Scripture's Teachings in Various Cultural Contexts Throughout History

The Bible, understood by Christians as God-breathed and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, has been interpreted and applied in diverse cultural contexts throughout history ^{[1, 2, 5]}. This adaptability stems from its divine inspiration, which ensures its effectiveness in guiding believers ^[9].

In ancient Israel, education primarily focused on the law, with wisdom and instruction, as highlighted in the Book of Proverbs, understood chiefly as moral and religious discipline imparted by parents ^[3]. However, even in these early times, figures like Solomon engaged with scientific subjects, suggesting a broader intellectual engagement alongside religious instruction ^[3]. The practice of public reading of Scripture, transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church, demonstrates an early method of disseminating biblical teachings within a community setting ^[7]. The New Testament Gospels and Epistles were recognized as inspired and read alongside the Old Testament in churches as they were written ^[7].

The spread of the Gospel is depicted as a journey, with the doctrine traveling through various regions, proclaiming "glad tidings of great joy to all people" ^[10]. This imagery suggests an inherent universality in the message, capable of transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. The existence of numerous languages, as described in Genesis 11:1-9, and the diversity of tongues in ancient kingdoms, as noted in Esther 1:22 and Daniel 3:4, underscore the challenge and necessity of communicating biblical truths across linguistic and cultural divides ^[4].

The New Testament consistently refers to a definite collection of sacred books, regarded as divinely inspired, which includes both the Old and New Testaments ^[6]. This "Scripture" was enlarged over time as God revealed his will, with the purpose of perpetuating that revealed will in an infallible record ^[6]. The inspiration of Scripture, literally "God-breathed," does not negate the active involvement of human authors but affirms God's full responsibility for its content ^[9].

The application of biblical teachings has also involved adapting to local customs and practices. For instance, while Jesus and his disciples taught in synagogues, the question arises whether their "most Scriptural representatives" would be permitted to preach in certain Christian churches today without strict conformity to external ecclesiastical customs or if their doctrine did not align with the "taste of the managers and of the times" ^[11]. This highlights the ongoing tension between the universal message of Scripture and its reception within specific cultural and institutional frameworks.

Christian teachers are likened to householders who bring forth "things new and old" from their treasure, meaning old truths presented in new forms, aspects, applications, and illustrations ^[12]. This metaphor suggests a dynamic engagement with Scripture, where its timeless truths are continually reinterpreted and applied to contemporary contexts without losing their original meaning. The ability of poetry to be cultivated across diverse cultures and ages, serving as a means of preserving original accounts, also points to the human capacity for creative expression that can be harnessed for communicating spiritual truths ^[8].

Sources

2 Timothy “Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, -- 2 Timothy 3:16”
II Timothy “II Timothy 3:16 (Darby) — Every scripture [is] divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Education — There is little trace among the Hebrews in earlier times of education in any other subjects than the law. The wisdom therefore and instruction, of which so much is said in the book of Proverbs, are to be understood chiefly of moral and religious discipline, imparted, according to the direction of the law, by the teaching and under the example of parents. (But Solomon himself wrote treatises on several scientific subjects, which must have been studied in those days.) In later times the prophecies and comments on them, as well as on the earlier Scriptures, t”
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: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”
Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 15:1: Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song - Poetry has been cultivated in all ages and among all people, from the most refined to the most barbarous; and to it principally, under the kind providence of God, we are indebted for most of the original accounts we have of the ancient nations of the universe. Equally measured lines, with a harmonious collocation of expressive, sonorous, and sometimes highly metaphorical terms, the alternate lines either answering to each other in sense, or ending with similar sounds, were easily committed to memory, and easily ”
2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:16: 3:16-17 These verses elaborate on 3:15 by explaining Scripture’s effectiveness, its source, and the ways that it gives wisdom to live out our salvation. Paul was speaking of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), but his statement can now apply to all Scripture, including the New Testament (see, e.g., 2 Pet 3:15-16). 3:16 The fact that Scripture is inspired by God (literally God-breathed, breathed out by God’s own speech; see also Heb 4:12-13; 2 Pet 1:20-21) does not negate the active involvement of the human authors. But it does affirm that God is fully re”
Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 1:6: Which is come unto you - The doctrine of the Gospel is represented as a traveler, whose object it is to visit the whole habitable earth; and, having commenced his journey in Judea, had proceeded through Syria and through different parts of Asia Minor, and had lately arrived at their city, every where proclaiming glad tidings of great joy to all people. As it is in all the world - So rapid is this traveler in his course, that he had already gone nearly through the whole of the countries under the Roman dominion; and will travel on till he has proclaimed his messag”
Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 4:15: And he taught in their synagogues - We do not find that even the persecuting Jews ever hindered Christ or his disciples from preaching in their synagogues. Is it the same in every place where even the Christian religion is established by law? Would Jesus, or his apostles, or their most Scriptural representatives, be permitted to preach in one out of a thousand churches, in certain countries, unless they were strictly conformed to their external ecclesiastical customs? Nor even then, unless their doctrine were according to the taste of the managers and of the times. Gl”
Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 13:52: Then said he unto them, Therefore--or as we should say, "Well, then." every scribe--or Christian teacher: here so called from that well-known class among the Jews. (See Mat 23:34). which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven--himself taught in the mysteries of the Gospel which he has to teach to others. is like unto a man that is an householder which bringeth forth--"turneth" or "dealeth out." out of his treasure--his store of divine truth. things new and old--old truths in ever new forms, aspects, applications, and with ever new illustr”

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