Historical-Cultural and Contextual Analysis

How to determine the authors purpose for writing.

1. Note the author's explicit statement or his repetition of certain phrases. 2. Observe the paraenetic (hortatory) of his writing. 3. observe the author's selectivity, that is, points omited or issues emphasized.

How to develop an understanding of the immediate context.

1. What are the major blocks of material and how do they fit together into a whole? Essentially, what is the outline of the book? 2. How does the passage under consideration contribute to the flaw of author's argument? How does passage being studied relate to the block of material before and after? 3. What is the perspective of the author? 4. Is the passage stating descriptive or prescriptive truth? 5. What constitutes the teaching focus of the passage, and what represents incidental detail only? Who is being addressed in the passage?

The three basic questions of historical-cultural contextual analysis.

1. What is the general historical milieu in which the writer speaks? 2. What is the specific historical-cultural context and purpose of this book? 3. What is the immediate context of the passage under consideration?

How to Determine the general historical-cultural context.

1. What is the general historical situation facing the author and his audience? 2. Knowledge of what customs will clarify the meaning of given actions? 3. What was the spiritual disposition of the audience?

How to determine the specific historical-cultural context and purpose of a book.

1. Who was the writer? What was his spiritual background or experiences? 2. To whom was he writing (e.g., believers, unbelievers, apostates)? 3. Does the writer explicitly or implicitly state his purpose (intention) in writing this particular book?

Young man who wanted to know the will of God and decided to follow the lead of what ever Scripture he opened.

Matt. 27:5 (Judas . . . went away and hanged himself); Lk. 10:37 (go, and do the same); Jn. 13:27 (what you are about to do, do quickly).

phenomenologically

The author looking at things from man's perspective.

noumenologically

The author looking things from God's perspective.