What God says in his revealed Word doesn’t matter that much. As long as you take the spirit of the Scripture as a whole, it doesn’t matter if you misconstrue a section of Scripture.
For example, it is perfectly permissible to to take Scripture out of context as long as you do not say something contrary to the whole of the Bible. If you have something that people are having problems with, you can use whatever you used in devotions that morning and just apply it to the situation. For pastors you may want to tell the people you are using the passage out of context, but that is not absolutely necessary.
There is only one law of Bible interpretation:
Don’t contradict the whole counsel of God.
If you follow that rule you will be safe. Don’t worry about using John 3:16 to tell someone that he should dress in his Sunday best to church. As long as you find that principle somewhere in Scripture it is ok. It doesn’t matter what God means in a particular context.
Note: This is Satire. Hopefully you were repulsed by the attitude demonstrated towards the Word of God.
In Ephesians 4:11-12 it talks about there being apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelicals. It goes on to say that they are to help Christians in their walks, further the gospel, and edify the church. Could you take this and apply this to non-teaching Christians. Like on a basketball team. instead of different kinds of teachers you would say different kinds of positions. And the jobs they have you make them into ones applicable to the players (accountable to each other spiritually, edify one another, and such). Or would you apply it normal Christians by saying we are to help our teachers by not being burdens and helping to make their load easier. cause to some degree are we not all responsible for their job objectives in verse 12.
Thanks for the comment Lenny,
Context. You have to look at the context of the passage. Paul is talking to the saints at Ephesus, all of the saints, not just pastors and evangelists. But that said, he tells the saints at Ephesus that Christ gave “apostles…and teachers” for the purpose of “equipping the saints for the work of service”, etc. So the job of the layman is work of service.
The question then is what is the work of the service. Look at the rest of the chapter. It includes maturing the faith, speaking the truth in love, walk not as the gentiles, put on the new lay aside the old, etc.
It is a good thing that you are involved in the detail, but do not bog yourself down so that you cannot see the meaning. The point isn’t how we are to help our teachers or pastors in their work, but that we mature in the faith (v. 14 and following). You cannot divorce the detail from the context. Whenever you study a small portion you MUST have the context in mind. Always read a large portion and make sure that you understand the general theme before you try to understand each aspect of the text.
Forrest Berry
P.S. If you really want to be anonymous you have to get a new e-mail address from google and use that, but I like the pseudonym.
It is my nickname from Erin. But my question was can you apply those 2 verses in the way i was? i will have to explain at home. Don’t let me forget.
Tim directed me here. I thoroughly repulsed. I was about ready to have a talk with you until I saw the note at the end.
II Pet. 1:19-21
And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (ESV)