One of the blogs I read regularly is the Biblical Preaching blog. In their March 3rd post they discuss this concept a little. The posts asks, “Who put them there?” It talks about how the chapter and vers divisions can get in the way sometimes of good text selection or as I call it Delineating the Passage. Here is a quote:
As you prepare for your next sermon, take a few moments to evaluate the passage boundaries – are they what the book itself would tell you? Ignore the numbers, the author didn’t put them there. (Peter Mead, Biblical Preaching Blog)
How true. I don’t say ignore them totally, but at first. Then let them be the confirmation of your opinions instead of directing them. Also remember that in many translations that don’t use paragraphs as a format show that new paragraphs start at the bold verse numbers. However, ignore these till you have generally chosen your passage’s boundaries.
