Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
It's important to study Bible passages and stories within their context. Taking verses out of context leads to all kinds of error and misunderstanding. Understanding context begins with four princi...
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Why is it important to study the Bible in context? Theologian Dr. Donald A. Carson attributes his father saying “A text without a context is a pretext for a proof text.” I heard that at Dallas Theological Seminary a lot! "Assumptions are dangerous things." -- Agatha Christie "The universe is full of dead people who lived by assumption." -- Alan Dean Foster "But you are making assumptions without all the facts, and that's not a sign of intelligence." -- C.C. Hunter Assumptions are dangerous things. I like facts a lot better. -- David Baldacci In other words, our failure or unwillingness to understand who, what, when, where, how and why can lead to our pretext or preconceived and erroneous assumptions. This is true of Bible study as well. So how do we prevent pretext? Begin by considering the three “L’s” of the Bible: life, literature, and language. https://www.365christcenteredleadership.com/bible-study-101-part-1-text-without-context-is-a-pretext/
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