Context and Culture

In recent years, my Bible has become so precious to me, exceedingly precious. It is God's written Word. My Bible has always been special to me, but I’ve come to realize, anew, the gift and treasure that God’s Word is. 

It is something we can always stand on and rely on, no matter what. God’s Word is the truth. (Psalm 119:142) 

In more ways than I probably realized as a child, God’s Word was a central part of my childhood. 

I fondly remember doing “sword drills” in school with my white, well used, well worn, King James Bible, sword being another name for God’s Word. It could have been called a “Bible drill” instead. During sword drills, I eagerly attempted to find the exact verse my homeschool video teacher had called out as quickly as I could. Usually, other students in my video class found the verse first, but occasionally, I did. 

That drill was a fun way of learning to find the books of the Bible quickly, something I think I could benefit from now as an adult. (sometimes, I have to hunt for awhile before I find a certain book of the Bible, wondering if that book was even printed in my Bible.) It's been a few years since I did a sword drill. 

 

Growing up in Baptist churches, I also have special memories of Wednesday night “Awana” program. While parents were in prayer meeting, their children were usually in Awana class with their teacher and classmates of their age group. What does “Awana” stand for? It is abbreviated for: “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed” taken from 2 Timothy 2:15 which says:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

From my perspective, Awana was primarily a Scripture memorization program. I don’t know what the program represents today. Back when I was growing up, Awana was a very common program for children in Baptist churches. We were given a workbook for our age (usually ranging from about age 4 to age 12) with certain Scripture verses to memorize for the week. Sometimes, there was also a fun assignment in our workbook to do at home that week.

Just as God promised, His Word never returns void. (Isaiah 55:11) After I gave my life to the Lord at the age of 11, many of the verses that I'd memorized as a young child became alive to me in a new way. Christ now lived in me. God’s Word had, indeed, been hidden in my heart through Scripture memorization. (Psalm 119:11)

As I got older, instead of my mom reading Bible stories to us, we took turns reading from a chapter in the Bible before bed. Our family devotion time was always in the evening - a wonderful way to end the day and something that had a massive influence on me as a child. Never underestimate something as simple as family devotions. 

I remember, probably between the ages of 10-12, asking my Dad lots of questions. I loved Bible history and archeology, even as a 12 year girl. 

“Where do you think that is today, Dad?” 

“Do you think anyone has ever found it, Dad?” 

My Dad got loaded with questions; it was so fun to ask Dad questions! I loved hearing his answers. 

I remember when I was around 10 years old, hearing about a Jewish boy who was a neighbor to some Christian, homeschooling friends of ours in California. When I got home after being with those homeschooling friends one day, I asked my Dad something like:

“What is a Jew?”

My Dad proceeded to tell me that the Jewish people were modern day descendants of Israel in the Bible. 

“They are?!” 

I was surprised! I had no idea that descendants of Israel in Bible stories were actually alive on the earth today! Discovering that made me smile. 

My Dad gave a brief exposition about Abraham in the Bible and God's covenant with him. My Dad shared that he supported the Jewish people and the Jewish state in the Middle East because of God's covenant with Abraham. God doesn't break covenants. My Dad was “Pro-Jewish”, therefore, I grew up in a home that was “Pro-Jewish”, though we were not Jews. I was young, but my Dad shared that many people hate Jews. I couldn't understand that at all. I was happy that my Dad looked favorably on them. 

I discovered that Jesus, God's Son, came into the world as a Jew. Jesus was Jewish. 

These were facts I learned as a girl, facts that I knew were true according to the Bible, but I didn't give it much thought beyond that. After all, we were Christians, not Jews. 

I’d heard that my Grandparents (my mom’s parents) visited the Holy Land back in the 1970’s before I was born. (early 1980’s) I thought that, perhaps someday, when I was an older, Grandma age woman, I could visit the Holy Land. That would be so special! 

I didn't have to wait that long. At the age of 27, I flew to the Holy Land with a group of likeminded Christians on a three week missions trip to Israel and Egypt where I celebrated my 28th birthday. That trip made my Bible reading come alive in another way. I saw and walked in actual Bible places that I'd read and heard about my entire life - a life changing trip! 

When I was growing up, I remember my Dad saying that, when reading or studying the Bible, it is important to consider the context in which Bible verses were written. He meant that it is important to read and understand surrounding verses and chapters, otherwise you could make the Bible say almost anything you wanted it to. 

Thankfully, there are many simple phrases and verses in the Bible such as, "God is love." (1 John 4:16) or "The Lord is my shepherd." (Psalm 23:1) that don’t need much explanation. (those are the types of verses I memorized at a very young age) Those verses can stand alone, quite well, and you clearly understand them. 

Many stories in the Old Testament of our Bibles are also very easy to understand and don't require a lot of study to understand the clear meaning. 

But, there are other passages of Scripture, especially in the New Testament, when reading the context helps tremendously while trying to understand the full meaning. The book of Romans is a classic example. Reading surrounding verses and entire chapters helps when trying to gain a full understanding of that book.  

Godly teachers of the Bible all agree - context is important when reading and studying the Bible.

In the past 10 years or so, I've come to realize that the culture of the Bible is also important to consider when reading and studying the Bible.

Suppose the Bible had come from Africa or China. Most people know the Bible didn't originally come from either one of those nations, but let's suppose it had. In that case, would it be helpful to consider the culture of Africa or China? 

Indeed, it absolutely would! 

Sadly, many Christians tend to forget that the Bible was originally written in Hebrew and came from a Hebrew culture. Nearly all of the Old Testament is about the nation of Israel. Most of our Bible stories are about Israel. Much of the New Testament was written by Jews, Jewish believers in Christ, who had a Hebrew mindset and culture. I honestly didn't think about that when I was growing up. Of course, I knew that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, was Jewish, but I never gave it much thought. The realization of that sank in deeper after my first trip to Israel. 

Hebrew culture is the culture of the entire Bible. 

Much of the New Testament has been separated from its Hebrew culture. Most of it has been read, understood, and taught through the eyes of western culture, rather than the Hebrew culture in which it was written. Three of the Gospels were written by disciples of Jesus who were Jews - Matthew, Mark, and John. The apostle Paul, who took the Gospel to the Gentiles, was also a Jew. Peter was also a Jew. 

Most Christians know that studying the Bible in context is important. But sadly, most Christians (including myself many years ago) do not consider the culture of the Bible and its writers. 

Often, when a Christian enjoys learning about the culture of the Bible (like I have), other Christians tend to wonder why they are interested in it, thus, showing their ignorance of the culture of the Bible. Though many Christians have tried to do it, I’ve discovered that the Bible cannot be separated from its culture, especially when trying to gain a full understanding of something in God’s Word. 

A Christian Bible teacher, named Ray Vanderlaan, helps Christians to understand the Bible from the Hebrew context and culture it was written in. As mentioned before on a previous blog of mine, Ray Vanderlaan has a DVD series titled “That The World May Know” which I highly recommend! His DVD’s can be purchased online through Amazon or Christian Book. In his series, He teaches the Bible, on location, from a Hebrew perspective which I love.

Hebrew culture is an essential part of God's Word. I know many Christians teach that God is done with the nation of Israel, but that is not true. In describing heaven, the apostle John says that the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are inscribed on the very gates of heaven! (Revelation 21:12) The nation of Israel is very special to God, once again, reflecting the Hebrew culture of the Bible.  

If you were to visit me in person, you'd probably notice that I like harps, and flowers, and birds. I love Godly music. I love God's creation. I love nature. I love flowers. I love plants. I love animals. I love beautiful things. I love God's Word. You probably wouldn't notice much out of the ordinary in my bedroom. But my love of Hebrew culture almost always comes out in conversation.

Right now, I'm loving all of the many flowers that are in bloom around our home. Flowers are something that I love about summer time. 

Daisies in full bloom in our backyard right now. 

God compares His Word to flowers in both the Old and New Testament of the Bible. 

Isaiah 40:8 says: 

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

Peter shares this again in 1 Peter 1:24-25:  

"...The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

Flowers die and fade away as summer ends, something that always makes me a little sad. But God's Word never dies; it never fades away! God gives such a comforting and powerful analogy of His Word in contrast to flowers. God's Word endures forever!

That includes its context and its culture.   

What a treasure God's Word is, something that never changes in an ever changing world.