Everyone should be required to study the book of Deuteronomy, a lady said. We all laughed and agreed.
Laughing because our minds had been blown-away by the context learned.
I say context because that is the most important thing to maintain when studying scripture. We don't meet for "fish and chips": Individually fishing around for verses and then chipping in what we think it means. No, we read what was written (in context), to whom it was written for (in context), why it was wrote (in context), and what it means for us today (in context).
Over the past year while my sister was studying at a bible school she posted a comment made by one of her hermeneutics professors on facebook and it has stuck with me ever since.
Context, context, context. Taking a text out of its contexts is pretext for someones proof-text.
No fishin and chippin.
If you are going to use a piece of scripture, then you had better know its context.
The relevance of this for where I live was driven home and back again throughout this study. Deuteronomy is as relevant today as it was in 1400 B.C.
Scripture tells you everything. Literally. It's the best read I have ever read. And it continually leaves me with my jaw on the floor.
If you don't think God has it all covered, think again.
If you don't think God is consistent and never changing, think again.
If you think you are not saved by Grace alone, think again.
All of this crazy life stuff is covered in scripture. What salvation looks like is explained in detail. It's all there. But it must be read in context, or you will be led astray and lied to.
Read it. Ask questions. Nothing is left in secret. Nothing is left in the dark.
The bible is God saying, I'm an open book. Know who I am!
I want to share something with you.
I remember when I use to look at the bible like a very LARGE book, with very TINY letters, being very HARD to read. When I thought of the book itself I could only think of it being written in a foreign language; thee, thou, tis, brethren, blah, blah. On-top of that, I thought it was nose-pick'n-boring.
I remember when I use to look at the bible like a very LARGE book, with very TINY letters, being very HARD to read. When I thought of the book itself I could only think of it being written in a foreign language; thee, thou, tis, brethren, blah, blah. On-top of that, I thought it was nose-pick'n-boring.
Whatever Gospel I knew of came from the mouth of another. Reading it for myself put things into the context for which it was intended to be understood, learned, and applied. And one of the coolest things that helped me understand the Word, as well to crush my intimidation of it, was learning that it has been translated into a variety of different versions.
[Side note: If you question the authenticity of the bible, contact me. I've been there too.]
Here is an example.
John 1-17 (King James Version)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1-17 (American Standard Version)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.
9 There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
15 John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me.
16 For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1-17 (Today's New International Version)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
John 1-17 (English Standard Version)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 ( John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.[d] 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God,[e] who is at the Father's side,[f] he has made him known.
Do you see?
All different versions. All telling the same thing.
If you ask me what book I recommend reading I'll answer with The Holy Bible. If you are first time reader and ask me what book of the bible to start in I'll answer with John (I gave you the first 17 verses of the first chapter above). If you think you are well informed about the bible and you ask me what book to read I will say Deuteronomy. And remember, there are no dumb questions, and every question you have can be asked. Keep it in context.
Lord God,
I pray that Your Word will open the eyes of those who have been led astray.
Let the context of Your Word expose Truth and light where darkness currently stands.
Create a new heart in those who so desire to know You. I pray that all will have the desire!
Let a fire be lit, and may Your Word be brought to life!
Thank You for Your Word, Lord.
Thank You for the Truth it speaks.
Thank You for revealing Yourself through it.
In Your Holy and Awesome name I pray,
Amen.
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