The Importance of Context

     What is context? The Second College Edition of the American Heritage
Dictionary says on page 316, that context is, "The part of a written or
spoken statement in which a word or passage at issue occurs and that often
specifies its meaning." (emp. mine RD) The part of the definition that says
"and that often specifies its meaning" is true in the field of biblical studies
as it is in political, historical, and linguistical studies.

     It is impossible to overstate the importance of observing the context when we
study the sacred writings. Studying the context is one of the key elements that
assists in understanding and applying the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15) If a person
does not pay careful attention to the context of a passage of scripture, he will
almost certainly reach an uninformed interpretation. No one has the right to
mishandle the word of God. (2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2)

     Sometimes people see things in the biblical text that are not there. Sometimes
people "snatch" a word, phrase, or text from its context and build a system of
doctrine that has no scriptural basis in fact! It has been rightly said that, "A text
taken out of context becomes a pretext."

     I have heard Pentecostals quote 1 Cor. 14:1 and say, "The Bible says, 'desire
earnestly spiritual gifts,' so we should desire to speak in tongues, prophesy, and
heal the sick." The relevant issue is not what the verse says. The problem with
the Pentecostals is, they ignore the fact that when the verse was penned by Paul,
the Corinthians could desire spiritual gifts because people could perform miracles.
The exhortation to "earnestly desire spiritual gifts" no longer applies because the
means of receiving and performing such powers has ended. The is what the
context of 1 Cor. chapters 12, 13, and 14 teaches. (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8-10)

     I have heard members of denominations and their preachers attempt to prove
that denominations have the right to exist by quoting Jesus' statement, "I am the
vine and you are the branches." (Jno. 15:5) They argue, "The branches are all
the churches, therefore all the various churches have the right to exist." They
ignore the context of Jesus' statement. Jesus was not talking to nor about
churches. The very verse they quote proves this point. It says, "I am the vine,
you are the branches: the one who abides in me, and I in him, the same bears
much fruit: for apart from me you can do nothing." Jesus is talking to the apostles
about their relationship to him.

     Sometimes people who seek to find authority for instrumental music in
worship say, "Paul speaks of the pipe, harp, and trumpet in his first letter to
the Corinthians (14:7), so it cannot be wrong to use instrumental music in
our worship." If they would pay close attention to the context, they would
notice that Paul is speaking about the secular use of such instruments, not
the religious use in the assembly. "Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear
call, who will get ready for battle?" (1 Cor. 14:8) He uses the pipe, harp,
and trumpet as examples of instruments that must play distinct sounds or
notes in order for a person to know what is being played. Just so, what
edification would result if a person in the assembly at Corinth speaks in a
language that is not known to those assembled unless someone interprets?
(1 Cor. 14:9)

     If a person has the right to indiscriminately snatch a word, phrase, or text
from its context, and interpret it accordingly, then the Bible can be forced to
mean anything that anyone wants it to mean. Such would be a great injustice
against God's holy word.

                                                                                                         RD

Copyright 2011