Exactly how does one know when s/he is taking a part of the Bible 'out of context'?

Question

So much of it is supposedly metaphor, too. Who decides which parts are metaphor, and which are meant to be taken literally? Who decides which understandings are correct, and which are incorrect?

HAYDEN!!!! Hi, baby!!!!

Answer 1

if you ever quote a bible passage that is evil or cruel its taken out of context, otherwise everythings a ok. lol

Answer 2

When the plain sense makes common sense, then seek no other sense.

If you are taking a text and using it as a pretext, then probably you have taken the text out of context.

To know if it is in context ... be very hesitant of using just a few words or even just one verse ... consider what the rest of the chapter says; have a general idea of what the whole book says; what the general teaching of the whole Bible is, and know the Creeds (though they are not definitive for doctrine, yet they clearly are what the Church has believed for the past 1900 years and more).

When literal makes sense, then probably that is how it is to be taken. When you read about a donkey talking, then look at the context ... yes, Balaam may have needed a message from a donkey. So, probably literal. However, if you read of two trees talking ... and maybe a prophet TELLING about such, then quite probably it could be a "story", a "parable", "a metaphor", a "simile", a "hyperbole", an allegory, etc. Who decides? Devout Christians, studious Christians, consult with one another, ask those who are able to read the original languages, etc.

All of those forms of writing can help explain the meaning of a passage, and those who refuse or reject such "forms" then claim the Bible is wrong, is false, is contradictory, etc. Because they don't want to know what it does mean!!

Answer 3

If an interpretation contradicts another interpretation from another part of the Bible then you know something is not right. If surely helps to know the Bible well to know whether something is out of context.

I have found that when most of the Bible is read with the understanding there is probably deeper meaning then what the letter is saying, it makes much more sense. The spirit will help you know the truth, and which is correct.

2 Corinthians 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

example:

Isaiah 7:15
Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

Now does Immanuel literally have to eat butter and honey to know to choose the good. Some say yes, I say no. There must be more to this because it is just too simple for the book of Isaiah. Try to think about what butter represents. I goes along the lines of the new testament....when Paul refers to milk and meat. It is spiritual milk and meat such is the butter.

1 Corinthians 3:2
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

The butter definitely has something to do with this same milk here, but I will let you figure it out.

Answer 4

for me I decide. While sopmetimes I can tell someone is off track sometimes they just saw something I missed. If you would just read the whole thing and get a knowledge of the ispiritor, then just like if someone said to you Amy is like this and you can say yeah I can see that might be true or no way. It is about a relationship not a bunch of words. If yah don't want the relationship fine that is your choice, the ones that bother me are the ones who say they are in a relationship and are flat out lieing and then they make the rest look bad. There just ought to be a law that you can not say you and Jesus are buds and then go out and start a war, invade a country and act like that's OK.

Maybe you can tell a lie to avoid getting hassled (but still yah feel bad) or get angry once in a while, or decide the wife can just always do the dishes or any number of these things on occasion but if you are buds with Jesus it makes you feel bad to do wrong things, and there are just many who are not buds and say they are.

those ones deliberately say the Bible says things it does not just as those who are in a state of rebellion. Those in rebellion fine with me, those who are can people they rub me wrong. Where I now live people are just expected to go to church like it is a social function and that's why these red states are so messed up. Born in a red state lived early years red state, after that toured the world and came back and did not remember it stinking so bad here b4. People here probably could not define context if you opened one up and read it to them. ha con-text

Answer 5

Your question is not easy to answer, but I will still make an attempt to do so. The only way in which a person can know for certain that they are not taking any part of the Bible out of context, is to study very carefully, asking the Holy Spirit for guidence and direction and understanding, the scripture which is at hand; looking at what the situation was at the time when the particular scripture was written, and see the particular purpose for it being written at the time that it was written. Take for example Phil. 4:13, which tells us: "I can do all things through Jesus Christ Who strengthens me." If you study this scripture, you will find out that Paul was speaking to the people of the ability which God gives to his children to be able to perform their spiritual duties, as well as anything else which they may face in life, which is in accordance with his perfect will. Now take as an example, if me or you were to get mad at our neighbor, we could not turn to this verse and say that God would give us the strength to go over and beat the tar out of our neighbor. This would most certainly be taking this verse out of context. I know this is a very unusual example, but the main point, is that we not take the Word of God, and try to use it in a way that it was not intended to be used. You really have to take every situation on an individual basis. And if we face something in our life, and a scripture comes to our mind which we think applies to the situation, the best thing to do is to go and study the verse very carefully. It is true that much of the Bible may be taken literally, but much of it also is for spiritual understanding. I hope I have helped.

Answer 6

First question is have you excepted Christ as your Saviour? If not then give up trying the bible teaches that those that do not have Christ will not understand his words anyway. But if you do then lean to Him for understanding. You will not understand every aspect of the bible the first time you read it. But each time you read it you will find another nugget of information that you did not get before. You will learn over time. A child does not learn how to speak in only a day and you should not believe that you can learn the bible in a short time either. Give it time, keep reading, and always pray for understanding before and after you read. When you are ready for that lesson God will let you know.

And never, never try to use the bible to persuade another to do or believe what you really know in your heart is not right.

And tagi 65 has it right. That is defintely how things are taken out of context. So if in doubt read the whole chapter/book to get the context before taking just that line to mean something.

Good Luck and Keep Reading

Answer 7

If you take a single verse and build an entire doctrine on it, I would call that taking the Bible out of context.
I think the Bible should be taken literally whenever it can be. Granted, there is a lot of figurative language that can't be taken literally, especially in books like Revelation, Daniel and Ezekiel.
For example, Revelation says that when Christ returns, he will have a sword coming out of his mouth. Should this be taken literally? I don't see any point in a literal sword coming out of Jesus' mouth (although I do believe that he will literally return, just as he literally came to earth the first time).

Answer 8

In brief:

1. The Bible should always be used as its own interpreter.
2. Two points determine a line, 3 points determine a plane. Any concept built on just one text is one without direction. You should have at least two or three places in the Bible which say the same thing.
3. Be careful of trying to make the Bible say what you want it to. Let God help you understand it, and open your mind to new ideas.

One example:
Q: What do the birds in Jesus' parable of the sower represent?
A: Look at Revelation 18:2, and combine that with Jesus' own explanation to the disciples. You have at least two points which, together, show the birds represent the demons. (And in this case there are many other texts as well.)

Hope that helps!

Answer 9

When someone says it's been taken out of context, it just means that one line has been taken out of an entire verse - here's an example (not biblical, LOL, because I can't do it from memory).

Say someone gives a speech, and in this speech they say:

"In the Middle East, there's a heavy demand for white young women. Many are kidnapped for and sold into slavery. Middle Easterners have a different view of this practice than westerners do. Sexual slavery is not a bad thing. It's a normal and acceptable practice."

Now, someone hearing that speech could truthfully say, "Joe Smith said, 'Sexual slavery is not a bad thing.'" That line would be in the text of the speech. However, the context of the single quote is that Joe Smith thinks that sexual slavery is o.k. Reading it "in context," with the rest of the speech text shows unequivocally that it is completely out of context and therefore not representative of what the speech was about.

Many people will take one line from an entire chapter and claim that line defines what God "wants." However, when another person checks up on what the line says, "in context," they'll find that it many times does not represent what the person has claimed it does.

HTH.

Answer 10

Because you can't just pull one verse out of the bible. Scripture is interpreted against scripture. One of the reasons there are cults is because they do exactly what one is not supposed to do: they lift one verse, twist it around, and poof, they've got a new doctrine. That is how JW's came up with the idea that Jesus is the archangel michael, for instance. Also, when reading the bible, to read "in context" means you read the verses above, and below, the text in question so you can understand the full meaning.

Answer 11

I know! Why would the bible be in metaphor! Everyone should have the ability to understand it! I think that the people who choose parts as being metaphorical are scared that it will actually happen! Especially Revalations! They want to believe that we can get away with doing sin completely! Well they have to be judged like everyone else!