The cultural context of a worldview examines the daily lives of people as well as their attitudes and values. Dr. Heiser says, “We’re talking about things like attitudes that people had, morals –whether they consider something moral or immoral – crime and punishment, that sort of thing, daily life, what they ate, what they drank, work, and play, family life, that sort of thing” [1].
Culture between different nations is easily understood in modern day times. American Corporations doing business overseas take great care in training their representatives to honor the local customs, whether that be looking directly in the eyes to show honesty as accepted in America or diverting the glance in Japan, where direct eye-contact is an insult. But culture differences are not just limited to foreign places. Even in America, our cultures are divided by locales such as “southern and northern ways” that clearly outlasted the horrible conflict of the Civil War. And, there is not a brave, wise Christian that dare walk into a Baptist church and demand liberal worship practices often associated with Methodist congregations as the culture between the two dominations is as different as the division of locales.
Culture defines habits, choices, ceremonies, traditions, and superstitions. The writers of Scripture had strange, odd cultural habits that would not fit into today’s world. In fact, Author David O’Brien suspects that possibly Peter or Paul of New Testament customs might be able to enter into some Christian Churches and be accepted; but, undeniably, the heroes, saints, and sinners reflected in Scripture would most likely be denied entry into most churches today [2]. Even New Testament saints, like John the Baptist, would stretch hospitality to the extreme should he appear at Sunday Service clothed in pelts, with locusts upon his breath. Customs lead to rejection or acceptance in every time and often lead to conflict when two different peoples are unable to reconcile their different customs.
Culture rules time in every society. Scripture shows that in the biblical world, time was based upon the rising and setting of the sun and ruled the time for planting the seeds and harvest and scheduled the security watches nightly. Seventeenth century clocks were not around to help the cultures of the Bible. A difficulty often lies in the understanding of different chronological timings of recorded activities within Scripture. It is imperative for Professional Theologists to understand time in all manner of ways recorded in Scripture, from the length of days to the watches of security to the prophetic 70 weeks. All time matters in the Bible; it is only through cultural context that many of the misunderstandings of time can be resolved.
Dr. Winfried Corduan points out that several ways of looking upon culture in Scripture has the potential to lead interpreters astray [3]. Those that approach Scripture as culture-free deny the personality and intellect of the human author and limits interpretation to generalized assumptions without the human touch. Since God chose humans to write Scripture with His leading rather than using His finger upon stone makes credible His will to reflect human culture in His Word. Those that cast Scripture in the terms of universal culture make interpretive error by making all human cultures one big happy shared existence, without the ramifications of different lives that reflect the wholeness of the LORD God. Those that suggest a divine culture alone for expression of Scripture removes God’s intervention within human cultures; once His moving in the midst of human lives is cast aside, intimate relationship with Him is difficult, if not impossible.
The correct consideration of culture within Scripture expression is as a “complex of several cultures that are different from ours and which are interwoven to provide the backdrop for the divine message,” according to Dr. Winfried Corduan. Bible culture cannot be dealt with in simplistic terms because it reflects divine messages. This knowledge of the interwoven connectedness of culture and divine words fully expresses God’s intentions; without this connection, God’s Truth cannot be fully understood.
Most Professional Theologists are collectors of archaeological and historical pieces that can be handled by their students to connect modern-day culture to biblical times. Whether they are accounts from extra text resources of earlier times, or actual items dug up, like lamps or religious icons, these cultural resources allow a window to orientate the viewer to different times. It is this connectedness to biblical culture that places a foundation to full expression of God’s will in His relationship with His creation.
Bibliography
O'Brien, David E. Today's Handbook for Solving Bible Difficulties (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1990).
Corduan, Winfried. "Humility and Commitment: An Approach to Modern Hermeneutics," Themelios 3, (1986).
Heiser, Michael S. BI101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources: LOGOS Bible Software.
Footnotes
[1] Michael S. Heiser, BI101 Lecture Introducing Biblical Interpretation: Contexts and Resources (LOGOS Bible Software), 00:10.
[2] David E. O'Brien, Today's Handbook for Solving Bible Difficulties (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1990), 233.
[3] Winfried Corduan, "Humility and Commitment: An Approach to Modern Hermeneutics," Themelios 3, (1986): 84.
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About the Author
Kathy L. McFarland is President and Founder of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. and the Becker Professional Theology Academy. She is also a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Bachelor of Science degree in Religious Studies from Liberty University, is on track for the Master of Divinity (Professional Ministries Track) degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary & Graduate School in 2016 and will be seeking a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology and Apologetics beginning in the fall of 2016. She is the originator of the newest theological movement to encourage Christian leaders to minister within the modern-day marketplace as Professional Theologists. She is also the Curriculum Developer for Becker Professional Theology Academy and a teaching faculty member. Kathy's favorite studies to teach include the connections between Old Testament exegesis, Christian Apologetics, and Bible typology and mysteries.
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