Context is King - Patheos

Context is King” should be the first thing Christians learn as soon as they start reading the Bible.

My family and friends can recite this adage in their sleep because they hear me say it all the time. Unfortunately, I have found I shouldn’t expect even seminarians to grasp the significance of this majestic phrase.

“Surely you exaggerate,” you might say, “what is all that significant about a simple little three-word phrase?”

Let me first explain what the phrase means and then consider alternative ways of thinking.” Context is King” means that, in whatever passage we’re studying, the literary and historical context is primary in determining the meaning of the text. The sections immediately prior to and following our passage bear greater weight than far contexts (whether elsewhere in the Bible and especially historically/culturally).

What does it mean?

Context is King affirms two core values or principles:

(1) Always interpret Scripture with Scripture.

(2) Our most basic goal is always to discern the author’s intended meaning.

When we read Scripture, if the context is not king, then what will be sovereign over our interpretations?

All too often, it is the set of notes at the bottom of our study bibles. Other candidates include our pastor, parents, the last book we read, or the mp3 sermon we heard. In one way or another, our own cultural assumptions will ride roughshod over the author’s original intent. (On that topic, see the excellent book called Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes.) On our worst days, if we’re honest, we will admit more sinful motives will prevail.

Two Common Problems

How does this go wrong? I couldn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the questions. For now, I’ll highlight two common substitutes often used by Christians who want to be “biblical.”

First, people assume theological conclusions before they even begin reading the text.

This leads people to jettison the immediate context and turn to a different passage in order to validate (or “proof-text”) their predetermined conclusions (which may be correct in another context). Therefore, we fight for a correct biblical idea (drawn from some other text) at the expense of the immediate point being made by the author in the original passage, which may not be the same point being made elsewhere at other times.

Second, for fear of becoming “liberal,” one becomes excessively literal.

What does that mean? Basically this––we completely ignore things like genre and/or overly constrict the author’s ability to use words in the same flexible way that we do every day. If there would ever be literature with disorienting language and imagery, it would be that which concerns the beginning and end of all things, e.g. creation and the apocalypse.

Photo credit: http://www.zazzle.com

Finally, take the famous example of Calvinists/Arminians, who debate the meaning of “all” in various verses. I’ve heard more than a few sarcastic oversimplifications to this effect: “‘All’ means ‘all,’ period.”

The whole question is complicated by a simple example from our school days. At the beginning of a class, the teacher would ask, “Is everyone here?” When the students say “Yes,” she does not snap back, “No, you are wrong! President Obama is not here! John Piper isn’t in class! Neither is Peyton Manning.” What’s the point? In that context, “all” clearly does not mean “all.”

When it comes to actually respect this rule, it’s easier said than done. We want to be king. We want to be right. We don’t like being restricted. I challenge you to spend a week or two trying to interpret passages you read each day, but without cross-referencing other books.

(Normally, it would be good to compare the larger context, but for the sake of experimenting and self-discipline, see what you discover by never leaving the immediate context.)

This article was taken from: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jacksonwu/2012/11/06/context-is-king/

The Grace of God in Salvation Ephesians 2:8-10 - Todd McCauley

The Scripture passage pictured below I’m sure is very familiar. I decided to take this passage, tear it apart to see what I could glean. The verses below, taken from Ephesians 2:8-9 come from a larger CONTEXT, Ephesians 2:1-10. If I were outlining this passage it might look like this:

I. The Depravity of Man (vs 1-3)
II. The Grace of God (vs 4-10)

Ephesians 2:4-10 concern the Grace of God in Salvation. I won’t bore you with all the exegetical stuff but let me leave you with a few lessons that I learned about our great Salvation (i.e., Deliverance from the power and penalty of sin) from this passage, Ephesians 2:8-10:

1. Grace (i.e., God’s unmerited, sovereign favor) is the BASIS of our salvation.

2. Faith (i.e., Trust in Christ as a living person for forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God) is the means of APPROPRIATING our salvation.

NO ONE is saved apart from the Grace of God, and NO ONE is saved apart from exercising faith (i.e., trust in Christ alone). Therefore, the salvation transaction is by “Grace through faith” in Christ alone.

3. Salvation is a PERMANENT transaction (i.e., Once saved, totally saved).

4. Salvation is a GIFT from God (i.e., Something He gives, NOT something we earn).

5. God and God ALONE is the source of our salvation.

6. Salvation is NOT nor will it EVER be gained by Human EFFORT or PERFORMANCE (i.e., works).

Concerning points # 4 & 6, D.L. Moody said, “The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God, and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise”.

7. The PURPOSE of Salvation is God’s glory ALONE (i.e., The is absolutely no room for human pride in the salvation transaction).

8. True salvation always works itself out in real life (i.e., We are saved to do good works, not by good works). Can I say this, Good works are the “True” evidence of Salvation.

in nōmine Patris et Fīliī et Spīritūs Sānctī

What "I can do all things through Christ" really means.

Let me introduce you to one of the most misunderstood, misinterpreted, misquoted verses in ALL of the Bible. It’s Philippians 4:13. The Apostle writes, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard this verse used to justify every conceivable idea and endeavor known to man.

What is this verse really teaching? Is Paul teaching us that no matter what we put our minds and efforts to we CAN DO IT, we CAN achieve it?

Let’s see.

Philippians 4:13 is surrounded by a CONTEXT. Let me address this important concept for just a moment. In Bible college, one of the things that were drilled into our heads in exegesis class was this, “CONTEXT IS KING”. You cannot, you should not attempt to understand any verse of scripture apart from the context from which it derives. It is believed that the Professor and Bible Teacher D.A Carson is credited with saying, “"A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text." In the words of one writer, “without examining the context in which something (in this case, Scripture) was said, one can easily (or even intentionally) misappropriate or misuse or misapply or misrepresent a text to support a position that it, in fact, does not support”.

Folks this kind of Bible mishandling happens ALL the time by very well meaning folk. Let me give you another example. Folks often want to feel good about the size of their Tuesday night prayer meeting. Exactly 4 people showed up and one of them was a child. So, in order to help us feel better, we tell each other, “Where two or three are gathered in His name……” You know the rest. That verse found in Matthew 18:20, I hate to tell you has nothing to do with prayer meetings. In fact, this verse is not even talking about prayer, in other words, prayer is NOT the subject matter. This is why CONTEXT is king.

So, what is Paul teaching in Philippians 4:13?

The CONTEXT of verse 13 begins in verse 10 and runs through verse 20. Paul tells the Philippians that he's excited that their concern for him has reignited (vs 10). He goes on to say that he knows that they always cared, but the problem was that they lacked opportunity. In verse 11 he states that he’s not referring just to physical need and that through his neediness he has learned the awesome lesson of CONTENTMENT (vs. 12).

Bam!! This is what verse 13 is all about. When Paul states that, “he can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens him.” He’s talking about CONTENTMENT, NOT Ability or Opportunity. The "ALL THINGS" are found in verse 12, which are the varied circumstances of life. Paul states whether rich or poor, hungry or full, I know how to be CONTENT. Contentment can be defined as, "sufficient to self" (self-sufficient and competent) and so to be independent of external circumstances and independent of all people. One secular writer used autarkes in reference to a country that supplied itself and had no need of imports. True contentment comes only from our Lord, and enables believers to be satisfied and at ease in the midst of any problem. Autarkes therefore describes the man who needs nothing externally to be satisfied in life for all he needs is within. the believer who has Christ dwelling within”.

Let me say this, and I don’t mean to be offensive. The reasons why so many Christians are running around like chickens with cut off heads looking for the next thing, the next level, the next blessing, the next outpouring, the next, the next, the next, is because unlike Paul they have not learned this critical skill of CONTENTMENT. The reason why divorce is running rampant through the Christian community is because we have not learned the critical skill of CONTENTMENT. The reason why Christians are chasing experience after experience is because we have not learned the critical skill of CONTENTMENT.

So, what is Paul talking about in Philippians 4:13 when He says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”? He’s talking about CONTENTMENT.

The great Bible Teacher John Calvin wrote, “"Whatever my condition may be, I am satisfied with it. "Why? because saints know that they thus please God. Hence, they do not measure sufficiency by abundance, but by the will of God, which they judge of by what takes place, for they are persuaded that their affairs are regulated by his providence and good pleasure."

Amen!!

Todd

Ephesians, The big picture

Before you ever begin a detailed verse by verse study in any book of the Bible, it's important that you first get a handle on the historic and cultural context of said book. In other words, before you go scuba diving in a particular book, it's first necessary to do a fly over in order to take in the big picture (i.e., get a feel for what took place; historically, politically, socially, culturally and geographically). When I do the contextual study of a particular book, I ask the same key questions:

1. To whom was it written?
2. By whom was it written?
3. When was it written?
4. Where was it written?
5. What was the purpose for writing it?
6. What is the theme of this book?
7. Around what circumstances/occasion was it written?

Now, there may be other questions, but these are the main ones that I use. As we tackle these questions it's important for you to know that you will not find the answers to all these questions in the actual text of Scripture. You will have to go outside of Scripture and use other resources to glean this information. I suggest that you get your hands on some good Bible introductions, handbooks, commentaries, atlases, etc. Listen men, without this big picture background work, you will have a much more difficult time understanding the details of a given book. Another reason why I'm focusing on the Book of Ephesians is to demonstrate the importance of book studies versus topical studies. If you have a teaching ministry to God's people there is no better approach than verse by verse book studies. Your people will rise up and call you blessed because they're learning the Word of God. Dr David Howard makes the following point concerning the importance of book studies, " I recommend that pastors practice expository preaching through books of the Bible (or portions of books, if the books are extraordinarily lengthy) as their primary approach to preaching. With this approach, preachers and congregations can be immersed in the overall message of a book in its context, along the lines suggested above, and not just isolated verses or passages".

Now, looking at the book of Ephesians, let's get a big picture:

I. To whom was Ephesians written? Ephesians was written according to verse 1 of chapter 1, "To the Body of Christ (i.e., Saints) in Ephesus".

II. By whom was Ephesians written? Both internal and external evidence point to the Apostle Paul as the author of this epistle.

III. Where was it written? Paul clearly wrote as a prisoner in Rome (cf. Ephesians 3:1, 4:1, 6:20).

IV. When was it written? All external conservative evidence points to the date of A.D. 61 (Colossians and Philemon were written during the same year, possibly the same time).

V. The Purpose of Paul writing this letter? Kenneth Boa writes, "Ephesians was not written to correct specific errors in a local church, but to prevent problems in the church as a whole by encouraging the Body of Christ to mature in Him. It was also written to make believers more aware of their position in Christ because this is the basis for their practice on every level of life". I'm convinced that many of the problems that exist in the Body of Christ today are the result of:
1. Immaturity
2. Lack of understanding of our position in Christ which inevitably affects our practice in life.

VI. What is the theme of this letter? The theme of Ephesians revolves around who we are positionally in Christ. In this epistle Paul makes it clear that we (those in Christ) are the church, the body of Christ. The Church is NOT a denomination, nor an institution, nor a building on the corner. The church is a new community purchased by Christ to carry out the purposes of God in this world.

A word about the city of Ephesus. As I study Paul’s writings, I'm convinced that Paul loved the city. He loved the sites the sounds the hustle and bustle of urban living. Ephesus was a major seaport destination. Ephesus was a hub of entertainment, trade, politics, education as well as religion. The famed Temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the Ancient world was housed in Ephesus. This was a very strategic city and Paul knew that. Of course as you know city living brings city problems and Ephesus had her share of problems.

I won't go much further than this brief introduction. Next time we'll put on our scuba gear and dive into the text.

But before I close allow me to summarize some lessons learned from our intro:

1. Context is King. A Historical, cultural background study is necessary for effective Bible study.
2. The Bible was given not to denominations nor to institutions. The Bible was given to the Church, the people of God (the body of Christ).
3. The Bible was not given to make us smarter, but mature.
4. Strategy plays a part in ministry. Someone has well said, "If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it"

Soli Deo Gloria