Levels of context
     1.   near context (immediate) -- nearby verses
     2.   far context (remote) -- nearby chapters or entire book

Importance of context (examples)
     1.   Isa 58:11  "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a
     sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered
     garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."
               a.   fantastic promises
               b.   conditions found in vs 9-10:  "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with
          the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of
          the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed ..."
               c.   memorizing individual verses without context can influence how we use them

     2.   Jn 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that
     the work of God might be displayed in his life."
               a.   3 sinless people?
               b.   vs 2 holds the key:  "His disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his
          parents, that he was born blind?"
               c.   Jesus' statement was in context of question:  whose sin caused him to be blind?
          Jesus' response:  no one's sin caused it.

Guidelines for interpretation
     1.   Think of all possible meanings (reasonable meanings)
     2.   Read the verse in context.
               a.   immediate context may be sufficient, or sometimes remote context is necessary
               b.   read complete text quickly to identify themes, objectives, etc.; read again
          carefully
     3.   Study the verse more closely
               a.   notice connecting words or transition words, examine their function; eg.
          "therefore"
     4.   Note any main words that are repeated
               a.   especially note any main (key) word that is repeated in the context; may indicate
          major theme
               b.   consider synonyms
               c.   example:  1 Cor 10:14-31, idol feasts and the Lord's supper, the believer's
          freedom ("Everything is permissible, etc.")
               d.   key words/synonyms:  partake, eat, drink, take part
     5.   Rewrite the verse in your own words
     6.   Answer the question:  What does this verse mean in its context?
     7.   Example:  Jn 21:15  "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon
     son of John, do you truly love me more than these?'" -- Does Peter love Jesus more
     than what?
               a.   What clues from context?
               b.   vs 1-3, Peter turning back to fishing, even though Jesus had called him from
          that.
               c.   Jesus may have asked whether Peter loved him more than his former
          occupation, the fish he had just caught
               d.   vs 16-17, Jesus asked Peter 2 more times, "Do you love me?"
               e.   Object of comparison not as important as basic question:  Do you love me?

Limitations of context rule
     1.   Proverbs:  short, meaty statements; complete in themselves
     2.   4 gospels sometimes grouped sayings or incidents that don't necessarily relate; simply
     including brief descriptions or collections of miscellaneous things
     3.   Cautions about use of context:
               a.   Don't assume no connection exists if one isn't apparent
                         i.   further study may reveal it
                         ii.  eg. one gospel may provide insight to something in another gospel
               b.   Don't create an artificial connection; don't force ideas or read meanings into
          text
               c.   Some statements are true regardless of context, so don't limit them to context

More examples
     1.   Psa 137:4  "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?
               a.   Are Christian songs only for one's native land?
               b.   No.  v1:  "By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered
          Zion.  There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us
          for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, 'Sing us one of the
          songs of Zion!'"
               c.   v4 "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?" --
          Babylonian captivity

     2.   Dan 6:4  "At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges
     against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so.
     They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt
     nor negligent."
               a.   Was Daniel sinless?
               b.   No.  v3:  "Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and
          the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the
          whole kingdom."
               c.   Daniel distinguished himself, exceptional qualities by comparison

     3.   Lk 16:15 "He said to them, 'You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of
     men, but God knows your hearts.  What is highly valued among men is detestable in
     God's sight.'"
               a.   Does this apply to secular education, or using electricity for lighting?
               b.   v14:  "The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at
          Jesus."
               c.   Does v15 apply to money?  Does God detest money?  No.
               d.   vs 1-7 is parable of the shrewd manager
                         i.   accused of wasting the rich man's possessions, about to lose his job
                         ii.  discounted the bills of people who owed the rich man, in order to gain
               personal opportunity after losing his job
                         iii. v8  "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted
               shrewdly.  For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with
               their own kind than are the people of the light."
                         iv.  What action in this parable does world admire (calling it "shrewd"), but
               God hates? -- misuse of authority for personal gain!