Malachi, Part 1

What process do you use when studying the Word of God?

When we study God’s Word, context is king; it determines the meaning of the text.

What kind of contexts do we have to think about when we study?

There are three worlds of context that we need to consider. I will list them in order of importance.

The first is the World of the Text, which includes the immediate context, the book’s context, and the canon’s context.

The second is the World Behind the Text. This is the cultural and historical context of the book or passage.

The third is the World in Front of the Text. This is everything that has been written about the text since it was written - creeds, commentaries, and systematic theologies.

How do we access these worlds of context?

The World of the Text is the easiest to access. We read the Bible. There are some tools that help us with biblical context, such as reading the text in multiple translations, original language study, word studies, and cross-references. Bible dictionaries are also helpful in exploring the World of the Text.

The World Behind the Text is going to be accessed in a couple of ways. The entry level would be a study Bible’s notes. The next level would be Bible background commentaries, Bible dictionaries, Bible encyclopedias, and Biblical archaeology. The final level would be extra-biblical writings that give cultural context to the period the text was written in.

The World in Front of the Text will be accessed through creeds, systematic theologies, and commentaries. We are part of the World in Front of the text. These are the final lenses that affect the interpretation and thus the application of the text. This process is called contextualization - the act of bringing God's Word, written in an ancient context, and applying it to our own. Every commentary is affected by creeds and systematic theology, so it is important to determine what lens the commentary is using. It is also important to identify our own lenses.

What are some lenses you wear?

Let’s apply these principles to Malachi 1:1-5.

How do we learn about the World of the Text?

We need to read the passage.

Malachi 1:1–5 LEB

1 An oracle. The word of Yahweh to Israel through Malachi. 2 “I have loved you,” says Yahweh, but you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is Esau not Jacob’s brother?” declares Yahweh. “I have loved Jacob, 3 but Esau I have hated. I have made his mountain ranges a desolation, and given his inheritance to the jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered, but we will return and rebuild the ruins,” Yahweh of hosts says this: “They may build, but I will tear down; and they will be called a territory of wickedness, and the people with whom Yahweh is angry forever.” 5 Your eyes will see this, and you will say, “Yahweh is great beyond the borders of Israel.”

What did we learn about the World of the Text by reading it?

Let's go verse by verse.

What did we learn in verse one?

In verse one, we learn that this book is an oracle.

In verse one, we learn that the oracle is from Yahweh.

In verse one, we learn that the oracle is to Israel.

In verse one, we learn that the oracle is through Malachi.

What did we learn in verse two?

In verse two, we learn that there is a dialogue between Yahweh and Israel concerning the expression of God’s love going back to Jacob.

In verse two, we learn that Israel is questioning Yahweh’s love for them.

What did we learn in verse three?

In verse three, we learn that God proves his love by pointing out his withholding of his love from Jacob’s brother, Esau, through judgment on his land, making it desolate and a dwelling place for jackals.

What did we learn in verse four?

In verse four, we learn that Yahweh will not allow Edom to rebuild if they try.

In verse four, we learn that they will be called the territory of wickedness.

In verse four, we learn that Yahweh is angry with Edom forever.

What did we learn in verse five?

In verse five, we learn the future response of Israel to seeing Yahweh’s action against Edom.

In verse five, we learn that Yahweh is great beyond the borders of Israel.

What questions did reading the text stimulate for us in verse one?

What is an “oracle”? How would you find out the answer to this question?

The easiest way would be the footnote in a study Bible. The NET says this concerning the word “oracle” (מַשָּׂ֥א)

It is usually translated “oracle” or “utterance” (BDB 672 s.v. מַשָּׂא), is a technical term in prophetic literature introducing a message from the LORD (see Zech 9:1; 12:1). Since it derives from a verb meaning “to carry,” its original nuance was that of a burdensome message, that is, one with ominous content. The grammatical structure here suggests that the term stands alone (so NAB, NRSV) and is not to be joined with what follows, “the burden [or “revelation”] of” (so KJV, NASB, ESV).

Who is Malachi? How would you find out the answer to this question?

Again, the easiest source would be a study Bible or Bible dictionary.

NET’s footnote says this concerning Malachi:

There is some question as to whether מַלְאָכִי (mal’akhi) should be understood as a personal name (so almost all English versions) or as simply “my messenger” (the literal meaning of the Hebrew). Despite the fact that the word should be understood in the latter sense in 3:1 (where, however, it refers to a different person), to understand it that way here would result in the book being of anonymous authorship, a situation anomalous among all the prophetic literature of the OT.

From a Bible dictionary, we learn that the LXX translates Malachi as a personal name, which sets the stage for it to be translated that way throughout church history. This begins to move us toward the World Behind the Text and the World in Front of the Text.

What questions were stimulated by reading verses two through five?

Who is Jacob?

Who is Esau?

These two questions can be answered by what context world?

They are answered by the World of the Text.

Why is Israel questioning Yahweh’s love?

Why does God use the example of Jacob and Esau to demonstrate his love for Israel?

These two questions can be answered by what context world?

They are answered by the World Behind the Text.

How do we process God’s love for us?

How has God shown his love for us?

These two questions can be answered by what context world?

They are answered by the World of the Text and the World in Front of the Text.

May we go with improved skill to study God’s Word, confident in his choice to love us.