LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Why Is Historical Context Important When Studying God’s Word?
Submitted to Dr. James Sulfridge
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 500
Discipleship Ministries
By
Anthony Bean
The Bible is not only full of history but it is a part of history. It informs us what was going on
historically and culturally at the time the stories were recorded. God’s people were affected by
history, and history was affected by God’s people. As we read God’s Word, we see that the
development of mankind, civilization, and kingdoms through the centuries bleed onto the
pages of Scripture.
This weaving of history with the events of the Bible is known as historical context. It is a
crucial piece of the puzzle for any student of God’s Word. So exactly why is historical context
important when you are studying the Bible?
Why Is Historical Context Important?
The historical context of any verse, book, or passage you read needs to be a factor in how
you interpret what you are reading. Every word of the Bible was written at a certain point in
history, in the midst of a certain set of circumstances.
Often, this outside information will give you a lot of insight as to the purpose of what has
been written. The why, when, and where details of the passage will be connected to the
historical context.
If you allow the historical context to set the scene for you, the words on the page will
become much more real and meaningful to you because you will know why it was significant to
its original audience. Understanding the historical context will allow you to garner new insights
and therefore a deeper understanding.
This will definitely take researching into outside sources, like commentaries, history books,
and cross-referenced biblical passages that might explain what was going on at the time your
particular verses were written.
As you study, ask yourself questions like these:
Who is the author of this passage, and what is known about him?
Who is the audience, and what circumstances did they find themselves in?
At what point in history were these people living?
What was going on politically, economically, culturally, and religiously at the time?
For Example: Luke 7
Let’s consider the historical and cultural context of Luke 7:36-39:
“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s
house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus
was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she
stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped
them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had
invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is
touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.’”
This passage is packed full of historical and cultural context that, when understood, makes
it come alive. Using the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible as a resource, we are able to see
several interesting facts surrounding this story that help reveal its richness:
The Pharisee (a religious leader) who invited Jesus to dinner would have been viewed as
doing a virtuous thing.
The fact that Jesus was reclining indicates that this was no normal meal; reclining was
something typically done at a banquet. This meal would have been considered an honor to be
at – it may even have been put on for Jesus’ sake.
The alabaster jar of perfume that the woman brought with her was a fragile and
beautiful piece of pottery. The ointment or perfume inside was often used at this time in history
to anoint the dead at their burial.
The act of anointing someone was a gesture of courtesy and at times high honor, as in
the case of a king being anointed (2 Kings 9:6).
The fact that this woman wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair is significant. It was shameful
for married women, as she may well have been, to have their hair uncovered in public.
The woman was a known sinner, and clearly from the Pharisee’s reaction it was socially
inappropriate for Jesus to allow her to touch him. The woman risked much public disgrace for
her action of worship towards Jesus.
These few aspects of this passage cause us to see it in a deeper way. And these are just a
few facts from one source!
Researching the Historical Context
Now, you may be thinking, “I wasn’t alive 2,000 years ago, so it’s gonna be pretty tough for
me to fully understand what was going on back then.” You’re right, but the great thing is that
you don’t need to know it all. Having just a basic understanding of the cultural and historical
atmosphere will help you immensely, and you can choose from there how much further to
study it.
Researching doesn’t have to feel like an impossible task. Scholars and historians have done
much of the work for us already. It is a gift that there are many great resources out there that
can provide you with an accurate picture of the historical and cultural context.
Why is historical context important when studying God’s Word? It will reveal why the text
was written. It will enrich what you take away from the passage, and help you understand the
full meaning. It will help you grasp why the words were significant to their original audience. It
will increase the likelihood of you interpreting the Bible correctly.
