Studying Scripture in Context

For Starters

In the coming posts from me, I will be covering several controversial topics. Some of these may be uncomfortable for some. They may be a new concept altogether for others. However, there is a deeper meaning behind why I want to cover some of these points and that is ultimately to lead people to God. I used to be a typical “bible thumping, pew jumper.” I was taking a literal interpretation of Ephesians 6:17, and taking up, “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” and I was literally hacking people up with it. I would pick a choice verse from here, and another one from over there, slaughter their argument and feel victorious in my own mind. This is not the way to treat people or questions, or arguments, and I truly apologize to those that I have committed this action to. I will admit that I am human and I in no way know everything. I have switched the way I read God’s word, and I now believe that everything in the bible should be examined by three things: context, context, and context. Studying scripture in context is crucial. This brings up a good small history lesson of the bible:

Out of Context

The original manuscripts did not have chapter and verse numbers. These were added to aid people in referencing passages quickly. However, this was at a time when people really knew the scriptures. You could probably pull an individual verse at that time and people probably already knew the surrounding context. While this was a great progression in streamlining the bible, this led to people literally pulling things completely out of context. Today’s theologies pull things from different aspects, chapters, books, even opposite sides of the bible just to make a point. An example of doing this would be:

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1

“Jesus wept.” – John 11:35

And so Jesus was sad that God made everything…

Wait! Hold the Phone! Now I am not implying that Jesus wept because God created everything, but this is exactly the way some people work and abuse the bible in their favor to prove a point. I try my best to understand the entire context of a passage and how a single verse relates to it rather than pulling it out just because it sounds good for my argument at the time. So in the future, I encourage correction if I am wrong in something. Please point it out to me. You are a true friend in Christ by doing so. Just as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

However, as I said in my last post I am a bit of a skeptic and I like to see other passages in their context to back it up.

God is a righteous Judge

As I said before, ultimately the point of the topics I want to bring up is all for the purpose of sharing knowledge and bringing people to God. God truly loves everyone, and wants everyone to return from sin to him. Sometimes we get so caught up in the minor discrepancies to remember this. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16. God is not willing “…that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” -2 Peter 3:9. Yes God truly loves everyone, however, the reality is that God will also judge everyone fairly in the end. He wants everyone to return to him. Love does not override judgment. After all, if we could just go through life knowing that God loves us and thinks he doesn’t care about what we do, well that throws the whole meaning of the bible, the law, God, Jesus, salvation, repentance, and righteousness right out the window now doesn’t it? If that was the case, Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:24-30 about the wheat and the tares has absolutely no meaning. Therefore if God is going to judge us, what is that judgment based on? The only way we can truly know this is to read His word in its context.

My Ultimate Goal

So in the future, I will touch some uncomfortable subjects, but it is my hope to bring better understanding of what God wants and what God says. We can learn from each other, so I encourage questions, concerns, and correction if I am wrong. I encourage reading the bible daily to get a better understanding, and most of all, I encourage people to find and understand what God wants for everyone. I am in fact a man and I am not perfect. I want people to double check everything they hear, see, and read against the bible to see if it is true. This includes anything I write. I hope you will continue to join me in my future posts, and I welcome the conversation, comments, and ideas, on the basis that it is backed up with scripture and context.