GotQuestions: “Why is it important to study the Bible in context? What is wrong with taking verses out of context?”
Thoughts on the QOTW?
What are your thoughts on this week’s QOTW? – “Why is it important to study the Bible in context? What is wrong with taking verses out of context?” – http://www.gotquestions.org/questweek.html
Absolutely, positively, without a doubt, context is king. Without it you are just swimming in a sea of words and the world already has enough of that problem.
Comment by Debbie
Absolutely everything. Although the Bible transcends all time, every Book was written by the Holy Spirit to a specific group for a specific reason. That does not mean the spiritual principles within cannot apply to us, but we cannot apply Scripture designated for one group of people to another group of people. There is so much false teaching and cults because a Scripture from one Book is tied together with a Scripture from another Book written 600 years later to a different group of people and then it is proclaimed a doctrine. One or two Scriptures somehow does not make a doctrine. Sad, but true….The closer we come to the original etymology, hermenuetics and isogogics, the more sense it all makes. One rabbi commented: “sometimes reading translations is like kissing a bride through a veil.” Above all things, study and read…. MARANATHA
Comment by Robert
Context is important in anything, whether it be a document, an interview with someone in a newspaper or, most importantly, in the Bible.
It is so easy in life for someone to take a sentence or two out of context and make it fit their argument. In the case of the Bible, it is imperative that people don’t do that, otherwise people can say what they want at any time.
Here’s an example of context in the real world.
“I am not happy with this country. I am going to leave.”
Read that. If I were saying that about my home country, does it make me sound like someone who wants to leave?
That’s just one sentence. Imagine the paragraph below.
“I am not happy with this country. I am going to leave. For a while, anyway. I’ll visit a relative in another country for a while and then come back here. I do love this country and hope it can find it’s way again so that we can start doing good things as a nation.”
The first sentence makes me out to be angry, perhaps bitter, someone who wants to leave a country. The second puts the sentence into the context of my feelings as a whole. It’s all hypothetical, but I hope my point is one well made.
People who wish to attack Christianity could pick verses or lines from the Bible to suit their own needs. We need to be able to argue against such things and point people in the direction of reading the Bible as a whole, studying it, taking into account many things, not just taking one line or verse out of context, etc.
Comment by Edith Jane
Alyson #1, I couldn’t have said it better. The Word’s context is King… Christ is the living Word and context teaches you everything. Perfectly put Alyson! God bless you!
Comment by nbanuchi
Here’s something I just read this morning:
“…when passages are quoted with regard to context, with terms properly translated and explained, and with account taken of the culture and background of the author and his intended readers, the method [of proof-texting] is perfectly.” Jewish New Testament Commentary, by David H. Stein, p286.
Although the above had particular reference to “proof-texting”, it well establishes the fundamental method for proper exegesis.
I am amazed at how many scholarly (as well as the not so scholarly) apologists fail – in spite of their insistence on context and properly exegeting texts – to follow their own advice. For example:
See:
Now, although this guy (Mark Keilar) is not a scholar, nevertheless, posing as a Christian teacher he not totally misrepresents what the Greek experts actually do say about “kosmos” in Jn 3:16, he also totally ignores context and proper word-meaning.
Another example from a scholarly apologist (which is worse):
James White totally ignores the context that shows Jesus inviting this rich person to experience his saving grace…Jesus intent when he calls the sinner to follow his is to save him, not just show him his sin for the sake of showing him his sin. And he has done this kind of exegesis more than once.
This kind of “exegesis” is so prevalent that what’s disturbing is not so much that it’s done, but that, while themselves demanding a proper exegesis of the text, they totally ignore it and don’t even realize (so it seems) that they are failing to take their own counsel.
You can listen by clicking onto “here is the full audio” in the paragraph under “Debate Audio with Dr. Michael Brown”. Debate actually starts at 11:30 into the audio if you want to fast forward.
After carefully listening, who do you think is using proper exegesis? (It’s just a rhetorical question not requiring that you answer it here).
Comment by alvin
If you sued a car dealership for taking your new car back, because they had promised to sell that car to you, and you had the contract to prove it? If the salesman could prove you never paid a penny of what you had promised? That would be taking the promise out of the full context of the contract. (The judge would not agree with you). Are the promises of scripture are like that? Though salvation is free, blessing comes from obedience. God wants our heart.
Comment by BiblosLXX
It was a simple, effective, and rightly answered QOTW. I just wanted to point out a grammatical error in the QOTW (1/14/11):
“Our study is greatly enhanced by maintaining diligence in the use of context because it is quite easy come to wrong conclusions by taking phrases and verses out of context.”
It should read, “… it is quite easy *TO* come to wrong conclusions…”
(The word “to” needs to be added before the word “come”)
God Bless
Comment by BiblosLXX
And now my thoughts on the QOTW:
Now, although I believe context is fundamental in understating scripture, who’s to stay who has the right context? For instance, there are many different “contextual” understandings of Romans 9 in order to deal with the topic of Predestination. From one side taking it clearly as Predestination, to another side completely changing all of the chapters before and after Romans 9 to show its not talking about people but nations, to another side completely contextualizing the book to show that predestination does not happen.
So, who has the right contextual understanding of scripture?
God Bless
Comment by Gigi
Thank you for this article,I’m going to print a few copies and hand it out to some “self made priest” who are misleading the people in my community. As an apostate of Islam I thought the priests of my new found religion will be better, but this is not the case.
Comment by Anonymous
Quote: “So, who has the right contextual understanding of scripture?God Bless” My Answer? God has the right understanding. Paul stated “let God be true and every man a liar” I do not want to use my answer as a dodge to excuse myself from not using my brain. The test case given was Romans 9. Romans 9-12 are a parenthesese answering the question, “Yes, but what about Israel?” where the main question amswered in Romans is “what is the gospel of Christ?” and that question has a summary in chapter 1:15-17. How that gospel affects beliefs and actions is the bulk of the book. Also in Romans 9:3 we see the heart of Jesus Christ in the willingness for personal sacrifice by Paul just as Moses in the old testament offered for his name to be blotted from the book of life to rescue his people. In neither case did God accept the offer, because only his Son Jesus is able to die for the sins of us all.
Comment by nbanuchi
To answer BiblosLXX,
IF we are looking for absolute certainty, I’m not sure that is possible.
That being said, nevertheless, I think it is possible to come to a logical and valid degree of certainty (to a lesser or greater extent) as to the intent of writer by a careful analysis (to the best of one’s abilities) of the text.
I’m not a scholar so, of course, my “careful” analysis will only go so far; therefore, I will need the assistance of authoritative scholars and reputable reference works in trying to establish what to me is the best understanding of the text(s) under study.
For example, Jn 3:16. There are those – scholars (White) and non-scholars alike (Keilar) – who maintain that “kosmos” (Greek for “world”) means “believers only”. As I read the context, (1) such a defintion of the word makes no sense of the text: (2) no reputable lexicon (as far as I have seen) defines “kosmos” as “believers” only; (3) the Biblical pattern shows God’s salvific love for all men, which Jn 3:16 would contradict if “kosmos” just meant or referred to believers.
As such, my conclusion would be that the divine love spoken of in Jn 3:16 is universal, aiming at the salvation of all men as sinners without exception.
Comment by ceseeley
BiblosLXX and All;
What BiblosLXX has to say is so significant. I have not found in Scripture where it states that Context will guide one into all truth. But, the Bible does say that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all Truth for God’s Glory … Praise the Lord and Praise His Holy Word!!!
Jhn 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Jhn 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Jhn 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
1Jo 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Jhn 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
1Cr 2:10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Cr 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Cr 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Cr 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Cr 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
1Cr 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Cr 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1Jo 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1Jo 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Jhn 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
Jhn 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Jhn 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.
Jhn 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
Jhn 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Jhn 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Act 11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Act 21:9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Comment by nbanuchi
Hi Ceseeley,
I was under the impression that, being Christians, the subject assumed the necessity of the Spirit’s guidance. In any case, the Spirit cannot guide into truth the person who either refuses to know the truth or does not properly seek it. In the latter situation, understanding context as best one can is conducive to receiving the promised leading of the Spirit into truth (according to the ability of each believer to spiritually apprehend truth).
Taking the scripture out of context is irresponsible and can easily be done if one hasn’t been taught better.Example,Mt 27:5 and he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple,and departed,and went and hanged himself.luke 10:37 Go and do thou likewise.Very simple example, but true word of God, if it’s used in it’s proper context.There is no question about it,It has to be line upon line,precept upon precept …Isa 28:10-11. Some individuals like to take John 3:16 out of context to say if one believes they’re saved,however they seem to forget that if all it takes is believing then according to James 2:19 the devils are saved because they believe as well.This is a prime example of taking the word out of context to back ones personal belief.One of the precepts for John 3:16 is Mk 16:16-17 signs will follow the believer.Believers will not follow the signs.And above all John 7:37-39 A true believer will believe ALL the word NOT what is convient for ones belief. M
Comment by Debbie
Very good Joe! LOL!! Your example of using the Bible out of context was awesome… MARANATHA
Comment by Michael James Stone
It is too easy to make blanket statements about Issues without noting exceptions to them. The “knee jerk” response to the question is “of course” you should take scriptures “In context”. But the element of context at one time was subject to the person presenting the material.
They would “set the context” and to be frank about ALL of Christendom, even when a person “reads and describes the context” there is little place to disagree or present counterpoint to “context.”
The issue is study, the problem is what we call study is in fact preaching.
But context issues are the Big Bad Bogey Man of the Modern Era and the fact remains the majority of people Don’t know Context. This being said, we DO HAVE those who can Craft a Spin and even ethnic Biases apply that often scriptures and context are used to say want them to say.
The “real” bottom line is can a child be misled by just reading it? If Yes, then you are in jeopardy, if no, then you are in error. Even in Context, errors occur and it can be that the Spirit of God may highlight an area or portion to you that you need now, but later may not even notice in reading,
God, by his spirit applies a “spiritual context’ to the Word of God. A means whereby He teaches.
The topical versus linear debate will go on as to style and presentation, and most often those who force an issue are the first to abuse it, so too in “enforcing” a standard of Context rather than a Trust to God and In Him to reveal to us His word.
If we get carried away I can say Proverbs 3 so you get context, but only 3:5,6 is what I need and it not out of context.
So we play with definitions and additions to scriptures, Verse Numbers, Chapter Numbers etc are added FOR US, and we say what context we assume is right by if we agree and the reality is God alone if He wrote it, is the one alone who can determine what context applies and what does not.
