Q&A.130.THE BIBLE – Why is context so important in studying the Bible

[VIKING BOER]

Q&A.130.THE BIBLE – Why is context so important in studying the Bible

Why is context so important in studying the Bible?
What is wrong with looking at verses out of context?

The main reason it is important to study the Bible in context is order to obtain a correct understanding
of the passage. Misunderstanding a portion of the Bible can lead to misapplying it in our lives as well as
teaching something wrong to others. These are quite the opposite of God’s desire for our lives, which
includes knowing His Word accurately, applying it in our own lives, and teaching it to others, following
the example of Ezra, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach
his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
Another concern with taking the Bible out of context is the temptation to make the Bible say what we
want rather than what it originally meant. Those who have taken this misguided approach have used
Scripture to “prove” a wide variety of practices as “biblical.” However, a practice is only biblical if it is
based on an accurate understanding of Scripture that includes studying the context surrounding a passage.
For example, some have taught that slavery was biblical since this practice can be found in the Bible.
However, while it is true slavery is found in the Bible, the New Testament did not teach Christians to
enslave one another. On the contrary, in Paul’s most personal letter regarding this issue, he wrote to
Philemon with the intention that Philemon should free his runaway slave Onesimus (Philemon 1).
In addition, Genesis 1:27 speaks of men and women being created in God’s image. Christians are called to
love their neighbor as self (Mark 12:31), a practice that would certainly contradict the practice of modern
slavery. Further, a close examination of slavery and servanthood in first-century times shows that it often
differed widely in application from modern slavery. A doulos (Greek word for servant) could have a
servant of his or her own and hold much responsibility. While there were certainly masters who treated
their servants poorly at that time, slavery then was not practiced exactly as slavery has been in modern
times. Without studying the context of biblical passages on this topic, however, past generations have
used Scripture to support the most tragic of interpretations regarding the enslavement and mistreatment of
people.
Scripture encourages readers to study the full counsel of God. In Acts 20:27, the apostle Paul told the
elders in his presence, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” Our lives are to
follow this same practice of studying all of God’s Word to accurately understand its teachings and apply
them to our lives. Second Timothy 2:15 is clear, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one
approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

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