The Epistles

Chapter 3-4 Notes from How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

The "ease" of interpreting epistles can be quite deceptive. Although inspired by the Holy Spirit and thus belonging to all time, they were first written out of the context of the author to the context of the original recipients. An issue we have is that the epistles are often written in response to something; so, we have the answers, but don't necessarily know the questions or problems. Another thing to note is that they were not written as encompass all Christian theology, but instead always theology applied to or directed toward a particular need.

Historical context - first thing is to try and reconstruct the original situation
Literary context - try to learn to trace the author's argument throughout the text

Often the hermeneutical challenge exists with what is cultural and therefore belongs to the first century alone and what transcends culture and is thus a Word for all seasons. To often we try to sneak around texts that don't make sense, rather than asking the right questions as to what it means.

Basic Rule - A text cannot mean what it never meant to its original audience (doesn't always help find out what text means, but helps find out what it doesn't mean)
Second Rule - Whenever we share comparable particulars (i.e., similar specific life situations), we can directly relate commands/text. If no comparable particulars exist, you must transfer the principle behind the text.