Keep It in Context
by Bryan Gibson
Imagine a foreigner coming upon these words to the 18th Amendment: “This article shall be inoperative unless it has been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several states…” To make any sense of this at all, he would need to at least read what comes before and after this statement. In other words, this statement won’t mean anything to him unless he reads it “in context.”
What if we said to someone, “to prove to the possum it could be done?” That wouldn’t make much sense, because that’s only the punch line. But if we supply the question, “Why did the chicken cross the road,” it makes a lot more sense. The first phrase can only be understood “in context.” Considering the context is something we do all the time—even if we may not call it that.
People get upset sometimes because they are “quoted out of context.” One sentence may have been lifted from what they said and given an entirely different spin. In some cases, maybe their full statement was given, but nothing was said about the circumstances they were in when they said it—something that could greatly change the meaning of what was said.
Let’s keep all this in mind when we study the Bible. It’s so easy to lift a Bible passage out of context, if we’re not careful. The temptation is to isolate a particular verse or phrase, but we need to make sure we read what comes before and after. Follow the train of thought. It may be necessary in some cases to read the entire book to fully understand the context. In other cases, it may be necessary to read information supplied in other books of the Bible.
Let’s break this down further and look at some things crucial to understanding the context.
v Who said it?
There may be times when the devil or a false teacher is quoted (see Colossians 2:21, then read vv. 20-23). Obviously, we need to know that so that we’re not led astray. Aside from this benefit, it just aids our understanding in general. For example, consider Philippians 1:12: “The things that happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” It helps to know that Paul is writing, because we can now determine what “things” he is talking about. We can go to the Book of Acts and get a detailed account of the things that happened to him leading to his imprisonment in Rome.
v To whom is it said?
Read John 16:13 and Acts 1:8. Jesus is talking to His apostles in these two verses. If we miss that, we could make some serious errors in application. The application may not always be limited to the “target audience,” but we won’t know that until we’ve “done our homework.” So let’s look to see who is addressed. Christians or unbelievers? Elders or evangelists? Individuals or the church? Women or men, or perhaps, both?
v Are there any circumstances that might affect the meaning of what is said?
For example, some of the instructions given in 1 Corinthians 7 seem a bit strange, until we get to v. 26. The “present distress” no doubt had some bearing on the instructions given in this passage. Anything that might be revealed about the circumstances of either the writer or the readers should be useful. Going through trials? False teachers in their midst? Circumstances of their conversion? Location of author at the time of writing?
v What is the subject under discussion?
Many people look at 2 Peter 1:20 and mistakenly think that the subject of this passage is study and interpretation of the Bible. But when you read the fuller context (vv. 16-21), it becomes clear that the origin of Scripture is the subject under discussion. To understand the Scriptures, we need to follow the train of thought, just like we do with any other form of communication.
Conclusion:
Much more could be said on this topic, but it’s probably best to close with this observation. Nothing is more important in Bible study than a hunger to know the truth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).