Discussion Board Forum 2 Thread Essay

Submitted By Dawn-Livingston
Words: 489
Pages: 2

The surrounding context helps us to understand what the writer is trying to say in a passage. Without the surrounding context, it can be interpreted wrong or the reader can interpret it the way they want to help their own means. Literary Genre works by communicating the passage in a way it was intended to be read. A writer sets a setting to help a reader understand as you would it in a story book or even a newspaper. There is a setting that we know to read it as. That is how a writer in the Bible writes as well. Without the literary genre, we may miss what the writer is trying to tell us. It’s just like not reading the surrounding context; you will miss the whole meaning of the passage. Duvall and Hays say it best, “to disregard literary genre in the Bible is to violate our covenant with the biblical author and with the Holy Spirit who inspired the message.”i
Exodus 20:24 says; “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”ii This is a good example of what happens when you do not read the entire message. People will say this when they are seeking revenge. I have heard this said many times. This is a common way to interpret it the way people want to see the message. This message is explained by Jesus in Matthew 5:38-42. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to