4 "Power Tools" for Understanding Cultural Elements Behind Any Bible Passage

4 "Power Tools" for Understanding Cultural Elements Behind Any Bible Passage

George H. Guthrie
Cultural Background, Reading the Bible

In a post last week, I mentioned a bit of “cultural background” behind the story of David and Goliath, noting that David’s sling was not child’s toy but rather a serious weapon. I wrote that sling stones could be 3+ inches in diameter, the size of a peach or even a baseball, and could travel over 100 miles per hour—serious weapon indeed. Through the years I have found that understanding aspects of cultural background can shed great light on passages in the Bible. 

The question is, how can we get at reliable information on the cultural background behind Scripture? Let me mention three categories of “power tools” to consider for your Bible reading and study.

4 Practical Guidelines for Reading Old Testament Stories

4 Practical Guidelines for Reading Old Testament Stories

George H. Guthrie
Broader Literary Context, Cultural Background, Immediate Literary Contex, Interpretation, Methods, Reading the Bible

Harold Goddard writes, "The history of the world is determined less by the battles that are lost and won than by the stories it loves and believes in." As we live in the modern world, we see the evidence of Goddard's statement all around us. People have particular views of the world, and those views often are driven by the stories they have embraced.

God wants to pull us into his Story and shape us by it. You may not be terribly familiar with the Old Testament stories, which play a vitally important role in telling the Grand Story, but there are a number of reasons why we should read those stories (which make up a bit less than 50% of the Old Testament).

How BIG is Your View of Jesus?

How BIG is Your View of Jesus?

George H. Guthrie
Delight in the Word, Interpretation

Sometimes the experiences of life in this world can make us feel rather small. The powers—powerful people, powerful governments, powerful forces in the world—are loud in their posturing against God and his people. “Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together” (Ps. 2:1-2). They think they are big, and they can make us feel small. Further, the normal experiences of life, whether illness, or financial distress, or relational turmoil, can be hard, soul-grinding, reducing us, making God seem distant or small. 

"Which Translation is the Best?"

"Which Translation is the Best?"

George H. Guthrie
Bible Translation, Reading the Bible

From time to time, especially when I have been teaching on Bible translation at a church, someone will approach me and ask, “Which translation is the best?,” or “Which do you recommend?” It is a good question, especially since there are so many options out there in English, and people rightly are concerned to get a translation that is true to the original writings of the Bible.

 

Load More