subject: Context, Context, Context [print this page] In real estate, it's location, location, location! When I was being schooled in Biblical hermeneutics (the study of the principles of interpretation concerning the books of the Bible), I was told of sixteen ways to interpret the Bible; however, the most important of them all was CONTEXT. It took me about two decades to realize that there's at least several different definitions of CONTEXT! Of course I was given the more narrow and legal definition. I was taught that I should look at the text surrounding word or passage: the words, phrases, or passages that come before and after a particular word or passage in a speech or piece of writing and help to explain its full meaning. There's no doubt that this is very important and helpful. One of the many mistakes that people commit is the pulling out a phrase or partial sentence and making that a doctrine. It no workie! What I have found to be more helpful is to look at the BIG PICTURE. What's the STORY and the surrounding conditions: the circumstances or events that form the environment within which something exists or takes place. Who are the players and, what's their motive in making the statements, if they in fact did, which is a whole different problem. Let me give you a simple example! Unless you know that Paul and Peter represented two opposing philosophies, two different views on Jesus, and two different cultures, you're going to be very confused over such major things as "resurrection of the dead". Peter, James, and the Jerusalem gang were true Jews. Paul was a Hellenistic Jew. James wanted the men to have their private parts cut on a bit (can you say circumcision?) and Paul said NO WAY JOSE! And all the men said- AMEN!
