Counting in the Right Base: Understanding God’s Word in Its Context
Introduction:
Have you ever seen the equation 1 + 1 = 10? At first glance, it seems wrong—but it’s actually true… if you’re counting in binary instead of decimal. The same number looks completely different depending on the system you’re using.
The Bible works the same way. Its words and stories come from a specific cultural and religious framework—a ‘monolatrous, Second Temple Jewish henotheism’ worldview. If we read it only through later lenses—Christianity, Islam, or rabbinical Judaism—we risk “counting in the wrong base” and missing the original meaning.
Body:
- The Messiah as “Son of God”
- Psalm 2 calls the king God’s Son: “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.”
- In the original context, this didn’t mean the king was divine. It meant he was God’s anointed representative, empowered to rule according to God’s will.
- Later Christian readings reinterpret this through the lens of an later understanding of Jesus’ divinity, which is a different “numerical base”—the words are the same, but the meaning shifts dramatically.
- The word “divine”
- Hebrew terms like ’elohim could describe kings, angels, or Israel itself—indicating status or role, not ontological divinity.
- Reading these words through a later Christian lens can make us think the Bible is claiming inherent godhood where the text originally did not.
- Again, this is like seeing “10” in binary and insisting it must mean ten in decimal—it completely changes the calculation.
- Why context matters
- The Bible speaks in the language and worldview of its time. The law, the covenant, the promises, and the prophecies all make sense when read in their original “base.”
- Misreading it through later theological systems can obscure God’s original message and mission.
Conclusion:
So, just as a computer must know the base it’s counting in, we must approach Scripture with the right context. We should honor the original language, culture, and worldview, seeing the Bible as it was first understood. Only then can we truly grasp the power and wisdom God intended.
So today, let us commit not only to read the Bible—but to read it in its own base. Only then will the numbers add up the way God intended. Of course, this requires that we understand that base, which takes time, careful reading, and God’s gracious help. “If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all, without finding fault, and it will given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, for he who doubts is like a wave on the sea blown and tossed by the wind.” “Without faith, no-one can please God.”
Slides
Title Slide
Slide Title: Counting in the Right Base: Understanding God’s Word in Its Context
Slide Content:
- Speaker Name / Date
- Key idea: Reading the Bible in its original context reveals its true meaning.
Visual Suggestion: An image of a binary code overlaying a Bible, or a simple “1 + 1 = 10” graphic next to a Bible.
Slide 1 – Introduction
Slide Title: Why Context Matters
Slide Content:
- “1 + 1 = 10” – True in binary, not decimal.
- Biblical words come from a specific cultural and religious framework.
- Reading the Bible through later lenses risks misinterpretation.
Visual Suggestion: Side-by-side comparison of decimal vs. binary numbers; or a magnifying glass over an ancient scroll.
Slide 2 – Section 1: The Messiah as “Son of God”
Slide Title: Understanding Psalm 2 in Context
Slide Content:
- Psalm 2 calls the king God’s Son – meaning anointed representative, not divine.
- Original context: empowered to rule according to God’s will.
- Later Christian readings reinterpret this, shifting the meaning.
Visual Suggestion: A crown on a scroll, or a timeline showing Second Temple Judaism → later Christian interpretation.
Slide 3 – Section 2: The Word “Divine”
Slide Title: Words Matter: ’Elohim and Divine Status
Slide Content:
- Hebrew terms like ’elohim could describe kings, angels, or Israel itself.
- Context shows status or role, not inherent godhood.
- Misreading through a later lens changes the meaning drastically.
Visual Suggestion: Diagram showing hierarchy: God → King → Angel → Israel, or a magnified word “’elohim” with multiple labels.
Slide 4 – Section 3: Why Context Matters
Slide Title: Reading Scripture in Its Original “Base”
Slide Content:
- The Bible speaks in the language and worldview of its time.
- Law, covenant, promises, and prophecies make sense in their original context.
- Misreading through later theological systems obscures God’s message.
Visual Suggestion: Ancient scroll or map of Israel with text overlay; or an icon of a “puzzle piece” fitting into a Bible.
Slide 5 – Conclusion
Slide Title: Reading the Bible in Its Right Base
Slide Content:
- Approach Scripture with original language, culture, and worldview.
- Understanding the context allows God’s intended message to shine.
- Commit to careful reading and reliance on God’s wisdom (James 1:5–6).
Visual Suggestion: Open Bible with glowing light or rays; or binary numbers transforming into a readable text.
