By: Jonnathan Molina

Jonnathan Molina — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:40:15 +0000

Agreed. Thanks!

By: MSH

MSH — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:13:44 +0000

application is distinct from, but related to, interpretation/exegesis. The latter is assisted (significantly in my view) by contextualizing the text. Once that is done (keeping our own lack of omniscience close to heart), then we apply the text to issues of today (personal and on a wider scale). There doesn’t need to be a precise 1:1 correlation (there really can’t be in many cases), but there does need to be coherence or congruence between the two.

By: Jonnathan Molina

Jonnathan Molina — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:21:35 +0000

I love those last paragraphs so much; I’m 100% in favor of being consistent when contextualizing the Bible and not being “choosy”. In light of all this, I’d like to know your opinion on one thing. When you wrote: “If anyone has any interest in getting to what the text meant when God inspired its creation, THAT is the proper method — not appealing to 16th century Europeans or anyone else outside the divinely chosen cultural context. The latter is to recreate or filter the Bible in or through our own image.” I wholeheartedly agreed. But I wonder this: if this is the best way to study the Bible (and I believe it is if you’re after the original intent) what are modern churches supposed to do when trying to USE that text to address strictly modern (and hence not in the context of the Bible) issues that the biblical writers would not have thought about? Are we left to our own devices, then, or is it only then that it’s ok to go outside the “divinely chosen cultural context”? Don’t know If I’m asking this clearly, but I often wonder if God intended us to use his word or just admire its concepts if that makes sense? Is there any practical use to all the OT/ANE contextualized thoughts? (I’m guessing yes but I’m wondering the how of it).

Comments on: A Brief Note on Contextualizing the Bible (Especially OT)

By: Jonnathan Molina

By: MSH

By: Jonnathan Molina