One biblical scholar, George Eldon Ladd, reminds us that the religious faith and practice of Israel did not arise in a vacuum, but in the cultural setting of ancient Semitic religions. He also reminds us that in the same way, the early Church arose against the background of first-century Judaism and the Hellenistic world. Subsequently, an adequate understanding of the biblical message demands some familiarity with these religious environments.
The Bible, like any other written document must be interpreted in its own historical setting. To divorce or extricate "what the Bible says" from its historical setting will result in a misunderstanding and distortion of its original message. Subsequently, doctrines and ideas which were never intended or promoted by the biblical writers will be the end result. We will end up with well-intended but sincerely misguided notions about the biblical message, and eventually a misapplication of that message in the life of the community which can lead to unsound theology and a warped sense of what it means to live a Christian life.
How does placing the Bible in a historical context help us in our understanding of the Bible? It helps us to understand what certain terms such as "Son of Man, and Son of God" meant in that culture and how it applies in today's various cultures. In the same general manner, it helps us by raising the question of what did the message of the Bible mean "back then," and how does it relate to us today?
It does not mean that God changes, or that the Bible changes. What it does mean is that whatever is contained in Scripture requires us to explore the possible meaning for our age, and not assume that what was said back then is always universally applicable in this day and age. This approach might help us to ask questions such as who for us today is what Jesus was in His time? Or it might lead us
to explore if Paul's mandate to the slaves to be submissive to their masters was a way of Paul giving his approval to the institution of slavery.
Please share in a word or two with us how you examine the Scriptures against their historical background. How does history help to shed light on what you are reading in the Bible? Your responses will be received as highly valuable contributions. We look forward to them.
Grace and peace,
Juan Ayala-Carmona
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