Three Levels of ContextThree Levels of Context Contextualization – Incorporating the text Contextualization – Incorporating the text

into your personal settinginto your personal setting

Text Surrounding a PassageText Surrounding a Passage Purpose of the bookPurpose of the book Structure:Genre & PlanStructure:Genre & Plan Immediate ContextImmediate Context

Historical Context – Author, Historical Context – Author, Recipient, Date, Situation.Recipient, Date, Situation.

Circles of ContextCircles of Context

Text

Paragraph

Section

Pericope

chapter

Book

Author

Covenant

Dangers to ContextDangers to Context

Memorizing individual versesMemorizing individual verses

Attitude of quasi magical formula of verses Attitude of quasi magical formula of verses (power verses worn as amulets)(power verses worn as amulets)

Concordance WorkConcordance Work

Claiming promises or commands not Claiming promises or commands not made to you.made to you.

Axiom #2: Context is King (of interpretation)Axiom #2: Context is King (of interpretation)

Identifying the Purpose of a BookIdentifying the Purpose of a BookSometimes it’s clearly stated (Jn 20:31; Lk Sometimes it’s clearly stated (Jn 20:31; Lk 1:1-4; 1 Jn 5:13; Prov 1:1-6; Eccl 12:13)1:1-4; 1 Jn 5:13; Prov 1:1-6; Eccl 12:13)

Sometimes it is implied:Sometimes it is implied: Selection or placement of detailsSelection or placement of details Hortatory or parenthetical commentsHortatory or parenthetical comments

Occasion for writing: Jeremiah; Amos; Occasion for writing: Jeremiah; Amos; Philemon, etc.Philemon, etc.

Flow of thoughtFlow of thought

Special ConsiderationSpecial Consideration

A book may have multiple purposesA book may have multiple purposes

It’s purpose may be disputedIt’s purpose may be disputed

Specialists, such as teachers, Specialists, such as teachers, commentaries or even personal commentaries or even personal memorization, can help.memorization, can help.

Structuralism: The Plan of the BookStructuralism: The Plan of the Book

Authors structure their books differently:Authors structure their books differently: Some are meticulous (Mt, Lk/Acts, Heb, Rev)Some are meticulous (Mt, Lk/Acts, Heb, Rev) Others have little order (James, Prov., Psa).Others have little order (James, Prov., Psa).

Outlining is the best way to see the order:Outlining is the best way to see the order: Don’t strictly follow verse divisions. They Don’t strictly follow verse divisions. They

come from the 13come from the 13thth century and don’t always century and don’t always work well.work well.

Poor examples: Acts 8:1; Eph 5:21; Isa 53:1; Poor examples: Acts 8:1; Eph 5:21; Isa 53:1; 2 Cor 2:12 Cor 2:1

Various Structural ArrangementsVarious Structural Arrangements

Wisdom/PoetryWisdom/Poetry: : Psa., Prov., Ecclesiastes, LamentationsPsa., Prov., Ecclesiastes, Lamentations

LettersLetters: : Rom., 1 & 2 Cor, Gal., Eph., Phil., Col., 1 & 2 Thess.,Rom., 1 & 2 Cor, Gal., Eph., Phil., Col., 1 & 2 Thess.,

1 & 2 Tim., Titus, Philemon, Heb., 1 & 2 Peter, 1—3 John, Jude1 & 2 Tim., Titus, Philemon, Heb., 1 & 2 Peter, 1—3 John, Jude

CyclicalCyclical: : Judges, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of SongsJudges, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

ChronologicalChronological: : Gen., Exod., Josh., 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Gen., Exod., Josh., 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2

Chron., Ezra, Esther; or Chron., Ezra, Esther; or Geographical : Geographical : Neh. , Jonah, ActsNeh. , Jonah, Acts

BiographicalBiographical: : Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, JohnRuth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

LegalLegal: : Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

VisionaryVisionary: : Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, RevelationMalachi, Revelation

Literary DevicesLiterary Devices

Parallels: Genesis 1-2; Psalms; Lk 15Parallels: Genesis 1-2; Psalms; Lk 15

Inclusio: Genesis 37-39; Mk 11:12-25Inclusio: Genesis 37-39; Mk 11:12-25

Chiasm: Mt 13Chiasm: Mt 13

Acrostic: Prov 31:10-31; Psa 119; 145; Acrostic: Prov 31:10-31; Psa 119; 145; Lam 2Lam 2

Parallelism: Lk/ActsParallelism: Lk/Acts

Ascending/Descending: JudgesAscending/Descending: Judges

Identifying Contextual Parameters:Identifying Contextual Parameters: Look for change and repetition Look for change and repetition

Grammatical CluesGrammatical Clues

Change in verb tenseChange in verb tense

Narrative Clues: Narrative Clues: Change in time, persons, or placeChange in time, persons, or place Repeated term, phrase or propositionRepeated term, phrase or proposition Repeated thoughtRepeated thought Rhetorical QuestionsRhetorical Questions Vocative, imperative, or hortatoryVocative, imperative, or hortatory

Transitional conjunctionsTransitional conjunctions