The Living Word (Lesson 9)

Studying the Bible Contextually

We have now examined two elements of employing a literal hermeneutic in studying the bible with an understanding of its human nature. In this lesson we will focus on the third element: studying contextually. This hermeneutical principle is necessary for at least two reasons: first, virtually every word or grammatical construct has a broader range of possible meanings than the actual meaning in a specific text. Therefore, it is essential to examine the context, looking for indicators that will narrow down the range of possible meanings of a word to the one specific meaning it has in a particular passage. For example, in Matthew 7:1, Christ commands us not to judge; in Luke 12:57, he rebukes the Pharisees for not judging. Is he contradicting himself? That is where context comes in: looking at the context surrounding these two verses, we find that in Matthew, Christ was speaking of condemning sin that we perceive in others, not recognizing that we ourselves are just as sinful, and just as deserving of the same condemnation that we mete out to our neighbors. But in Luke, Christ is rebuking the lack of spiritual discernment that makes it impossible for the Pharisees to judge between what is wrong and what is right. Failing to apply this principle of context may lead us to a completely misinformed understanding of any number of specific verses. An example of a verse that is commonly misunderstood because of lack of attention to context and specific word meanings is 1 Thessalonians 5:22. How often have we heard that this verse teaches us not to engage in any activity which might lead others to think we are doing something sinful? In reality, the context makes it clear that we are to discern everything, then to hold to that which the test of discernment recognizes to be true, and to reject that which is evil, every time it appears.

The second reason it is vital for us to study contextually, is that this allows us to understand the author’s whole flow of thought, rather than just picking out certain disconnected truths. If we study contextually, we will be interested in knowing the author’s major purpose and dominant themes in a specific book, and how each verse relates to that overarching purpose. Furthermore, we will be laboring to understand how each book, with its major themes and purpose, fits into the bible as a whole. This “big picture” understanding of scriptures, reinforced by an accurate understanding of all its smaller parts – books, paragraphs, verses, words – is the goal at which we are aiming in bible study. And context is a necessary tool to bring us to that understanding.

How can we put all this into practice? I would suggest the following method to help us gain a contextual mindset as we study:

  1. Read the entire book that contains the passage you are about to study. Endeavor to follow the general flow of thought, and write down major themes. If you can, try to express the major purpose of the book in a sentence or two (this may require multiple readings).

    • In Genesis, pay special attention to the toledoth section which contains the passage you are studying. To find the boundaries of this section, look backwards in the book until the first time you see the phrase, “These are the generations of…” Next, look forward in the book until you see the same phrase. The material in between these two phrases is a literary unit within Genesis (There are ten of these sections in all).

    • In the psalms, treat each psalm as one self-contained unit. However, the more psalms you are familiar with, and the more types of psalms you are familiar with, the more confidence you will have in understanding the particular psalm you are studying.

    • In Proverbs, there are typically sharper transitions and a less easily-defined flow of thought. Therefore, when you are studying individual proverbs, be familiar especially with the chapters 1-3 and chapter 8, and use the principle given in those chapters to help you interpret the specific verse you are studying in any chapter.

    • In the gospels, remember that the different gospel accounts of the same event may prove very helpful in your study (particularly in the synoptic gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Also, remember that each gospel has a different emphasis, and therefore, the different authors may be driving home a different point in dealing with the same event.

  2. Read the paragraph that the verse(s) you wish to study is a part of. Read it slowly and carefully several times, laboring to see all the connections and follow the whole train of thought.

  3. Do a word study on the significant words and a division of phrases (as we practiced last lesson) on the verse(s) you are studying.

  4. Relate the findings of your word study/phrase division to the paragraph. How does this information help you better understand the paragraph as a whole?

  5. Relate your findings to the book as a whole. How does this fit into the major themes being developed? How does it clarify your understanding of the author’s purpose?

  6. Relate your findings to the bible as a whole. How does this fit into God’s plan of revealing his Son and proclaiming the plan of redemption that he has eternally purposed in Christ?

  7. Apply your findings to your own life and circumstances. How does this passage affect me? Does it give me instruction on how I ought to live? Does it reveal anything about my heart? Does it reveal anything about the person and work of Christ, and how his work can change my heart and enable me to live in a manner pleasing to the Lord?

Study Questions:

  1. Take the passage that you did a grammatical study on last week (1 John 2:3-5), and relate it to its context: first, read the whole book of first John, and relate this passage to the major themes of the book. Then, compare the passage to the writings of John as a whole. Finally, relate these verses to the bible as a whole: What information does I John give us that is necessary for us to understand the epic story of the redemptive work of Christ? What does this passage specifically tell us about who Christ is, and the results of what he has done on the cross in the believers’ lives? How can you take these truths and apply them to specific struggles and situations in your own life?

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