Into Thy Word

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Step 4: Explore the Context

By Dr. Richard J. Krejcir

Exegetical Process

Into Thy Word -

Exegetical Process

Step 4: Explore the Context.

(This step can also be incorporated in the middle steps of the inductive method on “What does it mean?”)

This is where you examine how the passage relates to the surrounding passages, the book and chapter. Remember, the Bible is a library of 66 books written over 1,500 years by many human authors all inspired and directed by God. Within it, there are many language and literature types that give us idioms, metaphors, phrases, and words that mean something different depending on whether it is a narrative (story), poetry, or Apocalyptic. Also, the surrounding passages help determine the meaning of the precepts and the individual words, just like any modern language does today. Even the specific meaning at the time of the writing may have changed or have been translated inaccurately or incompletely.

There are two main areas of “context” we always need to be aware of and ask the text, “What are the historical, and what are the literary settings?” (That is the content of what is going on in the text.) What is going on preceding and after our text? What are the type(s) of literature, and the various cultural factors? What was going on in that time in history? What is the point? The train of thought?

1. The Historical Context: This is about the time period and culture of the people who God used to write it and the people they are writing too. Such as the locations, such as the travels of Paul and Jesus, and the time and sequence of events. This refers to the occasion and purpose of the author’s intention, how and what it meant to them, and how and what it means to us. Such as, what was the personal background of Isaiah? What was his position (job)? Who was he writing to? What were the people like (culture and customs)? What were their expectations? These are some of the key questions to ask in order to know what is going on. Carefully reading the text plus the use of Bible encyclopedias, handbooks, and dictionaries will give you those insights. But, make sure you make your own observations first!

2. The Literary Context: This is the type of literature genres that refer to the meaning of the words; the Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives—both the meaning of the word(s) itself as well as what they mean in their context of sentence structure and surrounding passages. You can do this quite simply by comparing the word you wish to “dig” out by looking at a concordance and at various translations. How is it used in other places in Scripture such as the word “denarius” in the Gospels? You may automatically think it is money. And, you are right—but what kind of money? What was it used for? What was the amount and what was its worth? These are critical questions to help you understand the meaning of the passage. Also, be aware that the verse numbers, paragraphs, and chapters are not part of the original text!

· What comes before and after your passage?

· What is the historical background—the circumstances surrounding the events, cultural concerns, and social considerations?

· Ask what language the book was written in. Most of the Old Testament is in Hebrew; parts of Daniel are in Aramaic—a dialect of Hebrew—and the New Testament is in Greek. Thus, the passage was originally written in another language than you are reading. We have to realize that it is a translation and investigate the meanings accordingly. This gives us more profound insights into the passage!

· Who was the author and what does he bring to the passage? What about authenticity and genuineness? Is he using an “amanuensis” (using a secretary to dictate to, as Paul often did)? Is he revealed as in “pseudonymity” (such as the author is not clearly revealed as in Mark) or “anonymity” (the author is unknown, such as Hebrews)?

· When was the book written? This is significant, such as in Revelation, as to how it is interpreted.

· Where was the book written? The geographic location tells a lot of culture and insights.

· To whom was the book written? The book’s destination—who is receiving and reading it—gives a lot of insights too.

· Why was the book written? What was the occasion (circumstance) and purpose (reason and intent)? For example, Paul, to the Corinthians, is responding and addressing their questions and concerns and straightening out their misguided beliefs.

· What are the cultural considerations? (This is where a background commentary or Bible dictionary would help.)

· What are the relationships to other passages such as theological and “synoptical” (relations of the Gospels to one another) issues? This is where a cross reference work helps (the verses that are in the margins in most Bibles) or a concordance to see how the word or principle is used in other passages; Scripture helps to interpret Scripture.

· What are the facts? How do they compare to your opinions? This is how we are challenged so we can learn and grow; when you explain this to others, do so in love and reverence to God because we are all learners of His Word!

3. What is the Genre Context? How does the literary type or wording in the passage effect the interpretation? In English, we have story, comedy, tragedy, novel, lyric poem, and epic to name a few. In the Greek and Hebrew, we have narrative, law, poetry, prophecy, apocalyptic, parable, epistle, and even romance. This is very important, as this helps us interpret the meaning of the text and whether it is literal or figurative.

This is important when determining if we will take a word or phrase as literal. Some are just common sense. When the Bible is referred to as a rock, we do not garden with it; when the Bible is called a mirror, we do not shave with it; when Jesus says He is the Bread…well, you should get the point. Some words are not to be taken literally, but the Bible is still communicating the literal Word of God. How do we determine if something is figurative, a metaphor, or a poetic figure? Usually, the Bible gives a clue in context, such as two or more words that do not go together like LORD and Rock, in Psalm 18:2, The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. In this case, it means “unfailing strength,” as God is our Strength who does not fail. In this situation, you may need to look it up.

The Basic Genres:

· History or Narrative: There are stories and the epics and include Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah, and Acts.

· Law: These are the instructions and precepts of God given to us through Moses, such as Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

· Wisdom: These are the literature of maxims and sayings such as Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.

· Poetry: These are the prose and rhymes such as Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations.

· Prophecy: These include both major and minor prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

· Apocalyptic: These are combinations of narrative and prose written in vivid imagery and poetic phrases that are intended to exaggerate for a purpose such as Daniel and most of Revelation.

· Parable: These are the sayings of Jesus that are narrative and instructional, contained in the Gospels.

· Epistle: These are the letters written to a specific audience that are practical for us today such as Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, Peter, John, and the first three chapters of Revelation.

· Romance: These are narrative, written also as love stories, such as Ruth and Song of Solomon.

· Then, ask how the type of genre (type of literature) shows you the significance and implication of the general overview?

· How does the type of genre contribute to possible meanings of specific words and then the point of the passage?

More about Genres: Genres in the Bible

4. Dealing with Metaphors, Symbols and Figures of Speech. This is taking what is said and finding out what the text means—how to interpret what is literal, and what points to something else in the correct context. That is, we never take out of God’s Word what is not there, or read in our will as His. In understanding genre, within most all of Scripture there is genre within genre. In a narrative, there is poetry as well as figurative languages such as metaphors (meaning something different such as, a “bull market” does not mean a bull is in a market, it means the stocks went up). A metaphor such as salt of the earth or this is my body given… can also be an illustration such as when Satan is referred to as a lion, an idiom (expression) such as Jesus’ words to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27, or a hyperbole (exaggeration) such as Jesus saying a camel through an eye of a needle. Are all in the metaphor categories, even Jesus’ parables.

When we encounter a word that does not seem to fit or is out of character, we must say “what is it,” “why is it there?” Such as, is it instruction or is it poetry; is it a story, is it doctrine, is it an exaggeration, such as when Jesus said “a log in your eye,” or “a camel through an eye of a needle.” Does He want us to put a log in our eye or try to get a camel into a needle? You may find it tiresome after the first hump; thus, that is probably not what He means. It may be a point, a metaphor, or an illustration. If you do not understand the genre or the type of wording, you will come to a word such as when Jesus says He is the “bread of life” and not realize that He does not come from a bakery. Most do not make that error, but we do it with other words such as “living water,“ a “good eye,” “the son of man,” “the beast,” or “being caught up” all of which have meanings very different in the original language than what many think they mean in English today. In Philippians 3:2, we are warned about dogs. Is this the K-9 variety or does it mean something else? The context gives us the clue. If you do not get the clue, then get a book and look it up. I do that all of the time and have been for over 25 years with all kinds of initials after my name. I do not presume to know; I check it out, and you should too.

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