Weekend Message Q&A

Here are the questions I received based on the weekend message.

Q – Should we keep in mind what was happening when something was written or the events that happened in the time the writing is in? For example, do we read something written now about a past event with the knowledge of the past or the present?

A – I’m not sure I understand the question. I’ll take my best shot at addressing some issues around historical context when reading.

• Historical context can refer to the occasion of a particular writing. For example, Paul writes 1 Corinthians in response to a letter church members wrote to him and he wrote in response to reports he had received by others who were familiar with the situation in Corinth, recent visitors and members of the church there.
• Historical context can also refer to the general historical/cultural situation in which the document was written. For example, in reading 1 Corinthians and the issues Paul faced there it’s good to know some things about life in that city socially, economically, religiously, etc. Even the history of that city. 
• The reader also has a historical/cultural context that impacts understanding. This can help and hinder understanding. It can especially hinder understanding when we are unaware of the extent to which our reading is impacted by our assumptions/worldview. And even if we are aware, we’re never completely aware of our own assumptions or the assumptions of the author. But our own context can also help. For example, American missionaries come from a world that is very skeptical of “miraculous” (even in the church), but sometimes theyserve in worlds that have not been as influenced by the enlightenment, where they still believe in spiritual realities. These missionaries have found, for example, that the new converts can relate to the miracles in Scripture and, in turn, they experience much more of the miraculous in their lives. This then has deeply impacted many of these missionaries who have brought a fuller and more accurate understanding of the Bible to American Christianity. All that said, if you go to another culture and immerse yourself in it long enough you begin to discover the that people are not all that different after all, no matter the culture. Their problems and joys are quite similar. This is true also if you immerse yourself in ancient literature. You are often shocked by how “modern” their thinking is. So the differences should not be overblown.

Q – I've known people who use historical/archaeological information to "prove" that the Bible is false because they can't pin down the people in the Bible to information/documentation in historical records. How do you get historical context in that case?

A – There are thousands of respected and credentialed historians and archaeologists that would say otherwise. Take a look at “probe.org” and enter archaeology into the search box. This would be a good place to start.

Q – Loving the story of God book! Thank you, Henry! Question in Genesis 1, many times it says “let there be,” etc. But when speaking of man it says “Let us make man in our image”. Didn’t google this, thought you shed light on this (if there is anything to share). Great worship set Justin! Praise Him! 

A – Not sure if this addresses your question but here’s what the ESV Study Bible says on that verse:

• Gen. 1:24–31 This is by far the longest section given over to a particular day, indicating that day 6 is the peak of interest for this passage. The final region to be filled is the dry land, or Earth (as it has been designated in v. 10). Here a significant distinction is drawn between all the living creatures that are created to live on the dry land, and human beings. Whereas vv. 24–25 deal with the “living creatures” that the earth is to bring forth, vv. 26–30 concentrate on the special status assigned to humans.
• Gen. 1:26 Let us make man in our image. The text does not specify the identity of the “us” mentioned here. Some have suggested that God may be addressing the members of his court, whom the OT elsewhere calls “sons of God” (e.g., Job 1:6) and the NT calls “angels,” but a significant objection is that man is not made in the image of angels, nor is there any indication that angels participated in the creation of human beings. Many Christians and some Jews have taken “us” to be God speaking to himself, since God alone does the making in Gen. 1:27 (cf. 5:1); this would be the first hint of the Trinity in the Bible (cf. 1:2).

Q – Wondering if there is a Bible App for daily reads – a good recommendation? 

A – Yep. The very best with lots and lots of choices for Bible reading plans is the YouVersion app and the YouVersion website. You get to check off each day you read in whatever plan you choose, and they’ll even send you reminders and encouragement when you fall behind. You can even recorded versions of every text in most of the primary translations.