The Library of Scripture: Context

There is a volume of sacred writings collectively referred to as, 'the holy bible'.  These some 66 books have been around for a little over 2,000 years or more...and for a good reason.  They contain spiritual truths that all tell the same story in a different way.

A note about Bible translations:  I grew up reading from the Old King James Version of the bible.  I have since read from other easier-to-read translations, but have found some spiritual depth missing from some of them.  I'll use different translations, but the main translation you'll see is the New King James Version, as I don't speak Elizabethan-era English.

Someone once asked me this question:  "Does the Bible contain the Word of God?"  This felt like a loaded question, so I waited for his response.  He finally said, "Yes."

Then he asked me, "Is everything in the bible the Word of God?"  He replied "No."

His point wasn't to take away from the veracity of the stories, but rather to illustrate this idea:  The stories all happened, but the interpreter needs to read the story in context.  Who's the author?  Who's the recipient of the message?  What's happening?  What spiritual truth(s) is the story illustrating?

If we lack context we might read a passage of scripture and incorrectly apply it to ourselves or to someone else.

For instance, In the book of Job, Job's 3 friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar gave him advice.  These 3 men were attempting to try to explain the reason for Job's suffering.  If you're familiar w/ the story, then you know how their advice made Job more angry.

Regrettably, Job’s friends were not able to understand the mystery of his suffering, so they jump to conclusions about its source. The first of the three, Eliphaz, acknowledges that Job has been a source of strength to others (Job 4:3-4). But then he turns and puts the blame for Job’s suffering squarely on Job himself.

“Remember now,” he says, “whoever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?  Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same” (Job 4:7-8). 

See how Eliphaz spoke from his personal experience, saying "Even as I have seen "?

Job’s second friend, Bildad, says much the same. “But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked.” (Job 8:20)  

This sounds very similar to common expressions like, "God helps those who help themselves."  Although it might seem like wisdom, it's not based upon God's revealed Word.  Bildad is misrepresenting God's character, and intimating that Job is not walking in integrity, even though the word says the opposite (Job 1:1)  If you were Job, how would this make you feel? 

The third friend, Zophar, repeats the refrain.

“Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you. Then your face will brighten with innocence.  You will be strong and free of fear. You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away. Your life will be brighter than the noonday.  Even darkness will be as bright as morning.” (Job 11:14-17).

Here, Zophar is suggesting that Job has sin, and needs to get rid of it before his suffering will lift.  Instead of pointing to the One who takes away sin, Zophar is pointing at sin.  How often have we heard a similar teaching in religious circles, or 'churchiantiy'?  Did this 'counsel' help Job?  When has pointing to sin ever helped anyone to get rid of it?  

As we can see, the 3 'friends' were trying to explain Job's suffering by sharing from their own experience, tradition, or religious views.  Instead of directing Job to a greater understanding of God's character through revealing His Word, they were pointing to personal experience, philosophy and piety.  And if we're not careful reading the scripture, we could misapply it.

What Job had was a misunderstanding of God's character, and why he was suffering.  When the younger man Elishu hears the philosophy, piety, and personal experience being shared without seeing any compassion for Job, he became upset with the dudes. Elishu thought that for their age these 3 men should have wisdom.  But guess what?  They didn't have any, and Elishu rebuked them for it.  What Job needed was a more accurate understanding of God, greater intimacy with Him, and Godly wisdom.

If a person who was unfamiliar with the context of this story, just opened up a bible, and started reading the advice from Zophar, Eliphaz or Bildad, they might assume that because it's written in the bible, that it's Godly wisdom, when it's not.   They might apply it to their life, or someone else's.  They might believe that pleasing God is based upon how well they perform or adhere to religious commandments, when God's Son, Jesus is the only One who's ever been pleasing to God. 

When we read the Word of God as found in the bible, I submit that we ought to ask ourselves what is our motive for reading?  What do we want to see? Do we want to have a greater understanding of who God is? Do we want to see His character?  Are we willing to submit to the Authority and Lordship of His Son?  Is our view of God lining up with the character of Jesus?  Do we want to call Him 'Lord'?

I believe that God inspired the stories found in the bible for many purposes, but most important among them is testify of the Lord Jesus Christ, and magnify His name.