We have all seen or heard a passage of Scripture taken out of context. This is ususlly followed by someone stating "You have taken that out of context". The Bible is both like and unlike every other book writen. It is like other books in that you must read the book to understand the book. You would not read a novel by picking and choosing what parts you read so why do we do this with the Bible? It is unlike other books as the Bible is "God breathed" (2 Tim 3:16); the very Word of God. Second, the Bible is actually a collection of "books". These "books" were not all writen by the same person, to the same audience and each under different circumstances. Third, each "book" of the Bible is writen in a different style of writing; poetry, history, gospel, acts, revelation ect. (Many are writen in the same style but not all). Each "book" cannot be read the same way. Lastly, and most important, we cannot just "read" and understand the Bible without direction and understanding from the Holy Spirit. In this way the Bible is unique from any other book ever writen. We cannot rely upon our own understanding to interpret the Bible. Yes, it is writen on a fifth grade reading level but since it is the very Word of God we must pray to the Holy Spirit for understanding when we read it.
When we read a particular passage of the Bible we must read it in context. If we do not understand the context in which it was writen we will often misunderstand the meaning. It is good to know who wrote it, who they were writing too, what were the circumstances, what is the overall message within the "book", and what style of writing it is written in. We must not read just one verse and try to interpret it by itself. It is a good practice to read the sentance before and after, the whole paragraph, the whole chapter or even the whole "book" to understand its meaning. By using a particular passage as a "stand alone" we often take it out of context. For example if we just read "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) and try to undetstand why he wept by itself we will not know why he wept. We dont know the circumstances that cause Jesus to cry. We should also understand that the Bible will and does interpret itself within itself by reading other passages of Scripture. But in the same sense we must understand that God is not obligated to explain everything too us. There are certain things left only to God. We are to live by promises not by explanations.
So when reading and studying the Bible it is good to know the who, what, when, where and why of any particular subject or passage we are upon. We do not like when others take our words out of context so let us give God the same courtesy and read His Word in context.
When we read a particular passage of the Bible we must read it in context. If we do not understand the context in which it was writen we will often misunderstand the meaning. It is good to know who wrote it, who they were writing too, what were the circumstances, what is the overall message within the "book", and what style of writing it is written in. We must not read just one verse and try to interpret it by itself. It is a good practice to read the sentance before and after, the whole paragraph, the whole chapter or even the whole "book" to understand its meaning. By using a particular passage as a "stand alone" we often take it out of context. For example if we just read "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) and try to undetstand why he wept by itself we will not know why he wept. We dont know the circumstances that cause Jesus to cry. We should also understand that the Bible will and does interpret itself within itself by reading other passages of Scripture. But in the same sense we must understand that God is not obligated to explain everything too us. There are certain things left only to God. We are to live by promises not by explanations.
So when reading and studying the Bible it is good to know the who, what, when, where and why of any particular subject or passage we are upon. We do not like when others take our words out of context so let us give God the same courtesy and read His Word in context.
