Reading the Bible for Reading the Bible for All it’s WorthAll it’s Worth

WESTMINSTER WESTMINSTER CHAPELCHAPEL

3. Consider the 3. Consider the sensesense of the of thescriptural contextscriptural context

A. Reasons why a passage must be A. Reasons why a passage must be understood in light of its literary context:understood in light of its literary context:

First reason: First reason: TrainTrain of thought of thought

Second Reason:Second Reason:To Determine To Determine Word MeaningsWord Meanings

““That was the largestThat was the largest trunk trunk I ever saw”I ever saw”

Many Trunks for Many Trunks for Everything!Everything!

Third Reason: Third Reason:

See It All to Understand theSee It All to Understand the PartsParts

See it all to understand the See it all to understand the parts!parts!

B. Blessings/Curse Of B. Blessings/Curse Of ChapterChapter and and VerseVerse Divisions Divisions

Modern Chapter Divisions (1228)Modern Chapter Divisions (1228) Stephen Langton Stephen Langton

Modern Verse Divisions (1560)Modern Verse Divisions (1560) Robert Stephanus Robert Stephanus

Greek ManuscriptGreek Manuscript

C. PRINCIPLES C. PRINCIPLES

Principle of Principle of contextcontext::Interpret verses according to Interpret verses according to their their natural meaningnatural meaning in the in the contextcontext where they occur.where they occur.

PRINCIPLE OF PRINCIPLE OF PRETEXT:PRETEXT:

A A TEXTTEXT WITHOUT WITHOUT

A A CONTEXTCONTEXT

IS A IS A PRETEXTPRETEXT

PRINCIPLE OF PRINCIPLE OF PROPORTION:PROPORTION:

The The SmallerSmaller the Passagethe Passage

Being Interpreted,Being Interpreted,

TheThe GreaterGreater the Chance of the Chance of ERRORERROR

D. Procedures D. Procedures

1. Immediate context1. Immediate context

Find Find main subjectmain subject of immediate of immediate contextcontext

Figure out how the Figure out how the partsparts fit that fit that subjectsubject

Theme of Immediate Theme of Immediate ContextContext

Whole Section Whole Section James 1:2-12James 1:2-12

Preceding TextPreceding TextJames 1:2-4James 1:2-4

TextTextJames 1:5-8James 1:5-8

TextText

James 1:9-11James 1:9-11

Following TextFollowing TextJames 1:12James 1:12

How to respond to trials to How to respond to trials to receive God’s approval receive God’s approval

Respond with joy Respond with joy anticipating maturityanticipating maturity

Respond with believing Respond with believing prayer for wisdomprayer for wisdom

Respond with God’s Respond with God’s perspectiveperspective

Respond with expectation of Respond with expectation of rewardreward

Theme of Immediate ContextTheme of Immediate ContextRomans 8:28 And we know that in all Romans 8:28 And we know that in all

things God works for the good of those things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called who love him, who have been called

according to his purposeaccording to his purpose

Whole Section ThemeWhole Section Theme

Theme of Preceding Theme of Preceding TextTextRomans 8:26-27Romans 8:26-27

Theme of TextTheme of TextRomans 8:28Romans 8:28

ThemeTheme of Following of Following TextTextRomans 8:29-30Romans 8:29-30

Divine help in difficult Divine help in difficult circumstancescircumstances

Spirit’s Intercessory Spirit’s Intercessory PrayerPrayer

God works positively God works positively ininall circumstancesall circumstances

Unbroken sequence ofUnbroken sequence ofsalvation experiencessalvation experiences

2. Context of Book 2. Context of Book

How does this passage fit into How does this passage fit into the the messagemessage of the book? of the book?

3. Entire Bible context3. Entire Bible context

What does this passage What does this passage contribute contribute to the total teaching of to the total teaching of the Bible the Bible on this on this subjectsubject??