Context is King

Open with a funny story

The Context determines what the words mean

How do we know what a passage is saying

Context rules: Read verses within their immediate, historical, and cultural setting to see the true flow of thought.

Literal and plain meaning: Take text at face value unless it clearly uses figurative language or symbols.

Literary genre: Identify if a passage is history, poetry, prophecy, or letter, as each style reads differently.

Scripture interprets Scripture: Compare unclear passages with clear passages, ensuring the text never contradicts itself.

Principle of clarity: Trust that the core message of the text is clear and understandable to the careful reader.

Author's intention: Seek the original message the human author and divine intent meant to communicate to their first audience.

Personal application: Move from understanding what the text meant back then to living out its timeless truth today. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

The Christian Yu-an Story of proper application of this passage