Context! Context! Context!

[David ben Shaul]

When studying the TNK (“Old Testament”) and “New Testament” we often
neglect the context. The context includes background, circumstances,
situation, perspective, and environment of when, where, and why the
passages were written in its original language.

Usually a passage is understood according to a preconceived notion or
a bias taught by doctrines and man-made teachings. I have had people
tell me that “Jesus is Lord!” My question is, “lord or LORD?” Why
because “lord” means master while “LORD” is in reference to G-d.
English lends itself to these types of word games. Yet when reading
that phrase in the “New Testament” in the original Greek it is telling
us “Jesus is the master”. A master is a leader and facilitator which
has great skill in a given subject. There is a big difference between
“lord” and “LORD”!

I have seen Talmud passage taken out of context to promote anti-
Semitism. It has been used to promote halacha that is anti-Torah. I
have seen TNK taken out of context to promote Jesus’ sin-offering (ei.
book of Hebrews). I have seen Christian doctrines and “New Testament”
taken out of context to be used by Anti-missionaries in there defense.
We all do this. So no pointing fingers - please!

When reading a passage quoted by another challenge it. Don’t presume
it’s in it proper context when quoted. A passage never looses its
context just because it is quoted elsewhere.

[Michael]

Words of wisdom, for sure. Being a preacher in the past, and a messy
antic rabbi I did this all the time but did not know what I was doing.
Plus on what you are talking about, much of the nt has been tamperd by
the earily church fathers to create there god man. So when I read the
nt, I go beyond the nt setting, and try to put myself back in that
time period, knowing that Yeshua never called himself Yahweh, nor
clamed to take away the sins of man.
Good stuff David
Mika'el