Discernment: Text and Context

One of the easiest things to do is to latch on to a Bible verse and take it out of context. Someone I knew wrecked more than one family by doing this. No doubt this has happened to others along the way, also.

Someone shares a verse such as this from Philippians 4:12: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and runs with it, without looking at the verses which precede it. How did Paul learn this?

"All things" is comprehensive, but out of context it's not appropriately applied. It is not unlike "all things are lawful"; since when?

Another misused verse is Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."  Some months ago I saw this placed in conjunction with a pile of money, as if there is some magic in this verse--we just need to use to insist that God provide.

Then there is Mark 16:17, part of the final passage in Mark, which strong external evidence from scholars indicates was not even part of the original inspired book: "These signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

1 John 5:15, if disconnected from previous verses, can also be misapplied: "And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him."

We must be careful not to take texts out of context lest we run aground on the rocks of wrong application. As bad as it is to take everyday statements out of context, it is hazardous to our eternal health to do so with Scripture.