Contextual Interpretation of New Testament Epistles

Introduction to New Testament Epistles

• Definition and Scope: Epistles are the primary vehicle for providing specific instructions for Christians regarding lifestyle, behavior, and doctrine. Within the New Testament ($NT$), epistles comprise approximately $\frac{1}{3}$ of the total content. Specifically, \21 of the \27 books in the $NT$ are categorized as epistles.

• Theological Importance: Epistles are the foundational source for various Christian doctrines, including:

  • Instructions on how to live as a follower of Christ.

  • Core theological beliefs (Theology).

  • The concept of the union with Christ.

  • The doctrine of the Church interpreted as the Body of Christ.

• Pauline Contributions: The Apostle Paul utilized the form of the epistle to correspond with early churches.

  • Historical feedback from Paul's opponents noted that his writings were "weighty and forceful."

  • The Apostle Peter observed that Paul's letters are sometimes difficult to understand and susceptible to distortion by the ignorant or unstable. To avoid distortion, accurate contextual interpretation is mandatory.

The Principle of Reading Contextually

• The Danger of Decontextualization: Portraying a verse or passage outside of its original literary and historical context is compared to the trauma of "ripping a child from her mother's arms."

• The Power of Context: New Testament scholar Moises Silva states that context does not merely assist in understanding meaning; it "virtually makes the meaning."

• Specific Examples of Misinterpretation (What Not To Do):

  • Revelation $11:10$: The text mentions people rejoicing and sending gifts. It is often jokingly suggested as a "Christmas text," but contextually, it describes the wicked celebrating the death of God's two prophets.

  • Psalm $79:1$: The text says, "O God, the nations have come into your inheritance." While sounding like a missions-focused verse, it actually describes enemies invading the land, defiling the holy temple, and laying Jerusalem in ruins.

  • Acts $20:24$: Often used at graduations to say, "If only I may finish my course." Contextually, Paul is referring to his obedience to Christ even if it results in his martyrdom.

  • 1 Corinthians $10:13$: Sometimes used to justify being near sin because "God will provide a way of escape." However, the following verse, verse $14$, explicitly commands believers to "flee from idolatry."

  • Ecclesiastes $10:2$: "A wise man's heart inclines him to the right." This is sometimes used to argue for voting Republican in the American political system, which is a gross anachronism unrelated to the text's meaning.

  • 1 Corinthians $15:51$: "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed." Humorously suggested for church nurseries, but in context, it refers to death and the eschatological transformation of the physical body.

  • Philippians $3:2$: "Beware of dogs." This is not a warning for animal safety but a metaphor for false teachers.

  • Genesis $2:7$ ("The Coffee Break with God" Example): A devotional titled "Take a Breather" used this verse to advocate for deep breathing for health and stress relief based on God breathing into man's nostrils. While medical advice on oxygen and heart function is scientifically valid, it is not the meaning of Genesis $2:7$, which describes the biological and spiritual creation of humanity.

Practical Strategies for Interpreting Epistles

• Reading the Whole Epistle: Epistles were designed to be read as a unified whole in one sitting, much like a modern letter from a friend.

  • Critique of Verse and Chapter Divisions: Modern verse and chapter markings are not original or inspired. They can create a "false confidence" that leads readers to treat snippets of text as mystical independent units.

  • Example from 1 John $5:16$: This verse refers to a "sin that leads to death."

    • Isolated from context, the meaning is ambiguous.

    • Within the context of the whole epistle, John is addressing false teachers who left the congregation because they were never truly part of it. They denied that Jesus was the Messiah come in the flesh. This broader context helps narrow the definition of the "sin that leads to death."

The Concentric Circle Principle of Parallel Texts

• The Fundamental Principle: The more removed a parallel text is from the text being studied, the less weight it bears on the interpretation of that text.

• Hierarchy of Context (Concentric Circles):

  1. The Verse/Passage: The immediate sentence and surrounding words.

  2. The Chapter: The primary literary unit surrounding the verse.

  3. The Book (Epistle): The entire letter written for a specific occasion.

  4. The Same Author: Other writings by that specific author (e.g., comparing 1 John to the Gospel of John or Revelation).

  5. The New Testament: Other authors within the same era and covenant.

  6. The Whole Bible (Old Testament): The full scriptural canon.

  7. The External World: The Jewish world, the Greco-Roman world, and the early Church Fathers.

• The Weight of Evidence: Proximity is key. If a student is confused about a passage in 1 John, the "first move" should not be jumping to the Gospel of Matthew. While all scripture is God-breathed, Matthew's words bear less immediate weight on John's specific contextual intent.

• Application to 1 John $5:16$:

  • Many interpreters jump immediately to Matthew $12:31$ (blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) to explain the "sin that leads to death."

  • This is considered a potential error in methodology; one must first exhaust the possibilities within the chapter, the book, and John's other writings before leapfrogging to Matthew.