UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE REQUIRES US TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXTS

Understanding Scripture properly requires us to understand to whom it is being addressed. In this case (below), three different parties are addressed:

1.    The Mature in Christ
2.    The Apostles
3.    The Natural Person lacking the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:6–7, 12-15 Yet among (1) the mature (2) we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God… 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual [having the Holy Spirit]. 14 The (3) natural person [not having the Spirit] does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person [having the Holy Spirit] judges all things, but is himself to be judged [“properly discerned”] by no one.

If we fail to understand the distinctions between these three groups, we will not understand this passage. The Apostles are imparting Spirit-given truths to the mature in Christ. However, those without the Spirit cannot and will not receive them.

Consequently, even the mature in Christ are not receiving new extra-Biblical truths directly from the Spirit but through the Scriptures written by the Apostles and illuminated by the Spirit.

Sometimes, understanding who is being addressed can lead to heated differences in interpreting the Scriptures. A prime example divides hyper-Pentecostals (and the New Apostolic Reformation) from other Christians:

•    John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

Is Jesus addressing the “whoever” among the Christians or among the Apostles? Are all able to greater works than Jesus or just the 12? To answer this question, we must look at the context, both the immediate context and the context of the entire Bible.

THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT: While it is undeniable that Jesus is addressing His 11 Apostles (Judas had just departed from the Last Supper to betray Jesus), is John 14:12 referring to only the Apostles or to all believers? Both can be persuasively argued.

However, when we regard the context of the ENTIRE BIBLE, it becomes apparent that it had been the Apostles who had been specially equipped to perform the miracles that had authenticated their message—the Gospel!

•    Hebrews 2:3–4 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard [the Apostles], while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Consequently, the first believers congregated at the feet of the Apostles, who, as eyewitnesses, had been commissioned by Jesus (John 14:36; 15:36) to carry forth the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20):

•    Acts 2:42–43  And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

•    Acts 5:12–13 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

•    Mark 16:14–16, 20  Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned…And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Paul testified that the Apostles were accompanied by confirmatory miracles:

•    2 Corinthians 12:12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.

These signs distinguished the 12 from all others. Not all had gifts of miracles, tongues, and healings:

•    1 Corinthians 12:27–30 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Will be all perform greater works than Jesus? We are not all miracle workers. Therefore, if we all were to do greater works than Jesus, it would have to merely be through our everyday lives of being and speaking the Gospel. To expect that we should be able to heal on-the-spot as Jesus and His Apostles had done will lead to disappointment and doubts.