Reading the Bible
There is something very important we must consider, something that will not only allow us to better understand what is written in the Bible, in proper context, but will completely change the way we read the Bible.
The simple first step is to always consider when the words were spoken, to whom, and why.
This first step is a must, but it seems far too often our vanity gets in the way. We want it to be all about us, and our time, but the truth is, far too often, it is not about us, or our time. We must consider who was speaking, to whom, and when. For example, in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we have accounts of things Jesus said and did as he walked around, Jesus did not sit down and write a book, He actually said these things to people he was among.
As He spoke, what he said was written down by some present as he spoke, or recalled later and written down in a book, but always remember, of the things Jesus said, he said as he interacted with those around him, calling some, sending out others, healing some, warning others. So, it is not so important as to know when a book was finished, translated, and published, but when Jesus spoke the words (around 30-33 AD), and to whom.
Seems most logical, I know, but I must say, many do not do this, but read "you" as them, and they read the words of Jesus as written yesterday, like every time Jesus or anyone said "now", means right now. This can be a dangerous thing, the things many a false prophet and many a cult are made of.
Some things are for all, like John 3:16. That is why it is called #1. Some things are not for all.
One example of this, relating to a first century place, would be in Matthew chapters 23-24. Jesus was standing in the temple in Jerusalem scathing the Pharisees and Scribes (workers of the temple in Jerusalem), up in their face, scathing them and revealing their many hypocrisies for about an hour, then turned his back and walked out. As he walked out of the temple his disciples came, wanting to show him some of the buildings of the temple, but Jesus revealed to them the temple was to be made desolate, saying not one stone would be left upon another...
(ESV) Matthew 24:1-2 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
Here we have Jesus standing in Herod's Temple, the temple in Jerusalem, scathing the Pharisees, walking out, looking at the buildings of the temple, and saying not one stone would be left upon another. What is clear is Jesus was looking at and talking about that temple in Jerusalem he was looking at, Herod's temple, the temple of the Jews, saying to his disciples: "You see all these things, don't you?".
The "you" were his disciples, who asked him a question, and who he was answering. That is not "you", and not just any temple in Jerusalem. The temple Jesus was talking about was the temple he was looking at, Herod's Temple, the first century temple of the Jews in Jerusalem.
It ain't there no more. There is a reason for that.
About 40 years after Jesus said this, Jerusalem was trampled by the Gentiles, and the temple in Jerusalem was made desolate, by 70 AD, not one stone of the temple was left upon another, because there was gold between each one, the Roman Army pried apart each stone for the gold. Did the siege of Jerusalem, with the desolation of the temple fulfill Jesus' words? I am convinced it did. Many others are too, "Church Fathers" even. It was much more than a war, it was an act of God. But you don't hear much about this. Jesus warned many of the wrath that was to come with a thunderous sound of imminence all throughout, and sure enough, within that same generation, the wrath of God was poured out, for the blood of all the prophets.
THE AMAZING FIRST CENTURY EVENTS
Another example of this, I will use Luke 10:19-20. The context is that the seventy returned victorious over devils all over Judea:
Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Yes, the first century was a time of intense spiritual warfare. Messiah came! Messiah! And of course, as the seventy returned, Jesus said He had seen Satan fall as lightning from heaven. This was of course was happening as the seventy were out plundering Satan's house, by the authority of Messiah. Many who read this don't realize this was happening right then, they say it is yet future, because to say it happened then would alter their beliefs considerably, or they just have not thought about it. Take Jesus' word for it, and reason the situation, it happened then.
Seventy disciples of Christ had just returned from casting out unclean spirits all over Judea, and upon returning to Jesus, rejoicing, He told them he gave them special powers to "tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you". Many today seem to think Jesus was talking about the future, about snakes and drugs or an end time battle, but the gospel truth is that Jesus was talking to them. They were at war. As for the rest of what Jesus told his disciples, giving them power to tread the enemy, what do the kooks do? They do not admit Satan fell as lightning from heaven in the first century. They do dance around with snakes and drink poison. lol. Sad really. Of what significance is that or would that be to evil anyway? It's more like self gratification. (probably deluded poison, and de-fanged snakes, just in case right? lol. sigh.)
These are just a couple examples of context of what Jesus was talking about and to who, and once you begin to see it, you will see it all over. "And Jesus said to them...". And when considering everything Jesus said, when he said it, to whom, and what came to pass, you will find yourself reading the Bible in a whole new way. And in reading the Bible with this new way of looking at things "then", a new way of looking at things "now" will emerge, and the new hope awaiting mankind will sooner be realized. You will realize the Good News is even better than you ever thought. This viewpoint could literally change the future, the world. It changed mine.
Remember to heed certain time frame statements as spoken in the first century, consider how the 1st century hearer would have understood, not as a 21st century reader reads what was spoken. Remember to rightly divide what applies to His day, his Apostles, disciples, those workers of the temple, the sons and daughters of Jerusalem, the first century Christian assemblies in Paul's letters, and what can be applied to us today, all mankind for all time.
I have seen many people throw scriptures around, non Christians, and even Christians, people who throw scriptures into the laps of others as if they belong there, because sometimes it says "you" or "now", but many times a certain scripture does not belong in the lap of just anyone anywhere at any time. It must be considered carefully. It must be taken to heart. When reading Jesus' words in the Bible, try thinking of Jesus, not you, not your local neighborhood sinner. Try seeing Jesus walking around Jerusalem in the first century, talking to people, not sitting down writing a book.
Some things do apply to all mankind for all time, like John 3:16 for example. It is called #1 for a good reason. Angels hold that one high all over the world. Some things do not apply to all mankind for all time. The blessed and Holy Bible tells us God is real, God has interacted with us, and the message of the promised Messiah, Christ the Lord. It is priceless. Some things are not to be thrown around at just anyone anywhere at any time.
One should always ask, Who was being addressed? When? Why?
When one does, one will realize that the first century saints Jesus walked among and spoke to are those he was talking to. They were all persecuted, brought before kings, thrown in jails, beaten, murdered, hated, forsaken, and scattered. They were also given a mouth of great wisdom that pierced their offender to the very bone, as the Christian child grew and grew strong, not by might or power, but by the spirit of the Lord. Not one hair on their head perished in the grave before they were also given a seat of great honor in heaven. They died and came to life and have become as priests of God and Christ, and have reigned with Christ for a thousand years, in heaven.
One must keep in mind when reading the New Testament that all the Apostles were killed before the harlot was judged by the year 70, except for John who remained, as were many of their fellow first century saints, and all the writers of the New Testament, murdered for the gospel sake before 70 AD, all within that same generation, just like Jesus said over and over.
See: Jesus said "this generation"
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