GRASPING GODS WORD

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• GRASPING GODS WORD
• A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and
  Applying the Bible
• (Winter-Spring 2004)
• Powerpoint Presentation Prepared by
• Rev. Joseph C. Parker, Jr., Esq., D. Min.
• Senior Pastor
• March 31, 2004

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE THE PERSONAL INVESTMENT?
  
• Why bother with Historical-Cultural Context?
• God spoke through human writers.
• The God-chosen human writers addressed REAL-LIFE
  needs of REAL people at a particular TIME in a
  particular CULTURE.
• We have eternal principles that apply eternally
  to every culture.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE THE PERSONAL INVESTMENT?
  
• God spoke to specific people living in specific
  places, speaking specific languages, who lived a
  particular way of life.
• Before we received Gods word, it was Gods word
  to others.
• Understand the Scriptures meaning in its
  original foreign context and THEN apply it to
  our lives.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE THE PERSONAL INVESTMENT?
  
• Our interpretation of Scripture must be
  consistent with the historical-cultural context
  of that Scripture.
• Would your interpretation make sense back then?
  If not, you probably need to dump it and start
  over again!
• What did the Scripture mean in the hometown?
• Then ask What does in mean in our town?

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

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• WHAT IS HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT?
• WITH REGARD TO THE BIBLICAL BOOK
• What was the WRITERS background?
• From where did the WRITER come?
• When does the WRITER write?
• What was happening historically at the time of
  the writing?

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT IS HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT?
• WITH REGARD TO THE BIBLICAL BOOK
• To whom was the writing addressed?
• What were the general circumstances of the
  recipients of the writing?
• What situation was being addressed in the
  writing?
• What occasion was being addressed in the writing?

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT IS HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT?
• WITH REGARD TO THE BIBLICAL BOOK
• What was happening socially to the writings
  recipients?
• What was happening religiously to the writings
  recipients?
• What was happening politically to the writings
  recipients?
• What was happening economically to the writings
  recipients?

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT IS HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT?
• WITH REGARD TO THE BIBLICAL BOOK
• What do you know about the relevant geography in
  the book?
• What do you know about the topography in the
  book?
• What do you know about the social customs?

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

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• WHAT IS HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT?
• WITH REGARD TO THE BIBLICAL PASSAGE
• ANSWER THE SAME QUESTIONS OF THIS PASSAGE THAT
  YOU ASKED OF THE BOOK AS A WHOLE.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

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• WHAT IS HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT?
• WITH REGARD TO THE BIBLICAL PASSAGE
• Social issues?
• Political issues?
• Religious issues?
• Economic issues?
• Social Customs?
• Geography? Topography?

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

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• DANGERS WITH STUDYING BIBLICAL BACKGROUND?
• Watch out for inaccurate background information!
• Do not elevate the biblical background above the
  meaning of the text!
• Do not become a reservoir of ancient facts!
• Do not assume you do not need the background!

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

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• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY DURING NEW
  TESTAMENT TIMES?
• An important form of compulsory labor in which
  part of the population legally owned other human
  beings as property.
• Practiced in all cultures relevant to the writing
  of the documents of the New Testament.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY DURING NEW
  TESTAMENT TIMES?
• Mediterranean consensus Slavery as the right to
  use another man at pleasure, like a piece of
  property or a domestic animal.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY DURING NEW
  TESTAMENT TIMES?
• Racial factors played no role.
• Education was greatly encouraged (some slaves
  were better educated than their owners) and
  enhanced their value.
• Many slaves carried out sensitive and highly
  responsible social functions.
• Slaves could own property, including other
  slaves.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY DURING NEW
  TESTAMENT TIMES?
• Their religious and cultural traditions were the
  same as those of the freeborn.
• No laws prohibited public assembly of slaves.
• The majority of urban and domestic slaves could
  legitimately anticipate being emancipated by the
  age of 30.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY DURING NEW
  TESTAMENT TIMES?
• A slave had no legal kin in Greek and Roman law.
• The potential freedom of the enslaved person
  varied as existed among the three traditions
  Jewish, Greek, and Roman.
• THEREFORE, it is essential to investigate the
  specific legal-social-philosophical background of
  each New Testament passage.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY DURING NEW
  TESTAMENT TIMES?
• Greek tradition tended to regard an enslaved
  person as inferior by nature and thus fortunate
  to have a Greek master.
• Jewish tradition any enslavement of Jews by
  Jews was improper because

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY DURING NEW
  TESTAMENT TIMES?
• Roman tradition slaves were rigorously regarded
  in much legislation as things, but also regularly
  treated as free human beings and normally granted
  Roman citizenship when set free, as happened
  regularly.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

•  
• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY DURING NEW
  TESTAMENT TIMES?
• Slaves individual honor, social status, and
  economic opportunities were entirely dependent on
  the status of their respective owners.
• Slaves were not necessarily at the bottom of the
  social-economic pyramid.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT SLAVERY DURING NEW
  TESTAMENT TIMES?
• Prior to the 1st century, a person became a slave
  as a prisoner of war and as a person kidnapped by
  pirates.
• By the 1st century, a person became a slave by
  self-sale, sale of free-born children, the
  raising of foundlings, and debt-bondage.
• Foundlings Throwing away newborn infants was a
  frequently used means of post-birth control when
  such infants were found alive, they could be
  raised as slaves.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT LAODICEA?
• Founded by Seleucid king Antiochus II and named
  in honor of his wife, Laodice.
• Zeus was the chief god and they also consulted
  the oracle of Apollo at Klaros in Ionia.
• In 129 BC it came under Roman control.
• A center of financial and banking operations
• A place where gladiatorial shows were to be seen
  (demonstrates economic prosperity)

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT LAODICEA?
• About 150 miles due east of Ephesus.
• The great Roman road stretching to the inland of
  Asia from the coast at Ephesus ran straight
  through its center. Therefore, it was an
  important center of trade and communication.
• A special eyesalve and ear ointments were either
  manufactured or distributed there.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT LAODICEA?
• One scholar notes that it is difficult to
  describe because no one thing stands out. There
  were no excesses or notable achievements to
  distinguish it. It was a city with a people who
  had learned to compromise and accommodate
  themselves to the needs and wishes of others.
  They did not zealously stand for anything.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA?
• Materially affluent and self-sufficient, it was
  spiritually wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and
  naked.
• The citys economic prosperity, eye ointment, and
  wool could coud do nothing to help this spiritual
  destitution.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

• WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT LAODICEA?
• Suffered severely from earthquakes, but rebuilt
  from its own resources without state assistance.
• Noted for its textile products.
• Had a chief medical center.

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THE HISTORICAL-CULTURAL CONTEXT

• INTERNET BIBLICAL RESEARCH RESOURCES
• www.crosswalk.com  
• www.blueletterbible.org  
• www.bju.edu/bible/index.html  
• www.bible.gospelcom.net/bible 
• www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html