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Should we focus on the text of Scripture or its context? Do we have to choose between the two?

During the first part of May I spent 2 weeks in Egypt, Israel and Jordan: the “lands of the Bible.” It was a remarkable trip.

One of the themes of the trip was the “context” of the Bible. This context included the places and locations of the Bible: pyramids, tombs, bricks made with straw and mud, wilderness and dessert, cities, rivers, lakes and seas, All of this was impressive and important to know. What an experience!

I have been blessed this past summer watching various by both George De Jong (our trip’s leader) and Ran VanderLaan (the “fountain head” of so many present-day study trips to the Middle East). These videos and our trip in May have opened my eyes, mind and heart to the context surrounding the biblical text.

And yet, although impressive and important for me to know and although I have learned so much I still give priority to the text. We need both text and context, both are important (this is, for me, another example of “both-and” not “either-or”).

However, the text takes priority. Why is this. For at least 3 reasons:

1. The Context Is Not Straight Forward: I have realized that there are different interpretations of the Bible’s context (i.e. what is the exact location of Mt. Sinai? Do shepherd really break the legs of sheep that go their own way?).

2. The Context Is Not Always Available: we cannot always access the context of the Bible. But we always have the text.

3. Elitist: to say that one must have the context of the Bible in order to interpret it leads to an elitist to the Bible that the Reformation sought to do away with. Yes, knowing the context is great, helpful and important. But we dare not tell people that they have to know more history, archaeology, culture and language (great and important as they all are) in order to read and understand God’s Word. Simply, yet profoundly, we say: “take up and read!”