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?

[Austin]

Immediate-does our interpretation make good sense and contribute to the flow of the verses and paragraphs around it?
Literary-does our interpretation make sense in light of the message of the book it’s written in?
Historical-does our interpretation fit the writer’s and reader’s historical situation?
Cultural-does our interpretation fit the culture to which it was addressed?
Scriptural-does our interpretation agree with what the rest of scripture teaches?

For me the answer to some of these questions depends upon how much time I am willing to devote to my study of the Bible. In the Old Testament books, I would be very interested in looking at maps, for instance, to gain a better understanding of the region the author and/or reader is living in.

[Austin]

Immediate: examines what interpretation immediately jumps at us when we interprete scriptures
Literarary: examines word for word
historical: examines the historical background such as the times, people and places involved
cultural : examines the cultural practices prevalent at that historical moment
and scriptural examines both the exegenetic and hermeneutical inpretation and relating it to our current circumstances

[Austin]

The immediate context focuses on if it contribute to the flow of the rest of the passage.
The literary context focuses on does it make sense in the sentence or message within the book.
The historical context focuses on if it fits into the writer and audience time period.
The cultural context focuses on if it fits in the cultural aspect to which is being addressed.
The scriptural context focuses on if it agrees with the scriptural teachings of the Bible.

The importance that each context plays: they each contribute their individual important and specific information that is needed to provide a complete and accurate interpretation.

[Austin]

Immediate Context: Does our interpretation make sense and contribute to the flow of the verses and paragraphs around?
Literary context: Does our interpretation make sense in light of the message of the book?
Historical: Does our interpretation fit both the writer’s and reader’s historical situation?
Cultural: Does our interpretation fit the culture to which it is addressed?
Scriptural: Does our interpretation agrees with the rest of scripture?

[Austin]

Immediate-does our interpretation make good sense and contribute to the flow of the verses and paragraphs around it?

Literary-does our interpretation make sense in light of the message of the book it’s written in?

Historical-does our interpretation fit the writer’s and reader’s historical situation?

Cultural-does our interpretation fit the culture to which it was addressed?

Scriptural-does our interpretation agree with what the rest of scripture teaches? The greatest guide to interpreting scripture is scripture itself.