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There are five contexts that we must check our interpretation with: immediate, literary, historical, cultural and scriptural. Can you explain what each one focuses on? Can you explain the importance each context plays in doing accurate interpretation?
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Immediate context: when telling a story or writing a poem, a passage must fit in with the lines before and after it in order to make sense as a whole. When we are doing exegesis, we must make sure that the interpretation of a passage fits in with the text around it, if not, then we likely have the wrong interpretation.
Literary context: different types of literature communicate information in different ways. The genre, subject matter, and purpose of the passage will all affect how the information is communicated, so it is important to interpret the text in light of the work as a whole.
Historical context: the historical climate surrounding the text will dramatically affect the way it should be interpreted. Was it written during a time of peace or during conflict or exile? Who were the political leaders during the time? Was there severe famine or drought? Knowing things like this will help to understand the background that may not be explicitly communicated in the passage, but would affect how it should be interpreted.
Cultural context: the culture of the writer and the recipients significantly affects a passage. Certain cultural norms would dictate whether the action in the passage would be shocking or the reader or expected. For example, much of what Jesus says in the Gospels is commonplace today, but it was radical at the time. Knowing the specific ways this was outside of the norms would help a reader to understand the reaction of those who heard the message. Additionally, phrases and word choice that is dictated by culture would affect how a text would be interpreted.
Scriptural context: beyond the book of the Bible that a passage is in, it is also part of the whole of Scripture. Does the interpretation of the passage fit in with the whole body of Scripture? Since God inspired all of Scripture, we must assume that He intended it to all fit together in meaning. Therefore, we must make sure that our interpretation is in line with the Bible as a whole.
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Immediate: refers to the scripture reading that surrounds the test Literary is the type of language being used (genre) Historical is the time period the passage was written Cultural is the people and their traditions Spiritual is as it relates to God intended purpose for his people
When a person focuses on these areas, they can grab the content of it meaning with a better interpretation.
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Immediate is telling was is going on the the verse we are reading right then. Literary is the type of book were are reading. Historical is telling us at what time in history these things are taking place. Cultural is telling us what the culture is like in this particular writing. Scriptural has to due with the message that is being taught. These are important to being a correct understanding and a Binle passage.
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The focus of these contexts in our interpretation is:
1) immediate – refers to the context before and after the passage that we are reading.
2) literary – refers to the type of genres that that passage refers to e.g. is it a narratives or epistles.
3) historical context – refers to the historical background that the writer is in and how that affects the concerns of the writer, e.g. when Paul wrote the book of Philippians, where he was and what his situation is like?
4) Cultural context – refers to the culture in the times of the original readers e.g. if the writer was writing to Jews or Gentiles.
5) Scriptural context – refers to what the whole bible says about the subject that the writer was saying in that passage.
All these contexts are important because it shade lights on the passage to give more insights to why the writer said certain things and what is the importance to the original readers, given their cultural and historical background. For without giving reference to these contexts, we might misinterpret what the writer wanted to communicate. -
The contexts for sound interpretation are:
Immediate: The exegesis of the passage specifically within the context of the surrounding sentences, within the paragraph, and the current and accurately identified subject(s) and message.Literary: What is the overall genre of the type of scripture being studied, or mixed sub-genre within a passage of scripture.
Historical: Knowledge of the setting, time, audience, circumstances, and relevance into the greater context of the big picture/message.
Cultural: And understand of the people, cultures, customs, both comparing and contrasting to both gentile and Israelite ways of living for people of the passage of scripture being examined.
Scriptural: The illumination of Spiritually discerned sound interpretation consistent with the unity of the wholeness of the truth of all of God’s Holy scripture.