In
2 Timothy 2:15, Paul advised Timothy to be diligent in presenting
himself approved before God. He emphasized the importance of working in
a way that avoids shame, specifically by rightly dividing and accurately
handling the word of truth. If we seek God's approval, it is essential
for us to interpret His word correctly.
The
Bible warns us that it is possible to misinterpret the scriptures to the
extent that it leads to our own destruction. This suggests that we must
be extremely diligent when we engage with God’s word, whether during
preaching services or in our classes. Simply knowing the scriptures is
not sufficient; many people are familiar with the texts yet fail to
interpret them correctly. Consequently, this misinterpretation can lead
to detrimental outcomes. Therefore, we must exercise great care in our
study and understanding of the scriptures.
A
prime example of this can be seen in the context of the Jews in the 1st
century. They possessed a wealth of evidence from the Law of Moses,
including hundreds of prophecies that trace back to Genesis 3 and extend
through to the conclusion of Malachi. Despite the abundance of these
prophecies predicting the arrival of the Messiah, the overwhelming
majority remained unbelieving.
In
John 5:46, Jesus held the Jews accountable, stating, "For if you
believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me." He
emphasized that if they had truly read, understood, and believed what
Moses wrote about Him, they would have recognized Him as the Messiah.
This accountability extends to us as well; God expects us to engage with
His Word. On Judgment Day, we won't be able to stand before God and
claim ignorance of His desires for us. Our understanding is our
responsibility, and He has made His Word accessible and clear. As Paul
noted, he wrote to ensure that his knowledge was understandable,
emphasizing the importance of grasping these teachings.
We
must remain diligent, which is why Paul instructed Timothy to do the
same. Each of us is accountable for our understanding of God's Word, and
we carry the responsibility of its interpretation. This lesson will
explore perhaps the most crucial principle in biblical interpretation:
context. We will examine what context means, how to effectively utilize
it, and why it is so vital to our understanding.
In
our previous lesson, we examined a critical aspect of context: the
importance of understanding the Bible as a whole. It is our
responsibility to recognize the different divisions and ages within it.
We discussed the patriarchal period when God communicated directly with
the heads of families, providing them with specific instructions that
were not given to anyone else. For instance, He instructed Abraham and
Noah on unique tasks that were exclusively for them. This direct
communication continued for an extended period. Later, God provided a
distinct set of laws—known as the Law of Moses—specifically for the
Israelites, outlining what they were to do and what they were not to do.
However, it’s important to note that this law was ultimately rendered
obsolete with the crucifixion.
We
revisit passages such as Ephesians 2 and Colossians 2, which state that
the law has been abolished and will never be reinstated. It is not a
matter of it being temporarily set aside; it has been permanently
fulfilled. Jesus embodied the essence of the Old Law, the Law of Moses,
and upon His arrival, He fulfilled its requirements. Consequently, it is
no longer part of what He expects from us.
By
neglecting the overall context of the Bible, specifically the
relationships between its divisions, we have seen numerous
misinterpretations arise. This often occurs because individuals fail to
recognize these distinctions. It is our responsibility to address this
issue.
This lesson will focus primarily on what we refer to as the immediate
context.
When engaged in conversation, one may hear someone quote a specific
verse from the Bible, asserting, "This is what it says," and while the
quote may be accurate, it is often taken out of context. Have you ever
approached a small group having a conversation and overheard something
that made you think, "What in the world?" This confusion arises from the
lack of contextual understanding.
You
might hear a sentence or phrase that could be interpreted negatively in
one scenario but could also have a completely harmless meaning in
another. If you missed the preceding dialogue, you may misunderstand the
entire conversation. The same principle applies to the Scriptures;
taking a verse out of its surrounding context can lead to significant
misinterpretations.
Thus, we will emphasize the importance of examining the verses
immediately before and after a particular passage.
We
need to exercise caution regarding chapter divisions in the Bible. It’s
important to remember that these divisions were not placed there by God
but were added by humans many years later. The same applies to how
verses are divided. While chapter divisions can be helpful, there have
been instances where their placement has led to misunderstandings or
misinterpretations. It's essential to be aware of this when reading and
studying the text.
Let's take a moment to examine Romans chapter 12. Specifically, let’s
look at verses 19 through 21. In this passage, Paul addresses the church
in Rome, saying, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give
place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,'
says the Lord." He continues, "Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed
him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in doing so, you will heap
coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good."
Often, we stop reading at this point and may conclude that capital
punishment or any form of discipline for lawbreakers is wrong. If we end
our reading here without considering the subsequent verses, we might
mistakenly believe that those who commit wrongdoings in our society
cannot be punished because God instructs us not to take vengeance. It's
important to look at the broader context to fully understand the message
being conveyed.
What does he say in the very next verse? "Let every soul be subject to
the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God,
and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever
resists authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist
will bring judgment upon themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good
works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what
is good, and you will receive praise from the same. For he is God's
minister to you for good, but if you do evil, be afraid, for he does not
bear the sword in vain."
Now, we understand what he is conveying: you are not meant to take
personal vengeance, for God has established governments to fulfill that
role. It is important to note that if we stopped reading at the end of
Romans chapter 12 and then began at the first four verses of Romans 13,
we would miss this crucial context, leading to misunderstanding. This
highlights the significance of considering immediate context.
A
notable example can be found in Colossians chapter 2, verse 21, which
states: "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle." Many people
interpret this to mean that there are certain things we should avoid and
others that are acceptable. However, the context actually suggests the
opposite. If you don't read the preceding verse or the one that follows,
you may misinterpret the message. Notice verse 20, which says,
"Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the
world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to
regulations?" The phrase "do not touch, do not taste, do not handle"
refers to things that pertain to the commandments and doctrines of
men—he's emphasizing the contrary point.
In
examining the context of Colossians Chapter 2, Paul discusses the
various regulations outlined in the Law of Moses—what could be eaten,
what could not be eaten, what could be touched, and what should be
avoided. He emphasizes that these regulations are now obsolete,
questioning why people continue to adhere to the "do not touch, do not
taste, do not handle" rules. He highlights that they have been freed
from such limitations, affirming that it is entirely acceptable to
consume foods previously deemed unclean and to engage with things that
were once considered impure. This perspective is quite the opposite of
what many might assume. If one were to isolate that single verse without
considering the surrounding verses, it could lead to a completely
erroneous conclusion. This underscores the importance of context in
understanding Scripture accurately.
Sometimes, we need to delve deeper than just the verse preceding or
following a particular scripture. It is crucial to consider a broader
context, and this is where a concordance becomes indispensable. For
instance, if we encounter a verse about repentance, to fully understand
what that entails, we must examine various other passages in the Bible
that discuss repentance. Relying on a single verse alone will not
provide us with a complete picture. Therefore, it is essential to
explore what is commonly referred to as the remote context—other verses
and sections of the Bible that address the same subject.
for instance let's look at first John chapter 3 verse 9 and remember if
we just take this one verse by itself and we don't pay any attention to
anything else that's written. first John chapter 3 verse 9 "whoever has
been born of God does not sin for his seed remains in him and he cannot
sin because he's been born of God."
I
have encountered individuals and read various works suggesting that a
Christian cannot sin—that it is impossible for a Christian to sin. They
often base this belief solely on one particular verse. If that were the
only verse in the Bible, it might seem like a valid conclusion. However,
we must consider what other passages say on the matter. God holds us
responsible; we cannot take a single verse or a portion of a verse in
isolation and shape our lives around it. That’s why the entire Bible is
essential. We need to be diligent in our studies, as it takes effort,
time, and energy to cultivate a clear understanding of the truth.
Let's examine 1 John 3:9, which states that a child of God cannot sin.
This has led many to question its meaning. To gain clarity, we should
also look at the first chapter of the same book. In 1 John 1:8, it says
that if we claim we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. Verse 10 adds that if we say we have not sinned, we make God
a liar, and His word is not in us.
So,
which statement reflects the truth: can a child of God sin, or can they
not? Since we believe that the Holy Spirit is the author of this text,
we understand that both passages convey the same essential truth. John
opens his letter by stating that if you claim you don’t sin, you are
essentially lying. Therefore, can a child of God sin? Absolutely—there
is no doubt about it.
In
1 John 3:9, what exactly is being conveyed? One way to understand this
is by looking at a similar phrase in the Old Testament. If we turn to
Genesis 44:22, we find an interesting example. In this passage, Joseph
is in Egypt, and Judah, along with his brothers, is recounting the story
of Benjamin, the youngest sibling. Judah states, "And we said to my
lord, 'The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his
father, his father would die.'"
In
this context, the term "cannot" does not imply impossibility. Could the
lad leave his father? Certainly. Rather, "cannot" indicates that he
ought not to leave his father; it would be unwise for him to do so.
Physically, the lad could leave, but it is clear that he should not.
This understanding also applies to 1 John 3:9. When it says that a child
of God cannot sin, it does not mean that sinning is impossible for them.
Instead, it signifies that a child of God should not sin—it is something
they ought to avoid. The idea is not that sinning is beyond their
capability, but rather that it should not characterize the life of a
child of God.
We
might rephrase it in a contemporary context: Imagine a scenario where a
man of the world is walking down the street with a child of God. The man
suggests, "Let's go into this bar and have a drink." The child of God
replies, "No, I cannot do that. I am a child of God." This response
raises the question: what does he mean by saying he cannot do that? Is
it physically impossible for him to enter the bar and get a drink? No,
it’s not impossible; he could certainly do that. So when the child of
God says, "I cannot go in," what he really means is that he shouldn’t or
ought not to do so. It's simply not the right thing for him.
By
examining the broader context within the Bible, we can better understand
1 John 3:9, which states that the child of God cannot sin. This means
that a child of God should not allow sin to be a habitual part of their
life; sin should not characterize their daily actions. However, it is
true that they can and do sin. If we claim otherwise, we are deceiving
ourselves and the truth is not in us. Therefore, it is clear that we do
sin. This understanding is reinforced by several passages throughout the
book of John, highlighting the importance of considering the remote
context.
In
John chapters 14 through 17, a significant amount of dialogue occurs in
the upper room just before Jesus’ crucifixion and prior to his betrayal
in the garden by Judas. During this time, several important events take
place, including the institution of the Last Supper and the revelation
of Judas as the betrayer. Within these four chapters, Jesus makes
numerous promises specifically to the apostles. One key promise is that
the Holy Spirit, referred to as the Comforter, will come to them and
reveal all truth, ensuring they will not need to remember everything
themselves because the Holy Spirit will guide their words directly.
It’s important to note that this context is directed solely at the
apostles. However, many people listening to radio and television
teachings often extend this claim to apply to themselves, asserting that
the Holy Spirit instructs them on what to say. I recall an account of
someone who once believed this principle in the religious community; he
waited for the Holy Spirit to guide him in delivering a message one
Sunday but ultimately received no direction. After that experience, he
decided not to adhere to the belief that the verse was applicable to
him.
2
Timothy 2:15 instructs us to be diligent in rightly dividing the word of
truth, emphasizing the importance of effort and work. It does not imply
that we should simply wait for the Holy Spirit to miraculously provide
us with understanding about any given topic in the Bible.
When examining passages such as John 14, John 15, and John 16, it's
important to note that some promises were specifically addressed to the
apostles. If you isolate one of these promises without considering the
surrounding context, you may arrive at a very misguided belief. Those
miraculous promises were intended for the apostles.
God
holds us accountable, just as He held the Jews of the first century
accountable for their lack of belief in Jesus. He declared that Moses
wrote about Jesus, making it clear that they were responsible for
recognizing the truth; it was presented in a way that was
understandable. While some people did come to believe, the majority did
not, despite the truth being accessible.
Today, we share that same responsibility to know what the Bible teaches
in order to be saved. The scriptures are not written in a cryptic
manner; they are straightforward and comprehensible. You don't need
years of study to grasp their meaning.
God
expects us to believe in His Son and to commit our lives to Him. This
involves turning away from worldly things, repenting, and confessing His
name before others. The Bible clearly outlines these expectations—it’s
not complicated to understand. We also need to be born again, which
includes being immersed and buried for the forgiveness of our sins.
God
holds us accountable for understanding biblical teachings and for
adhering to what is conveyed in 1 John 1, which emphasizes the necessity
of continually confessing our sins and seeking forgiveness. The Bible is
accessible, and we can certainly understand it.
The
church of Christ
