Key Terms
Literary Context — The verses, paragraphs, and chapters surrounding a passage — the words around the words
Proof-Texting — Pulling a verse out of context to support an idea the author was not talking about — one of the most common Bible study mistakes
Pericope — A self-contained unit of thought in Scripture — the complete passage or section a verse belongs to
Key Concepts
- A text without a context is a pretext for whatever you want it to say
- Always read the full paragraph and chapter before interpreting a verse
- Proof-texting and why it is dangerous
Scripture Focus
Philippians 4:13 (in context of 4:10-13)
Jeremiah 29:11 (in context of 29:1-14)
Matthew 18:20 (in context of 18:15-20)
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate how reading a verse in its surrounding context changes — and often corrects — popular interpretations
- Identify proof-texting and explain why it distorts meaning, even when the verse being quoted is true in itself
- Develop the habit of reading the full pericope (passage unit) before drawing any conclusions about a single verse
Resources
Download the companion handout for this lesson to review key terms and concepts offline.
Download Lesson Handout (PDF)