Our lens

Please remember what I said in the first post. Our focus in this Gospel study is to look at the Gospels from both their historical origin and their Scriptural contexts.

So we will be asking how the Gospel sat in the time and place it was written, and we will ask how it sits with 'us' 'here' today. I put 'us' and 'here' in quotes. Why? Because people in this world, in every age, in every place bring context and history which shapes how they read and understand the Bible. This creates a lens that draws certain words and ideas forward and pushes other back; it causes us to dwell and ponder certain passages and skip merrily over others. This is called our hermeneutics - it is similar to bias. Anyone who claims to be unbiased is lacking self awareness - we bring our experience to every text and this can shape our reading and understanding. 

Some people will suggest we need to eliminate bias. You can't. I am not even sure you should. We gain insight into the Gospel by exposing our bias and asking how it shades our understanding of the Gospel. Equally we gain insight into the Gospel by considering other's bias and how it shades their commentary.

So for now - begin to think about the things that might color your understanding of the Gospel.

Be blessed.