Contextualizing Bible Questions for Diverse Audiences Theologically
The Bible frequently employs parables, riddles, and diverse languages, necessitating careful contextualization for understanding across different audiences and eras. Parables, for instance, are stories that typically draw an analogy between an everyday aspect of life and a spiritual truth [5]. To grasp a parable's meaning, one must identify its central analogy and interpret it within its historical and textual context, rather than seeking speculative allegorical meanings in every detail [5].
The use of riddles also appears in scripture, such as in Ezekiel 17:2, where the prophet is instructed to present a riddle to the house of Israel. However, unlike Samson's riddle, which was meant to puzzle, the prophet was immediately to provide its meaning, indicating that the purpose was not to obscure God's message but to convey it in a particular form [8].
Language itself is a significant aspect of biblical communication and its contextualization. The Bible records the confusion of languages at Babel as a divine punishment that scattered humanity and originated linguistic varieties [1]. This event divided people into separate nations, each with its own language [1]. Despite this diversity, every language and word carries meaning, conveying ideas to those who understand it [4]. The New Testament highlights the variety of languages, noting that there are "so many kinds of voices" or "tongues" in the world, and none of them are without signification [4].
The issue of language also arises in the context of worship. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14, addresses the importance of speaking in an understandable language during public prayer and worship [2]. He suggests that if someone speaks in a tongue that is not understood, it is akin to speaking into the air, and the speaker is a barbarian to the hearer, and vice versa [4]. This underscores the need for communication to be intelligible to the audience. Adam Clarke interprets 1 Corinthians 14:26 as reflecting a situation where different members of the early church engaged in various practices—psalmody, doctrinal explanations, reading, praying, or speaking in Hebrew—and some desired interpretations of what had been spoken [3]. This suggests a need for clarity and understanding within the assembly.
Historical examples within the Bible also illustrate the practical challenges of linguistic diversity. Joseph, when interacting with his brothers in Egypt, spoke to them through an interpreter, either due to significant linguistic differences or to maintain his disguise [6]. While Egyptians, Hebrews, Canaanites, and Syrians could generally understand each other, there were notable dialectal differences [6].
Beyond linguistic and literary forms, the Bible also warns against being "carried about with divers and strange doctrines" [7]. The term "divers" can refer to the variety and multitude of human doctrines, such as the rites and ceremonies of the law, traditions of elders, or various teachings from Jews or Gentiles [7]. In contrast, the doctrine of the Scriptures, Christ, and the apostles is presented as uniform and consistent [7]. This emphasizes the importance of adhering to a consistent theological framework when interpreting and presenting biblical truths.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Language — Of all mankind one at first -- Ge 11:1,6. Called Speech. -- Mr 14:70; Ac 14:11. Tongue. -- Ac 1:19; Re 5:9. Confusion of A punishment for presumption, &c. -- Ge 11:2-6. Originated the varieties in. -- Ge 11:7. Scattered men over the earth. -- Ge 11:8,9. Divided men into separated nations. -- Ge 10:5,20,31. Great variety of, spoken by men -- 1Co 14:10. Ancient kingdoms often comprehended nations of different -- Es 1:22; Da 3:4; 6:25. Kinds of, mentioned Hebrew. -- 2Ki 18:28; Ac 26:14. Chaldea. -- Da 1:4. Syriack. -- 2Ki 18:26; Ezr 4:7. Greek. -- Ac 21:37. L”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Public — Acceptable to God -- Isa 56:7. God promises to hear -- 2Ch 7:14,16. God promises to bless in -- Ex 20:24. Christ Sanctifies by his presence. -- Mt 18:20. Attended. -- Mt 12:9; Lu 4:16. Promises answers to. -- Mt 18:19. Instituted form of -- Lu 11:2. Should not be made in an unknown language -- 1Co 14:14-16. Saints delight in -- Ps 42:4; 122:1. Exhortation to -- Heb 10:25. Urge others to join in -- Ps 95:6; Zec 8:21. Exemplified Joshua. -- Jos 7:6-9. David. -- 1Ch 29:10-19. Solomon. -- 2Ch 6:1-42. Jehoshaphat. -- 2Ch 20:5-13. Jeshua. -- Ne 9:1-38. Jew”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 14:26: How is it - every one of you hath a psalm, etc. - Dr. Lightfoot understands this in the following manner: When the congregation came together, some were for spending the time in psalmody; others in explaining particular doctrines; others in reading, praying, or speaking in the Hebrew tongue; others were curious to hear of farther revelations; and others wished to spend the time in the interpretation of what had already been spoken. This may be specious, but to me it is not satisfactory. It seems more likely that, when the whole Church came together, among wh”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 14:10: There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices,.... "tongues", or "languages", as the Syriac version renders it; that is, as many as there are nations in the world; there may be seventy of them, as the Jews say there were at the confusion of languages at Babel; there may be more or less: and none of them is without signification: every language, and every word in a language, has a meaning in it, an idea annexed to it, which it conveys to him that understands it, and that cannot be done without a voice ordinarily speaking.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:3: 13:3-9 This parable (interpreted in 13:18-23) addresses the mostly negative responses of the Jewish nation to Jesus and his message. • Parables (Greek parabolē) are stories that usually express an analogy between a common aspect of life and a spiritual truth. To understand a parable, it is necessary to locate the central analogy and understand it in its historical context and in the context of the Gospel text; then the central message can be understood. Speculative allegorical meanings that were not intended should not be found in every element of a parable.”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 42:23: For he spake unto them by an interpreter - Either there was a very great difference between the two languages as then spoken, or Joseph, to prevent all suspicion, might affect to be ignorant of both. We have many evidences in this book that the Egyptians, Hebrews, Canaanites, and Syrians, could understand each other in a general way, though there are also proofs that there was a considerable difference between their dialects.”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines,.... The word "divers" may denote the variety and multitude of other doctrines; referring either to the various rites and ceremonies of the law, or to the traditions of the elders, or to the several doctrines of men, whether Jews or Gentiles; whereas the doctrine of the Scriptures, of Christ, and his apostles, is but one; it is uniform, and all of a piece; and so may likewise denote the disagreement of other doctrines with the perfections of God, the person and offices of Christ, the Scriptures of truth, the anal”
- Ezekiel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 17:1: We must take all these verses together, that we may have the parable and the explanation of it at one view before us, because they will illustrate one another. 1. The prophet is appointed to put forth a riddle to the house of Israel (Eze 17:2), not to puzzle them, as Samson's riddle was put forth to the Philistines, not to hide the mind of God from them in obscurity, or to leave them in uncertainty about it, one advancing one conjecture and another another, as is usual in expounding riddles; no, he is immediately to tell them the meaning of it. Let him that speak”