Day 16: Why is context important?

Proverbs 26:4-5,

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.”

A common excuse for people who don’t believe in God is “the bible is full of contradictions.” On the occasions I have heard this excuse, the follow up comment is, give me an example. Most often the person fumbles around looking for an example. Often when they come to their example, it is a matter of context that they error. However, pointing out context is seldom satisfactory. But what happens when we as Christians find interesting verses that seem to contradict each other?

While studying Proverbs I came across chapter twenty-six verses four and five. Read independently, they make sense. However, read in order they seem contradictory.  How am I instructed to not answer a fool according to his folly or be like him, but answer a fool according to his folly so he is not wise in his own eyes? CONTEXT. Context is the circumstance that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.  

In the first verse the context on answering is based on answering in kind. For example, when your 5-year-old child calls you a “bad mom,” to call them a “bad child” is a response in kind. What does your 5-year-old really know about parenting? If your response is on par with a five-year-old, then you become like the five-year-old. 

In the second verse the context is to provide an answer that addresses the folly with truth to keep the person from thinking their folly is wise. Your five-year old calls you a “bad mom,” you respond with ‘being mad at mommy isn’t a reason to call me names.” You point out to the five- year-old their evaluation of mommy is based on their emotion (folly) not empirical evidence (truth).

In the end we find that with context, all of the bible is complementary and trustworthy and,

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16

Action: Find a bible verse or concept you find difficult and put it into context.