Introduction
Context is defined as the theme, sense or circumstance surrounding a given text, statement, word, phrase or passage, that operates to determine the intended meaning of its writer or speaker. The etymology of the word (Latin: con = together, and textus = woven) denotes something that is woven together, connecting the thought that was intended to constitute the whole. Context can also portray the setting or circumstance in existence at the time an event occurs, is recorded or written. Proper context is extremely important in Biblical interpretation.
The goal of proper context is to determine the author’s (or speaker’s) intended meaning or message. In the case of the Biblical record we must remember that context is embedded in the whole of the text itself, when understood in its full and proper context. The task of the Biblical student is to discover and discern that meaning. Again, proper context is a key factor in correct understanding.
Context can be divided into five principal elements, as follows:
Linguistic – drives/determines culture* (interprets speech mannerisms)
Textual
Historical
Cultural – drives/determines logic system*
Literary – devices and mechanisms
There is an old axiom that says: Text without context is pretext. Pretext is defined as a pre-determined or pre-supposed idea of what a text (in this case the Biblical record) has to say, or by what standard (paradigm) or pre-determined doctrine the individual reading the text will use to measure and evaluate the text under his or her scrutiny. This approach results in eisegesis, a scholarly word we have previously defined that amounts to one reading pre-supposed meaning into the text, or forcing the text to say what the individual wants it to say, rather than exegesis, also previously defined, and meaning to discern the writer’s intended understanding from the text through application of proper context. Pretext has resulted in fertile ground for considerable of man’s doctrines and theologies that exist in long-standing opposition to Biblical instruction.
The Five Senses
Humanity is endowed with five senses that function as portals or entry points for stimuli received from our environmental surroundings. Any incoming stimulus is immediately sent for processing to our Logic System, which tells us how to react/respond to the stimulus received:
Stimuli:
S Sight Logic System
H Hearing Physical Psychological
O Odor/Smell → Physiological Emotional
T Touch Spiritual
T Taste
*The Logic System can be changed by a change in language, which changes culture.
Linguistic Context
It is a fact that language drives or determines culture, and that all languages evolve over time. Hebrew, the original language of the Bible, is no exception to this fact. Thus, linguistic context tells us that in order to correctly understand the written text of the Bible we must seek to either learn the language of the time that a given text was written, or consult resources which will aid us in that regard – that is, to become equipped linguistically to discern the author’s intended meaning.
Inextricably tied to language is culture, and culture is what drives speech mannerisms such as idioms and word puns (which will be explained below). Culture is what determines the logic system, which in turn is the means to correctly interpreting idioms, for example, of which there are hundreds found in the Biblical record. Logic systems will be explained below. Thus, giving consideration to just two of the five elements of context (language and culture), one can begin to see the importance of being contextually oriented for proper interpretation and understanding of the Biblical record.
Textual Context
Textual context within the whole body of the Biblical text itself can be in terms of any one or all of the following: verse, passage, chapter, book, Scriptures (Old Testament), Apostolic Scriptures (New Testament), or the whole of body of the Biblical record. Textual context is a fundamental level of context and, for the most part, is understood by most Bible students. However, while verse and passage contexts are often applied, many fail to consider textual context beyond these two fundamental levels.
For example, we read in Hebrews 8:13, “In that He says, ‘a new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Within Christendom this is a verse classically cited to support the doctrine that the Law (believed to be the “Old Covenant/Old Testament”) has grown old and is ready to vanish away; to be replaced by the “New Covenant,” that is the New Testament. In Fact, the textual context of Chapter 8 of the Book of Hebrews is clearly about the Aaronic Priesthood, which correctly was being referred to as nearing replacement at the time of the soon coming Messiah Yeshua, the King/Priest after the order of Melchizedek (refer to Gen.14:18-20; Heb. 7:1-22). This is just one of many examples where a verse has been taken out of Chapter and Book context, and a doctrine erroneously created as a result.
Moreover, there are many errant beliefs and multiple cults that have been birthed as a result of misapplied textual context. There is a key principle of Biblical interpretation known as consideration of the whole counsel of Elohim’s Written Word. The concept here is quite simple, but powerful in terms of correct understanding. It is possible to find support somewhere within the Biblical record for most any belief, doctrine or theology, if one searches for a verse or string of words absent consideration of proper context. This is the basis for virtually all cults, coupled with the typical presence of a guru and syncretistic practices. Man has been mixing Biblical truth with his own misguided ideas for centuries, which has resulted in the multiplicity of religious denominations, sects, beliefs and practices – all in contradistinction to the whole counsel of the Biblical text. If a given verse or passage appears to read such that its literal meaning seems questionable or contradictory to other portions of Scripture, this should be a warning to check your understanding of the verse or passage against other portions of the text and, ultimately, against the whole of the Bible’s teaching and instruction. The Bible does not contradict itself or teach truth in one area and fallacies in another. And Elohim never intended for mankind to extrapolate His Written Word of truth.
Historical Context
To understand historical context we must first realize the Bible is not a history book. Granted, it does contain historical events and accounts of historical characters. A history book is defined as a complete written account of historical events occurring within a defined time period, and presented in chronological order. The Bible is not complete in its historical narratives, nor is it entirely arranged in chronological order; nor was it intended to be. Thus, the Bible is not a history book, at least not in the ordinary sense of the term.
Accordingly, the Bible is not a novel because a novel can be read for understanding by simply following the introduction of characters, setting, presentation of events in chronological order, and a concluding outcome. The Bible simply does not follow this form of presentation. Rather, the Bible is a compendium of teaching and instruction, which is not constrained to an orderly, chronological format.
The Bible was not written to you and I in the 21st Century, but rather to those who lived at the time of the writers and their envisioned recipients. No writers of the Biblical books could possibly have imagined our present-day setting and culture. However, the Bible was written for us, and for all time, past, present and future. We must realize the He Who commissioned the Bible never changes, and therefore His principles for righteous living, as presented in His Written Word, also never change. Refer to Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8.
The Bible was not intended to simply be known; rather it was intended to be understood. To know, by definition, is to perceive directly; to have familiarity, or to be acquainted with; to grasp in the mind with some clarity. To understand is to perceive and comprehend the nature, significance and intended meaning expressed by the original writers and, to be convicted to apply its principles to our lives. Thus, to know the Bible only compels one to intellectually accent to its principles in concept. However, to understand the Bible draws one into a conviction to implement and apply its principles to his or her life.
Having established the above realities, and in particular knowing the Bible is not a history book, it is exceedingly helpful for one to gain a background in Biblical history such that the historical pieces missing from the Biblical text can be filled in when encountered during study. This provides a tremendous aid in understanding the whole of the Biblical accounts and their intended instruction, interrelationships and parallel themes that exist throughout the whole of the text.
If a passage of Scripture is clearly written in narrative historical form, we must consider that its purpose is to describe events that actually occurred. This is generally not difficult to discern. For example, stories of the kings of Israel and Judah found in the Scriptures were intended to be understood as actual, historical events having taken place in their lives. They have been presented in the text for instructional purposes, often in support of themes we find throughout the text, but nevertheless are to be treated as real-life teaching examples. Conversely, to use a another example, the story told by Jotham in Judges 9:8-15 is clearly a literary form in which instruction is imparted by having trees take on the human characteristic of talking. Obviously, the Bible here is not suggesting that trees actually talk, but rather is using a personification to indict the Schemites for choosing Abimelech as king over the northern kingdom of Israel. So, it is important as we study Elohim’s Written Word to distinguish which passages are historical from other forms of Hebraic/Biblical literature.
Cultural Context
Culture and its practices among people groups and geographic areas of the world of course have varied greatly over the centuries. Few would argue that during the progressive Biblical epics cultural differences did not evolve, or were not widely diverse. We have already established that language determines culture, and that culture in turn drives the logic system of a given people group in time and geographic location. Today, it is sometimes difficult for people in the 21st Century to fully realize that because of modern technology and communication systems in place, our world is far more connected in terms of real-time events and cross-cultural awareness than it was even 100 year ago. Clearly our culture of today is vastly different from those who lived thousands of years ago, and in the regions of the Mid-east during Biblical times. Thus, an extremely important tool in understanding the Biblical record is the ability to transport one’s self back in time not only to the language and historical setting, but also to the cultural logic systems of the period in which we are studying the Bible.
Literary Context
Please see separate paper on this particular topic.
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