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Creative Bible Study
2. What Is Being Said?
Summarize the main points of what is being said by the speaker or writer.
3. To Whom Is It Being Said?
Israel? The Gentile nations? The Church? A specific individual?
4. Why Was It Said?
What is the purpose in the passage? The Bible itself states purposes for some books and passages:
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name. (John 20:30-31)
For other parts of Scripture the reason for writing is not so clearly stated. You must examine the context more closely to determine why the message was recorded.
5. When Was It Said?
The time and circumstances of some scriptures help us understand the meaning. For example, when there was confusion in church services at the church of Corinth Paul wrote a special passage of scripture. He told the women to keep silent in the Church. Did this mean women could not sing, pray, teach, or worship out loud in the Church?
To find the answer, we must examine when, why, and to whom this was said. In Jewish church services men were seated on one side of the building and women on the other. The Corinthian women were disrupting services by shouting questions to their husbands on the other side of the room. This was the occasion when Paul found it necessary to write:
Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (I Corinthians 14:34)
Interpreting a Scripture within its context helps explain the meaning of the passage. Taking a verse out of context can result in incorrect understanding. Often the context of a Scripture in the Bible gives the interpretation. A good example of this is the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-9. If you continue to read the context, the parable is interpreted in verses 18-23. In many cases similar to this the Bible interprets itself within the context. This is why contextual consideration is important.