Go! And Return to the Bible's Context
2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT): “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
Introduction:
Dr Michael Heiser once said: "Christian history is not the context of the biblical writers. The proper context for interpreting the Bible is not Augustine or any other church father. It is not the Catholic Church. It is not the rabbinic movements of late antiquity and the Middle Ages. It is not the Reformation or the Puritans. It is not evangelicalism in any of its flavors. It is not the modern world at all, or any period of its history. The proper context for interpreting the Bible is the context of the biblical writers—the context that produced the Bible.”
This is a powerful reminder for us today.
We live in an age filled with interpretation, tradition, denomination, and commentary. But if we want to hear God's voice clearly, we must read His Word as He intended—through the lens of the world of the biblical writers. That world points us to the greatest truth of all: Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, our Lord and Saviour.
Main Passage:
Psalm 119:105 (NLT): “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
1. The Bible Was Written in a Different World
Isaiah 48:17 (NLT): “These are the instructions of the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.’”
The Bible was written in a time of tribal kingdoms, covenants, temple worship, and direct revelations. Its language—Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek—conveys ideas in ways that modern Western thought often misses.
The Hebrew word for "Redeemer" in Isaiah 48:17 is “go'el,” which refers to a kinsman-redeemer—someone who rescues a relative from trouble. That points us straight to Jesus—our divine kinsman-redeemer!
Max Lucado said, “The Bible is the story of God’s relentless love for His children.”
When we read the Bible as a love story from a Redeemer—not just a rulebook—we begin to understand its heartbeat. The context of the biblical writers screams redemption, not religion!
Imagine finding an ancient letter from your great-grandfather. You wouldn’t apply it to 2025 without understanding the world he lived in. You’d research, ask questions, and seek the heart behind the words. Why do we give less care to the eternal Word of God?
2. Jesus Interpreted Scripture with Contextual Authority
Luke 24:27 (NLT): “Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
After the resurrection, Jesus walked the Emmaus road with two confused disciples. What did He do? He opened the Scriptures and gave them context.
The word “explaining” (Greek: diermeneuo) is the same root for “hermeneutics,” meaning to interpret thoroughly. Jesus gave them the correct lens.
Tim Keller wrote, “Jesus is the true and better everything.”
When Jesus opened the Word, He didn’t create new meaning—He revealed what was always there. He is the centre of Scripture, and the original audience knew that a Messiah was coming. We need to read as they did: expectantly.
Have you ever looked at a blurry photograph? Then someone adjusts the focus, and the subject becomes clear. That’s what Jesus did with Scripture.
3. The Danger of Reading the Bible with Modern Assumptions
John 5:39 (NLT): “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!”
The Pharisees had the Scripture but missed the Saviour. Today, we risk doing the same when we impose our cultural preferences, theological traditions, or denominational biases onto the Word.
John Piper warns, “We cannot know what prayer is for until we know that life is war.”
The battle is real—and one battleground is Scripture. Satan doesn’t need us to stop reading the Bible—he just wants us to read it wrongly. But when we return to the text’s original context, Christ is exalted!
The Greek word used for “Scriptures” in John 5:39 is graphe, meaning holy writings. The Jews revered them, yet many failed to see the Living Word standing before them.
4. Scripture Points Us to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Romans 10:4 (ESV - best captures the Greek here): “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” —
“End” (Greek: telos) means goal or fulfilment. Jesus didn’t abolish the Law—He fulfilled it. The sacrificial system, the priesthood, the festivals—all pointed to Him.
R.T. Kendall said, “The Spirit of truth will never lead you where the Word of God forbids you to go.”
The Holy Spirit opens our eyes, but He does so through the text rightly understood. Christ is not hidden in Scripture—He is the very heart of it!
5. Returning to Biblical Context Brings Transformation
Romans 12:2 (NLT): “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
Understanding the Bible in its original context transforms our minds. We begin to think like Christ, act like Christ, and love like Christ.
Charles Stanley once said, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”
True obedience comes when we know what God is saying—not what culture is saying about God.
A missionary in Papua New Guinea once translated the Gospel of Luke into the local dialect. When the people heard about the crucifixion, they wept. They had never heard of Jesus, but they understood sacrifice. Their context opened their hearts. We must do the same: let Scripture speak in its own voice.
Gospel Presentation:
The Gospel is not Western. It’s not modern. It is ancient, eternal, and divine.
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, stepped into time. He lived a sinless life. He died on the cross to bear our punishment. He was buried—and on the third day, He rose again, conquering death.
Why? So that you and I, through repentance and faith, might be saved!
Romans 10:9 (NLT) declares, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
That offer still stands today!
Call to Action:
Will you trust Him today? Will you surrender your assumptions, traditions, and preferences—and let the Word speak on its own terms?
Will you go—and return to the context of the Bible?
Final Encouragement:
Let’s not be people who read the Bible with blinders on. Let’s be people who dig deep, who pray hard, and who exalt Jesus above all else.
Benediction:
May the Lord bless you and keep you in His truth. May His Word be your compass, His Spirit your guide, and His Son your Saviour. Go now—and return to the Bible’s context. Amen.
