How Understanding Biblical Context Helps Deepen Our Relationship with God

The Bible is full of God’s design. It tells about the way He made the world, life lessons He wants us to learn, and provides insight into the way we can have an eternal relationship with Him. There’s also many genres in the Bible, including poetry, parables, allegory, prophecy, and real history.

Until Jesus returns, contemporary readers get further and further away from the culture and context in which the Holy Spirit first inspired people to write down the Lord’s messages. To have a deep understanding of Scripture, it’s important to understand the times and cultures in which it was written.

But learning about context doesn’t just help us have more head knowledge about the Bible. The more we learn about what God was saying when the books of the Bible were written, the more we can learn to apply it appropriately to our own lives, deepening our walk with the Lord.

What Is Biblical Context?

Context is, “the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed; the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.” 

There is a great deal of context within the Bible. First, the Bible has one great author: God. He inspired humans through the Holy Spirit, telling the story of God’s relationship with humanity from the beginning to the end of time.

Then there is the context of the human author. They lived in a time, culture, and situation that informed their writing, their references, and their worldview.

Finally, there is the context of a specific verse, passage, or concept. If someone tries to say a verse from Exodus about the Ten Commandments is referring to the persecution of Christians after the Ascencion of Christ, it is an inappropriate application of context.

Why Does Context Matter?

In any situation, whether it’s a real-life event, a written text, or even a text message, knowing what is going on can help clarify details and reduce confusion. The Bible is no different.

A very simple example from the Bible can demonstrate the importance of context.

Question: Why did God need to free the Israelites from Egypt? If they were so numerous, why couldn’t they just walk out?

The Bible says, “But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7). It does not speak directly to the power that Egypt had. It is hinted at, and may even be inferred, but it is not overtly stated that at that point in history, Egypt was the greatest power on earth. However, having that context, the answer to the question becomes clear.

Answer: Egypt was the world’s strongest power at that time. Without God’s help, Israel would have been defeated if they had tried to leave Egypt. 

Context paints a complete picture. But context isn’t just about the circumstances of an event. It is also the placement of a verse within the Bible itself.

A verse commonly removed from its place in Scripture and taught in isolation is “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). By itself, someone could say this verse means that God has plans for each person to have success, a life without evils like stress or poverty. Someone could easily extrapolate other dangerous ideas from it.

Context reveals these words were spoken by the prophet Jeremiah to the nation of Israel, so it isn’t a verse that can be randomly applied as a promise to every person who becomes a Christian. Furthermore, by looking at the verses before and after verse 11, an even greater context is revealed.

“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you” (Jeremiah 29:10-12).

This verse specifically addresses the coming Babylonian conquest, and assurances to the people of Israel that God has good things in their future, that they will return to Him as a nation, and their people will not be crushed by the occupation. The context is key, and the more it can be understood, the more God can reveal His truth.

How Does Context Enhance Our Relationship with God?

There are several ways that studying context can enhance someone’s relationship with the Lord. One of the most crucial ways is that it deepens one’s understanding of what God is communicating through His Word, protecting us from shallow relationships with the Lord. It also helps us recognize good doctrine from bad doctrine.

Many people study the Bible in pieces, or just memorize a handful of verses, while others read the Bible cover to cover. However, if they only read it at surface level, or apply their own logic to it without striving to understand what they are reading better, they will only ever get so deep into the Word.

For example, knowing which Psalms David wrote during times of distress versus times that were good can help people learn to cry out to God when things are hard, but also remind them to praise Him even in challenging circumstances. Without such knowledge, the Psalms can just be pretty words that people selectively quote when it suits them.

While knowing details like this isn’t necessary for salvation, it shows the reader something about God’s character. When looking at Jeremiah 29:11 again, if someone takes the verse out of context, they may stumble in their walk with the Lord when they encounter difficulties. Misunderstanding the verse may lead them to believe God has promised them only good things if they become a Christian. Knowing the context helps them be ready for difficulties and stop them from having a false belief.

It is easier for the Lord to protect someone from false doctrine if they know the Bible well, including what things meant at the time they were written. The Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry warned, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:15-17).

Many false prophets will take verses and ideas from the Bible out of context, twisting them to mean something else. If someone who is not saved listens to those false teachings, they will be drawn further away from a right relationship with the Lord. For people who may be saved but got sucked into false doctrine, their ability to connect deeply with their Savior and hear the Holy Spirit will be stifled.

Knowing the context can also help a believer identify a good pastor who will help them grow in their knowledge of the Lord, strengthening their relationship with both the Lord and fellow believers. If a pastor says something inappropriate, out of context, or wrong, then the Christian can recognize it, and decide what to do from there. If the pastor was just in error, then it can be corrected. If the pastor is willfully teaching badly, then the Christian can go to another church or work with the leadership to address the issue. 

Seeing the events of the Bible in their proper context can also help someone see the character of God. He chose to reveal Himself to the world through different people, groups, miracles, and time periods. Knowing more about the time that Jesus walked the earth can also illuminate important truths. For example, Jesus addressed many of the disagreements among the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin, and between the different factions of those groups. The more someone learns about that, the more they can see that human nature is still the same; our need for a Savior is unchanged. It shows that many of the disagreements among believers today existed in some form back then as well.

Context is the who, what, where, and when of God’s will, and the more a Christian can learn about it the more they can get to know their Creator. Of course, someone can have a close relationship with the Lord even if they don’t have a deep knowledge of biblical context. However, studying context is just one more way to reach out to the Lord for wisdom, counsel, and His presence.

Bible Verses to Encourage Studying Context

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him” (Proverbs 30:5).

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:22-25).

God wants to have a deep relationship with everyone, and made the Bible available so people could learn more about Him. Learning more about the Bible is another opportunity to grow closer to the Lord, His will, and His amazing love. 

Sources
Gore, Bruce. Historical and Chronological Context of the Bible. Bloomington: Trafford Publishing, 2010.
Hunter, Trent and Stephen Wellum. Christ from Beginning to End How the Full Story of Scripture Reveals the Full Glory of Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018.
Schultz, Richard L. Out of Context How to Avoid Misinterpreting the Bible. Minneapolis: Baker Publishing Group, 2012.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Oladimeji Ajegbile

Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.