How to Read the BibleCultural Commands or Trans-

cultural

A Strange Example“Elisha died, and they buried him. Now

the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet. ” (2 Kings 13:20–21, NASB95)

A Strange ExampleIt also happened, that at that time

certain robbers cast a man, whom they had slain, into Elisha’s grave, and upon his dead body coming close to Elisha’s body, it revived again. And thus far have we enlarged about the actions of Elisha the prophet, both such as he did while he was alive, and how he had divine power after his death also.Josephus (Antiquities IX:183

A Strange ExampleThis is one passage that Roman

Catholic Scholars use to justify the value of touching “relics.”

Does this passage teach that there is value in the touching of the bones or “second-degree” relics of an apostle or prophet?

Augustine said Yes!“Eucharius, a Spanish priest residing at

Calama, was for a long time a sufferer from stone. By the relics of the same martyr (Stephen) which the bishop Possidius brought him, he was cured. Afterward the same priest sinking under another disease, was lying dead, and already they were binding his hands. By the succor of the same martyr he was raised to life, the priest’s cloak having been brought from the oratory and laid upon the corpse.Augustine, The City of God, Book XXII

Warfield says No!We return now to the main question: What

are we to think of these miracles? There is but one historical answer which can be given. They represent an infusion of heathen modes of thought into the church. Warfield, B. B. (2008). Counterfeit miracles

(61). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

A More Modern Example“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves

with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. ” (1 Timothy 2:9–12, NASB95)

The Question:What are we to make of these passages? Do they teach incidents or commands that are cultural or trans-cultural?

What criterion or criteria is to be used to determine the difference between a cultural command and a trans-cultural command?

Obvious Cultural Commands“ If you build a new house, you must

construct a guard rail around your roof to avoid being culpable in the event someone should fall from it.” (Deuteronomy 22:8, NET)

“When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ” (Luke 18:22, NASB95)

Obvious Trans-Cultural Commands“Honor your father and mother; and

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ” (Matthew 19:19, NASB95)

““You shall not steal. ” (Exodus 20:15, NASB95)

Not So Obvious Commands“The women are to keep silent in the

churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. ” (1 Corinthians 14:34, NASB95)

““Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. ” (Matthew 5:42, NASB95)

How Does the Reader Tell the Difference?Criterion 1. Preliminary Movement- a

passage may be culturally bound if the Scripture modifies the original command in such a way that suggests that further movement is possible and even advantageous in a later culture.

Example 1: Slavery-Note that slaves were given a number of days off for Sabbath and Festivals

Criterion 1““Six days you are to do your work, but on the

seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves. ” (Exodus 23:12, NASB95)

““Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, . . .and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants . . . . ” (Deuteronomy 16:10–11, NASB95)

Criterion 1Kidnapping of Slaves is explicitly condemned

in the NT“and immoral men and homosexuals and

kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, ” (1 Timothy 1:10, NASB95)

“for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine ” (1 Timothy 1:10, NIV)

Criterion 1-Example 2Example 2-WomenUnlike almost every other culture in the

ANE women were allowed to gain part of the inheritance. See Deut. 27:1-11, 36:1-13

In the OT the right to initiate divorce was only allowed by Men (Deut. 20:10-14), however in the NT, women were allowed to initiate divorce.

“and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.” ” (Mark 10:12, NASB95)

Criterion 2- Seed IdeasCriterion 2-A text may be seen as cultural if

“seed ideas” are present in the rest of Scripture to suggest or encourage further movement in a particular area.

Example 1-Slavery“Were you called while a slave? Do not worry

about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. ” (1 Corinthians 7:21, NASB95)

“. . . there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. ” (Colossians 3:11, NASB95)

Criterion 2Example 2- Women“However, in the Lord, neither is woman

independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. ” (1 Corinthians 11:11–12, NASB95)

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. ” (Romans 16:1–2, NASB95)

Criterion 3- “Breakouts”Criterion 3- a text may be culturally bound if

the norms in that text are “broken out of” in other texts

Example- Left handednessIn the ANE being left handed was considered

a liability. Benjamin means “son of my right hand”; the right hand was used to offer a blessing (Gen. 48:18); God redeems people with his right hand (Ex. 15:6)

Breakouts- God uses the left handed Ehud to slay Eglon (Judges 3:12-30)

Criterion 3- “Breakouts”Example 2- Long hair“Does not even nature itself teach you that if a

man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, ” (1 Corinthians 11:14, NASB95)

“[Samuel’s Mother] made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” ” (1 Samuel 1:11, NASB95)

Criterion 3- “Breakouts”Example 3- Meat offered to Idols“but that we write to them that they

abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. ” (Acts 15:20, NASB95)

In I Corinthians 10:23-30 Paul allows for the eating of meat offered to idols under certain circumstances.