Context Matters

When we speak about Context what does that mean? How does that affect how we read the Bible?
This is clearly important on understanding the scriptures, Many of us can read just a piece of scripture and take it completely out of context with what it means. Context is really what we can get of our reading. Every time we read something we can get a message from it, we can get a response from the reading. Sometimes the response we get from our readings can either change our thoughts, mood, or ideas on something completely.
We must read the entire chapter in order to get complete context on the meaning of the scripture.
The times we really see context being taught wrong is from different denominations inside the church. These “Churches” will teach the prosperity Gospel or the word of faith movement or any other heresies inside the church, this is all from taking the wrong context out of the Holy Scriptures.
Analyzing the words inside the passages can be extremely helpful. I have found it very helpful to understand the key meanings of words because they are powerful! Powerful in a way that it can make the scriptures come to life and be clear with what it means. When we take scriptures for what we “think” they mean then we are already taking it out of context.
The Scriptures mean what they say, with no added meaning!
The basis on what the scriptures mean inside the Bible are very clear. When the context start to be clear and we understand what is being said historically then we can read the word in a way that we see what it is telling us. In our human brains we like to add to the scripture and put our own meaning on things and then we can twist this into a false teaching that can eventually lead people astray further from Christ. When we read the scriptures they have a clear contexual meaning and they are clear for what they are whether we are reading the Old Testament Scriptures in the book of Daniel and we understand the trials and tribulations with Daniel we are not to add to it and see another meaning that we can read in Galatians that Paul is trying to tell the people in Galatia.
Understand what is written! It is key while studying our Bible.
As a constant student of the scriptures and reading them regularly we will understand what God is telling us and the lessons that are involved. Don’t only read the Scriptures and then move on into reading something else. Study the scriptures, study the words, study the history and study the Authors and the main intent of why they are writing it. Then we can grasp the word and see it transform our lives.
For the Glory of God Alone!
Pastor Bernard Harper
Share