How to Avoid Taking the Bible Out of Context

The Word of God is flawless and perfect, but at times, our interpretation of scripture is not. We are all prone to take Bible verses out of context, which can lead to error and misunderstanding. The Bible was written for a specific audience at a specific time, and for a specific purpose. When we fail to pick up on the context clues of a particular verse or passage, we can easily misinterpret the meaning and application of scripture. 

Does that mean we should leave the Bible reading to scholars and seminary graduates? Absolutely not! The Word of God is for everyone! 

Do we need to feel ashamed for misunderstanding passages of scripture from time-to-time? No way! The Lord knows we won’t always “get it right”. He doesn’t demand our perfection; instead, He desires our devotion.  

As we devote ourselves to reading the Bible daily, here’s some ways we can avoid taking the Bible out of context:

1. Read more than just a few verses.

In order to understand the meaning of a particular Bible verse, make sure to read the entire chapter the verse is found in. Depending on the passage, you may need to read multiple chapters or the entire book of the Bible to understand the greater context in which the particular verse was written. 

For example, Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV)  This sounds wonderful, (and it is!) but when we read the entire chapter of Jeremiah we realize that this promise was given to the Israelites during their forced exile into Babylon. God planned to prosper His people in the midst of their exile, not apart from it. This changes our understanding of the scripture, as well as the implications it has for the difficulties we may be facing. 

2. Have a basic understanding of the book of the Bible you are reading.

Most Study Bibles provide an introduction to every book of the Bible that highlights when it was written, the author(s), the original audience and the major themes of the book. This is incredibly useful information when reading scripture. It will help you get a better sense of the narrative taking place, and the intended meaning of the passages you are reading. 

The Bible Project provides excellent short videos for each book of the Bible that we highly recommend viewing before jumping into a new book or portion of the Bible. You can watch them for free here.  

3. Explore the cultural norms the original audience had.

It’s important that you know the original audience’s cultural norms when reading scripture. Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias, commentaries, atlases and maps are great resources to help you better understand the times in which the Bible was written. 

Here are some of our favorite books to provide insight to the customs, practices and daily life of people living in biblical times:

"The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times" by Ralph Gower

"The World of the Bible" by John Drane

"The Historical Atlas of Judaism" by Ian Barnes and Josephine Bacon

4. Compare scripture to other scriptures.

Instead of building a theology on one Bible verse or passage, compare it to the whole of scripture. 

Jesus said in Luke 14:26 that “if anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” (NIV) Was Jesus asking us to practice hate?! When we compare this passage to Jesus’ other teachings and the early church epistles commanding that we love others, we can easily understand that Jesus is not preaching hate, but rather, calling us to have a loyalty to Him above all other relationships in our lives– even those incredibly close to us. 

Avoid building a particular theological belief on only one passage of scripture. Instead, see how that passage compares and relates to the whole Bible to better understand the intended meaning and application.

5. Read from multiple translations.

You probably have a favorite Bible translation that you prefer reading from. That’s great! When you come across a passage that you are unclear about, try reading the same passage from other translations as well. Some translations are more literal than others, while some are more of a paraphrase. By reading from a few different translations, you can gain a greater understanding of the intended meaning of a passage.

6. Look for Jesus.

All of Scripture ultimately points to the redemptive work of Jesus. Whether you are reading an Old Testament passage or a New Testament one, a great question to ask yourself is: What does this passage reveal to me about Jesus? Often the Old Testament narratives, poems, and prophecies are foreshadowing God’s redemptive plan for humanity and the saving power of Jesus. And the New Testament epistles are written for us to better understand how Jesus saves and transforms our lives, and how to fully follow Him and live like He did in our daily lives.