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One of the features of a typical small group Bible study is that someone eventually says,
“What this means to me is…” The saying intends to express the personal application value of the
text to the person speaking. Often, the person passes the step of correctly interpreting the text and
proceeds to apply based on a superficial reading of the text and will usually make erroneous
applications based on assumptions. Even more unfortunate is that it also happens in the pulpit
with trained expositors. In the case study, the question is posed to decide whether the Biblical
writer has a say in modern interpretation of the text. This post will discuss ideas that conclude
that the Biblical text should be interpreted and applied with the author’s original intent.
When interpreting the meaning of scripture, it is essential to consider the author and the
idea they were communicating. The application will be flawed and possibly dangerous if the
author’s intent is not considered. One of the misconceptions that Bible readers can fall for is that
the text was written to and for them. However, the text was written to an ancient people but for
both them and us in the 21st century. Understanding this fact, one can find the principle of what
the author is communicating and apply it to today’s changes through exegesis. Dr. Robert Wayne
Stacy points to the misconception by noting that readers can believe that the 1st-century audience
is the same as the 21st-century audience.1
Some topics one should consider while attempting to interpret meaning are time, culture,
language, and geography.2 Along with the Religious context, these topics will not only give
context to the ideas expressed in the text but will be crucial to understanding obscure phrases that
do not make sense to the modern reader. Religion moved the culture of the 1st century, and
1 Robert W. Stacy “The Jewish Setting of Early Christianity” (video). Liberty University. October 23, 2023,
0.25, https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/530643/pages/watch-the-jewish-setting-of-early-christianity?
module_item_id=59582968.
2 Robert W. Stacy “Negotiating Distances in Biblical Interpretation” (video). Liberty University. October
23, 2023, 2:17, https://www.liberty.edu/casas/academic-success-center/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2022/09/
Turabian-Chart-of-Citations-NB-09132022-1.pdf.
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different perspectives from the religious sects not only influenced thought but many of these
sects were represented in different followers of Jesus. The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes,
Zealots, and Jesus followers were among these sects.3 These sects will give insight into points of
view expressed in the text as well as the background to dialogue and particular actions of the
characters of the New Testament.
Aside from the above ideas, Paul’s writings have been colored in a very modern
American Christian tent and not applied or interpreted in the Jewish context in which they were
written. Stacy discusses how Paul was very Jewish in his writing, and this Jewishness influenced
his ideas. What was essential to the first-century Jewish community was also important and holy
to the followers of Jesus. Synagogues, feasts, religious observances, and sabbaths were held in
shared values by both communities. Most of the first-century Jews and Christians were
practically indistinguishable from Roman authorities, as seen in the testimony of Suetonius
concerning the edict of Claudius in expelling the Jews from Rome.4
As Daniel and Sharon5 discuss the validity of the author in Biblical interpretation and
application, they should also consider the nature of the genre of the book of Revelation. Though
the chapters on the seven churches are epistolary,6,7 most of the book is apocalyptic, highly
symbolic, and depicts the great controversy between the powers of good and evil.8 Said insight
3 Stacy, “Negotiating,” 8:18.
4 Stacy, “Jewish Setting,” 0:58-4:59.
5 Persons in the “Case Study” Assignment
6 Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and
Theological Survey, Third Edition., Encountering Biblical Studies (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 361,
Logos.
7 Elwell and Yarbrough categorize this section of Revelation as the letters.
8 Elwell and Yarbrough, Encountering, 41.
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will be helpful so the Bible study group can make common sense applications while studying the
rest of the book.
In conclusion, honest students of the Bible who wish to interpret and apply scripture must
determine the idea the author intended to communicate by considering the historical-cultural
context, bearing in mind language, culture, time, and geography. The religious context will
inform the modern reader of issues of theological thought that colored the actions and words of
first-century characters and the reality of the Jewishness of all Christians in the time of the New
Testament. Finally, the modern Bible reader should also reflect on issues in the literary genre in
the interpretation process.
Bibliography
Elwell, Walter A., and Robert W. Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament: A Historical
and Theological Survey, Third Edition., Encountering Biblical Studies. Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Academic, 2013. Logos.
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Stacy, Robert W. “Negotiating Distances in Biblical Interpretation” (video). Liberty University.
October 23, 2023.
https://www.liberty.edu/casas/academic-success-center/wp-content/uploads/sites/
28/2022/09/Turabian-Chart-of-Citations-NB-09132022-1.pdf.
Stacy, Robert W. “The Jewish Setting of Early Christianity” (video). Liberty University. October
23, 2023. https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/530643/pages/watch-the-jewish-setting-of-
early-christianity?module_item_id=59582968.
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