Context is king with the words of Scripture reflecting high-levels of in-depth meaning and general lower-levels of literal reference. Dr. Heiser makes an important point that reading your Bible is not seeing Scripture in context; to read the Bible effectively requires the reader to slow down and carefully examine the words in the text [1].
Professional Theologists must always ensure that context is upon the Bible, and not interpreted upon denominational concerns, modern-day ideas, or advanced scholarship efforts. Interpretation of the Bible must always rest with the Bible as its highest priority.
Dr. Heiser defends his focus upon context with the importance to capture the insights into the original author to pick up deeper understanding through his life, times, culture, and personality as well as the cultures outside his immediate location and the way he viewed reality [2]. And he is right. But, Professional Theologists must go even deeper in their search for God’s Truth, to not only reflect the original author’s context, but God’s context as well.
It is a two-prong necessity for Professional Theologists. On one side, Professional Theologists must seek the author’s intent; often this side is examined in-depth through historical and literary contexts in scholarship. Dr. Heiser encourages the examination of the author’s world to be looked upon through all of the vast treasures contained within the writing of Scripture itself. He encourages the reader to meet the author through singular reference to Scripture.
The second prong of context focus upon God’s Word by Professional Theologists must look to God’s intentions. Why did God choose the author that He did to write the most Holy Words into the 66 Books of the Bible? What unique aspects did the author hold that brought God’s movement into direct connection with His, to produce writings that express His will even in modern-day?
Dr. Heiser asks “If you don’t know how a person thinks, how in the world can you interpret what they say?” [3]. Professional Theologists must also ask, “If you don’t know how God thinks, how in His Kingdom can you understand the context spoken by his chosen spokesman?”
Dr. Heiser quotes,
"The circumstances in which communication occurs substantially affect, if not determine meaning. We need to comprehend the perspective of the original communicators – initiator and receptor – understand the correct meaning. Because both the writer and the recipients shared the same cultural background and information and lived at the same time in history, they never make explicit their perspective. This tendency is true even today. If someone shows us a personal letter, even if the letter comes from a mutual friend, some things may need explanation because they refer to an experience known only by the writer and recipient. Lacking this information – this perspective on the situation – another reader has difficulty making sense out of these references." [4]
Klein, Blomberg, Hubbard,
Introduction to Biblical Interpretation
This quote speaks powerfully of the need to understand context to understand meaning. Modern-day scholarship has focused upon the identity and nature of these writers of the 66 Books; but, seldom is the nature of God and His will placed into context concerning the selection of these authors. That is the contextual place that Professional Theologists are able to contemplate, interpret, and share the deeper things of God, as they meet God in context, with His Bible at the absolute forefront, to learn His things often hidden from academic and religious inquirers.
The quote speaks of the communication between the “initiator” and “receptor.” Dr. Heiser defines the initiator as the “person that wrote” and the “receptor” as the “person that receives” [5]. But that does not capture the full reality of Scripture. The “Initiator” is the Holy Spirit and the “Receptor” are those given the ability to hear and understand the things of God. Which leaves the authors that capture the Initiator's Word with their pens and record it as a “tool” in God’s Hands. The context of those words the author records reflects his perspective as much as God chooses that perspective to be known. But it is critical that Professional Theologists consider the Initiating Holy Spirit with as much search of intentions that seems now reserved solely with the “tool” authors that God chose to bring His Word to mankind.
Bibliography
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), 00:35.
[2] Ibid., 01:44.
[3] Ibid., 02:15.
[4] Ibid., 02:45.
[5] Ibid., 02:53.
Links
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.
©2014-2015 Kathy L. McFarland. All Rights Reserved.