Historical Background and the Text

One of the lessons I learned while attending Northwestern Bible College here in Minnesota (Northwestern can make the check payable to John Byrne) is how to accurately exegete the meaning of Scripture. I learned that historical context can play an important role in understanding a particular text properly. That said, there is a limit to how much historical context can help. Because of this, very intelligent and well meaning teachers have come to poor conclusions. Let me explain.

In Ephesians 1:11 Paul uses the term predestined. I talked to another pastor recently who held a more Armenian perspective and he said Paul was a Palestinian Jew so he was referring not to individuals, but the church as a whole. I don't want to make this post about predestination, rather I am simply suggesting that it is easy to fall back on historical background when we don't like what the text says. Because Palestinian Jews tend to think more in groups does not mean they never think in terms of individuals. We must go to the text and make sure we understand what was being said there. Just because a person grew up in a certain area or something was common in a certain culture does not mean that we should necessarily interpret an author in that manner.

Historical background can add depth and meaning to our understanding of scripture. What it can't do is undermine the text itself. If someone wants to make an argument for predestination being directed toward the church and not the individual, fine, just don't over use historical background or culture to change the meaning of the text.