How to Read the Bible in Context: Three Types of Contexts
What comes to mind when you hear the word “context”? Maybe it’s neighboring verses or the chapters that form a book of the Bible; while this interpretation would be correct, context also applies to other levels, like the historical background and how a verse fits in the metanarrative of Scripture.
What were the social and political influences of a book? Where does this passage fit in the unfolding story of the gospel?
In this blog post, I will explore the literary, historical, and metanarrative contexts of a biblical passage and how they can enrich your delight in God’s Word.
Literary Context
1 Corinthians 13 is unequivocally recognized as the love chapter in the Christian faith, but have you ever checked out the chapter before? What seems to be a solitary speech on the eternal and prominent nature of love is actually the continuation of an even bigger argument. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul addresses the strategic distribution of spiritual gifts and how it should promote unity among believers. While there are many gifts, they all come from the same God who empowers each person to use them for the common good. But it doesn’t stop there!
Paul refers to a “more excellent way” of practicing these gifts (v.31). Read the following verse, and you will quickly understand that love is that more excellent way. So, while it’s not wrong to read 1 Corinthians 13 to grow our knowledge of Christ-like love, it’s when we read it within the literary context that we understand its full meaning. It’s only through God’s love that we can wisely minister our spiritual gifts to one another.
Historical Context
The historical context of a passage sheds light on the social circumstances surrounding the text. While we may have an understanding of how the world works, the social, political, and technological factors influencing the original audience would’ve caused them to have a drastically different worldview.
After Paul sent his first letter to the church in Corinth, he received news about their division (1 Cor. 1:10-11). From leadership preferences to spiritual gifts, the Corinthians devised every reason not to work together. This is why Paul wrote this letter, and this is the context in which we should read 1 Corinthians 13. Unity is Paul’s end goal as he exhorts the Corinthians to use their gifts in love! Because we have been born again into the same family, this principle applies to us too.
Want to dive deeper into the historical background? You can learn about this kind of context by reading the book introductions found in a Study Bible. I personally love the ESV Study Bible for its accuracy and extensive notes!
Metanarrative
Each passage of Scripture points to the story of God’s redemption and the promise of our Messiah. When we take the time to identify references to creation, fall, redemption, and restoration, it enriches our understanding of what God is communicating in each book. Reading Scripture through a metanarrative lens highlights our need for Christ, increases our worship of God, and gives us hope for what’s to come.
While some passages may have references from all parts of the story, some may only have two or three. What parts of the gospel can you identify in 1 Corinthians 13?
As I read through the chapter, I can identify how some of the descriptions of love are consequences of the Fall. Even further, thinking about Christ’s sacrifice, I see that Christ is the solution to those misguided expressions of love; he alone embodies God’s love! Finally, the hope of one day seeing God face-to-face (v.12) is a promise we can hold on to because of our redemption in Christ. Through it all, Christ is the hero of the story, and our hearts should be led to worship as we read the effects of the gospel for the Corinthians and ourselves. The gospel changes everything, even how we read Scripture.