Scott makes the point quite well indeed. If you don’t read contextually- you misread and thereby misinterpret and grossly misunderstand. Further, when you interpret for others your misreading of the source, you do them a foul and malignant disservice.
[n.b.- be sure to note that his 'link title' about baptist whatever he calls it also must be read in the wider context of the site's essence].
As we learned in Elementary Greek back in 1983- context isn’t anything- it’s EVERYTHING!
Frank Emanuel said,
May 9, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I always tell my parishoners that context is king. I am always more than delighted when one of my veterans challenges a careless prooftext with, “but about three verses before that…” Those are the sweet moments when you realize they actually listen to you.
One of the requirements we have for our baptismal candidates is that they read one gospel (Mark) straight through the night before they are baptised. They do this with their sponsors. For many it is the first time they realize the bible isn’t a collection of proof texts but a story that they are invited to enter into. It is a beautiful thing.