. The story of that transformation is best told through the people who live it every day. Janel Fields: Coming home to something better Janel Fields taught at V. Lindsay more than a decade ago. She left, faced serious health challenges, and felt the Holy Spirit impress upon her heart that this was where she was needed. So she came back, and returned to a school she barely recognized. Where teachers once managed every subject in self-contained classrooms, she now teaches art, Bible, science, and social studies across Pre-K through 7th grade. Her defining moment this year came during the science fair, watching middle school students confidently present concepts she had once been nervous to teach. About 90 percent of her students showed MAP growth by year’s end. She said that felt like a personal victory for her too. What has never changed, she says, is the heart of the school. Every child matters here. That was true before. It is still true now. Jazmyne Damon: Trusting the process when you cannot see the whole plan Jazmyne Damon was here when the transition began and lived through every difficult adjustment. She specializes in literacy and language arts, and her classroom runs on one conviction: every child is a capable learner whose gifts may simply look different from the child beside them. She tells her students there is no such thing as a dumb question, and that getting something wrong does not mean starting all the way over. When the specialization model launched, she anchored herself in Scripture, thinking often about how Moses and Joshua had to keep moving step by step without seeing the full plan. Schoolwide reading scores reflected the effort, climbing more than 30 percent during the pilot year. But she knew the change was worth it when she saw something the data could not fully capture: students who once disliked school were waking their parents up in the morning because they wanted to come. Dr. Reginald Dixon: When the model is all you know Dr. Dixon did not transition into this model. He walked straight into it as a first-year elementary teacher with no prior classroom experience and no frame of reference for the old way. When asked what drew him to V. Lindsay, his answer was four words: it was literally God. He specializes in math, teaches with structured discipline, and gives students three core laws to apply in whatever way works best for them. He was candid about what surprised him: the processes were not as established as he expected. So he observed, adjusted and kept going. What he loves most about teaching this way is simple—watching the children grow and develop. When schoolwide MAP scores climbed more than 30 percent in math during the pilot, he had all the evidence he needed. Three teachers. Three completely different journeys to the same building. Together they are building what one of them calls a kingdom-shaped workplace, where love, grace, excellence and joy are not words on a wall but the daily experience of everyone who walks through the door. If you are a family looking for that kind of environment for your child, or an educator looking for that kind of mission for your gifts, V. Lindsay has a place for you. Come see what God is doing here. At the time of this writing Schari Fontus, Ed.D. candidate, was superintendent of education for the Central States Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

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