What in the World Am I Supposed To Do With the Bible?

I begin this post with an example, so please bear with me.  Read and consider the following statement:

John went to meet Bill in Paris.

This sentence is simple enough.  Just like a verse from the Bible.  It is easy to understand, and upon reading it we have some information that we didn’t before.  But, there is still so much missing.  Let me give some history to contextualize it a bit.

John lived in the 1500’s and was a major player in the Protestant Reformation’s goal to reach the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Not only was John a high-speed theologian, he also fought hand over fist for the rights of the poor, widowed, orphaned and oppressed.  Unfortunately, he did not go without an adversary - a well known heretic, who spoke often against his views.  We will call the adversary Bill.  John, though obviously frustrated by his adversary, pleaded  with Bill to recant his heresy and turn to Christ.  In an effort to work all of this out Bill called for John to meet him in Paris for a talk. 

Given this short paragraph, we have more information that helps us to understand better the first statement – John went to meet Bill in Paris.  Now we know that John and Bill aren’t best friends, but adversaries.  We know the goal of the meeting – to discuss theological views.  This is how contextualization works.  But why stop!  Let’s get more information.

Paris, at that time, was extremely hostile toward Protestant Reformers.  To go there as a Reformer was to risk one’s life.  This was no easy trip for John, especially since he was going to meet Bill.  But he went anyway.  Bill, however, was a no show. 

Wow! What a difference a few more sentences makes!  John sacrificed his life to talk to Bill (his enemy) about the Gospel, and Bill never showed up! 

Now we see even more clearly just how much contextualization enhances and excites our learning and understanding.  Without it we would have read the first sentence and moved on to other things.  The first sentence would have remained boring.  But when we add a bit of history and other facts about what was going on, the simple sentence turns into a gut-wrenching beginning to an amazing story. 

Many Christians in our world today struggle with their Bible’s for the very reason mentioned above.  We take a small verse, read it, and even memorize it, all without learning the context.  Therefore, we leave the verse behind in our lives as if it were as plain as “John went to meet Bill in Paris.”  Sure, the fact might be helpful someday – but still, it ignites nothing in the heart.  It leaves us unchanged as people.  But when we understand the context, we sit and think on the fact a bit more.  We begin to consider if we would do the same.  We begin to wonder what it was/is about John’s gospel that moved him to risk his life for his adversary.

So, here is my plan.  In order to help both myself and others understand the history and context of Bible better, I am going to take four months and go through Robert L. Plummer’s book 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible.  I will use Plummer’s work as a skeleton, adding helpful insights from myself and others from time to time.  Each post will contain the following elements:

-       At least one question from Plummer with a summary of his points and with added commentary from myself and others. 

-       At least one question for reflection regarding the above

-       A summary/purpose statement for a book of the Bible that can be memorized in one sitting

-       A portion of Scripture for reading and reflection

-       Questions related to the portion of Scripture to help gain further insight into the passage and the context as a whole. 

It is not my goal to give an exhaustive work on interpretation or hermeneutics.  I am in no way qualified for such a task.

It is my goal to keep each post one page long.  It is also my goal to keep the study short and simple; but also meaningful and insightful.  And it is my ultimate goal, that at the end of the year we all would be able to approach our Bible with more confidence, excitement and understanding. 

May we all grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2Pet 3:18).  And may God bless us with His bountiful grace in this endeavor. 

So, get ready.  Lord willing, we begin tomorrow!