Culture and Language — Reading as the First Audience Heard It

How to Read the Bible Series

We often forget: the Bible wasn’t written to us—but it was written for us.
Every book of the Bible was penned in a time, place, and culture vastly different from our own. The original readers understood idioms, customs, and references that are foreign to modern ears. If we ignore this, we risk reshaping God’s Word in our own image.

The early Church didn’t have this problem. They lived closer to the language, the land, and the worldview of Scripture. They heard it in its original echo, not through centuries of translation, philosophy, or tradition. To read as they did is to get closer to the heart of God’s message.

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Scripture Focus:

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
— Romans 15:4, NASB1995

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Language Shapes Meaning

Scripture was written primarily in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek—languages rich with idiom, poetry, and concrete imagery. Many truths get lost in translation. For example:

• “To bind and loose” (Matthew 18:18) was a known rabbinic phrase meaning to forbid or permit.
• “Hating your father and mother” (Luke 14:26) reflects a Hebraic contrast in loyalty, not emotional hatred.

The Bereans and early disciples didn’t need these things explained—they lived them. But we must be students, not just of the text, but of its language.

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Culture Illuminates the Message

To understand the Bible, we must step into sandals, not sneakers. That means:

• Understanding first-century Jewish customs around marriage, covenant, or synagogue life
• Recognizing Roman occupation and its impact on Jesus’ teachings
• Seeing agricultural metaphors as more than symbolic—they were everyday realities

When Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice,” His hearers knew exactly what shepherding looked like. When He spoke of seeds, vineyards, and leaven, these weren’t abstract—they were familiar, lived-in truths.

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Mistaking the Culture Can Distort the Message

When we read Scripture as Western thinkers without reference to the original context, we risk:

• Making allegory where God gave literal promises
• Confusing metaphors with doctrine
• Misinterpreting commands meant for a specific people and time

The Holy Spirit does not lead us into cultural ignorance. He brings clarity—but He does not override the setting of the Word He authored.

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How the Early Church Understood Scripture

The Ante-Nicene believers received the Word in a cultural context still tied to its roots. Many were Jewish believers or Gentiles discipled by them. Their understanding flowed from:

• The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures)
• Oral traditions from apostolic teaching
• A lifestyle steeped in biblical rhythms (feasts, fasts, Scripture memorization)

They interpreted the Word in step with its meaning, not outside of it.

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A Return to Biblical Hearing

We are not disconnected from Scripture, but we must admit our distance from its original setting. To be faithful readers, we must:

• Learn the meanings behind expressions and customs
• Avoid imposing our culture on the text
• Invite the Holy Spirit to bridge the gap

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Return to the Word. Hear It Anew.

God’s Word is timeless, but it came through time, culture, and language. When we listen with Berean hearts and an Ante-Nicene posture, we don’t just read the Bible—we hear it.Step into their world. Let the Spirit teach you through the culture and language He originally chose. And you’ll find the voice of Jesus, not just in your language, but in His.