Dr. Heiser stresses the important point that “biblical context is not evangelicalism, reformation, Middle Ages, Catholicism or the Early Church Fathers; rather, it is the original context in which the Scripture was written” [1]. These three contexts are worldview context, literary context, and linguistic context according to Dr. Heiser [2]. The worldview context can be further broken down into the areas of historical context, cultural context and religious context; together, these three areas reveal the worldview of the author at the time the text was written.
The worldview content of Historical Context reveals what and when things happened that the author experienced in his life at that time. Cultural Context tells why an author might be writing what he does; it displays the setting and possibly the viewpoint that the author is writing from. Religious Context reveals a great deal of information related to the author of Scripture, and explains what ideas, viewpoints, and beliefs were involved as the author wrote his material. Dr. Heiser adds that the wider view of what is going on with religion historically is also available with some text when it is viewed in the Religious Context [3]. Accordingly, it is not only Judaism, but other religious movements active in the ancient Middle Eastern world.
Every person, ever to live or currently breathing, have their personal worldview. Worldview is that aspect of knowledge that influences values and meanings and actively controls the way people think and act. Professional Theologists, appropriately trained, will likely hold a different worldview than the Ministerial and Academic Theologists. It is a matter of perspective from the place of ministry. Ministerial Theologists do their work in the church. Their voices are often subdued, inclusive, or impassioned, depending upon the time and reason for congregational gathering. Academic Theologists’ voices are often scholarly, exclusive, unique, or sometimes spoken with swagger and underlying boasting. Professional Theologists’ do their work in the world; humble or exclusive voice would doom their effect and reach of ministry. The Professional Theologists’ voices are often pithy, considerate, peacemaking, stirring, or sometimes provocative.
The voices of the different Theologists are based upon the worldview of the ministry they participate. Often, and most especially, probably, the Professional Theologists worldview will be misunderstood by the Ministerial and Academic Theologists. Let’s face it; the field of ministry out in the world changes at such a rapid rate, that it is difficult for the Professional Theologist to adapt those changes quickly to the ministry to maintain relevance, and must rely on dedicated support to keep them abreast. The Ministerial and Academic Theologists will always be behind the newest developments in Religious context of the Professional Theologist world, and prone to misunderstanding that worldview context. This misunderstanding might lead to debates of belief that are unnecessary when the context of the ministry is understood.
The Professional Theologists’ natures of values might also differ from the other Theologists, and those differences figure into the Worldview Context. The Professional Theologists’ spiritual values of the important things of God should match well with Ministerial Theologists, and the educational values of historical and religious significance should match well with Academic Theologists. But, expect some differentiation of worldviews from the Professional Theologists when they conduct their ministry, especially in the areas of cultural context. While Ministerial and Academic Theologists wear gowns of tradition, it would be difficult to find a Professional Theologist in the ministry with such formal wear. Professional Theologists values lead them to desire to mix well within the world context, and not exclude themselves through traditional dress or formal mannerisms.
And those differences bring us back to the evaluation of Scripture authors and their worldviews. Just as today when different cultural values in the worldview context define the unique fields of ministry, in ancient texts the same type of differences occurred. Ancient writers must speak the manner in which they do; we must understand the specific, contextual reality that automatically penetrates their written words, and not assume that just because two writers lived at the same time or place or way, that they had identical worldviews.
Proper Scripture interpretation requires us to attempt to understand the unique perspective of the author’s worldview, then try to translate that ancient account flavored with a unique worldview as close as we can to modern-day language and understanding. Sometimes, that might require Professional Theologists to use numerous words to explain one; sometimes many words of Scripture can be represented by one word of excellent interpretation when the worldview is considered. Certainly, Professional Theologists know their world audiences better than any other, and can master the common speak of their audience to the place that the ancient worldviews can be understood by the modern-day worldviews of seeking Christians outside the normal congregations of the Lord.
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), 00:10.
[2] Ibid., 00:43.
[3] Ibid., 01:29.
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.
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