Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Timothy 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 3:2 Now an overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, |
Subject: Is Steve really all wrong? |
Bible Note: Hello, Tim. This is the first time I've had the pleasure or occasion to respond to your posts, which I've followed with interest.....Regarding the issue at point, I would echo your words about the problems engendered when we as limited human creatures, having, all of us, a measure of bias and prejudice I suppose, are vulnerable to reading into Biblical passages things that simply are not there. And, for the same reasons, we sometimes fail to see what is as plain as day. Contrary to those who may think that there is too much ado about context, it seems to me that context is all important. Many errors of Bible interpretation -- yea, even Bible doctrines -- could be averted if passages were truly viewed within their context. Sometimes "context" may mean simply a passage of several verses. In other instances, "context" may need to be considered in a much broader spectrum -- entire books, entire New Testament, or even the entire Bible. But without proper context, interpretation becomes pretext. Some time ago, before you joined the forum I believe, I gave an extreme example of the hazard inherent in lifting a passage out of context but at the same time, mind you, reading it quite literally. That passage had to do with God's command to Noah to build an ark. My question, of course, was "Should we not all go to a lumber yard, buy some gopher wood, and start building our arks?".....Now the question strikes us as comical and we chuckle. But, aren't some beliefs in Christendom today based on little more than picking a verse or two here and there out of context and calling it sound doctrine? There seems to be a little mule-headedness in all of us. Once committed to a view, sound or not sound, it takes an industrial-sized crow-bar to pry us loose! A good prayer to pray before we approach God's word in study and meditation, I feel, is to ask God to open our eyes that we may see his wonderous truth with clear and unfettered eyes....I extend to you, Tim, every good wish that God will bless you in your ministry and in your walk with the Lord Jesus. --Hank |