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NASB | 2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Thessalonians 2:15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold [tightly] to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. |
Subject: Cultural Context Helps but Doesn't Rule |
Bible Note: Please be extremely careful not to sidestep scriptural commands by thinking that they are only relate to specific cultures and times. God is perfectly capable of providing the appropriate instruction for things to change. Meanwhile, we should be thoroughly suspicious of trying to make the Scriptures say what we want them to say, in suiting our own cultural biases. Addressing the question of cultural relativism as an exegetical approach, see item 5 in post #158836 and item 8 in post #156918. From the Chicago Statement of Biblical Hermeneutics: Article VIII: WE AFFIRM that the Bible contains teachings and mandates which apply to all cultural and situational contexts and other mandates which the Bible itself shows apply only to particular situations. WE DENY that the distinctions between the universal and particular mandates of Scripture can be determined by cultural and situational factors. We further deny that universal mandates may ever be treated as culturally or situationally relative. In view of the tendency of many to relativize the message of the Bible by accommodating it to changing cultural situations, this Affirmation proclaims the universality of biblical teachings. There are commands which transcend all cultural barriers and are binding on all men everywhere. To be sure, some biblical injunctions are directed to specific situations, but even these are normative to the particular situation(s) to which they speak. However, there are commands in Scripture which speak universally to the human situation and are not bound to particular cultures or situations. The Denial addresses the basis of the distinction between universal and particular situations. It denies that the grounds of this distinction are relative or purely cultural. It further denies the legitimacy of relativizing biblical absolutes by reducing them to purely cultural mandates. The meaning of this article is that whatever the biblical text means is binding. And what is meant to be universally binding should not be relegated to particular situations any more than what is meant to apply only to particular circumstances should be promulgated as universally applicable. There is an attempt here to strike a balance between command and culture by recognizing that a command transcends culture, even though it speaks to and is expressed in a particular culture. Thus while the situation (or circumstances) may help us to discover the right course of action, the situation never determines what is right. God's laws are not situationally determined. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for 2 Thess 2:15 | Author | ||
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Robin Hass | ||
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kalos | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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YenIsaRap | ||
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DocTrinsograce |