Context Is King

"Yeah, I'm pretty good."

Interpretation Exercise #1: What does the above statement mean?

As it is, it could mean all sorts of things. Who made the statement? Perhaps it was someone answering the question as to whether they will go to heaven when they die. Maybe someone was asked if they were good at math. We must admit that we don't really know unless we are provided more information. To whom was the statement made? It could have been made to a large crowd or to just one person. Where was the person when he made this statement? Did he have anything else to say? We don't know any of these things without the surrounding context.

Let's say you made the statement. I hear you say it and immediately begin to preach to you about how there is no one good but God, that you were born a sinner (and certainly are still one). After my sermon to you, I turn to the other teens present and tell them specific sins that I am sure you commit almost daily. Hopefully before I get to far, you stop me and tell me that you were answering a question about your spelling ability. But I continue right on with the lecture because I know I heard you say that you were pretty good - and you're not. Now you're upset. You know what you meant, and I am not getting it at all.

Just like you don't want people to make you say things you never really meant, God doesn't want His words to be misconstrued because they were taken out of context.

Macro to Micro and Back Again

A single brushstroke on a canvas may not mean much; but when combined with thousands of other individual strokes, it can be part of an amazing work of art. When we examine a beautiful painting, we first take in the picture itself - then we may advance to study the intricacies of the artist's masterpiece. As we walk away, we are again impressed with the beauty of the whole painting, realizing the incredible details that make it what it is.

We approach the Bible in the same manner. When we come to interpret a particular passage in it, we must first get the "big picture." We want to understand the "big idea" the author has in mind before proceeding to the details. After diving into those details, we step back once more to see how the individual text fits in the larger picture provided by the context.

But how do I do that?

1. Whenever possible, read an entire book in one sitting (preferably without chapter and verse divisions). You may be surprised at how quickly you can read many of the books. As you read, look for words and ideas that seem to be showing up frequently; they are probably important.
2. Find out as much as you can about the author and original recipients, like where and when they lived and what occasion prompted the writing of the book. A good study Bible or Bible dictionary will provide this sort of helpful historical background information.
3. As you read, pay close attention (and take notes to help you remember) to how the words fit together to make sentences, how the sentences form paragraphs, and how the paragraphs contribute to the whole message of the book.

This preliminary study will give you a good framework in which to do your further work toward interpreting the passage. The framework may change along the way as your later, more detailed study refines your view of the overall message of the book.

Check back for two interpretation exercises from the Bible tomorrow.