You have described a very useful component of a good hermeneutic. Thank you.
To expand on this concept, the Bible also utilizes something similar to the following:
Boy sees girl at school
Boy thinks girl is wonderful
Boy meets girl in store
Girl laughs at boy’s attempts to chat
Boy angrily leaves store
Boy hates girl
Now, does the boy like the girl? Well, the answer is…it depends. It depends upon where in the story you are. In the second line? Then “yes”. In the last line? Then “no”. If the Bible is like this tiny historic novel, it too requires that one be cognizant of where one is along the story line. For example, did Paul kill Christians? Yes, up to Acts 9, then “no” after that.
Many people read the Bible as if it were a spiritual encyclopedia (flat & topical). It is not. It is structured more like a historical novel: It is true in all respects, but hung on a “story line”.
This most radically affects the meaning when it comes to the four Gospels. At what point are we in the story? Are Gentiles included in the remarks Jesus is making? Has the New Covenant been instituted yet? Is He teaching “Christianity” or “Judaism” (Grace or Law)?
If a reader can keep the flow of the story in mind, these questions are easily answered.
Forgive me if you object to being pinged in here to contribute to the discussion. Let me know and I’ll remove your name from my homemade list of FRiends.
Good points all.
I’ll add another analogy that I use. Some think it is brilliant and others think it is idiotic, but here goes:
A book is like a glass photographic plate. If you shatter it, each piece contains a part of the image/story.
The bible is like a glass plate containing a hologram. If you shatter it, each piece contains the entire image/story - from a specific perspective.