There is context, in life, in Scripture, in all things in this Creation. Nothing stands alone. Our correct interpretation, and our discernment, depend upon our being able to see what is occurring in context, that it might be applied to other similar contexts, but not necessarily in all contexts. Some things we learn are universally applicable. Some things apply in certain circumstances and not in others. Discernment is in determining which are which. Discernment is a maturing process. (Is 28:9-10 ; 1Co 3:1-3; He 5:14)
For those readers who are beginners in the walk with Scripture, starting your walk by reading devotionals, this tool applies to you. If your devotional author lists a verse or two or three, go to your Bible and read some context to go along with it. It might be a paragraph; it might be a pericope. Some Bible translations every few paragraphs delineate a “contextual section,” or pericope, with a heading that the translators believe summarizes that section. Pulling out the Bible and reading a paragraph or two requires a little more time than reading just one verse. Time with the Father is what he asks of us. And it pays off, because when we spend more time reading the words of Scripture, the context, then we can begin to see not only where a devotional writer arrived her or his thoughts about the passage, but where parts of it might apply in our own context, what we call life. Over time, the process begins to change our life.
Context is a very, very important concept. It could be said of us that life, the living of it, is context. The children and families of children with different abilities that were the focus of the writer’s earlier career kept the focus on context. Working with these families provided a constant reminder that life is different from that in other families. Decisions are made based upon a different set of life factors. We all know the old adage about walking in another’s shoes. Such a reminder is good. We must reassess our underlying assumptions upon which we base our reasoning. As this is a book about life, and guidance for life from Scripture, our revelation of life, and it is a “living resource,” with an associated Guide, it is in this respect we must listen, whether our circumstances are “usual” or “unusual.” It is eye-opening how people vary, yet God loves all of us in our little quirks and foibles.
I love this quote which is saying exactly what we covered on the welcome page for the website, the reason for the naming of the website:
Matthew 7:1-5 ESV
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Or, said another way, before I can walk in another person’s shoes, I must first remove my own. This is what Scripture is about. It is “Loving the One God and loving your neighbor as yourself.” (Mk. 12:28-31 – more on this later)
This writer in earlier life had a rebellious streak in him. God can use that. The writer also has a good friend and fellow student of both life and Bible, who had a different perspective on life from a very young age. Actually it was eye-opening to someone whose world view was a rebellious one. Her statement was that she tried to listen as much as possible to her elders and learn from them. Some of us look at our elders as ones that just are not up with the latest that the world has to offer; how could they possibly understand the circumstance in this younger person’s life? There is more in Scripture than this writer wants to admit to about listening to those older and wiser, respecting authority, and the like. (Partial listing: Ex. 20:2-12; Dt. 5:6-16; Pr. 10:1, 15:20, 19:26, 20:20, 23:22-25, 28:24, 29:15, 30:17; Mal. 1:6; Mt. 15:3-6, 19:19; Mk. 10:19; Lk. 18:20; Ep. 6:2; 1Ti. 5:1-19.) Respecting authority is one of the major Scriptural themes.
How do we gain life experience? Some choose to use their senses and own context, and learn from it, just as we learned to walk. Take a few steps, fall, and doggedly keep trying. This friend said she just always knew there were lots of things older people knew, so she tried to learn it vicariously, through the experience of others that have themselves gone through successes and failures, seeing many different kinds of successes and failures and having had to work through them. This writer had no problem applying that practice in his profession, but somehow didn’t grasp it in “life.” Having “been there and done that,” how helpful would it have been not only to listen to those older and wiser, but to listen to what the Oldest and Wisest has revealed? One can learn by the trial and error method, but that is not what Scripture recommends. Life is not predictable like a math problem. Unexpected situations arise. The best we can do is to try to discern, to foresee what we can, and make our best efforts to avoid obstacles if possible.
Having a few guidelines in place, developing that discernment, makes negotiating much more manageable. Life is a series of contexts from which we learn, hopefully without repeating the same mistakes again and again.
Scripture is similar, in that context matters. To take a verse out of context and draw conclusions that may not be generalizable may not be appropriate. It is not to say here that nothing is generalizable; many principles are. But we cannot jump to that conclusion. This is, of course, one reason Scripture says two or three witnesses are required. This precept not only helps assure that there is not a “false witness,” but it helps demonstrate that a principle applies in multiple circumstances.
Hopefully the reader watched Strauch’s video in which he included discussion of context. The image that Strauch uses here to help convey the concept of “context” is one of concentric circles. His idea is that there are various considerations in determining the appropriate context for a particular passage. It is definitely inappropriate to think a verse such as the all-famous John 3:16 stands alone with no additional context needed [that discussion comes later]. How far does one go in looking at context? The circles could go on pretty much forever. One must certainly look at the immediate context, the pericope or section where the verse appears. It may also be appropriate to look at the entire chapter or sequence of chapters. It is always appropriate to look at the whole of Scripture as the context of any particular verse, because Scripture so commonly refers to other parts of Scripture [thus the previously mentioned idea of “Scripture interpreting Scripture,” or “Analogy of Faith,” and our “tapestry” analogy.]
Finally, one should look at the setting in which Scripture was written, ancient Hebrew culture, partially shared in the third Post. Beyond that, one might consider historical texts, other ancient writers (Greek, Persian, etc.), and beyond. The scope of our discussions will not tend to go beyond Scripture and some understanding of ancient Hebrew culture. [All of this looking at context is similar to asking the elders, the mother and father, the authority figures, for their input. It is getting “multiple witnesses,” not just “charging through it” on our own.]
One example might be reading in First Samuel about the birth of Samuel, coming across:
1 Samuel 1:2 NKJV
2 And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
This idea of two wives and a wife not able to bear children strikes a chord in your mind as something familiar, something you have heard before. Is there some theme in this thought that you might need to understand? First, of course you read the immediate context of verse 2, which is 1Sa. 1:1-20, and you learn more, particularly that the husband having two wives loved one more and the one loved was the barren one.
This would make you think of the long discussions of Ya’akov (Jacob) and his wives in Genesis, leading to the birth of the sons of Ya’akov (later named Israel), who were the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Really chapters 29-50 of Genesis talk about all of this situation, showing the intrigue caused by having a “favored wife,” etc., leading to strife among sons.
There is another similar story, to that of Ya’akov in Abraham and his wife Sarah, who was also barren for many years, that is covered in Genesis chapters 12-23, where Sarah gives her handmaiden to Abraham to rectify the “no heir” situation, resulting in the birth of Ishmael, who is then later sent away after the birth of Yitzchak (Isaac), the son of the union between Abraham and Sarah. There are many family difficulties seen in these chapters of Genesis, and we see coming from this and Instruction in Deuteronomy:
Deuteronomy 21:15-17 NKJV
15 “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved, 16 then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn. 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.”
The pictures of the lives of these people who lived long ago serve to teach us in parable fashion and show us how the guidelines came to be drawn up. You may say, well, we don’t have two wives any longer, so how does this apply to me and my life? As you read, you understand that there is a much bigger message about favoritism that is very applicable in each of our everyday lives. And in contrasting how Abraham and Sarah (and concubine) handled their situation, Ya’akov and his wives (and concubines) with how Elkanah (preengaged.com) and Hannah handled the situation, we learn much about how the children turn out when we follow God’s teaching vs. when we don’t. It is very much about family life and what we “inherit” from our parents. Don’t worry, you are not expected to go read 2/3rds of Genesis right now and grasp it all. That will come with time. (And this, of course is one of many messages in the lives of these people like you and me.) The point is that there are different stories in different parts of the Bible that must be considered together in order to really see the lessons from them. That is why we must become familiar with Scripture, intimately familiar, and link different parts together.
Let’s briefly look at one verse in the Greek Scriptures in addition, which may make no sense to you when standing alone, or may be interpreted in certain ways if considered alone, but differently if in context.
• Luke 6:24 ESV “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.”
You, as an individual, are at a certain place at a certain time in your life. You and that “internal voice” may have been struggling with a particular issue in your life and you come across this verse. Your issue might have had to do with money or someone who is in your life that is poorer than you or richer than you. Or it may have had to do with pride in yourself, or pride in someone in your life. As you are reading in the Gospel of Luke during your daily Scripture reading, that verse jumps out at you. Of a sudden, you want to back up a few verses and say, “What did I just read?”
That may be that “inner voice” telling you to spend more time here. The context of your life, and the “inner discussion” you are having may lead you to look for more understanding of what you have just read. Observe here the different levels, or concentric circles, of context that may help you sort out this issue. The most obvious first context is to look at the immediate surrounding verses.
• Luke 6:20-26 ESV 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”
As you read that, you may recall or notice in a translator’s note [this translation refers to other verses, where it says, “Woe to you who are rich”] that there are other instances (Amos 6:1; Lk 12:21; Jas 5:1) that this same Gospel writer, Luke, writes about money. You may be led to read more of his thoughts elsewhere. (Lk 16:10-15, 19-31) You may also notice some similarities between this Luke passage and a part of Matthew’s version of the Sermon on the Mount, leading you to the Beatitudes. (Mt 5:1-12)
(Bible Fun For Kids http://4.bp.blogspot.com) 
Thus, a “larger context.” There may actually be some similar themes in the Gospels in general, so you may be led to explore more there. (Mt. 12:38-44,19:16-30; Mk. 10:17-31) The mention of “woes” might have caught your eye, and you might turn to a context that expands the “woes” discussion. (Mt. 23:13-36) You may have noticed that Luke uses parallel structure in the pericope. Verse 20 and 24 are “opposites,” 21 and 25 are “opposites,” and similar with 22-23 and 26. The “opposites” might lead you to a larger context of all of Scripture, recalling one passage, speaking of opposites. (Ec. 3:1-8) Please take time to read the passages listed, so you will understand the concept of context.
These are not the only relevant passages in Scripture, only a few examples that might apply as you seek understanding. An understanding of the culture of the people of the time will also help you with your interpretation. Many good books have been written that expand on “context” outside of Scripture, as mentioned earlier. If your life circumstance, through a “small voice” awakens your interest, you will find something where you are led, that will speak to your situation. The Father rarely acts rapidly in lives, often expecting our waiting. He most often looks for a change in direction as a sign we are listening. Prayer is always a good step. If you are not certain what you have heard from your search, tell him and ask for confirmation. Often another life situation, or a comment from someone who does not know the situation, or a devotional are some “messages” which might give you confirmation. In the next Post we will introduce something as another basic technique that is not one of Strauch’s seven principles, but is mentioned peripherally in his fifth and sixth points, Grammar and Disagreements. The idea ties in as well with our general principle of multiple witnesses. We will talk about Bible translations.
© Jan 2018 logandspeck.com please cite if copying