Q: Many passages in the Old and New Testament appear to be conversations between individuals or groups of people many, many years ago. I don’t always understand how a conversation between people hundreds of years ago relates to me today. When Jesus was talking to someone, were His words not directed to that particular circumstance or person? How can I understand that all the passages or written words in the Bible apply to me today?

A: Just because something is old doesn’t mean it can’t help us today. Some of the most profound wisdom about love, relationships, and basic human need is written by people like Plato, Cicero, Shakespeare, and Lincoln hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Yet we don’t say, “well, since the USA’s Declaration of Independence was written more than 248 years ago, all that stuff about human rights and freedom doesn’t really apply to us today.” No, we treasure those documents because they transcend time. A truth about freedom or justice is true regardless of when it was written.

This especially holds true for the Bible, the greatest book ever written. Even people who don’t accept what the Bible says about God and Jesus and the condition of the human race will agree that it is the most influential book ever written. The conversations recorded between real historical characters are some of the most memorable in all of history. When you consider the fact that the Bible is about God, the Creator of the universe, and Jesus Christ, God’s only son sent into the world in real time, then the Bible becomes even more remarkable. Think about it. The Bible is God’s word to humanity. Even more, it’s His personal message to you, someone He created and knows intimately and loves extravagantly.

Now, we will admit that the Bible can sometimes be overwhelming. The events happened so long ago in a different culture in a different part of the world. Yet we can learn a lot from them. The thing is, it takes effort. Yes, you can read the Bible without knowing anything about the background of a particular book or passage and get something out of it. But when you know the history, the circumstances, and the reasons behind the writing, then the Bible becomes much clearer and more enjoyable. Not only that, but you can better apply the message to your life.

You are very wise to be concerned about applying the Bible to your life. The Bible isn’t just a book to read and admire. Because the Bible is the inspired word of God, it is intended to show you how to live. Here’s what the apostle Paul wrote to His young disciple Timothy:

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do (2 Timothy 3:16).

So, whether you are reading a story about Abraham in the Old Testament or the words of Jesus in the New Testament, you can apply what you read to your life.

Q: Is the Old Testament for Jews only?

A: Reading scripture in context is extremely important. It’s the first rule of hermeneutics (the process of getting meaning from the Bible). It’s true that we can read any part of the Bible—Old Testament or New Testament—and get something out of it. All scripture is profitable and useful (2 Timothy 3:16). But we need to always do our best to understand the context. Who was the book or passage written to? What were the circumstances surrounding the writing? Why did the author write this? Our primary objective should be to discover what God is trying to say through the writer to the audience receiving His message. Ultimately everyone is part of that audience, but we should always look for more immediate context for what God communicated in His word.

Now, that doesn’t mean that Gentiles can’t read scripture originally intended for God’s chosen people.  Of course we’re going to get something out of it, and we can claim hundreds of promises for ourselves just as the Jews could claim them in their day. But our appreciation for the way God has worked in human history—to bring people back to Himself—can only increase if we understand the context and the original meaning of a particular passage. By the way, that goes for the New Testament as well.

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Reference

Bible Answers 101 by Bickel & Jantz