Reading the Bible in context …
How context shapes our understanding of Scripture.
When I was learning to read, I was taught to open the first page of a book and read from the beginning to the end. I didn’t start in the middle, skip to the end, or just read the juicy bits. That wasn’t allowed. The emphasis was on reading to understand the entire story, and our comprehension tests reinforced the importance of coming to grips with the characters, plot and other details as they related to the whole.
In my early adult years I was given a Bible and told, “Start reading in the Gospel of John”. I opened the book’s first page, but it was called Genesis, not John. I was a little confused. Searching through the Bible, I eventually found John near the end of the book. I wondered why my friend suggested I skip everything before John. Were the other parts of the Bible not important?
I started attending church services at the same time as I started reading the Gospel of John. How the pastor read and spoke about the Bible left me befuddled and bewildered. He often used isolated texts that he seemed to pluck at random from the book. It was like playing hopscotch – we jumped here, there, and everywhere.
Then someone gave me a Promise Box. It contained little cards with random Scripture verses. All my Christian friends were using them. We’d pull a new card out in the morning and carry it around during the day. Sometimes we’d quote it, chat about it, memorize it, or give it to someone. Now I understood. Obviously, the Bible wasn’t meant to be read like other books. It was something you mined for nuggets.
My Bible reading journey.
Fortunately, that’s not the end of my story. Maybe because I’m inquisitive, or maybe it was the prompting of the Holy Spirit, but I wanted to read the Bible from the beginning, one book at a time, until I reached the end. So I did. And I discovered that the Bible is much more than a collection of people’s favourite verses. It truly is God’s Story, and like any story, it has characters, settings, plots/themes, conflicts and resolutions.
Reading through the Bible opened my eyes to something very important. I discovered that many of the texts I’d been learning, in isolation from their context, could be manipulated or applied in ways that weren’t true to the story as a whole. In fact, after reading through the Bible, it became evident that some of the verses I’d heard from the pulpit or learnt from my Promise Box sometimes meant something entirely different when read in context.
Correctly handling God’s Word.
Context is vital for biblical interpretation. In a culture that values instant access, instant answers, and instant everything, taking shortcuts in reading the Bible can be tempting. But if we do, we do so at our peril. When we read the Bible, we must correctly handle the word of truth (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15). And the correct way to handle the truth is to read all of it.
Here’s my concern. If we separate texts from their context we can undermine the authority of Scripture and are more likely to misunderstand the Bible. Or worse, when we use texts isolated from their context, we can distort the truth and justify almost anything we want to say or do.
So here’s a shout-out for reading the Bible in context. Be diligent. Take time to understand each text against the background of its immediate text and the book within which it’s found.
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scripture to be given for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. (Anglican Prayer)
What tips can you share about the importance of reading the Bible in context?
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Not Everything in the Bible is Biblical, Jeff K. Clarke
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Summary
Reading the Bible in context: The article emphasizes the importance of reading the Bible in context rather than isolating verses or taking texts from the broader narrative. When the Bible isn’t read from beginning to end, and the books of the Bible aren’t read as whole books, verses can often be misunderstood or manipulated when disconnected from their context. Ultimately, it urges readers to approach the Bible carefully and thoughtfully, understanding each text within its larger story to avoid distorting its true meaning.
© Scripture Union Canada
