What is the "context" of the ENTIRE Bible?

Question

Christians (and others) often "lift" Scripture passages "out-of-context" to support their beliefs. This is called "proof-texting." When read in context (reading before and after the "pulled" passage), the true meaning is usually discerned, resulting in what is often considered to be the orthodox meaning.

Is there an overall context of the Scripture which can help us determine more accurately what particular passages mean?

Answer 1

It is a history book, inasmuch as it documents the history of the creation of Man, his fall from a close relationship to God, and God's moves to restore us to that right relationship. It shows what the Israelites went through to get to the point in time where God felt it was appropriate to send Jesus to open the way for man to return to that relationship.

It is a teaching book, inasmuch as it shows, throughout the history, those things that are sin (actions directly contrary to God's will), and those that are pleasing to God. In the Old Testament, it teaches us, through the laws that God instituted (and that mankind violated often) that we are unable to earn our way to Heaven through our own actions. It led the way to Jesus' coming, His sacrifice and, the opening of the way to Heaven, through Jesus Christ, for all who receive Him as Lord & Savior.

In the Old Testament, we learn the extent of the evils that man can descend to and that, without the salvation of Jesus, the punishment for these abominations is swift and terrible.

This leads to the New Testament which shows that Jesus came to Earth to take the punishment for those sins, since He is the only perfect & sinless person and, therefore could be the only pure sacrifice. We see that God is consistent throughout, but that Jesus becomes the scapegoat, if you will, for the sins of mankind.

Ultimately, the context is the Love of God, through Jesus Christ, to make a way so that we need no longer be separated from our Creator and, through our acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord & Savior, we can have the intimate relationship that we, & God, desire.

Answer 2

Yes. Build a time-machine. Ask the Apostles what they were thinking when they wrote stuff.

There is reason to believe, for example, that most if not all of Revelations is an allegory of ancient Rome and is actually "prophesising" the fall of the Roman Empire. But this is all just theory and hypothesis unless we know for a fact what he was thinking when he wrote that.

Some stuff, like Leviticus, is easy to figure out when you consider the *time* it was written in. These were harsh and often dangerous times. The milah about circumcision can be explained by the need to easily identify babies in the event that somebody from a neighbouring "tribe", like the Canaanites, crept over and stole your baby while you were sleeping. The rule about not eating milk and meat in the same dish is because the Israelites found this specific Canaanite dish that involved cooking a goat kid in the milk of its own mother specifically to be creepy and weird and so they didn't do it.

But, in the context of the New Testament, those are "Jewish rules" and the Apostle Saul proclaimed that one did not need to follow Jewish law to be a Christian.

If you want to interpret the life of Jesus literally, you also have to keep in mind that, Mark and John (I think) had different versions of the last supper and the fate of Judas. Interpret that as *literally* Mark's and Luke's and John's versions of what happened rather than the literal life of Jesus -- this is where history becomes mythology (the study of sacred texts), because no other period documents exist to confirm or deny their accounts.

The context of the Bible, as well as the Torah and the Q'ran, are a little all over the place. Some passages are obviously meant literally, while others need other passages to put them into context and draw a better understanding of the intended meaning. Other parts are open to interpretation -- there is a passage in the Q'ran that states a man should be free to marry as many women *as he can equally provide for*, but many Muslims say this advocates monogamy, because an honest man cannot possibly provide the same measure of *love* for more than one woman.

So, until time-travel becomes possible, I suggest to read the Bible, read ALL of it, and study it carefully. The apocryphal ("gnostic") texts were important to early Christians, but were not included in the Bible for largely political reasons -- many of these books are fragmented, but are available at most large-chain bookstores in the sections for religious texts. These books may give you a different perspective and may help you understand some other things in a different light.

But the "true" context of biblical scriptures can only really be found through living in the time they were written -- which you and I, often thankfully, are not.

Answer 3

Since the Bible is not simply a single work, but a collection of various books, sporting various and sundry authors, generas and styles. Some are histories, some prophicies, some geneologies, some are songs, others, Law or poetry. Some are charged with the Gospel, others are communications-letters sent to early churches.

I guess it's silly to try to determine an overall context to a collection of writings so eclectic, addressing mankind's pre-history untill the prophets of doomsday. If pushed to 'answer the question' more directly, I'd venture this: IF the ENTIRE TEXT of the BIBLE can be considered the 'pulled passage', then both Genesis and Revelations provide divine bookends-God was there before the beginning, and will rule over the end of humanity's time on this Earth. Evidence of God's love despite the sinful nature of mankind. Enduring forever.

Answer 4

Wow.....I believe you actually have smart Christians
answering your question this time, as I read so many
great answers (that I agree with). I just might add that
the Holy Bible is history (His Story) of how it all began,
many years of history and how people lived, when Christ
was born and lived among them on this earth, and then
the excitement of how it all will end. It's all in His Book.
Many Bibles do have commentary at the bottom about
certain scriptures if you do need help "determining what
particular passages mean". They are especially helpful
to those new in the faith who have started reading and
studying the Bible. Soon the Holy Spirit will take over and
you will be able to discern the true meanings of Bible
scripture.

Answer 5

In a nutshell, the context of the Bible is redemption.
Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but that sin separates all men from God (Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (Philippians 2:6-11), and died on the cross. Christians believe that after His death on the cross, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for the believers forever (Hebrews 7:25). Christianity proclaims that Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to completely pay the sin debt owed by all men and this is what restores the broken relationship between God and man (Hebrews 9:11-14, Hebrews 10:10, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8).

Answer 6

The overall theme of the bible can be sumed up in very few words. That the paradise that adam lost for us Jesus by his death brought back. That soon God is going to set up a kingdom on this earth for righteous, meek people a real government that is centered in heaven. But rules over the earth.
psalms 37: 9,10,11, 29 tell all about this kingdom
Daniel 2:44
Matthrew 5:5 the meek will inherit the earth.
It is from the first part of the bible to the last part.
That is the main theme of the bible.

Answer 7

Kidd, this is where the a priori views will color our "contexts." Jehovah's Witness for example will demand that all verses support Arianism, and will call anything quoted as Trinitarian, "out of context." Pelagian and semi Pelagianism thought will demand the impotence or semi-impotence of God, therefore any verse that you show them in denial of this, will be retranslated until it does fit. Arminianism, same thing, predestination turns into a wanting, hoping God no matter how you present it to them. And it will be in context to all of the above. And I even have to turn the tables on Calvinism, anything that is said, when looked at through other glasses, will also be deemed to be in error as it, too, is "taken out of context."

I think the only way that we can determine accurately what everything means in the Bible, is to dialogue. Paul and John and all the other writers of the Bible have said their piece and left the building, now it is for us to decide what they really meant, and therefore who God is. Sometimes the dialogue here on Yahoo Answers can get a bit hostile, and much of the time it does not happen at all. I like to get people thinking, and I like to be "stumped" myself. But I think dialogue is the only way we are going to get any closer to the real meaning of Scripture, with the light of the Holy Spirit of course determining the truth for those he decides to reveal himself to.

Answer 8

Sanctification of Jehovah’s name by his Kingdom under Christ.

Gen. 3:15 Promise of the Seed that will
destroy the Serpent

Gen. 22:15-18 All nations will bless themselves
by means of Abraham’s seed

Ex. 3:15; 6:3 God emphasizes his memorial name,
Jehovah

Ex. 9:16; Rom. 9:17 God states purpose to have his
name declared

Ex. 18:11; Jehovah greater than all other
Isa. 36:18-20;37:20, 36-38; gods
Jer. 10:10, 11

Ex. 20:3-7 God respects name, demands
exclusive devotion

Job, chaps. 1, 2 Jehovah’s rightful sovereignty and
man’s attitude and integrity
toward it

Job 32:2; 35:2; 36:24; 40:8 God’s vindication brought to the
fore

Isa. 9:7 God zealously supports everlasting
Kingdom of his Son

Dan. 2:44; 4:17, 34; The importance of God’s Kingdom
7:13, 14 by the “son of man”

Ezek. 6:10; 38:23 People “will have to know that I
am Jehovah.” This statement
appears more than 60 times in the
prophecy of Ezekiel

Mal. 1:11 God’s name to be great among the
nations

Matt. 6:9, 10, 33 Sanctification of God’s name by his
Kingdom is of primary importance

John 17:6, 26 Jesus declared God’s name

Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13 Jehovah’s name to be called on for
salvation

Rom. 3:4 God to be proved true, though
every man a liar

1 Cor. 15:24-28 Kingdom to be handed back to God;
God to be all things to everyone

Heb. 13:15 Christians must make public
declaration to Jehovah’s name

Rev. 15:4 Jehovah’s name to be glorified by
all nations

Rev. 19:6 Jehovah’s name praised after
devastation of Babylon the Great

Answer 9

Non-believers also lift things out of context to prove or disprove their points. It is a favorite tool of the devil who even tried in on Jesus in the desert.

Yes, I believe that there is an overall context to the Bible. God created the universe and loves His creation. He especially loves His people but He will not tolerate their sin and disobedience forever. He raised up a people to hold His truths and from them He sent His son to save the World. Through the Son, we may come to know the Father.

Answer 10

without a prophet, it is impossible. Paul had to chastise for deviation for some were preaching another gospel. John the Revealator, the same. The Catholics had to come up with the Nicean creed. The Lord restored his Church through Joseph smith and the Church is called non Christian because they are "different". Without a shepherd, the sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way.