The Bible: Understanding Context for Accurate Application

"In studying the Bible...it is easy to make the mistake of looking for immediate personal application without first considering what that book or passage meant in its original context, to its original audience. 

"For example, numerous passages throughout the Old Testament speak promises to the people of Israel. While God is no respecter of persons and can do the same for us as He did for them, the passage's primary meaning is found in its historical context. Most often, Scripture was written based on a specific situation, in response to immediate needs. 

"That explains why a passage may say something like, 'If you turn away from your idols of gold, I will rescue you,' rather than, 'If you get off of Facebook long enough to have a conversation with me, I will hear you.' 

"Addressing the historical context helps the reader better understand the primary significance of the passage, and ultimately empowers us to accurately glean the universal principles that apply to us today."

Reddy, Lisa. "How to Study the Bible." Pentecostal Herald (Hazelwood, MO). Vol. 88, No. 7 (July 2012), p 43 

Thorns

People like to speculate about Paul's "thorn in the flesh." It is not important to know what the thorn was. Rather, it is important to know why it was there. 

God allowed Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” to remain in His life, even though Paul asked God to remove it. Instead of releasing Paul from His “thorn,” God said, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

This is wonderful assurance. No matter what our thorn in the flesh might be, God will give us grace and strength. We will not be defeated by the thorn. God will sustain us in spite of the difficulties that remain in our lives.

But why did Paul have to have a thorn in the flesh? Why didn’t God make His life a little less problem-laden and just remove the thorn?

The answer is found in II Corinthians 12:7. Paul wrote, “…there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”

There it is. The reason why God sometimes allows thorns in our lives, thorns which irritate and remind us that they are there, poking and prodding us as we try to maintain a comfortable, problem-free existence. God places a high priority on humility. “…lest I should be exalted above measure.”

If we glory, we should glory in the Lord. If we are lifted up, it should be God that does the lifting, not us. Sometimes we need thorns in our lives to remind us that we need God, His grace and His strength. Otherwise, we might resort to self-sufficiency. In His infinite love and concern, God thinks enough of His children to allow trials to remain in our lives when we would prefer them to disappear.

“…lest I should be exalted above measure.” Adversity is intended to remind us of our need of God and keep us dependant on Him. It keeps us from exalting ourselves and our own abilities. What an amazing, loving God. He is kind enough to us to allow things in our lives that are painful, yet healing, for they keep our focus on Him, the only source of an unlimited supply of grace and strength.


If you still cannot make sense of the purpose of a thorn in your flesh, glance backward 2,000 years. Let your mind travel to Jerusalem and a certain gruesome crucifixion site. There you will see someone else acquainted with thorns in his flesh. He was a king…The King.

This King wore a crown, not made of jewels…but of thorns. He understands the pain that thorns produce. But His purpose was greater than His pain.

“…lest I should be exalted above measure.”

Rose Thorns Photo: http://coraramos-cora.blogspot.com/2012/01/not-all-thorns-are-scary-but-they-still.html
Crown of Thorns Photo: http://wissmanns.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html