Context

[Faith]

I’ve noticed that most Scriptures that people quote were meant for those in Biblical times, yet people quote them as if they were written for us. Isn’t that taking the Scripture out of context? We view the Scriptures as if God was talking to us, when he was actually speaking to whomever is in the Bible.

 

[tango]

I’ve noticed that most Scriptures that people quote were meant for those in Biblical times, yet people quote them as if they were written for us. Isn’t that taking the Scripture out of context? We view the Scriptures as if God was talking to us, when he was actually speaking to whomever is in the Bible.

We certainly do need to be aware of context, while also looking to draw lessons that are still relevant to today.

We can't seize a promise God made to someone else and expect it to apply equally to us, although we can draw something of God's nature from the promises he made and the way he acted and use that to help guide our expectations today.

To take an example, I can't expect to simply pick a passage in Scripture (let's take Elijah's showdown with the prophets of Baal at Mt Carmel) and expect to clone it today. If I stand on top of a mountain and pray for God to send fire I wouldn't expect much to happen. What I can do is figure that God may call me to do something that seems unexpected to me, and decide whether I would respond or not if and when that call comes. It probably won't be to soak a slaughtered cow in water and then pray for fire but it might be something that would seem very unusual to those unfamiliar with God's ways.

 

[Lamb]

We used to have a thread around here where we posted scripture out of context for laughs. So context is definitely necessary but also I'd like to add is we can't view the context with a modern lens. Knowing history helps to understand.

 

[Lanman87]

I had a pastor that told us that the Bible was written to others and for us. He did a great job of looking at the region/issues/culture that the books were written in/to.

I can tell you this. When, before you study 1 Corinthians, you do a study of Corinthian culture in the 1st Century it completely makes the book of 1 Corinthians much easier to understand and much deeper.

 

[Spindle4]

I’ve noticed that most Scriptures that people quote were meant for those in Biblical times, yet people quote them as if they were written for us. Isn’t that taking the Scripture out of context? We view the Scriptures as if God was talking to us, when he was actually speaking to whomever is in the Bible.

Yes. When it comes to Scripture I agree, context is crucial, belief is beneficial, and application is assayable.

2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

[tango]

Man With Jeremiah 29:11 Tattoo Recounts His Time In Babylonian Captivity

BOSTON, MA—Samuel Levenson’s life verse—and only tattoo—is Jeremiah 29:11, and with good reason. Levenson first encountered the biblical promise when his spiritual life was in a lull, his career was in a slump, and he was enduring a harsh and brutal exile in the pagan kingdom of Babylon. His...

babylonbee.com

 

[Faithhopeandcharity]

All scripture alone s has inspired what about context? Also chapters and verses were added later
Who decides what to s context?

 

[Spindle4]

All scripture alone s has inspired what about context? Also chapters and verses were added later
Who decides what to s context?

Context exists without the reader's input. It just means the surrounding verses. Put these two verses together without context and they don't provide an accurate interpretation.

Mat 27:5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Mat 18:35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

 

[tango]

All scripture alone s has inspired what about context? Also chapters and verses were added later
Who decides what to s context?

Often it's common sense. To give an example you can't take a verse like Job 22:28, wrench it out of context, and claim that we can go round declaring things and they will be established for us.

 

[Josiah]

Who decides what to s context?

The answer of the Catholic Church? "I do."

It's the very same answer given by the LDS, the JW's. Self designating self alone as THE infallible/unaccountable interpreter and teacher.




.

 

[Faith]

The answer of the Catholic Church? "I do."

It's the very same answer given by the LDS, the JW's. Self designating self alone as THE infallible/unaccountable interpreter and teacher.




.

Yikes!

 

[Faithhopeandcharity]

Context exists without the reader's input. It just means the surrounding verses. Put these two verses together without context and they don't provide an accurate interpretation.

Mat 27:5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Mat 18:35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

But those verses have nothing to do with each other

what about
Mk 16:16 acts 2:38-39 ez 36:25-27 acts 8:36-38 1 pet 3:20-21?

what’s the context of jn 3:5?

 

[Faithhopeandcharity]

Lds and JW’s have no apostles not authority

The answer of the Catholic Church? "I do."

It's the very same answer given by the LDS, the JW's. Self designating self alone as THE infallible/unaccountable interpreter and teacher.




.

 

[Faith]

The answer of the Catholic Church? "I do."

It's the very same answer given by the LDS, the JW's. Self designating self alone as THE infallible/unaccountable interpreter and teacher.




.

OTOH, how does one interpret without someone to help them along? I mean, when I was Catholic I looked to the Church to guide me and interpret Scripture when I couldn’t do so, myself.

 

[Lanman87]

OTOH, how does one interpret without someone to help them along? I mean, when I was Catholic I looked to the Church to guide me and interpret Scripture when I couldn’t do so, myself.

If I may, I would like to suggest a book for you. My wife has been going through this book with a group of women from our church and she says it has been transformative in her approach to Bible study and understanding.

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with both our Hearts and our Minds

 

[Faith]

If I may, I would like to suggest a book for you. My wife has been going through this book with a group of women from our church and she says it has been transformative in her approach to Bible study and understanding.

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with both our Hearts and our Minds

Thanks. Maybe I’ll get it, sometime.

 

[tango]

OTOH, how does one interpret without someone to help them along? I mean, when I was Catholic I looked to the Church to guide me and interpret Scripture when I couldn’t do so, myself.

There's nothing wrong with asking someone to help you along. The issue comes when someone (be that an individual or some kind of entity) acts as if they are utterly infallible. People here can give you pointers but what you're getting is opinions rather than necessarily facts.

To give you an example, at the beginning of Genesis was the Tree of Life a literal tree or was it a metaphor for something? I've always thought of it as a literal tree but someone I know on another forum and respect considers it a metaphor. Scripture doesn't clearly say one way or the other so he might be right. I still hold my opinion that it was a literal tree but my opinion is just that - an opinion.

 

[Spindle4]

But those verses have nothing to do with each other

Yes they do. They are both Scripture and ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED AND USEFUL FOR DOCTRINE, REPROOF, CORRECTION, AND INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

But taken out of context and lumped together like some so-called "proof texts" are, they become pretexts.

pre•text​

(ˈpri tɛkst)

n.
1. something put forward to conceal a true purpose or object; ostensible reason; excuse.
2. the misleading appearance or behavior assumed with this intention; subterfuge.
[1505–15; < Latin praetextum pretext, ornament, n. use of neuter past participle of praetexere to edge with, place in front, pretend. See pre-, texture]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

[Faithhopeandcharity]

Lds and JW’s have

The answer of the Catholic Church? "I do."

It's the very same answer given by the LDS, the JW's. Self designating self alone as THE infallible/unaccountable interpreter and teacher.




.

 

[Faithhopeandcharity]

Lds and JW’s have

Show me any connection to Christ peter and the apostles in those cults? No apostles no successors of the apostles