Why context is important

[Grace_and_Glory]

Taking a verse from the Bible and ignoring the context is often the source of misunderstandings and misinterpretations of what the Bible is actually saying. For an example of how this happens:

John 12:47

I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Ignoring context, it sounds as if Jesus is saying his commands are optional. He won’t judge us for not keeping them. In context, however, it’s a different story:

John 12:47-49

I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who has sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak.

 

[exodus]

Grace and Glory:

Taking a verse from the Bible and ignoring the context is often the source of misunderstandings and misinterpretations of what the Bible is actually saying. For an example of how this happens:

John 12:47

Ignoring context, it sounds as if Jesus is saying his commands are optional. He won’t judge us for not keeping them. In context, however, it’s a different story:

John 12:47-49

You are indeed correct, those who reject Jesus offer of salvation and never become believers stand judged and condemned already.

**John 3:17-19 **

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

 

[asteroid]

I totally agree with you. Here’s another example of people taking a verse out of context and making it mean something entirely different:

Two people have, very earnestly, asked me the following question. One was my mother, a non-christian, one was a very active member of the Orange Order.

Didn’t Jesus say “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?”

The Orange Order person was trying to use this to justify revenge - some “Catholics” in Ireland have done horrible things to “Protestants” so really Protestants should seek revenge. Her view was that the catholics really deserved to be killed.

Of course, Jesus did use those words. But the context is rather different isn’t it?

 

[slinky1882]

Context is critical. I can remember when I was on the plane on time sitting next to a student from a Baptist university. I remember him pulling out his Bible, and we started talking. I can remember the look on his face when I pulled a BIble out of my backpack and we started talking about the NT and verses, and I pointed out reading them incontext. Well by the time the flight landed, he was telling me to read the whole Scriptures. (we agreed to pray for each other and I still do every now and then when I remember). The reversal was amazing once he was confused when I brought in Oral Tradition and History (apparently his history classes hadn’t started until the late Middle Ages. I wonder why .) Thanks and God Bless.