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TITLE: Context: Don’t Study Without It

TEXT: Proverbs 23:6-8
PROPOSITION: The context of a passage is important.
QUESTION: Why?
KEY WORD: Examples
SCRIPTURE READING: Same


INTRODUCTION:

  1. Many jokes – point to Bible to solve financial problem – Chapter 11

  2. Judas hung himself; Go do thou likewise

  3. Study of the Bible DEMANDS that we be aware of the context


Meaning

  1. Dictionary – Any phrase, sentence, or passage so closely connected to a word or words as to affect their meaning, Something that surrounds and influences, as environment or circumstances

  2. Webster - CONTEXT, n. [L. Con and texo, to weave.] The general series or composition of a discourse; more particularly, the parts of a discourse which precede or follow the sentence quoted; the passages of scripture which are near the text, either before it or after it. The sense of a passage of scripture is often illustrated by the context.

  3. Entomology – to weave together

  4. This general principle of context rules all situations.

  5. How is this word or phrase “woven” into the rest of the context?


Proverbs 23:7a – For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.

  1. In context – evil man with ulterior motives

  2. Read the context – Proverbs 23:6-8

  3. What if his motives were honorable?


Romans 3:27 – 4:8 (esp. Romans 4:5 & James 2:21)

  1. Works – meritorious, boastful, works are useless

  2. James 2:14-26 – works generated by faith = salvation, redemption

  3. Same word – different meaning intended


Mark 14:13

  1. Look for a man bearing a pitcher

  2. Cultural context

    1. Demeaning work

    2. Only women carried pitchers

    3. Compare – man carrying a purse


1 Timothy 2:8-15 – men and women

  1. Discussion – focus on verse 12 – woman not permitted to teach “over the man”

  2. Who is the man?

  3. Can a woman teach small children?

  4. Verse 8 – Men pray everywhere

  5. Verse 9 – In like manner that women

  6. Verse 12 – Women (of vs. 9) is not to teach over the man (of vs. 8)


Rich man and Lazarus – Luke 16

  1. Why did Jesus tell this event (parable)?

  2. What was being discussed?


James 1:14 – Lust, desire

  1. In good sense – Luke 22:15; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:17

  2. In bad sense – Mark 4:19; John 8:44; Romans 6:12; Romans 7:7; 1 John 2:16

  3. Barnes - Epithumia in the New Testament, is sometimes employed in a good sense, Luk_22:15; Phi_1:23; 1Th_2:17; often in a bad sense, as in Mar_4:19; Joh_8:44; Rom_1:24; Rom_6:12; Rom_7:7; 1Jo_2:16; but there is no difficulty in making the distinction; the context easily determining the matter.


Romans 8:19 – creation

  1. All creation – start, oceans, grass, animals, man

  2. All living and breathing (in whom is breath) – animals, man

  3. All humans – (see the context)

    1. Waits for manifestation of the sons of God

    2. Vs. 20 – subjected to vanity

    3. Vs. 20 – subjected it in hope


Conclusion

  1. A text taken from its context becomes a pretext.

  2. When a question arises – READ:

    1. The entire verse

    2. The paragraph

    3. The entire setting

    4. The word or phrase used elsewhere in the book

    5. The word or phrase used elsewhere by the same author

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