In which context should we take the bible?

Question

A question was answered with "Reading a verse in context really helps understanding a given passage."

Which context should the bible be read with. There are 30,000 different Christian organizations world wide. That's no misprint, mistype or misquote, THIRTY-THOUSAND.

If these groups cannot decide amongst themselves on how to read and decypher the context of the bible, how are you supposed to?

Answer 1

You're supposed to read it in the context that's it's a FREAKING STORY BOOK! No different than Mother Goose.

Answer 2

The bible is supposedly a collection of testimonies in its most intrinsic form. Its gathers in writing the method of spreading the religion aka word of god. Thus the old testament which is story based and the new testament which is gospel based. And then there are the many translations in many forms over time that are subjected to bias, and you have a bible which may not say the same thing exactly as when it was first put to paper. The collective bias of language, perception, enviroment and people have altered the wording of the bible almost certainly and with particularly languages with all its different nuances, wording is sometimes everything. It is being realised even now with people or groups that translate the bible into many different forms to suit their bias. Thus any specific context to be had is most likely off the mark. That is not to say no context can be had. Just a broad one. Though that raises a totally different problem all it own as with broader context comes gray edges which may befuddle some that need clear and concise directions and they start to make up their own (osama seems to be very good at it though its with another book...) The important thing is the morals that are being taught thru the testaments apply still though the methods may not always be strictly applicable except in the spirtual sense. Just don't take the bible word for word in the most literal sense, take the lessons instead. Though eroded by time, the basic precepts remain the same, that is to be more like unto the goodness expounded and exemplified by the many characters in the bible.

Cheers!

Answer 3

You read in the context in which it was written just like any other book. You can follow the progression of its teachings from beginning to end and the fundamental principles and teachings are all there, crystal clear. Sure, some of the prophetic writing takes further in-depth study to understand, but most of its prophecies have already been fulfilled and can be compared against historical documentation which makes it easier and gives us confidence in the few that haven't been fulfilled yet. You have to look at it as a whole and not just individual scriptures and verses. Reading it repeatedly also helps. The first time someone reads a book written by Shakespeare, for instance, may not understand it the first time they read it and it may take a number of times until they do, but his stories are well written and are fluid. It may even take someone else to help them understand what is being said and there may even be some differing opinions on what the writer was trying to convey throughout various parts of his works, but his stories are what they are and when it's all said and done we all know and understand what Romeo and Juliet was all about.

Answer 4

I'm assuming the person you quoted meant "context" in the most obvious way--reading the surrounding passages and getting an honest feel for what the writer was trying to communicate. Sometimes part of considering the context is also looking at the purpose of the writing and the audience.

You make a faulty assumption in presenting your "evidence" against understanding Scripture. I'll assume you are correct in your number of 30,000 different Christian organizations (I would guess there are more). You are incorrect in your assumption, however, that they are all different in how they interpret Scripture.

Answer 5

Well first off ALL those 30000 thousand ORGANIZATIONS does not mean they Disagree about the bible it just means they have each chosen to FOCUS on one aspect or another there really are only a very FEW actuall disagreements about the bible.
There are 2 different baseball ORGANIZATIONS and they have different rules (the national league and the american league) they still have one world series. Think of the Christian Organizations the same way. Some have choosen to think the DH is better Others think NOT. Some Christian Groups think it is Better to focus on Helping the Poor other Christian Groups think it is better to focus on Helping the abused. We (mostly) all still follow JESUS ! Hopes this helps

Answer 6

"In context" means just what it means for any other book. If I took a passage out of Alice in Wonderland, for instance, you might think it was about how to train white rabbits to talk and tell time, or proper ettiquette when attending a tea party.
If you really want to understand the Bible, you ought to 1) read it with an open mind, and 2) talk to God about it.
If you don't believe in God, truly reading the Bible with an open mind might help you to understand why others do, at least.

Answer 7

Reading something in context means that you're attempting to interpret something the way the author intended it to be when they wrote it. It means you have to read the entire story and know how everything fits together. It has nothing to do with what certain organizations or denominations think.

Answer 8

It should be into consideration that BIBLE is word of GOD give to certain people group at certain time in context with certain situation that people under went and in certain cultural context.All these should be seen before we try to interpret BIBLE.And of-course things do apply even now only if things are interpreted correctly.
eg1:"There should be no other gods beside ME".....originally given for Israel(people group) when they came out of Egypt(situation)because in Egypt they are used to seeing many different gods and goddesses (culture).Now GOD is making it clear that HE is the only GOD.And in today's context this is also true that our land is no different from that of Egypt with many gods.So it is also for us.
eg2:"don't cook kid in it's mothers milk".It was the culture at that time they would sacrifice a kid(goat) cook it in its mothers milk and sprinkle the cooked material all over the field that they would plough/till.It is their inference that it would bring fertile harvest.It is heathen practice.
GOD said to Israel that this should not be done b'cos harvest is LORD'S and not by doing these practices they would succeed.

Answer 9

OK maybe not so easy but you need to try and understand the tome and culture in which it was writ en
the new testament was written for the Jews who thought they knew about God.
but most of the old testament was aimed at Israel when it had lost its way so basic alt talking to pagens. but each chapter has its own message to those people we can not take it all at word value now which is why they need to reatranslate it to try and make it compatible with our modern understanding. but it can never be with out guidance from God or a good preacher

Answer 10

I think what they are trying to say, is to read above and below the actual verse, so that you can get an idea of the lesson or story being told with the verse in question.

Hope that helps a bit.