Studying the Bible in Context
Using Bible Backgrounds

Preliminary Thoughts:

Backgrounds do not . . .

. . . Save a person or even keep them faithful.
One does NOT have to understand backgrounds in order to be saved or to be faithful.

. . . Make one more spiritual.

Backgrounds do . . .

. . . Help to make the text come to life.

. . . Help to keep the text in the context of the writing.

• Everything in life has a context.
• Context of an event or writing does not change.
• Context is important to understanding the true meaning of the text.

 Asking the right questions to get the biblical background.

What?

• What does the passage say?
• What does the rest of Scripture teach about this subject?
• What is the theme of the book or letter?
• What spiritual lessons may we learn?
• What are the original meanings of words?

 Where?

• Where did the action take place?
• Where are the cities?
• Where are the mountains and the valleys?
• Where are the regions or countries?
• Where are the bodies of water?

 Who?

• Who are the main characters?
• Who is speaking or writing?
• Who is the person writing or speaking to?
• Who do the pronouns in the text refer to?

When?

• When did the event take place?
• When was the book or letter written?

 How?

• How did the text apply to the readers?
• How does it apply to the modern readers?

 Why?

• Why is this text important?

Closing Thoughts

• An author’s own explanation of his meaning takes precedence over any other interpretation.
• The interpretation of a text must respect the writer’s purpose.
• The simplest and most natural interpretation must be preferred.
• Good interpretation will, in general, move from being very hard to tell what it means to clarity.
• Any interpretation must be in harmony with grammar, rhetoric, logic and consistency.
• Good interpretation recognizes the condition of the writing.
• An event is to be regarded as miraculous only when it may not be consistently interpreted otherwise.
• Good interpretation requires the discriminating use of cross references, parallel passages and study Bible notes.