TEACHING NOTES ‌ Introduction This session is not about a particular doctrine but about a common issue in Christianity. That issue is the popular practice of taking verses in the Bible out of context. In reality, this has been done in a minimal way throughout church history. However, taking passages out of context is much easier today because our Bibles are divided into chapters and verses. ‌ Session Outline: ‌1. Historical Survey ‌2. The Downside of Divisions ‌3. Relevant Passages ‌4. How to Read the Bible in Context ‌ Historical Survey ‌ Ancient Manuscripts Ancient Hebrew manuscripts of the Old Testament did not originally have divisions, but indicators of sections and even verses were added by rabbis. Verses were indicated by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. ‌ Ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament did not include chapter and verse divisions. Nor did they have punctuation, paragraph divisions, or even spaces between words. ‌ Ancient Lectionary Texts (AD 300-) In the 300s AD, we begin to see chapter-like divisions in some manuscripts that were used during worship. Scribes included marginal notes to divide portions of Scripture for public readings during worship. ‌ Stephen Langton (1150—1228) Became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1207. Sometime in the early 1200s, Langton organized the Latin Bible into chapters. Langton’s divisions became standardized and were used for later translations into other languages. The Eastern Church began implementing this system in Greek texts as well. ‌ Robert Estienne (Stephanus) 1503—1559 Stephanus was a French printer who produced a Bible with chapter and verse divisions. While he used Langton’s chapter divisions, Stephanus also added verse divisions. This system became the standard that is still used today. ‌ The Downside of Divisions Some chapter and verse divisions can mislead the reader if they are unaware of the context. There are many examples of this, but we will only cover one. ‌ Here Genesis 1:1-2:3 is the first example where a chapter division can be misleading. The creation story contains a seven-day process, but the seventh day has been placed at 2:1-3. It would be better to place chapter two as beginning in 2:4 “These are the generations…” because Genesis uses that phrase to begin a new part of the story. ‌ In the New Testament there are places where a verse number falls in the middle of a sentence and in other places a new paragraph begins in the middle of a verse. This can mislead the reader by breaking up the flow of the text. ‌ Principle: Chapter and verse divisions are good for quickly finding a place in the text. However, these divisions should not guide how the text is interpreted. ‌ Note: Some Bible teachers have proposed theories of numerology using the chapter and verse numbers. Others have claimed that a verse number provides some deeper insight to the meaning of the text. For example, they say that the number five represents “grace” so we should see grace in any fifth chapter or verse. All of these methods are nonsense, because the chapter and verse numbers were not in the original text. ‌ Relevant Passages The following is a sample of passages that are commonly taken out of context. Not only will the following help us understand these passages, but it will also help us understand how to read the Bible in context. ‌ Genesis 3:16 “…Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” ‌ Out of Context: Husbands must rule over their wives. ‌ Some take this to be teaching that God commanded that the husband must rule over the wife. However, the context clearly shows that God is foretelling the consequences of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. They were intended to be co-rulers of creation, but now sin is going cause conflict between them. ‌ In Context: Sin causes relational conflict. ‌ Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ‌ Out of Context: This is God’s promise to me. ‌ The first step is to answer the question, “who is ‘you’?” in this verse. The “you” here is referring to ancient Israel. The second step is to read the previous verses to understand the context. Jeremiah 29:10 says, “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.” Israel had rebelled against God and was taken into captivity in Babylon for seventy years. God is saying in verse eleven that He has not abandoned Israel and has future plans for them. ‌ In Context: This is God’s promise to ancient Israel. ‌ Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.” ‌ Out of Context: Christians should not judge anyone, for any reason, at any time. ‌ Many read this verse and forget to read the following verses. If we only read this one verse, then it seems like Jesus is saying that we should never judge anyone for any reason. However, when we read the following verses it become clear that we are to judge but we must judge righteously. Jesus is making the point that we must judge ourselves first, then we can see clearly to correct others. ‌ In Context: Christians must judge with righteous judgment and humility. ‌‌ Matthew 24:1-35 ‌“signs of the end of the age” [KJV says “end of the world”] ‌“many will come saying, ‘I am the Christ’” ‌“wars and rumors of wars” ‌“abomination of desolation” ‌“nation will rise against nation” ‌“there will be great tribulation” ‌“flee to the mountains” ‌“Son of Man coming on the clouds” (judgment) ‌ Many take this passage to be about the end of the world (the end times). One reason for this view is the long-term popularity of the King James Version. The KJV translates the Greek synteleias tou aionos as “end of the world.” However, aionos refers to an age, not the world—which would be the Greek word kosmos. ‌ The context of the passage is clear that Jesus is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem in the first century AD, not the end of the world. The context is clearly shown in Matthew 24:1–3 “1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”” ‌ Matthew 24:34 clearly tells us that these events would happen during the lifetime of the disciples: “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The phrase “this generation” is used by Jesus in other passages where it is clear that He is not talking about some distant generation. Therefore, Jesus is clear that the events described in Matt. 24:4-35 would happen within 40 years. Then Jesus seems to shift to another time of future judgment in Matt. 24:36 and following. This means that Matthew 24 is describing a set of near-term events (the destruction of Jerusalem) and a single far-term event (the final day of judgment). ‌ Note: See our series “The End of the Age” for an in-depth study of Matt. 24. ‌ Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” ‌ Out of Context: Christians can do all things. ‌ This verse is often used to claim that Christians can do all things. There are a few problems with this interpretation. First, there are many things that Christians are commanded not to do, so Paul cannot mean that we can ALL things. Second, the previous verses clarify what kinds of “things” Paul is talking about. Philippians 4:11–12 says, “11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” ‌ In Context: Christians can be content in all circumstances. ‌ A Better Translation: “I can handle all things through him who strengthens me.” ‌ Literal Translation: “all things I am able to do by the one who strengthens me.” ‌‌ Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” ‌ Out of Context: Faith is about belief. Many take this verse to be defining faith as hoping for something unseen. ‌ In Context: The rest of the chapter describes faith as action (Heb. 11:4-40). The following context gives examples that explain the meaning of faith, which is faithfulness. By faith Abel offered a sacrifice, Enoch pleased God, Noah built an ark, Abraham obeyed by leaving his homeland and offering Isaac, etc. ‌ How to Read the Bible in Context ‌ Learn to ask the right questions: ‌1. Who, what, when, where, why? ‌2. What came before and after this passage? ‌ Next Week: Denominations